Piercing The Veil of Mystery: An interview with π of Empeiria

We are going to travel into the rich lands of Germany, a country that is bolstered by many great Black Metal bands such as Kanonenfieber or Endstille. With many other bands that dwell within the realm of obscurity here, it is no wonder that we are pulled into the murky shadows with Empeiria. This German Black Metal duo who have truly forged their Genesis that stretches and have truly Made their presence felt with their debut album "The Ascent: Szenen der Katharsis" that was released under Vendetta Records on June 6th 2025.

The German duo, known only by the Ancient Greek symbols of π and η which represent mathematical formulas, represent a compelling force of contemporary Black Metal. Their sound is an intricate tapestry woven of furious intensity, but equally rich with cutting melodies and haunting choral-like chants that help to build and produce a pervasive atmospheric sorrow. Drawing the inspirations from the damp cold and often brutal essence of Scandinavian extreme metal, Empeiria was able to transcend with their musical prowess the often strict confines of the genre that forges a unique expression through raw enriched sulfurous hymns.

So together, let us pierce the veil of shrouded mystery as we peer into the murky shadows that is Empeiria. We sit down and attempt to uncover the philosophical conceptualizations behind the project, their creative elements and soundscape with what influences they draw from, their future plans and look at their creative process a bit. So without any more delay, Let’s dive in shall we.

FMP: Given your decision to remain anonymous as π and η, what is the primary motivation behind this choice? Is it to focus solely on the music, to enhance the mysterious atmosphere, or something else entirely such as freeing you in ways that public identities might restrict?

π: Empeiria is an artistic project – focused on creation, not on the creators behind it. We’ve crafted our art to speak for itself, unburdened by the constraints of the mundane.

FMP: Empeiria operates under the shroud of anonymity, with members known only as π and η. In an era defined by personal branding and visibility, what led you to reject that path? How does remaining anonymous serve your creative process and artistic vision, and do you feel it allows listeners to connect with the music in a more direct or unfiltered way?

π: As mentioned before, we want our art to speak for itself, to provoke thought and engage the senses – to challenge the listener to cast off shallowness and rediscover their freedom to pursue their own path. By shaping our public image the way we do, we aim to encourage the listener to dive into the music without filters, immerse themselves in the atmosphere and escape the chains of existence for a moment. To conclude, I firmly believe that this approach enhances the impact of our art.

FMP: What measures do you take to preserve your anonymity both inside and outside the scene, and have there been any unexpected challenges or rewards along the way? Do you envision revealing your identities in the future, or is anonymity an essential and permanent element of Empeiria’s identity?

π: Shifting the focus toward the music is a conscious decision that we are unlikely to reverse in the future. We choose our words, paths, and partners carefully, deliberately distancing ourselves from any desires for personal profiling or recognition.

FMP: The Ascent: Szenen der Katharsis is described as a tripartite concept album tracing a journey from doubt to realization. What was the genesis of this specific narrative, and what personal or philosophical experiences informed its development?

π: The concept behind the record has been haunting me for a long time. As you may have noticed reading through the lyrics, I worked with different layers of meaning.

The first, literal layer tells the story of a protagonist who fights their way through a horrid and hostile environment, endures several life-threatening challenges, and ultimately reaches their destination—their lair of fulfillment.

The second layer combines the literal level with underlying, more mundane counterparts, namely doubt and guilt-inducing lapses, sins, or moments of personal weakness, which lead directly into the third, more personal interpretative layer.

Both preceding layers culminate in realization and renewal—whether abstract or personal.

So, to circle back to the beginning: What inspired me to choose this concept?

Life itself—directly through personal experiences, moments of doubt, struggle, and frustration, as well as indirectly—through experiencing art, myths, literature, and philosophical perspectives. It is, in a dramatized form, a personal story.

FMP: The album explores existential dread, renewal, and realization, aiming for an "awakening and epiphany" rather than typical depressive black metal. How did you consciously steer the music and lyrics to achieve this more uplifting, albeit still dark, resolution?

π: From a theoretical perspective, musically, we worked with different time signatures, rhythmic patterns, and keys, focusing on elaborate yet still accessible structures.

Hitting the right emotional tone is an entirely different story and was, after all, probably the biggest challenge.

A major aspect for me when creating, whether lyrics or music, is to be in the exact mood, with the right mindset, experiencing the specific emotions I want to convey through an arrangement or a fragment of lyrics. Therefore, setting myself mentally plays a crucial role in the creative process.

FMP: Could you discuss the process of integrating elements like choral chants and guest contributions (Maria on vocals, Caroline on violin) into your sound? How do these additions serve the thematic depth of the album?

π: For me, music is not only something you hear; it’s something you experience. Writing a song usually begins with a specific atmosphere in mind, sometimes accompanied by a more or less concrete vision of the instrumentation or particular vocal arrangements that circle in my mind for days until they’re finally set free.

With specific expectations come specific needs or opportunities, such as collaborating with guest musicians. Maria’s and Caroline’s work allowed us to capture the exact feeling we envisioned while arranging “IV“ and “VII“. We are very grateful they decided to participate. Their contributions make both songs really stand out.

FMP: The album was produced by Markus Stock at Klangschmiede Studio E. What was it like working with him, and how do you feel his production style captured the raw yet atmospheric essence of Empeiria?

π: Working with Markus was a great experience from start to finish, enhanced and fueled by his welcoming demeanor, profound knowledge, and extensive professional experience. He is extremely focused yet easy to connect with and talk to.

