Greece has never been short of death metal, but the members of Serement have chosen to let black metal’s more vicious impulses seep into the old-school foundations of their sound. Formed in 2022 by Andreas [vocals] and Manolis [guitars], formerly of Blessed by Perversion, they wasted little time putting their ideas to the test, releasing their debut album, “Abhorrent Invocations”, through Dolorem Records.
Following their first appearance in Romania, at Quantic, Bucharest, during the fifth day of QFest [2 October 2026], I sat down with both musicians to discuss the influences behind their music, the darker corners of their lyrics and the new material currently in the works.
Serement [2 October 2026]
© Art Through Photography
Andreas: Hello, thank you for listening to us.
Serement was an idea that came from Manolis and me. We wanted to continue making music together, but we also wanted to explore something different from the old-school death metal we had played before. We were interested in combining death metal and black metal, so we decided to give that idea a chance.
Why did you choose to combine these two genres?
Andreas: Since high school, we have always listened to different forms of metal, including death metal and black metal. We decided to bring these influences together in our own way. The music is primarily death metal, but we incorporate certain black metal elements that make the sound distinctive.
Every musician has some sources of inspiration. Which artists influenced your approach to the music?
Andreas: I’ll speak for myself first. I think my favourite band in metal, in general, is Deicide. My first influences also included classic death metal pioneers such as Morbid Angel, Cannibal Corpse and Obituary. Those bands were important to me when I first started listening to extreme metal. Later, I discovered more black metal, including Gorgoroth.
Manolis, what about you? Which artists have had the biggest impact on your music?
Manolis: Mayhem and Darkthrone, for sure.
My influences also include classic death metal bands such as Morbid Angel. As far as black metal is concerned, I am drawn to its more aggressive side. The atmospheric aspect has its place, of course, but we want to bring that aggression into our music, combined with the melodies that are characteristic of black metal.
That was particularly important for our debut album, “Abhorrent Invocations”. When it comes to the songs we are writing now, we may be moving a little closer to the classic death metal sound of the early 1990s or the late 1990s, with influences such as Incantation.
You formed Serement and released your first material in the same year. How did the creative process unfold?
Manolis: It was quite straightforward. Andreas and I wanted to continue making music together, and I already had ideas for the direction we wanted to pursue. I picked up my guitar, started writing riffs, and those riffs eventually became songs. That was basically it. There was nothing particularly complicated about the process.
On “Abhorrent Invocations”, the lyrics address religion, social and political matters, as well as fictional stories inspired by films. How do you decide which subjects are worth exploring in your music?
Andreas: Most of my lyrics deal with religion. We also touch upon political and social issues, and we write about stories that interest us, including those inspired by films.
For example, we have a song about Vlad the Impaler, or Dracula. We liked the idea and the film that inspired it, so we decided to write a song about it. I do not think horror needs to be separated from death metal. It can be part of an album just as naturally as any other subject that interests us.
You also included two songs originally released on your first EP, entitled “Deviation from God” and issued in 2022. Why did you decide to revisit them for the album?
Andreas: During the making of the album, we decided to change the guitar tunings. We wanted to give those two songs a different approach, so we reworked them using the new tuning.
The compositions and lyrics remained the same, but the tuning changed the way they sounded. That allowed us to include the songs on the album rather than leave them as a separate release.
You released “Abhorrent Invocations” through Dolorem Records, while Iron Blood and Death Corporation also contributed to its physical editions. How was the collaboration with these labels?
Andreas: The collaboration with Dolorem was great, and we had a pretty good deal. The album came out on CD through the label. Iron Blood and Death Corporation, a Mexican label, co-released the LP. It was a mutually beneficial collaboration, and both sides were happy with how everything turned out.
Let’s turn to your performance at Quantic. This was your first time playing in Romania. Did you have any expectations before taking the stage?
Andreas: We did not expect too much because we are still a small band and have only released our debut album. There were not that many people in the audience, but I think they enjoyed the show.
Judging by their reactions, we had a good time. The sound on stage was good, and we could hear everything clearly. That is not always the case in our home country, so we appreciated it. I think the performance went well, and we had a lot of fun.
Manolis: This was the biggest stage we had played on up to that point. Playing so early in the day, with a smaller audience, can feel a little awkward, but we enjoyed ourselves.
Which song did you enjoy playing the most in Romania?
Manolis: Probably the last one, the song about Dracula. It is relatively easy for me to play on guitar, and it has some groovy parts that allow us to connect with the audience. I felt that connection in Romania, and the energy came back to us.
Andreas: That song is also my favourite, at least for now. I usually feel more comfortable during the second half of a show. My voice warms up, and I think my vocals are better, so I tend to enjoy that part of the performance more.
You already have considerable experience in music. What have you learned about yourselves through playing together?
Andreas: We are 34, and we are still learning.
In Greece, you have to find a balance between work and your free time. We do not have much time to spare, so we make music because we genuinely love doing it. What we get out of the experience is the joy of playing live, releasing albums and escaping from our everyday routines.
I think music is our escape from reality, from our jobs and from the things we have to deal with every day.
How do you deal with disagreements within Serement?
Andreas: We communicate well, and we have had very few serious disagreements. Whenever something comes up, we try to find the best solution for the band and for everyone involved.
First of all, we are friends, and we enjoy each other’s company. We also understand that everyone has their own role within the band.
How do you divide those responsibilities?
Manolis: I write and compose the music. I bring the material to the others, and that is my main responsibility. I do not get involved in social media, though.
Andreas: He hates social media, so that is my job! I am mainly responsible for the lyrics, and I also take care of some of the social media work for the band. I try to do my best with those responsibilities.
The important thing is that we respect each other’s roles. Nobody tries to interfere with someone else’s work, and that is why things run smoothly.
You are also working on a new album. How far along are you with the new material?
Andreas: The songs are almost ready. We have only one track left to finish, and the composition and lyrics are already in place.
We would like to record the album in early 2027 and release it around May, although September is also a possibility. We are aiming for a release before or after the summer, depending on how everything goes.
Can you tell us something about the lyrical themes?
Andreas: The themes are largely similar, but we are focusing more on fictional criminal stories. Some of the lyrics deal with murder and the circumstances surrounding it.
I am also interested in exploring the psychological side of death: what a person might experience during the final hours of their life. Rather than concentrating on the physical horror or the splatter aspect, I want to examine the thoughts and feelings of a dying person. It is a more introspective approach.
Will the music follow the same direction, or can listeners expect any significant changes in the instrumentation?
Andreas: It will be pretty much the same. We will have aggressive drums and aggressive guitars. It is a simple, direct approach. What you hear is what you get.
While we wait for the new album, is there anything you would like to say to the people who listen to your music and support the band?
Andreas: Thank you to everyone who came to see us today, and to everyone who takes time out of their lives to listen to our music and appreciate what we do.
Hopefully, we will see everyone on the road over the coming years.
Thank you for your time. I hope our paths cross again!
