Blood Chalice play a brand of brutal satanic blacked death metal. The band four-piece were formed in 2015 in Pori, Satakunta on the western coast of Finland. The line-up features T-P.I.-Bass,VP.L. Drums H.V.-Guitars, Vocals,P.H.-Vocals. I was rather taken by their second full The Blasphemous Psalms of Cannibalism, which appeared on Werewolf Records this year- as it embraced seared intensity, but also moments of prime-evil atmospherics. I tracked down the band’s vocalist/ guitarist H.V for an email interview.

M[m]: I believe Blood Chalice formed back in 2015- how did you all first meet, why did you decide to form the band, and did the band have a mission statement from the off?

H.V: Blood Chalice was formed in 2015 when P.H and VP.L were playing on a band called Retaliatory Measures and wanted to make a more violent form of music. Soon they asked me to join in since they have seen me playing live many times with my thrash metal band and P.H knew about my black metal past. We knew T-P.I was a great bass player and asked him to join soon after and the line-up was complete.

M[m]: The band's first release was a 2016 demo- how would describe the sound on this first release?, and would you like to see it get a reissue down the line?

H.V: I was in charge of recording, mixing and mastering that recording - so it became quite raw. Hah. But then again it suited our music well so I don't see a reason why it should Be reissued.

M[m]: Your debut album came in the form of 2017 Sepulchral Chants of Self-Destruction- a bludgeoning blacked death attack, with none of the tracks running above the three-minute making for a truly intense ride. How difficult was it to balance the album mix of intensity and satanic unease?

H.V: The first album was a continuum of the demo as most of the songs were made at the same time. It all came naturally, and the recording sessions were short and effective.

M[m]: Your sound sits in both death metal and black metal- who do you see as your peers within the Finish scene?

H.V:I think we are Black Metal band more than anything else. There are two important Finnish bands from the past that have inspired us - Beherit and Archgoat.

M[m]: You’ve recently released your follow-up album The Blasphemous Psalms of Cannibalism on Werewolf Records. Please discuss over what period of time was the record penned/ develop?

H.V: We started to make new songs soon after the first album but didn't haste on making the second album. Songs came one by one over the years as me, VP.L and T-P.I managed to make them. P.H was in charge of the lyrics.

M[m]: How did you come to sign with Werewolf Records?

H.V: We wanted to change the label since the previous one didn't quite meet with our expectations. As the opportunity to join Werewolf Records became possible it was an easy decision.

M[m]: The Blasphemous Psalms of Cannibalism is just as satanically intense as your first album- though it features more shifts in pace, and a keener blackly wonky/ unease atmospherics. Did the material naturally develop this way, or was a deliberate move?

H.V: We wanted to expand the borders of our music into more chaotic state where the listener doesn't know what to expect next.

This was also a natural progression on our music but an intentional one too.

M[m]: The Blasphemous Psalms of Cannibalism also features a more dynamic/ layered use of vocals- is it just P.H still handling all the vocals, or are you all involved?

H.V: I've been on vocals too - from the beginning. But yes, P.H has more variation to his vocals as I do the most high end screams. On few parts w do vocals at the same time to create more chaotic atmosphere.

M[m]: Track number seven Celestial Destroyer has this great ritual industrial-like stretch- would you like to add more sonic ritual elements to you sound?

H.V:If they fit into our music I don't see why not. The sound you probably are referring was actually played live as well by VP.L.

He has an actual hammer for that

M[m]: The album's final track finishes on a harsh noise finale- are any of your fans of any fact of the noise genre?

H.V:I don't think any of us is into that genre but from time to time we want to make most chaotic atmosphere possible - and I guess our music becomes more like noise at that point.

M[m]: The album features a wonderful blasphemy cover art of a nude old nun pissing herself while biting into a baby on a blacked altar. Who created this, and how much input did the band have to its creation?

H.V: Actually, that's a virgin Mary who just gave birth to baby jesus and is now feasting on his flesh. Idea came from P.H and was executed by an artist called pahapasi. He did the first album cover too.

M[m]: I really like the murky anti-religious college work throughout the booklet for The Blasphemous Psalms of Cannibalism- who did this?

H.V: The layout is conjured by an artist called SG.7. Some might know him by different name from many Finnish Black metal bands etc. He did really spectacular job - as expected.

M[m]: The inner picture of the band is wonderful and explicit/ over the top- have you ever considered doing a music video?

H.V: No, not really. We are more live band than anything else. Maybe another live DVD or something like that would suit us better.

M[m]: Are you planning to tour with the album, and if so can you give us details?

H.V: We have some plans, but nothing is confirmed yet. So no. I can't give any details yet. We shall see what next year brings to us.

M[m]: For those who haven’t experienced Blood Chalice in a live set, could you please describe your stage set-up?

H.V:  Describing our show would kind of ruin it - you have to witness it for yourself!

M[m]: What’s next for Blood Chalice?

H.V: Blasphemy, lunacy and fornication.

M[m]: What has recently impacted you in the last few months- be it music, film, literature, or art?

H.V: State of the world - what a time to be alive!

Thanks to H.V for his time and effort with the interview. The Blasphemous Psalms of Cannibalism is available on Werewolf Records. The band’s Facebook can be found here https://www.facebook.com/bloodchaliceofficial/ Photo credits: Sami Teeri