Since forming in 1999, Croatian Death Metal group, Infernal Tenebra have evolved their sound with different members, instruments and sounds to create something their fans will enjoy. Here at RockRevolt, we like different and that is why Infernal Tenebra is our indie band of the week.
Who are you and what is your role in the band?
I’m Darko Etinger, vocalist and guitarist of Croatian based death/thrash metal band Infernal Tenebra. I’m also the executive producer for the last three albums, and write the lyrics for the band.
How did the band get started?
Infernal Tenebra started in 1999 and has evolved throughout the years. This change is easily traceable with a closer look at the sound of specific albums we released. Initially, on “Beneath the Twilight” (2001) the line-up consisted of Paolo Grizonic (bass), Daniel Biloslav (drums), Larry Sain (guitar), Enver Jurdana (vocals), Igor Jurisevic (guitar) and Alex Paoletic (keyboards). In 2003-2008 period Darko Etinger (vocals, guitars) and Sandi Orbanic (drums) joined the band and this new lineup released “The Essence Of Chaos” in 2007. In 2009 Ivo Petrovic (guitar) joines and we turn a new page preparing for “New Formed Revelations” (2012). In early 2013, entered drummer Sebastian Stell. This lineup is working on the upcoming “As Nations Fall” album. Recently, Viktor Sincic (bass) joined the band and I think this is the best lineup ever. The sound of Infernal Tenebra is a blend of modern and old-school death/thrash metal with progressive and melodic elements. It contains growl and clean vocals, virtuoso solos, interesting combination of rhythmic and melodic guitar and fierce drumming.
What does the name mean?
It basically means “shadows of hell”. We’re witnessing a turbulent and uncertain period of world history. The band’s name indicates the darkness that surrounds us, and reminds us to always be awake and alert. It reflects the world we live in.
Who are your influences and how do they play a role in your sound?
Our main influences include Death, Hypocrisy, Carcass but really, there’s a vast number of musicians we get inspired from. All the music we create surely has its roots in our influences. Having said that, we do not try to sound like them, but rather do things our way. Sometimes it is close to our roots, and sometimes our ideas take us to a complete opposite direction. We try to stay true to ourselves and just make music that we like.
What has been your most meaningful experience being in this band so far?
Well, we released two albums for Massacre Records, worked with some of the best producers in the world (e.g. Jens Bogren who worked with Amon Amarth, Kreator, At the Gates), had our artworks done by Gustavo Sazes (Arch Enemy, Sepultura, Firewind), played some big festivals (e.g. Bloodstock Open Air UK, Brutal Assault CZ) and toured Japan in 2014. Those are all great accomplishments, and it’s not easy to extract one, as they all represent a certain dimension of our career.
Favorite memory from a show you’ve played or a place you’ve travelled?
We really enjoyed touring Japan in 2014, with Rotting Christ and Havok. There’s so many crazy memories from that tour but one remains special. In Tokyo, the audience started chanting “Croatia, Croatia” somewhere in the middle of our show and it was really emotional. It’s also great to hang out with some bands on various occasions (e.g. with Gojira in Norway). We’re big metal fans, as you would expect, and being able to have a complete different view at the music scene is really extraordinary and it gives you the opportunity to learn something new and grow as a musician.
What do you hope to accomplish with your music?
First and foremost, we want to make the best possible music. As long as we have that spark that drives us, we’ll compose and play. We do not have expectations, and it keeps us fresh and we enjoy every accomplishment. We’d like to get to as much metal fans as possible and create a worldwide audience that really feels and enjoys our music.
Something about you that no one knows?
No one outside Croatia knows how hard it is to get to this level if you are coming from a country like Croatia. It looks like it’s not a big deal, but it is. We wouldn’t be here if we weren’t bleeding and working hard. Sometimes, when I look at certain bands from USA, Germany or UK, they act like spoiled little children. If they were to do music from Croatia, they would still be in their garage.
What is next for the band?
Our new album ”As Nations Fall” will be out on January 22, 2016 via Massacre Records. It’s mixed and mastered by Jens Bogren (Fascination Street Studios), and the artwork is designed by Gustavo Sazes. We feel that As Nations Fall is our strongest record to date, because it contains some of the best ideas we’ve come up with. There’s a great variety on the album, from extreme to melodic and clean, in a form that is cohesive and fluid. Building on the strong foundation of our previous album ‘New Formed Revelations’, we’ve enhanced the drumming parts, strengthened the interplay between guitars and widened the vocal arrangements. We’re already confirmed for some big 2016 festivals (e.g. MetalDays SLO) and we’re preparing ourselves to tour Europe and more. Pretty exciting times and lots of work waiting to be done.
Anything else you want to add?
I’d like to thank you for this opportunity, and I’m inviting all the fans of death/thrash metal genre to take a listen to our music and support the band. It means a lot to us, and we’d like to hear from you. See you on the road!
