Alae Noctis: The Monsters, Madness and Magic Interview
Not too long ago, I wrote an article entitled The Power of The Night: Monsters and Macabre Melodies exploring the connection between horror films, hard rock and heavy metal. A connection that has seemingly diminished over the years. Fortunately for us here at Monsters, Madness and Magic and all of you, a revival of these retro-rituals is in full swing. As the need for nostalgia rises, we find ourselves looking to the past for reminders of a simpler time.
In 1998, one of the stewards of the Synthwave movement was stirring in Cartagena, Spain. Alae Noctis was founded by singer and guitarist Diego “Noctis” and drummer Daniel Garcia. Their blending of retro/dark wave synth with the classic ‘80s riff is sure to send anyone marching, in pide-piper-like possession, on a trip down memory lane. In 2008, Alae Noctis would release their self-titled debut album, a mixture of techo, synth, and electro influences.
Recently, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Diego Noctis of Alae Noctis to discuss their 2016 release Slasher released via Stormspell Records. For those with a taste for horror and the yearning for the tunes of the youth gone wild, it is a must-buy.
J.R: First off, we at Monsters, Madness and Magic would like to thank you all again for agreeing to do this interview.
A.N.: Hi everyone! Thank you! It´s our pleasure!
J.R.: Alae Noctis has been active in the retro revitalization since 1998; however, it seems lately there's been a resurgence of interest in retro/darkwave music and traditional heavy metal in general, as artists active in this movement, what do you attribute this to?
A.N.: Well, I would say that, for those who were teenagers in the eighties, or children in our case, the nostalgia factor is essentially the main reason. The more time passes, the more you miss your years of youth and greater vitality, and somehow, you need to have a connection with the person you once were. On the other hand, it may be possible, that the generations that came later and did not experience that, feel curious and find that decade as something attractive.
J.R: Your album Slasher was released in December of 2016 on Stormspell Records. With a title and cover featuring obvious nods to Friday the 13th and A Nightmare on Elm Street, I'm curious, what are some of your favorite Slasher films?
A.N.: Let´s say for example "A Nightmare On Elm Street" (Parts I, III, IV), "Halloween" (I, II) or "Friday the 13th" (Part VI). The "Scream" saga is also cool, but all that came later. All these films are iconic for us, and when we started working on the artwork for the "Slasher" album, we wanted to introduce elements that made references to the classic Slasher movies as a tribute.
We thought it was a good idea for the main character to wear a Jason Voorhees mask and Freddy Krueger's glove. In the original sketch, the killer was holding Michael Myers' knife in his other hand, but the result did not represent Myers well enough,and the guy couldn't wear two masks. Michael had to be there at all costs and the illustrator had an idea that very few people have noticed. The girl grabbed by the murderer is none other than Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis), so in this case, "The man behind (Jason's) mask" is really Michael Myers.
J.R: To build from that last question a bit, in the past there was a strong and present, almost palpable connection between horror and hard rock/ heavy metal. You can see examples like Leatherwolf in Return of the Living Dead II, Dokken in A Nightmare on Elm Street III: Dream Warriors, and countless other classics. Are there any horror movie songs or soundtracks that have stuck with you over the years?
A.N.: Haha, absolutely! Precisely, you mentioned the seeds that originated Alae Noctis. It was because of "The return of the Living Dead " (parts I and II) that I discovered bands like 45 Grave, The Damned or The Cramps. The bands that led me to Deathrock, Horror punk and the 80´s Goth / Darkwave scene. I remember when I discovered "Autograph" in "Fright Night", W.A.S.P. with that great "Scream Until you like it" in "Ghoulies II" and Leatherwolf´s "Alone in the Night" is a great example of this.
Of course, Dokken´s "Into the Fire" and "Dream Warriors" in "A Nightmare on Elm Street III" introduced millions of people to the Hard Rock and Heavy Metal scene of the '80s, us included. At that time, obviously, YouTube did not exist, and a good trick to discover new bands was to check the closing credits of this movies.
J.R.: Alae Noctis has mastered the art of the Retro Riff with songs such as "Murder One" and "Evil Ways", can you talk a bit about how evoking the emotion of the eighties guides your creative process?
A.N.: Well, first off, when you analyze a typical 80´s guitar riff, you should realize that they "didn't usually" use as much distortion as they do today. Not even the most extreme bands of that time. Slayer, for example, used as much distortion as they later did in the '90s. To build eighties guitar riffs, we studied carefully bands that worked in both the '70s, 80s and 90s analyzing what had changed in them from one period to another. The tune and tempo they used to build their riffs. Once you understand and internalize these aspects, the riffs flow naturally.
J.R.: Slasher is an amazing album with equally impressive artwork, but it has been nearly four years now since it's release. Can fans of Alae Noctis expect a new album anytime soon?
A.N: Well, it is sad to say this, but these times are good for some but difficult for others. We recorded a lot of new songs between 2017 and 2019; however, it is not easy to find places to offer a good show, and bands nowadays are not paid well. Recording an album is an expensive process, and that delays everything a lot. The good news is that the new stuff will be released very soon.
J.R: Again, we can't thank you guys enough for your time and consideration.
A.N: Greetings to Monsters, Madness and Magic! It´s always a pleasure! Thank you!!
Thanks to Diego Noctis of Alea Noctis and go buy your favorite bands’ albums and merchandise, folks. If we want them to continue to record and release material, we as fans have to do our part as well.
