Greetings Onielar and thanks for taking the time to finally talk to us about DARKENED NOCTURN SLAUGHTERCULT. Considering the fact that the band has been around since 1997 already, it was definitely time, don’t you think?
“Thank you for the opportunity. Time is a fickle thing – yet better now than never, wouldn’t you say?” (I agree! – Frank)

Like many others, I also read your statement from late 2021, in which you wrote that you were diagnosed with an aggressive type of breast cancer, which included chemotherapy and even bilateral breast surgery. So, if it’s okay with you, I would first of all like to know if you’re still dealing with any health problems these days?
“I am in complete remission. Regular check-ups are still part of my routine. That chapter left its marks – not only physical ones – yet I manage. I appreciate your concern.”

You have Polish roots, haven’t you? Were you born and raised in Poland? When and why did you move to Germany? When did you choose the name Onielar and what inspired it?
“Born in Poland, the journey to Germany began at the age of seven. My parents sought a better life, as circumstances in Poland were rather difficult at that time. Under the pretext of a holiday trip, everything was left behind and life started anew – a harsh uprooting for a child. The name Onielar came into existence shortly after DARKENED NOCTURN SLAUGHTERCULT was founded in 1997. While working on lyrics, I was drawn to the creation of neologisms. Ordinary words rarely carry the resonance I seek; newly formed ones vibrate with meaning and sound in a far more compelling way. Thus, Onielar emerged – both tone and symbol intertwined.”

DARKENED NOCTURN SLAUGHTERCULT was founded way back in 1997 and, if I’m not completely mistaken, it was you who started the band. So, can we say that it is basically your band, or was original drummer Ariovist with you right from the start as well? By the way, when and where did the two of you first meet?
“The first encounter with Ariovist happened at the age of seventeen, while taking driving lessons – he was the son of the instructor. A shared devotion to extreme music quickly forged a bond, and soon we began creating together. Both of us carried the same vision: to manifest something that reflected our very being. This led to the foundation of DARKENED NOCTURN SLAUGHTERCULT, with Velnias rightfully counted among the founding members. The notion of ownership never applied – music is free, belonging only to those who breathe it into life through art and inspiration.”

Was it your personal wish for DARKENED NOCTURN SLAUGHTERCULT to become a Black Metal band, or would any other extreme musical genre have been okay for you as well?
“Only raw, old school Black Metal – nothing else would have ever been an option.”

What had you been doing before that? Did you already play in any bands or projects?
“The very first musical steps were taken together with my closest friend at the time, his brother and another rather peculiar Metal fellow. What we played leaned towards traditional and Thrash Metal. Neither the people involved nor the style itself truly resonated with me, and the longing for something more fierce and extreme ultimately led me elsewhere.”

When did you actually start singing, and was it always in such an extreme way? Was it difficult to sing like that at first? I mean, I would probably have a sore throat all the time if I tried to deliver vocals like that. How long have you been playing guitar?
“Around the age of fifteen, the path began with the guitar. Singing, however, came later – and quite by coincidence. There had been no vocalist among us three in DARKENED NOCTURN SLAUGHTERCULT. During a rehearsal recording, we decided to shout “We are DARKENED NOCTURN SLAUGHTERCULT!” as an intro. Afterwards, the others turned and asked why I wouldn’t take over the vocals myself. That’s how it started. There was never any formal training, yet from the very beginning the proper technique seemed instinctive. No hoarseness, no strain – only the natural voice as it was meant to be used. This form of expression is not an act of imitation or force; it is a channeling of spirit – a flow released through sound and devotion.”

Had you already worked on any song ideas before you found Velnias as your guitar player, or was his joining the band the real starting point for DARKENED NOCTURN SLAUGHTERCULT?
“There were already a few riffs, fragments and ideas in place, yet they truly began to take form once Velnias joined. The real beginning was marked by that moment when it started to feel like an actual band – when the music began to resonate through unity. That pulse has always been bound to Velnias’ presence.”

Is it true that you both didn’t really get along at first? How did you solve that problem?
“An amusing question. Indeed, each of us carries a rather strong-willed nature, so it took some time to adjust to one another’s ways. What began with friction eventually evolved into a deep bond and lasting friendship – though it certainly didn’t happen overnight.”

It seems he developed into a very good songwriting partner for you, since you later on shared the writing almost 50/50, didn’t you?
“All compositions are shared between Velnias and myself. Quantifying that in percentages would never capture the process. Songs and lyrics emerge in many different ways – sometimes written together, sometimes individually and often through each other’s contribution. There are no fixed patterns, only the flow that guides creation.”