What made us choose Klangschmiede Studio E in the first place was its impressive catalog of well-crafted extreme metal records, including many classics, each with its own distinctive and unique sound. These records are punchy, yet they avoid the common pitfalls of modern production trends.

Markus doesn’t rely on presets, fixed setups, or anything preconfigured. After hearing our guide tracks and discussing our expectations for the sound, he quickly devised a setup that perfectly captured the essence of our songs.

FMP: You draw on "three decades of Scandinavian extreme metal" but without strict adherence to genre boundaries. Which specific bands or eras within Scandinavian black metal have been most influential on your sound, and where do you consciously deviate?

π: The late 80s, 90s, and early 2000s era is definitely our main influence, though not solely limited to Black Metal. Scandinavian Melodic Death Metal, as well as European and American Thrash Metal, also played a crucial role in our musical development.

Empeiria is undoubtedly deeply rooted in Black Metal, but we’ll never limit ourselves to a specific genre. We don’t intentionally deviate from it; it happens more or less by chance. We simply go for whatever enhances the song, with the more frequent use of clean vocals and acoustic elements being the most obvious choices.

FMP: How do you balance the "furious frenzy" and "cutting melodies" with the "choral chants and atmospheric gloom" to create your distinct sound? Is there a deliberate formula, or is it more intuitive?

π: Our songwriting process is primarily based on intuition, fueled by the emotional state we are in while creating. Balancing the different expressive elements of our music is our task as creators, achieved by fully committing to the process.

FMP: Beyond black metal, are there any other genres, artists, or even non-musical influences (literature, philosophy, art) that have significantly shaped Empeiria's sound or lyrical themes?

π: We are shaped by our surroundings, experiences, the music we listen to, and the art and literature that shape our lives. I think I can speak for η and myself when I say that we are both open to music from other genres, as well as art, literature, and philosophy. Besides Extreme Metal, I am personally rooted in Punk Rock, as well as 60s and 70s Rock and Soundtracks.

FMP: The Ascent: Szenen der Katharsis’ marks your debut album — what initially sparked the creation of this project? Was it born from a completely new artistic vision, an evolution of earlier musical endeavors, or perhaps the result of a focused period of experimentation and refinement, patiently waiting for the right moment to emerge?

π: Most likely the latter. As mentioned earlier, the concept behind the record has been a part of me for years, waiting to materialize, sparked by an intrinsic need to create. Step by step, η and I managed to shape its sonic aspects. Only upon completion did I realize that the creative process itself mirrored the cathartic journey we set the protagonist on.

FMP: As the duo dynamic π and η, how does your creative process unfold? Is there a primary songwriter, or is it a truly collaborative effort in all aspects – from riffs to lyrics to arrangements?

π: The conceptual approach and everything lyrical is under my sole governance. When it comes to music, we did a lot of collaborative work on The Ascent: Szenen der Katharsis, from riffs to arrangements to vocal lines. η is a truly gifted instrumentalist and songwriter with a special talent for enthralling rhythms, melodic acoustic pieces, and multilayered arrangements. I, on the other hand, focus more on punchy, incisive, melodic riffing leaning towards dissonance, with a strong emphasis on versatile drum patterns. The Ascent: Szenen der Katharsis would not be the record it is without both of us shaping it.

FMP: Track "IV" is highlighted as a "central piece." What makes "IV" so pivotal in the album's narrative and musical progression? How did the guest contributions of Maria and Caroline enhance its impact and could you elaborate on what makes this track so pivotal in the protagonist's journey, both lyrically and musically?

π: Lyrically “IV“ symbolizes a significant turning point in the cathartic journey of the lyrical I, marking the transition from the state of “doubt“ to the state of “growing confidence“.

Let that sink in for a second and apply it to the reality of our lives. Have you ever struggled, wallowing in your own downfall, feeling unable to regain control? Have you managed to pull yourself out of this mire of perceived inadequacy on your own? If so, you know the challenge. You know what was necessary to spark the flame, and what it cost you. The song is meant to capture that exact state, the precise moment of transition.

Musically, “IV“ was a very challenging, if not the most challenging, song to complete, with dozens of revisions, especially of the pre-chorus, chorus and middle section. The chorus riff is stripped down, simplified, devoid of melody, and solely focused on an energetic, cathartic outburst. The middle section picks up on the subsequent, fragile state of confidence, trying to enhance it, strengthen it, and make it last — but not without being aware of past defiance.

Teaming up with Maria and Caroline was a crucial part in translating these emotions and the underlying struggle into music, and it was their contribution that enabled us to achieve exactly the atmosphere we were aiming for – A sombre fragility, accompanied by the saturnine beauty of esperance.

FMP: Do you envision Empeiria's sound evolving significantly in future releases, or do you see yourselves honing and deepening the current style?

π: For us, the only constant in life is change. I clearly envision us not standing still, engulfed in the torn shreds of the past, but evolving in a direction yet unknown, even to us.

FMP: Do you have any plans, or even a desire, to translate the Empeiria experience to a live setting? If so, how would you approach maintaining the band's mystique in a live performance context?

π: At the moment, we don’t have any concrete plans to perform live, but we’re not ruling it out for the future. If we ever decide to take the band to the stage, we would approach it with the same focus on atmosphere and authenticity that defines our music.

For further information on the band and their music you can check them out over on their bandcamp Here. or if you wish to follow them on their social, you can check them out Here.

To purchase their music, head over to Vendetta Records Here.