Into The Dark Atmosphere & Esoterics That is Mephorash

In the ever-evolving abyss of Black Metal, few bands operate with the spiritual conviction and ritualistic intensity of Sweden's Mephorash. Since their inception back in 2010, they have meticulously crafted a body of work that is as musically complex as it is theologically profound. Their art transcends mere entertainment, functioning instead as a sonic gateway into the esoteric mysteries of the Qliphoth and the Left-Hand Path. With their latest magnum opus, Krystl−Ah, serving as another formidable step in their journey, the band continues to solidify their position as masters of atmosphere and architects of spiritual dread. We are honored to have the opportunity to delve behind the veil and discuss the currents that shape their formidable craft.

FMP: Your latest album, Krystl−Ah, feels like a new chapter. How does its conceptual and musical framework build upon or deliberately diverge from the vast narrative of Shem Ha Mephorash?

M.M.: That is correct, it is meant to stand out as a new chapter in both musicality and overall essence as it pertains to thematic constructs and style. Krystl−Ah does start off with the same chanting as Shem Ha Mephorash ends and that is both to indicate the start of this new chapter of ours but also to show that echoes of our previous work does linger throughout every new step we take on this evolutionary road of musical artistry. So in short, the best way to answer your question would be…it does both in a form of unusual harmony.

FMP: The title Krystl−Ah itself is evocative and enigmatic. Could you elaborate on its specific meaning and its significance as the vessel for this collection of songs?

M.M. - In short; Krystl−Ah in itself is meant to be a symbiosis of a myriad of conceptual frameworks. It is a collection of aspects on the perfected or “crystallized” mindset of Christ-consciousness framed by the “AH” mantra of Buddhist meditation practice to complete a connection to the act of speaking purely and thus giving to birth “the forbidden name of man”, or “AH”.

This however is a very short and broad way of describing it but it is meant to tell a story. Both the album and the song itself is meant to tell a story of self-discovery through finding a path through one’s inner workings with consciousness elevation. It is (as seen above) a journey towards the ultimate ascendant state of mind, the so called “Christ -consciousness”. This journey of inner awakening is meant to concentrate, distill or coagulate the conscious mind into a crystalline version of itself. A version fully evolved to grasp the true name of man itself. A name that rings true to every person born into the physical world; “AH”. This being the first word we utter as we exit the womb as a newborn child and by it also being the mantra of sound and creation, it made me think of the first chapter in the new testament (John 1:1):

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God”

This made me sure that this album was going to be all about the creative spirit at its finest. Forged in birth and perfected through strife in the name of the Krystl−Ah.

FMP: The Qliphoth is a central pillar of your work. For the uninitiated, this can be an imposing concept. How do you approach translating such a complex esoteric system into the language of music and lyricism?

M.M.: In our earlier years. Yes. The Kabbalah and Qliphoth were our main sources of lyrical inspiration and in terms of how we went about it, it was a very natural process of reading all the literature we could get our hands on and then…well… it’s a hard thing to describe. The inspiration itself came from the atmospheric aspects of the rituals described within many of the books and through meditating on the significance of the demons and angels mentioned within the pages. We simply wanted to make a channeling gateway for those mystical currents through the process of creating our own form of rituals framed by a lot of disharmonic chords and lyrics that matched that same vibe.

FMP: When describing the genesis of a Mephorash composition, does a lyrical theme or a specific sigil dictate the musical direction, or does a musical atmosphere arise first and call forth its spiritual counterpart?

M.M.: That is a difficult thing to answer. In a way yes, there is a certain evolution that can be traced back through the albums wherein one can see a pattern taking shape. A pattern based off of personal evolution throughout the founding members of Mephorash. When we were younger and more naïve, we simply wanted to walk alongside the big names of the black metal scene by making dark, satanic and partly qliphotic inspired tunes of raw black metal. As the time went on though, we started to find our footing and in a way… ourselves. This eventually led us to explore and try new things so that the sound of Mephorash could be born in its totality. This maturing led us through the creation of the later albums leading up to Krystl-AH.

FMP: Your live performances are renowned for being immersive rituals. What is the primary intention behind your use of elaborate vestments, masks, and stage props? What specific state of mind or consciousness do you aim to induce in both yourselves and the audience?

M.M.: The garments we wear and the ritualistic atmosphere we bring with our stage props are two edges of the sword we swing in our magical performances. We use the altar with its corresponding items upon it to both emphasize the context of certain songs but also to bring one’s mind into that atmosphere of the general “black magic ritual” as seen all over popular culture. The well-known theme of the “satanic” vibe does act like an extended cultural meme to help the audience to experience something more gripping than simply standing there and performing. This in turn, as we get the audience in the right mindset, also makes the sensations we experience even more… real. It really does transport the mind into a realm of its own and lets every participant, be it in the audience or on stage, let go of the outer mundane and corporeal world, if only for a moment.

FMP: The anonymity provided by your stage attire seems crucial. How does obscuring your personal identities help in channeling the essence of Mephorash? Is it a form of ego-death to become a purer conduit for the message?

M.M.: In terms of anonymity, we don’t strive to hide who we are in its entirety. Whenever not on stage, we all wear matching biker-vests to signify our ”allegiance” if you will, to Mephorash as an entity. So, there is no question about who is who in that regard, but the moment we step on stage then yes, then the anonymous nature is necessary to truly convey the message purely, untainted by the personalities behind the masks. We feel that, to perform a magical act like we do, we need to disconnect from who we are whenever on stage to truly bring out “Mephorash” as an abstract concept instead of a congregation of guys just playing instruments in front of people.

FMP: Having formulated your name and then further naming your 2019 album Shem Ha Mephorash, co-opting a sacred name from Kabbalistic mysticism for a darker purpose. What was the philosophical reasoning behind this, and how do you define your relationship with that specific current of power?

