Interview with Hekataion

 

1.Hello, please introduce yourselves to the readers?

I: Greetings, I am Ialdabaoth; the guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter for Hekataion.

N: I’m Nachtigal, the drummer, backing vocalist, and songwriter in Hekataion.

2.When did you first discover death and black metal and what is it about these genres that drew you in and keeps you listening over the years?

I: I first discovered Death Metal sometime around 2022/2023 and Black Metal around the same time. I enjoy extreme metal as a whole due to the simple fact that it is extreme. Most people who know me in life know that I can be an intense person. I always enjoyed the bad guys and evil as a child so I suppose that bled into my musical love.

N: I started getting into extreme metal around 2017, as my musical taste was maturing, and I wanted heavier and heavier shit. I was a very angry, violent kid growing up, and extreme music was the only thing I felt I could relate to. I can’t really explain it much better than “it just speaks to me”.

3.Who were the first bands that caught your attention and who are some current bands that you have been listening to?

I: The first Death Metal band I listened to was Death, specifically Crystal Mountain off Symbolic. I of course went through all the Tampa Death Metal bands and around the same time became obsessed with Acid Bath. Currently I listen to Goatwhore, Armoured Angel, Azarath, Hadopelagyal, Manticore.

N: I first got into the symphonic black metal band Carach Angren. They had such a unique sound, and it instantly opened the extreme metal door for me. I love shit like Behemoth, Belphegor, Dark Funeral, Batushka, Gorgoroth, Old Man’s Child, Cradle of Filth, Watain, Rotting Christ, Deicide. And of course the mighty Black Sabbath. But I could go on forever listing bands I love.

4.When did you first get the idea to start this band?Are you satisfied with how things have gone so far?

I: Around the beginning of 2024 I met the former bassist/guitarist (who is no longer with us. More on that later) and we began writing. It was very nebulous at first but eventually the band began to take on a stronger core idea through 2024/2025. I am “satisfied” with the trajectory thus far but of course I want more for us.

N: I had been trying to put together bands since middle school, to no success. I found Hekataion in mid 2024 looking for a drummer online. I liked the demo they sent, and thought fuck it, I’ll give it a shot. I agree that I’m satisfied so far, but it’s just the beginning.

5.Who would you say are Hekataion's biggest influences and have they remained the same over the years? For the readers who have never heard your band, how would you best describe the music to a new fan and listener?

I: For me it would be Goatwhore as the number 1 band. I saw them a few times and Sammy Duet influenced me a lot in terms of riff writing. The other influences are so wide that I can really say any extreme metal that catches my ear, but for my lead playing I listen and pull from Morbid Angel and Trey Azagthoth, specifically. If I had to describe our music it would be Old-School Death Metal with Black Metal themes and sections. The core concept of the band is Gnostic Khaos.

N: Probably Belphegor and Behemoth. A lot of black, death, and blackened-death influence. As a drummer, I pull a lot of inspiration from guys like Inferno, Dominator, Hellhammer, and Frost.

6. I believe Hekataion is a duo. Would you like to find more musicians to work with in the future or do you prefer to work as a duo? If you had the opportunity to work with any musicians{past or present} who would you most like to work with?

I: Hekataion is a duo due to creative differences with the former guitarist/bassist. Simply put he was not extreme enough and looked out of place on stage and in attitude. We would like to get a permanent bassist and are open to offers and auditions. If I had to work with any one I certainly would go with the aforementioned inspirational guitarists.

N: If I could work with any musician, I’d probably want to work with Mikael Akerfeldt from Opeth. Albums like Still Life and Ghost Reveries are mind-blowing, and I’d love the chance to work with him. In terms of band members, I’m open to more members, but  don’t want to force anything. I think we work quite well as a duo, and I’d rather stay a two piece until we meet the right guy/gal.

7.Sacrifice At The Crossroads is the debut EP. that was released digitally. Are their any plans to do a physical release soon?

