I recently conducted an interview with Anton Kalaj, the man behind the keyboards of Blackened Death Metal band Immanifest. Immanifest released their first EP ‘Qliphotic’ in early 2010. If you haven’t already, check them out now.
Make the jump for the interview. If you’re in a band and you would like us to cover you guys/gals, contact us via the ‘Your Band’ form.
Dose of Metal: First off, tell us a bit about yourself and what you do in the band.
Anton Kalaj: I’m Anton, I play keyboards, and I am also the primary lyricist.
DoM: You released your first EP ‘Qliphotic’ last year. How was the reception yet?
AK: The reception has been excellent. Qliphotic seems to be garnering interest from all over. It’s also got people wondering about our next move.
DoM: You play an interesting, very melodic style of Blackened Death Metal. Which bands inspired you the most during songwriting?
AK: Thanks. We listen to a lot of different metal, and also a lot of contemporary composers. As far as metal bands, (older) Dimmu, Immortal, Emperor, Dissection, Hypocrisy etc. and Christopher Young, John Barry, Steve Jablonsky, and Howard Shore to name a few inspirational film score composers.
Immanifest - Thaumiel
DoM: Lyrically, what themes do you like to tackle in your lyrics and what inspires you in writing these lyrics?
AK: Occult themes mainly. Stressing the point that occult means “hidden” or “unknown”, we feel this is a perfect summation of the nature of this reality and of our existence. So under this description we feel free to expand on various spiritual subjects, consciousness as well as various religious and philosophical themes.
DoM: You’re from Tampa, Florida, pretty unusual for a Blackened Death Metal band. Do you think you have a lot in common with your Scandinavian counterparts?
AK: Yes and No. We take much influence from the Scandinavians and have the utmost respect for them – as much of them do for Florida and what this state has done for Death Metal. Since we take influence from many different genres of extreme metal from all over the globe and from the last few decades, its only pigeonhole into the “Scandinavian Sound” is the fact that its extreme metal with a major symphonic element to it. Moreover, that this style is still in its infancy; as far as film score quality synth arrangements integrated with the extreme metal is concerned. We like extreme, immense sounding, emotion invoking music!
DoM: Is there even a scene for Black Metal and/or Black Metal inspired music in Florida?
AK: Uh, pretty much the bands we came from previously (laughs). Yeti was the pinnacle, in my opinion.
DoM: You’re currently unsigned, have you been in talks with any record labels?
AK: We have, and it just hasn’t been the right time for us to commit to anything up until this point. We have had a lot of other things to tend to in our personal lives. The band decided a head of time that we’d first aim for the completion of our Full-Length album to start discussing labels/tours etc.
Immanifest's logo
DoM: What does the future hold for Immanifest?
AK: We’re currently working on our full-length album, which we plan to have complete later this year. At which point (as stated above) plans will commence for a proper label and hitting the road.
DoM: Any last words for your readers at doseofmetal.com?
AK: We love to hear from people with their opinions and comments regarding Immanifest – good, bad and in between. See you on the road in the near future and stay tuned for the full-length!
DoM: Thank you for your time!
AK: Thank you