M.M. – One could classify this choice of naming as simply; making ourselves manifest through digging through our own roots. It was a way of touching upon what made us “us” in the first place. We initially got our name from finding the word “shemhamphorash” as part of a ritual found in the Satanic Bible by Anton Lavey. This word or “uttering” fascinated us and by later picking it apart into its loosely translated constituents we made the choice to cut it up and simply go with the latter part of the original sentence “Shem Ha Mephorash” (Meaning “The forbidden name of god”). So, by bending the grammar somewhat, one could take the word Mephorash and find it translating into “hidden”, "forbidden” or even “occult” which we felt a better connection to as a name.
This certainly proved to be the right course of action since the themes throughout our discography touch upon a variety of occult themes and concepts, and all of them… Occult.

FMP: Your sound is incredibly layered, often incorporating chants, bells, and other non-traditional elements. How much of this is meticulously planned in the studio versus born from spontaneous inspiration during the recording process?

M.M.: Yes, our soundscape is a product of this evolution mentioned prior. The way we choose to incorporate these different kinds of sacral, esoteric or even religious elements is mainly something that we figure out in a more spontaneous manner. It’s a result of experimenting as we go for the most part.

FMP: Looking back to your first album, 2011’s Death Awakens, how has the band's core spiritual and musical mission evolved? What do you know now that you didn't understand then or were there always a set path that you chose to embark on?

M.M.: The best way I could answer that question would be; not at all. We started this journey as two 13-year-old kids with a dream of making our lives better through artistry and music. That journey took us from a little rehearsal room in a small village to a massive stage in front of 10,000 people, roaring our lyrics back at us. We have made an incredible journey and I’m proud of the fact that, even though we grew in popularity, it never changed our core beliefs. Our passion to simply create music and perform for anyone who might want to listen, be it 10 or 10,000.

In terms of things we have learned though, I couldn’t even begin to describe the multitudes of insights one gets by growing as a musician.

FMP: How does the creative dynamic function within the band? Is there a central visionary who provides the framework, or is the process more of a collective, symbiotic creation?

M.M.: The creative process used to be a collective effort, forged in the rehearsals (Death Awakens - Chalice Of Thagirion) but has since 2014 and the release of 1557 – Rites of nullification been a two man endeavor. We made a choice to concentrate the creative process on the two main- and founding members; Mashkelah M’ralaa and Mishbar Bovmeph. In this lineup Mishbar is the musical composer and Mashkelah the one creating the concepts, themes and lyrics.

FMP: The Swedish black metal scene is legendary. Where do you see Mephorash's place within that lineage? Do you feel a kinship with its history, or do you view your work as something separate from it?

M.M.: One could claim both in this case. We started out as followers of the black metal scene and wanted nothing more than to be a part of this dark genre. However, this eventually faded as we started to explore the horizons of our capabilities and now feels more like; part of our history but slowly fading for every new song we make.

FMP: The term "Orthodox Black Metal" is often used to describe bands focused on theistic or spiritual Satanism and Luciferianism. Do you feel this label accurately describes Mephorash, and what does the term mean to you?

M.M.: Honestly, it doesn’t mean much to me at all. We have for some time tried our best to not adhere to any form of title like this one. The term “Orthodox Black Metal” does echo that Luciferian and satanic vibe in both name and often sound. When it comes to the relation Mephorash holds to this concept, I would be avoiding the most integral part of our core philosophy which is that; we never define ourselves with any titles other than our own name. We are and will forever be Mephorash and if people find us fitting into any kind of “box” then that is totally a subjective thing on their part which we of course encourage for the sake of personal involvement in our creative process.

FMP: You often collaborate with other artists, such as the vocal features on Shem Ha Mephorash. How do you choose your collaborators, and what do they bring to the ritual that you couldn't achieve alone?

M.M.: We tend to see Mephorash as a collective, where we as members work together with the audience to make something more than just songs. We try to create something akin to a religious experience and to bring in other talents from different bands and parts of the scene, not to mention the world, enriches the world we are trying to make by an unfathomable amount. To hear new voices frame our compositions and choirs assist our chants makes us feel… bigger…more. The more people who want to contribute, the more we can collectively grow in the name of Mephorash.

FMP: What are some of the greatest challenges in translating the dense, atmospheric quality of your studio albums into a raw, live setting? What is inevitably lost if anything, and what new energy is gained?

M.M.: One could say that; nothing is lost and all is instead gained. I’ve always felt that our live performances add to the soundscape with the involvement of the other senses. It also makes the connection between performer and audience a genuine and more tangible thing. Sure, one can absolutely feel what we are trying to convey through simply listening to our music but to attend a live performance is something that will truly make you see what we are all about.

FMP: As one chapter closes with Krystl−Ah, another will inevitably begin. Without revealing too much, what new territories—be they musical, conceptual, or spiritual—do you foresee Mephorash venturing into in the future?

M.M.: Well…there will definitely be more raw emotions dealt with in our upcoming work. It will be an even bigger step into the unknowns of the music we want to create. There will also be a completely new conceptual theme which will, much like Krystl−Ah, build upon its predecessor.

So, to give another little cryptic final clue… keep an “I/eye” out for what is to come.

– Mashkelah M’ralaa

We extend our deepest gratitude to Mephorash for sharing their time and providing such profound insight into their world. Their work continues to be a piercing light for those who walk the path of shadows, a testament to the power of music when aligned with an unwavering will and spiritual devotion. We urge our readers to immerse themselves in their discography and witness the ritual firsthand should the opportunity arise.

If you would like to know more about Mephorash and keep up to date on what they are up too, then click here. or follow them on Instagram.

If you want to hear more of their music or if you want to get some of their merch you can head over to their website.