ENCOMIUM #10/2024: Haliphron

From the Netherlands comes Haliphron, who have just released their new album, and I have to admit that overall it's a super captivating piece of art. So, I asked Ramon Ploeg (guitarist and founder) to talk about it and their outlook for the near future. Now read our conversation and enter the anatomy of darkness!!!

Metallic greetings to everyone in Haliphron! Your second full-length album, "Anatomy of Darkness", was recently released on Listenable Records. So what feedback have you gotten on it so far? Has the new album increased interest in the band in general?

- Heavy greetings to you too! All the feedback from day one till now is amazingly positive. Very happy so far and it increased the interest in Haliphron a little bit, yes.

Since both of your albums were released by Listenable Records, please tell us a little about your relationship with them. What type of contract did you have with them and how do they manage Haliphron these days?

- Well, because it's a little bit smaller label than the regular major labels, we have some more one on one attention. We are not a number, but a real band with people. They are very kind people and really love our band too.

The kind of black/death metal you play pretty much focuses on the dynamism and engrossment of those genres, with symphonic parts giving it an epic feel. How do you see this personally and how would you describe your music to readers?

- I personally should describe it more like death metal with symphonic influences. Absolutely not black metal. But everyone hears it with different ears and influences.

"Anatomy of Darkness" was recorded and engineered by Hans Pieters at Plug Unit Studio, while mixed and mastered by Andy Classen at Stage One Studio. Needless to say, the audio production is excellent in every possible way. How long did you work on it and what was it like working with Hans and Andy? Did everything go smoothly from the beginning?

- We wanted to go back to a 'real' studio this time. Our previous album "Prey" was recorded at our home studios during the pandemic, so we hadn't had the chance to go to a studio. But we wanted to go back to a more vintage 90's/2000's sound, so I contacted Hans and Andy. Both are old school engineer and mixer and worked with bands like After Forever, Gorefest, Legion of the Damned and Belphegor.

So I knew both guys from that period in time and liked their style. They are both very easy going guys to work with and you get all the space you need from them. From the moment of the first contact till the release it was very fine working with them!

The lyrical content is about the dangerous addictions and inner darkness of the human being. What inspired you to write about such topics? Who wrote the lyrics anyway? By the way, the slowly dissipating dark figure on the cover pretty much describes the essence and mood of your lyrics, doesn't it?

- Marloes is 100% responsible for the theme and lyrics. We had to have a new subject for this album and the idea was addiction. But not the 'normal' addiction people struggle with in life, but more the rare ones. So we have some tracks about addiction to cannibalism, serial murder, arson, painkillers and self-mutilation. We already have some feedback from fans that they were emotionally involved by hearing/reading some lyrics, because a friend of theirs had this addiction and can understand him better because of our lyrics. That's a huge compliment of course.

The dark figure on the cover (and back) represents the darkness (addiction) people can struggle with. Everyone has an inner darkness. But the question is what type of darkness and how to deal with it.

You play live as a five-piece, but there is also an auxiliary sixth member who is responsible for the choirs and keyboard parts on your albums. Why didn't he perform live with you? Anyway, is Haliphron the main priority for all members since some of them are also involved in Bleeding Gods, Dictated and Weapons to Hunt? How do you plan your concerts and tours?

- Yes, David Gutierrez Rojas is responsible for all the keys and choir arrangements. He performed live with us when we had our first shows, but he got a burn out and needed a break from traveling and live performing. Actually he was struggling with his own personal darkness. He's doing fine now, by the way! So that's good news.

How often do you have band rehearsals? Do you hang out together a lot, or is it not typical at all? Besides music, do you have time for other hobbies, if so, what are they?

- Actually we only rehearse before a show or hitting the studio. 25 years ago we all rehearsed on a weekly basis with our former bands. But the time came to stop doing that because of time management and experience in this band. Personally I only have my full time day job and Haliphron is my full time hobby. So I'm a busy bee.

The Netherlands has always had a huge and very diverse metal scene. How do you see this from the perspective of 2024? What are your personal favorites and top recommendations for readers?

- We have a very rich history of metal bands. Back in the day we had Sinister, Orphanage, Occult (now Legion of the Damned), Asphyx and Gorefest to name a few. We also have a huge representation of black metal like Ordo Draconis, Carach Angren and Asagraum and symphonic metal too like Epica, After Forever and Within Temptation. I think Haliphron is a mix and is inspired by all of the above, but suitable for this age in time.

The band was formed in 2021, so it is considered a fresh band, but you are quite fast in releasing studio albums, so the question is, is your third album expected in 2025? Have you made any new songs for it and what direction will they take?

- Well, I never sit still writing and composing new music, but no, there's not gonna be a new album in 2025. Because we only had one album, our live setlist was always pretty the same. We already had written some new material and talked to the label to do a new album release. Now we can put more variety in the setlists. It was the right time to do so.

- Thank you for all the support and we hope to visit your country in the future! Haliphron wishes you the very best!