Rising from the depths of the underground with an unrelenting and sinister presence, ArsGoatia channels a raw and uncompromising vision of black metal. Their sound blends ferocity with occult atmosphere, creating a sonic experience that feels both chaotic and deliberate. As they continue to sharpen their identity through recordings and live performances, their upcoming appearance at Underground for the Masses this April marks another step deeper into the abyss. Let’s to delve into the band’s origins, philosophy, and creative process.
DinIntunerec: Hello, thank you for getting on board with this interview and we can’t wait to have you with us soon in Romania. Can you tell us how ArsGoatia was formed and what brought the members together?
ArsGoatia: Ah, this is going to be great! We`re really excited- it`s the first time we`re playing live in Romania! We came together 2021. All four members of ArsGoatia come from the environment of the Funkenflug-Society, which also organizes the “House Of The Holy” festival in the Austrian Alps. We`re not a generic band, where everyone is lazy sitting in a different country. We are a real band that rehearses together every week. We are hard workers, none of us is just behind a fucking laptop sending files. For us, it`s about blood, fire and sweat!
DinIntunerec: The name “ArsGoatia” is very evocative and esoteric—what is the meaning behind it?
ArsGoatia: The band’s name is a coinage derived from the Ars Goetia, the book of Demons. Literally it means the “art of the horned, the summoning, that is of the devil…”. This is therefore fitting as a name, since our singer also owns over 50 goats! Nothing we do is contrived. We mean it with all our heart.
DinIntunerec: What were your main influences when starting the band? Have they changed over time?
ArsGoatia: Our main musical influences can be found across the entire spectrum of extreme metal. It starts with Venom and Sodom and it ends with Morbid Angel and Watain. We are always striving to develop the genre further and we`re open to all new influences. Our ambition, however, is conservative or traditional in the sense that we constantly strive to become better musicians. We push ourselves to the limit, sometimes we even surpass them. That is the kind of chaos and madness that we are seeking. We don`t play it safe. We leave our comfort zone and we claim to create a tension that oscillates between primitive naivety and sophisticated ingenuity! That sums it up well – and I think that is the original core of metal music as a whole.
DinIntunerec: How would you describe the core essence of ArsGoatia’s sound?
ArsGoatia: Our music is dark, organic and chaotic, but also catchy and furious! You can never be sure what will happen from one second to the next. Never feel too certain! That exact of unease is what we want to create in people.
DinIntunerec: Your album Agitators of Hysteria delivers a very aggressive and chaotic atmosphere—what was the concept behind it?
ArsGoatia: Our album is like our lives. Unexpected things happen and it´s better not to settle into comfort and safety. We are also living in a very turbulent time – certainties the felt guaranteed yesterday can already be worthless today. All of this is what we explore on Agitators Of Hysteria. The hysteria that shapes our lives is not abstract, it’s real and we confront that reality head-on.
DinIntunerec: Do your albums follow a continuous conceptual thread, or does each release stand on its own?
ArsGoatia: There is both a conceptual and a musical ambition. We want to get to the root of things, to call things by their name, to drag into the light what is hidden in the dark. Things that hurt, that are uncomfortable. At the same time, we have a strong musical drive: we want to evolve. We don’t want to deliver some retro bullshit or a generic product that AI could probably do better. What you get from us is real life, real people… a real band. Both live and on our albums.
DinIntunerec: What role does occultism or philosophy play in your lyrics and overall identity?
ArsGoatia: Occultism for us is one side of the same coin. On one side we have reality. The visible reality – we want to tear away the mask of this seemingly real illusion. On the other, there is the in-between-the hidden. In occultism we don’t stop ourselves either. We stare into our own abysses until the abyss stares back at us. And we try to get to the bottom of the totality of things.
DinIntunerec: Can you walk us through your songwriting process—from the first idea to the final track?
ArsGoatia: We write our songs together in the rehearsal room, focusing on the different strengths of each instrument and personality. There`s no point in applying theoretical songwriting to Black Metal – it just becomes generic, artificial and boring. We want to break boundaries. We don`t aim to redefine the genre, but to push into areas that might not be immediately obvious. Our songs should never be romantic, aesthetically pleasing, or melodic. Our songs should never lull you into a sense of security. They should shake you awake and unsettle you. That`s our goal in songwriting.
DinIntunerec: How important is atmosphere versus technicality in your compositions?
ArsGoatia: The atmospheric mood and the technical musical demand are also two sides of the same coin. We strive to push both sides forward, sharpening the extremes. Both have their impact and both are a way to the emotional connection to the listener.
DinIntunerec: You’re set to perform at Underground for the Masses this April—what can the audience expect from your live ritual?
ArsGoatia: You can expect four of their kind, insanely eager to perform their songs. You can expect full passion, risk, blood and stench. You can expect darkness and pure energy.
DinIntunerec: How do you approach translating your studio sound into a live setting?
ArsGoatia: Our studio recordings don`t differ much from our live performances. The basic tracks are also recorded live in the studio. That means there´s no click track, no auto-tune, no studio cheating. What you hear is who we are – we capture exactly that on our records! What will definitely be different live is the polish. Because energy matters live more to us than absolute perfection! If you`re looking for sterility, go listen to Prog Metal or Pop Music! With us, you get the real, raw live experience!
DinIntunerec: What is the main driving force which urges you to write music?
ArsGoatia: This isn`t a conscious choice – it´s an inner compulsion. We follow our instincts and live them out. It`s what drives us. And as long as this hunger isn`t satisfied, we`ll keep writing, keep standing on stages, and keep commenting on Life and Death!
DinIntunerec: What makes you more wired up: writing new music or performing life? What’s the best thing for you about performing live?
ArsGoatia: It’s all connected! It’s an organic process. When you write strong songs and create something extraordinary in collaboration with other artists, you have to bring it to the stage! A live concert is the ultimate test of the art you create. Are you capable? Can you translate this art into real world, away from the tools available in the studio, outside your safe space? Can you stand your ground at the front, deliver under harsh conditions?
DinIntunerec: What are your plans for the future—are there new releases or collaborations in the works?
ArsGoatia: Right now, we`re still focused on live shows – there are some incredible festivals and gigs booked! But we`re using our inspiration to write new material. We`re hungry. We`re eager for more!
DinIntunerec: Thank you for your time, any final words for our readers?
ArsGoatia: Life is too short to walk well-trodden paths. Seek risk, stay curious. High on devotion, low on regret! Higher, higher!
DinIntunerec: See you at Underground for the Masses soon!
With an uncompromising vision and a sound steeped in darkness, ArsGoatia continues to carve its path through the black metal underground. Whether through their recordings or their live manifestations, the band stands as a force driven by intensity, conviction, and a devotion to the arcane.
