DEKADENT
Answers by Artur Felicijan (guitar, vocals)
Q1. For readers who might not be familiar with you, would you please provide some background on yourself—where you’re from, when you formed, etc.?
Dekadent is an atmospheric extreme metal band from a small European country called Slovenia. What started as my solo project soon evolved into a full-fledged band, as I wanted to perform live. So far, we have released six albums and gone on several tours, and we will be celebrating our 20th anniversary in 2025.
Q2. Who are some of your primary influences?
The purpose of Dekadent has always been to create music that I felt was missing in the extreme metal genre. My influences come from various genres, as I like to integrate different styles into my compositions. That’s why, you might hear elements of Darkthrone, Morbid Angel, and even The Beatles in a single Dekadent song, although these nuances are very subtle. An average listener typically realizes quite quickly that we are not a typical black metal band.
Q3. Talk to us about the new album Dionyst: what was the writing and recording process like, what themes and sounds do you explore on the record, etc.?
My writing process is fairly quick, but it does take quite a bit longer to record and produce the album since we all have to get together to rehearse the parts to give the album that live-performance feel. For Dionyst we made extensive preparations, including a pre-production demo a year before the actual studio recording. By the time we were back in the studio, we were comfortable enough to experiment with arrangements and additional instruments, such as French horns and various percussions. All in all, we wanted a massive and natural sound with orchestrations that would further emphasize the mythological and esoteric side of Dekadent’s Dionyst.
Q4. Do you have a favorite song from the album, or is there one song you’d highlight as the best introduction to Dekadent and why?
When we finished the album, the song Zastor quickly became my favourite, as it showcased our unique qualities and the overall prowess of the band. At the same time, it is fairly easy to get into the melodic parts and has a nice momentum to it.
Q5. Did you/do you have any touring plans in support of the album and if so, what were/are they?
We did some initial live shows after the release, and we plan to return live in early Spring of 2025. The metal scene is extremely saturated, and it is very difficult to get good touring options. As mentioned earlier, 2025 will mark 20 years of Dekadent, so we will try to play some individual shows and probably jump onto a couple of short tours in Europe.
Q6. Are there any other future plans for the band at the current time?
We might do another video for the current album, while I am already putting together a follow-up for Dionyst. We have to prepare for the upcoming shows, do some merchandise and stuff like that. Most importantly, we want to get together, enjoy playing music and hang out. We cherish our friendship and want to ensure that it remains strong at the end of the day.
Q7. What was it that made you want to pursue making music in the first place?
I grew up in a musical family, attending music school and listening to rock bands from the 60’s and 70’s. As a result, getting involved in music felt natural to me. Over time, I realized that creating music was the ultimate catalyst for expressing my emotions and feelings, especially when I discovered extreme genres such as death and black metal.
Q8. Do you have any parting words for the readers?
Recently, I've found myself with fewer opportunities to truly immerse in an album from start to finish. The simple pleasure of sitting down with the physical copy and reading through the lyrics in the gatefold or booklet has become a rare treat. Answering these questions got me the chance to revisit a couple of awesome LPs. I kind of forgot just how rewarding that is in this age of music platforms. Thanks for that!