Chambercraft is a one-man Metal band from Northern Ireland. Its mastermind Sam Best focuses his project in the dark side of the music, making “Evil Heavy Metal”. This is the first time I heard that term, but the results are indisputably great; “Chambercraft demo 03” and his most recent effort “Delirium demo 04”are two “future underground classics”. With a wide range of influences from Thrash, Heavy to Black Metal Chambercraft shows to us its incredible talent and obscure vision.

BB: First I would like to thank you for concede us this interview. Can you tell us about your project’s beginnings?

SB: As soon as I could afford a decent four-track I wrote and recorded 5 songs.  These songs were the first I had ever written and I didn’t think enough of them to even consider the CD as a “release”.  But after a few favourable opinions I decided to call it “Chambercraft: Demo” and the rest, as they say, is history.

BB: What is Chambercraft doing nowadays? 

SB: Preparing a full album, all in good time.

BB: You define your music as “Evil Heavy Metal”, but it’s pretty much into the Black Metal parameters, specially “Delirium”, why you decide to keep Chambercraft away of this classification?

SB: A few people can make the argument that “Chambercraft isn’t strictly Black Metal”.  That’s fine by me Chambercraft is Chambercraft, nothing more nothing less.  If I call it “evil heavy metal” then absolutely no one can argue otherwise.  Keeping the Black Metal tag at a distance also gives me more creative scope and sets me aside from a few other one-man projects out there. 

BB: Your music changes a lot between “Chambercraft” demo’03 and “Delirium” demo’04. And your musical “evolution” was pretty uncommon, from Thrashy, Black, Heavy Metal to straight raw Black Metal. Why was that?  

SB: With “Chambercraft: Demo” I was finding my feet.  I had never written or recorded songs before, I was 19 years old and quite naïve so my influences show up from miles away, Slayer, Darkthrone, COF etc.  “Delirium” was a much more focused and deliberate effort, I took time to think exactly how I wanted it to sound.  The brutality and atmosphere are more cohesive (as opposed to the separate sections on the first demo) and the whole thing has a twisted insanity to it that will, I’m sure become quite a Chambercraft hallmark.

BB: What do you think is the main difference between “Chambercraft” and “Delirium” besides of the obvious musical differences?

SB: Aside from bout 13 months more experience in song writing and some slightly better recording equipment I think “Chambercraft” became a deliberate co-product of my mind rather than an unexpected by-product.  The difference in cover art between the two demos tells that story.  The first demo cover is a black and white photo I took of a dead bird hung up to scare away other birds… found by chance but inherently necro.  The cover of “Delirium” on the other hand is completely different.  It’s an oil painting in vivid blue colour of light shining through some stark and bare tree trunks.  I can’t explain quite why, but it’s ten times darker for the use of colour and came straight from my mind rather than a photo of a chance find…  “Evil” does not have to be “Black”.

BB: How was the reception of your last demo “Delirium” worldwide?

SB: Worldwide reception has been good, everyone seems to see potential in the project.  I’ve had some good feedback from Chile in particular since “Holy Grail” got played on Miguel Ramirez’ “La Fuerza De Acero” radio show.  I’m pleased with what’s happened so far and although I don’t quite have the money and resources yet to make the impact I want, who knows what the future holds.

BB: Your posture is evil and uncompromised… What do you think about proselytism (political or religious) in music?

SB: It is of course fantastic to have an underlying message to one’s music but I find myself infuriated with bands that put their religious or political messages ahead of their music.  If prozelytism is ones aim then perhaps a career in religion or politics would accomplish more than a T-shirt selling “band” website full of swastikas or religious rhetoric, yet another reason to distance myself from the “Black Metal tag”.

BB: The production of “Delirium” is far better than “Chambercraft”. What were the differences between both production processes?

SB: “Chambercraft: Demo” was recorded on a cheap 4-track whereas “Delirium” was recorded on a cheap 8-track.  All musical instruments were exactly the same for both demos, the guitar being the only instrument worth jack shit.

BB: Talking about production, I guess you are the owner of Panzer 6 Productions… Am I right? Do have some other band or project under Panzer 6 Production? 

SB: Panzer 6 Productions is a tag I put on my first musical release.  It’s really a self-indulgent signature of sorts but it leaves all sorts of possibilities open for the future so I put it on all of my demos. At the moment there are no other bands under Panzer 6 Productions though.

BB: Have you received some offer from some “big” label?

SB: No

BB: What are your sources of inspiration?

SB: Inspiration comes from everywhere.  I have a very musical brain, It’s always feeding me tunes in some form or another.  The other thing about my brain is that it’s too fucking dark for it’s own good… that makes me very grateful for metal, especially death and black metal.  I don’t feel as isolated and autistic as I did before I was introduced to metal.  “Chambercraft” is basically therapy through creation, with metal as the chosen medium.

BB: Can you tell us about the concepts behind your both demos?

SB: There is only one goal I hope to achieve with any “Chambercraft” material and that is to provide a palpable sense of darkness and evil for whoever presses the play button.  Like I said earlier the first release was driven by influence and the second release was much more focused and deliberate.  I like to believe I accomplished my goal with both demos.

BB: What bands influenced the sound of Chambercraft?

SB: Slayer, Cradle of Filth, Darkthrone, Emperor etc.  There are lots of other influences that aren’t so apparent though.  I’m a big Nine Inch Nails fan and I also like some of the darker and more sinister electronic music out there.  I apply to “Chambercraft” what I learn from anything that sounds truly menacing really.

BB: What bands are you listening nowadays?

SB:      Bathory: Under The Sign of The Black Mark

Deftness: White Pony

Gorgoroth: Pentagram

Hexxed: Perish the Sacred demo

Leviathan: The 10^th Sublevel of Suicide

Mastodon: Leviathan

Primordial: The Gathering Wilderness

Prodigy: Music for the Jilted Generation

BB: When can we expect new material from Chambercraft?

SB: 2006, I may chuck out an Mp3 before then to keep appetites whetted.

BB: Thanks again for this interview.  Is there anything else you want to add to this interview?

SB:      Thanks to everyone who enjoys “Chambercraft” for your support.

Thanks to Metalireland.com

Thanks of the highest order to all the ‘Van Crew.