HAIL CONJURER: Harri Kuokkanen On Abyss & Ekstasis, Creativity & The Art Of Becoming | ITN EP335

Harri Kuokkanen returns to Into The Necrosphere to discuss the tenth Hail Conjurer album, Abyss & Ekstasis, and the very different creative process that brought it to life. After almost two years between the recording of this album and its predecessor, Order Of Disgrace, Harri deliberately approached the new record from a more structured and premeditated perspective, composing the music, lyrics and arrangements before entering the recording process. We discuss why he felt the need for a fresh approach after a decade of creating Hail Conjurer, the tension between instinct and control that has defined the project since its inception, and how each album has become a process of shedding the skin and becoming something new.

Then, on the Weekly News Rant, Karl Haikara joins me to tribute to the late, great Cronos of Venom, reflecting on his enormous influence on black metal and the countless bands who simply would not have existed in the same form without him.  We round up new tracks by Wolves In The Throne Room, Arctos, Goat Major and Dumal for judgment, debate the merits of overly literal storytelling and concept-driven lyrics, answer your questions on Elden Ring and our favourite full live sets available on YouTube, and discuss why some of the best live footage can capture a band in a way that studio recordings simply cannot.

Plus: a Premiere On The Sphere with Black Flame Altar delivering an exclusive preview of their upcoming release, “Runes of Darkness & Blood”.

Featured Bands

Hail Conjurer: https://hailconjurer.bandcamp.com/

Black Flame Altar:  https://blackflamealtar.bandcamp.com/

Venom:  https://venomlegions.bandcamp.com/

Visit intothenecrosphere.com for playlists and more. Subscribe for weekly black and death metal interviews, news rants and reviews. Follow on X, Instagram and Facebook, and check out the Horsemen of the Podcasting Apocalypse: Horrorwolf 666, Iblis Manifestations, Everything Went Black, Necromaniacs and The Sol Nox Podcast.