ARDEK of CARACH ANGREN Chats About New Album “Franckensteina Strataemontanus”: “Hopefully This Will Appeal to More People Outside Our Normal Fanbase”

On June 26th, acclaimed symphonic black metal band Carach Angren released their sixth full-length album “Franckensteina Strataemontanus” to eagerly awaiting fans of horror and extreme metal alike. With their own unique twist on the popular lore of Frankenstein, the Dutch duo step back from the bleak narratives which fueled 2017’s “Dance and Laugh Amongst the Rotten” and 2015’s “This is No Fairytale” for a more grounded feat of storytelling. It is not only in concept that Carach Angren has grown, as “Franckensteina Strataemontanus” sees even greater use of orchestration and theatrical components for an experience that is defined by cinematic experience in a way that surpasses their prior darkness.

Creative mastermind and songwriter Clemens “Ardek” Wijers partners his creative prowess with the darkness contributed by vocalist Seregor’s versatile range of screams for a horror experience like no other. With “Franckensteina Strataemontanus” crafted in such a way that it is designed for a full-album listening experience, the storytelling strength of this bellowed black metal icon only continues to grow. Including everything from spoken-word tracks through lofty orchestrations, the variety and intrigue of “Franckensteina Strataemontanus” effortlessly spans the duration of the 50-minute opus. While there stands a definite sense of growth in the work, there is no doubt that this album is yet another fitting addition to the Carach Angren discography.

“Franckensteina Strataemontanus” Album Artwork

Ardek spoke with Sonic Perspectives contributor Samantha Buckman about the unique inspiration which led to the album’s creation, how he continues to grow as an artist, and where the band hopes this album will take them in the future. For more interviews and other daily content, make sure to follow Sonic Perspectives on Facebook, Flipboard and Twitter and subscribe to our YouTube channel to be notified about new interviews and contents we publish on a daily basis.