Lecherous Nocturne

interview by - Tomasz Osuch

This band released one material in a mini album format so far. Lecherous Nocturne plays death metal in American way and currently these guys are preparing stuff for the debut full length album. Check Lecherous Nocturne mini album, I recommend you their first release and if you want more brutal music from them, you have to wait for the newest album, which is about to be released this year. Find a few important facts about Lecherous Nocturne below. I talked to Jason Hohenstein, the vocalist.

I have to admit that I know about Lecherous Nocturne thanks to Chief Spires. Shortly after that I checked your material and I decided to ask you about a few things. I guess there are more maniacs who would like to know something more about Lecherous Nocturne's first steps. Can you reveal the important facts about how you started with this band?

"I was living in Atlanta and playing with a band called Narcolepsy in '97. Christian and I had known each other for a couple of years, and I was basically just a hired gun for Narcolepsy. I did a few shows with them and one demo. They were looking for another guitar player, so I suggested that Christian come down and audition. He really wasn't into the music, and he showed me some of the music he was writing and asked if I'd throw down some vocals. I was very impressed, so I moved away from Atlanta shortly after and formed Lecherous with Christian."

Is your debut mcd the only one Lecherous Nocturne stuff done so far? Did you record/release anything other under this name during the past few years?

"We actually recorded a demo with another drummer and no bassist when we lived in Colorado. The drums are awful, and the production is even worse, so we just basically gave out a few copies to our friends. It's nothing to speak of really."

In your bio I read that Lecherous Nocturne plays extreme metal with influences from kinds of music like death, black metal and grind. I can't agree with it, for me Lecherous Nocturne plays very interesting death metal in American vein without any influences from other genres!

"I guess we just try to broaden our range a bit. Christian listens to a lot of black metal and I think the newer Lecherous Nocturne material has more of a black metal feel to it. We just don't want to be the ‘run of the mill' brutal death metal band. The vocals are varied in range, so I think that is where the other influences come in."

How can you describe the most relevant elements in Lecherous Nocturne music that can make that people can't be indifferent? I mean the most important things in band music in your own words...

"I just love the vibe I get from playing with these individuals. They constantly strive to improve and progress, and they don't allow themselves to get stagnant and lazy. We make music to please our own ears, but at the same time we are always trying to challenge the listener, as well as ourselves. I think as long as we keep doing that, then the music will be powerful."

In Europe Lecherous Nocturne isn't popular enough among the extreme metal fans yet. What is the response to your music in States?

"Well, we released the EP last March, and we haven't had any distro until now, but the response so far has been tremendous here. It took our CD a little while being in the underground for us to get some attention, but word of mouth and word of mouse go a long way. We also have a great connection in Eric from Darksoul7 Records. He believes in us and the music, so he tries to get the word out about us whenever possible."

I suppose that you are preparing stuff for the debut full length album. How is the progress?

"It's going very well. Christian and Chris are constantly writing, as am I. If you enjoyed the EP, then you'll definitely enjoy the full-length, as the music is improving by leaps and bounds."

You are the vocalist of Lecherous Nocturne and Shaitan Mazar. How could you compare the process of composing music in these bands? Is there an integral difference during the process of making the music in both of them?

"With Lecherous there are no vocal melodies. It's all extreme all the time, so I usually wait until the music has been written and then I arrange certain parts vocally. It's all about insanity and range. With Shaitan it's different. I can actually mess around with a melody while at rehearsal and work at it until I find something I like. I usually write my lyrics around how the song makes me feel. I can convey many emotions and moods in Shaitan Mazar. With Lecherous it's just anger, disgust and hatred."

It seems that there are really great and friendly relations in Shaitan Mazar, in Lecherous Nocturne too? Are you a group of friends almost since your childhood?

"As far as Lecherous goes, Christian has been my best friend for about 10 years now, and Chris Lollis for about 5. We all get along great and do other things together besides just playing in a band. Sometimes I forget just how great of musicians these guys are because we're such good friends. I've known Chief, John and Robert in Shaitan Mazar for years also, and I just met Brett Goode last year. They are all really great people to know and work with. I couldn't be any luckier than I am to get to play in two great bands with such great people."

Additional vocals in Lecherous Nocturne are done by Chris Lollis and in Shaitan Mazar by Chief Spires. Don't you feel at stake sometimes?

"Both of those guys are amazing vocalists in there own right, so I'm very happy to have them doing vocals also. I am always open to suggestions and their ideas are always good. They are two of the most talented vocalists I've ever heard and we actually have a really ambient, mellow project going with just us three doing acoustic music also."

What is Lecherous Music? Can you tell us a few words about it? Is this your own label which is taking care of Lecherous Nocturne only? What are your connections with Darksoul7 Records?

"It's something Christian and I started a couple years back just to try and get our music out, but eventually we would like to use it to help out some other bands which we like. Darksoul7 Records is handling our distro and helping us out in the label search."

Lecherous Nocturne's debut mcd has been released in really beautiful form, it happens very rarely that the first ever underground band's material is released in this way as a digi. Nice digipack includes 6 very interesting death metal songs on high level! Are you looking for the new label to release your next stuff? Any good offers, plans for this year?

"We have had a few really good offers from some well known labels interested in working with us, and we're still looking at those carefully. We want to go with someone who'll not only release our music, but also promote like crazy and put us on the road with quality bands."

The music on your mcd has some similarities to Incantation and Immolation sometimes. How can you recommend the music which your full album will contain?

"We all love Immolation immensely. I think they are one of the few bands who can consistently put out great albums. One of the heaviest bands alive. Vigna and Dolan are gods. I think that we'll always have some doomy aspects in Lecherous. I love the slow, evil sounding riffs."

Unfortunately I didn't have a chance to read your lyrics but I'd like to say that the titles just like "Horrorgasm", "Autoerotic Asphyxiation" are sounding intriguing. A few words in this matter please...

"Lecherous Nocturne is a sexual name, and some of our songs are about primal, sexual deviancy. When I write lyrics about some weird sexual fetish, or a multiple murderer, I always try to be somewhat vague and objective in my approach. I want people who read them to have to use their imagination to figure out what I'm trying to get across."

Thanks for the answers Jason and for the end I'd like to ask you about something else. Your surname sounds a little bit German. Is some part of your roots coming from this country?

"My grandparents on my father's side are from Germany. My mother's side is Norwegian. Thank you for the interview Tomasz...hopefully we'll be seeing you soon."

Lecherous Nocturne

interview by - Tomasz Osuch

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