From the catacombs of arcane influence and unrelenting riffcraft, REVELATOR emerges as a force devoted not just to sound, but to spirit. We spoke with the band to delve deep into their philosophies, sonic alchemy, and the burning essence behind their latest work, Light the Devil’s Fire.
Pic credit to TJ Williams
Your sound leans heavily on early black/death influences like Desaster and Nifelheim—what do you feel is most lacking in the modern extreme metal scene that you’re trying to restore or revive through REVELATOR?
Capital Chaos TV! Infernal Gratitude extends for this opportunity! The Iconoclastic scribes thee!
Revelator does not compose with calculated intent; we serve only as conduits, channeling our individual occult currents into sound. What I find most absent in much of modern extreme metal is the primacy of riff craft—the true arcane sigil that brands itself upon memory and spirit.
To forge a record where one departs still haunted by its essence is the highest form of craft, and this is innate to REVELATOR. That said, riff craft still breathes in hidden catacombs—one must be willing to dig deep enough to exhume it; numerous modern bands fill this space.
“Light The Devil’s Fire” feels both triumphant and nihilistic—how do you reconcile those opposing forces in your songwriting?
Nihilism is a shadow we acknowledge, but not a throne we kneel to. In our vision, it is not the void itself that defines existence, but the will to carve meaning from it.
Light the Devil’s Fire carries triumph because growth, strength, and passion are the true alchemy of life—an ascent forged in defiance of emptiness. What may appear nihilistic is only the crucible; what emerges is exaltation, the flame of becoming.
You’ve mentioned that “By The Whip” is a cornerstone of the band’s sonic identity. Can you speak to how that track evolved over time and why it continues to represent the essence of REVELATOR?
“By The Whip” stands as a pure invocation—born early in the band’s existence, yet never diminished. Its essence carries the raw spirit of our influences, which we do not shy from but embrace: the arcane shadow of Mortuary Drape, the primal ferocity of Arckanum, and the sharpened steel of Razor.
From those roots, the song evolved into a vision uniquely ours—an alchemy of speed, mysticism, and will. It remains a cornerstone because it is both origin and omen, the clearest reflection of what REVELATOR seeks to channel.
The band’s transition from a two-piece recording project to a full live lineup is impressive. What challenges or revelations came with bringing that intensity to the stage?
The passage from studio to stage demanded more than mere technical ability—it required the alignment of will, vision, and spirit.
To summon the full force of REVELATOR live, we sought not session players but true henchmen: individuals whose influences, dispositions, and determination resonate both within and beyond the music itself. Such unity is rare, yet we are fortunate to have found it.
This convergence has not only amplified the intensity of our art but revealed the deeper truth—that black metal is strongest when carried by those bound in shared purpose and unyielding fire.
There’s a clear sense of ritual and mysticism in your music—how important is the occult or esoteric philosophy to the band’s core identity beyond just the aesthetic?
The occult is not ornamentation for us—it is the marrow of our craft. Ritual, mysticism, and esoteric thought are extensions of a deeper truth: that art must be born from passion, conviction, and alignment with one’s ideals.
To be confident in one’s own identity is itself an act of power, and from that foundation our music takes shape. The philosophy is inseparable from the sound—it is both the spark and the flame, the vessel through which REVELATOR asserts its true will.
Tracks like “Death Serenade” carry a sense of grandeur and conquest—does REVELATOR approach albums conceptually, or is this more about channeling raw, unfiltered aggression?
Thanks for the keen listen. We do not sit down with the intention of constructing a strict concept or forcing the sound into predetermined shapes—our music arises almost automatically, a direct reflection of our own sonic and aesthetic obsessions.
Each track may circle similar currents of occultism, necromancy, full moon grandeur, and devilish triumph, and so there is a natural conceptual kinship between them—but it is not contrived. Rather, it is the unfiltered aggression and atmosphere flowing from a shared will that binds them together.
Chris Angela’s cover art is haunting and evocative—how involved was the band in shaping the visual direction of the album, and how does the imagery connect to the music’s themes of arcane violence and mysticism?
The words are first bled onto the page, then passed to Christine Angela, whose vision drinks from them as a chalice. She distills their essence into form, clothing our hymns of arcane occultism and mysticism in imagery that feels both inevitable and otherworldly.
In this way, the art and music are not separate vessels but reflections of the same current—an invocation given flesh through her imagination. Seek her on Instagram at @spiraledvision—she does consider commissions.
With the title Light The Devil’s Fire and your allegiance to archaic metal traditions, I have to ask—has Ozzy’s legacy as the ‘Prince of Darkness’ influenced REVELATOR at all, either musically or in spirit?
My first communion with Ozzy came in 1989, clutching a cassette of No Rest for the Wicked, and soon after falling into reverie with every work up to No More Tears. For me, he was less a final destination and more a gateway into the abyss of extreme metal.
Yet his rebellious fire of the 1980s still courses through the veins of the genre, whether it acknowledges it or not. That untamed spirit, the defiance and dark allure he embodied, remains an immortal influence on all who dare to light their own devil’s fire.
And the first era of Sabbath? Untouchable—though all eras are notable! Motherfucker was indeed a madman and contributed to Rock ‘N Roll being dangerous.
What was the key piece of gear or studio technique that helped you capture the raw, punishing sound on Light The Devil’s Fire—was there a moment in the studio where everything just clicked sonically?
The essence was never in a single piece of gear or a trick of production, but in the will to carve our own path. Tools are only conduits—what mattered was the alignment of vision and conviction, that moment when our intent became sound and the flame of Light The Devil’s Fire burned as it was willed to.
Singularity is not found in emulation or accident, but in the unyielding pursuit of one’s own current. Though we revere the sonics of key recordings from the past, we aren’t ignorant of modern sorcery that can be utilized to our advantage. Essentially, we do what the fuck we want—regard only to our own satisfaction.
If the four of you were summoned to perform at a ritual in hell and could only bring one Canadian snack each, what are you tossing into the infernal fire pit as tribute?
Unfortunately, as we’ve all discovered a purer and stronger path in mid-life, I’m unable to provide a scandalous response; our infernal offerings would be:
- Protein
- Fruit/vegetable
- Flavored carbonated water
- Coffee
Nameless Grave Records will issue Light The Devil’s Fire on CD and digitally on September 12th. Preorders can be placed at the label webshop HERE and Bandcamp where “By The Whip” is streaming HERE.
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Categories: Interviews, Music, Revelator
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