Vanguardian: "AI is inherently bad for composition or artwork. It is a soulless tool."
NOIRE: Hello Vanguardian, could you introduce yourself in a few words to my readers?
Vanguardian: Hello Spade, we are Vanguardian, a French black metal band that draws inspiration from what we enjoy in order to create what we want to create. We derive the bulk of our influences from the "raw" and "trve" sounds of the second wave of black metal.
NOIRE : In your press kit, you mention that your music is influenced by Mgła, Dissection, and Gorgoroth. Could you elaborate on this?
Vanguardian: Mgła, Dissection, and Gorgoroth exemplify an extreme musical violence, as well as a dedication to their craft that serves as an inspiration to us. We focus primarily on their compositional structures, blending them with other musical influences and our own individual creativity, in order to make our own contribution to the edifice of Black Metal.
NOIRE : There are four of you. Is this your first musical project? How did the idea to create Vanguardian come about?
Vanguardian: Each musician had prior band experience before the formation of Vanguardian, with the exception of Wyvern, for whom this is a first project. The idea to start the band came from Vehm.
The members knew each other to some extent beforehand, but we came together through a shared passion for black metal to create Vanguardian. Through powerful music, we aim to convey a strong message.
NOIRE : Your demo Burned was released in 2024 and already displays a distinct identity, featuring melodic riffs and martial backing vocals. Could you tell me about the songwriting process for this demo?
Vanguardian: The composition of Burned was primarily the work of Vehm, while HCNTM created his own rhythmic patterns based on the programmed drum tracks provided by Vehm. The Deceased and the Damned features a blend of riffs from both Vehm and Wyvern. Agoth joined our ranks permanently during the recording process and adapted his bass lines to the melodies of the tracks.
Our next release, Black Esoteric Warfare, will more clearly reflect a collaborative compositional style involving the entire band.
NOIRE : I really liked the cover art for this demo. It’s very DIY, with white pencil on blue paper. Simple, effective, and completely in the spirit of black metal. How important is it to create everything yourself in black metal? And what’s your take on bands that rely on artificial intelligence for their artistic direction?
Vanguardian: First of all, thank you for the compliment. In our view, Black Metal must be sincere, and creating work using one’s own resources is a reflection of that sincerity. It speaks to a unique, personal, and intimate touch. Given how we interpret our music, we cannot imagine any other way of doing things. While there is no inherent requirement to handle all the artistic work oneself, in such cases, it is best to bring in someone else, a friend, a professional, or both, who can contribute to the project in their own way.
AI is fundamentally ill-suited for composition or artwork. It is a tool that lacks both an artistic nature and a soul. We make a conscious effort to keep our distance and avoid using it.
NOIRE : Not long ago, I interviewed Merrimack, who remarked that modern black metal isn't avant-garde enough. Given that your sound and aesthetic are very old-school, I’d like to hear your take on this.
Vanguardian: We discovered Merrimack thanks to your page. We fully agree with your points. For one thing, we believe that modern Black Metal lacks sufficient avant-garde spirit, though, in our view, this stems from a "gentrified," or rather mainstream, version of the genre, designed to appeal to a general audience.
We feel this is characteristic of bands that fail to embrace a deeply rooted identity; instead, they rely on a constructed universe, essentially Power Metal hiding behind a Black Metal aesthetic, rather than channeling the lived experience of our era into their music. While music can certainly tell a story, without the infusion of genuine personal experience, it is impossible to forge legends.
NOIRE : In this digital age, how do you think one can remain underground?
Vanguardian: To keep things underground, we distributed a QR code, linked to an unlisted version of our demo on YouTube, ahead of our first public concert. For instance, Wyvern, who works at a CD and vinyl distribution company, would include a physical copy of the QR code in shipments sent to people who might be interested in the project.
NOIRE : You’ve already played a few shows to introduce your music across France, notably alongside Maladist and Coagulé. What are your initial impressions of these live performances as Vanguardian? Did you opt for any particular kind of stage presentation?
Vanguardian: Our initial experiences with live performances have been encouraging. During our shows in the south, we noticed a distinct level of enthusiasm from the audience, both in terms of the energy during the sets and the feedback we received afterward. The concert in Lyon featured a more reserved crowd, yet they were no less engaged, based on the reactions we gathered. Furthermore, sharing the bill with bands like Maladist, Moriibund, and Coagulé proved to be a great, unifying experience, and we look forward to building on that momentum.
Regarding the performances themselves, we are proud to have maintained a sound on stage that stays quite faithful to Burned. Stepping onto the stage was an exhilarating experience for us as musicians; appearing in makeup with a combative energy, and presenting our own compositions to an audience for the first time, only strengthened our resolve. As for our stage production, we plan to scale things up in the future, but for now, we are making the most of the resources at our disposal while staying true to the established aesthetic codes of Black Metal.
NOIRE : You are planning to release a new EP in early 2027. Will the tracks from the demo be included on this EP? Are you considering signing with a label, or do you intend to remain independent?
Vanguardian: Black Esoteric Warfare will consist of 4 new tracks, three of which we have already played live.
We intend to remain independent, but we are not closed to the idea of being approached by a label, provided that it proves advantageous for us.
Merci à Vehm et Vanguardian d'avoir répondu à mes questions.
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