I: Yes we are simply figuring out the artwork formatting and whether we want to do cassette or CD format. Within the next 3 months, so by June 2026, we should have something made up.

N: What he said.

8.The debut is self released. Would you like to find a label to work with or would you rather stay independent and self release your own music?

I: A label would be nice but we are not big enough for that. Eventually it would be nice to get onto a label like Metal Blade Records but for now we will do it independently through our friend’s “record label” Lunar Possession.

N: I’d be open to a metal-centric label like Nuclear Blast or Metal Blade. But fuck no to major labels like UMG or Sony.

9.Have you all started working on new music for the next release?Do you know yet if it will be a EP or would you like to release a full length?

I: We have and we just debuted the first new song at a show last night. The next release will be a split EP with a band from Maine titled: Saprus. They are some crazy bastards. It will be a 4 song EP with 2 songs from each band.

N: After that split with Saprus, we’re thinking of making a full-length album. New music gets worked on daily.

10.Hekataion comes out of New York's Black and Death metal scene. What are your thoughts on New York's metal scene over the years?

I: I would say that I have not been involved in the scene long enough to give a thorough opinion on the Extreme Metal scene here, but from what I have seen is that it is growing. Like a festering wound it is engorging itself slowly on all of our diabolical peers. I look forward to the impending darkness they will bring.

N: NY definitely has a phenomenal metal scene. While I can’t speak on all of NY, we’re part of the Brooklyn/Queens scene that has been nothing but brutal. Killer bands, killer musicians, killer scene.

11.Who are your all-time favorite bands coming out of New York over the years? Are there any new bands you feel the readers should check out soon?

I: Diabolus, Fleshmass, Malghast, Caerdroia are some of the best Nuke York City has to offer currently. As for new bands in general I would say the aforementioned Saprus, Trespass, Goatpiss, Purulency. Of course not all of these are from Nuke York but they deserve a mention because the scene is still rather small here.

N: I like a lot of the old school NY death metal guys: Suffo, Mortician, Skinless, etc. For newer NY bands, I’d recommend Fleshmass, Ventriloquist, and Diabolus.

12.Besides working in Hekataion do either of the members currently work with any other bands or solo projects?If yes please tell the readers a little about them.

I: I am the bassist in a band called Necromajesty and that band is fronted by the drummer for Fleshmass, Whöredestroyer Anvil. Necromajesty is similar in the vein that it keeps it Old-School rather than trying to be some of the bullshit Death Metal bands today try to do. We have an ep out titled: “Angelsadist”.

N: I made the solo blackened-death project “Lee’s Plague”. I do guitars, bass, drums, vocals, etc. I’ve got 3 EP’s and other shit out. I’m actually writing a debut album for a different solo project under my name “Nachtigal” (no current music yet), and will be focusing on “Nachtigal” over “Lee’s Plague” going forward. I just love writing music, it’s the ultimate form of self-expression for me.

13.When you need to take a break from working on new music or band business what do you enjoy doing in your free time?

I: When I am not broke I paint Warhammer 40,000 models. Currently I have a sizable World Eaters army. Otherwise, I read, drink beer, and socialize with friends in the Nuke York metal scene. Oh and I enjoy long walks on the beach.

N: I like to solve puzzles/logic games, sew battle jackets, and paint warhammer (Death Guard army). Oh and I enjoy dropping acid at the beach.

14.Thank you for taking the time to fill this interview out. Do you have any final comments for the readers?

I: I would like to say thank you for the interview and death to False Metal! Worship the coiling serpent and give reverence for bestowing knowledge upon mankind to deny the Material God. Hail and farewell!

N: Thanks for the interview, keep supporting the underground extreme music scene. Fuck AI and fuck ICE!                                                                                                                                                              Hekataion                                                                                                                                                      https://hekataion.bandcamp.com/album/sacrifice-at-the-crossroads