Is it true that you originally didn’t want to record a demo, but a full-length album right from the start, and that you only ended up with the MCD “The Pest Called Humanity” because Ariovist decided to quit the band at that point in time? What was the reason for him leaving?
“We never wanted to label any of our works as a demo. Our intention was to manifest the first chapter of DARKENED NOCTURN SLAUGHTERCULT on a common medium we preferred. That turned out to be this MCD – five songs, the first chapter – and it came into being independently of the parting of ways with Ariovist. Since Ariovist is a talented yet impulsive character, he soon realized that he no longer wished to pursue this musical path. For a while, he distanced himself completely from the genre, yet his heart still beats for it to this day. We have remained good friends ever since.”

Why didn’t you try to find a label for the release of “The Pest Called Humanity” and instead self-financed it, just like your following three full-length albums?
“At that time, it was our conviction and will to shape, realize and finance the band’s evolution and the production of our works entirely on our own. Since the very first record – the only one we ever personally invested money in – the music has sustained itself financially. All income was reinvested into the following releases. From the underground for the underground. For us, this was the most honest way to share our art with others. Labels were of no importance to us… and to this day, our perspective on that has not fundamentally changed. We merely accept support from carefully selected labels, yet we have never sold ourselves to anyone in a commercial sense.”

The 2008 release “Evoking A Decade” features re-recordings of those MCD songs, so I suppose you weren’t completely satisfied with the original versions. Otherwise, a re-release of the MCD would have been an easier way to make them available again. What had to be improved in your opinion and did your fans appreciate that? Or did you get the usual reaction that bands always get when they “dare to touch” old classics?
“After ten years of band history, we wanted to create a personal tribute and retrospective of DARKENED NOCTURN SLAUGHTERCULT, built on mutual appreciation. There was also the desire to release those songs once more with improved sound quality. I believe we managed to wrap this in a compelling form. For DARKENED NOCTURN SLAUGHTERCULT listeners and collectors, we offered a digibook containing two CDs – featuring both the old and new recordings of the first chapter – along with an extended booklet that included a retrospective of past photos, stories and descriptions of the subsequent chapters and live performances.”

Bands that have been around for a while usually know from live shows which of their songs get the best fan reactions and therefore compile their setlists based on those experiences. So, which songs do you have to play live at every show in order not to disappoint your fans?
“So far, ‘Das All-Eine’ and ‘Nocturnal March’ have been indispensable in many of our setlists. They are catchy and hymn-like songs that seem to resonate particularly well in a live setting.”

In my opinion, there are two types of Black Metal bands: those that play the music from the heart and pay a lot of attention to a visual presentation that really looks scary and sinister, and those who just put on their corpsepaint in a photo studio and mostly look totally silly, which is also reflected in their music. Would you agree with that?
“What dwells within inevitably manifests itself outwardly through art… and so it is with music in general. True music carries a sense of purpose and is thoughtfully crafted down to the smallest detail. The devoted and passionate music listener will always perceive what comes from the depths and is genuine. I’d rather refrain from further comments here – otherwise, I might fall into a fit of verbal Tourette…”

I think DARKENED NOCTURN SLAUGHTERCULT belongs to the first category, and I am very fascinated by your unique visual presentation on stage. You don’t seem to follow in the footsteps of other bands, but instead create a very disturbing look that perfectly underlines your music. What inspires you in that? Do you watch a lot of horror movies, or do you have many nightmares, or something else that helps you to come up with all that?
“The inspiration for the visual design primarily stems from the spirit – just as the music itself is created from a profound, spiritual vision. This leads to creations that dwell beyond life and humanity. The entity that resides within may be unleashed, providing the opportunity to turn one’s inner self outward. Nightmares… I rather experience those in everyday life when I move among people and within our society.”

When was your very first show with DARKENED NOCTURN SLAUGHTERCULT, and did you already use a lot of those elements then?
“The very first DARKENED NOCTURN SLAUGHTERCULT performance was in full attire – yet, in fact, the only concert without blood. It was an initial experience, a way of feeling our way into the flow of the music on stage. From then on, no concert ever followed without blood and other elements that define DARKENED NOCTURN SLAUGHTERCULT on stage.”

Your first three full-length albums have just been re-released on CD via Nigredo Productions. Why did it take you so long to make them available again, and how do you decide which label to work with? Do these re-releases differ in packaging in any way, apart from the fact that they’re digipaks now?
“Our first three full-length albums were never limited editions. They have always been self-released, continuously available through distribution and directly from us. The recent reissues through Nigredo Productions and Disembodied Records were not born from scarcity, but from purpose – to make these chapters accessible in regions where our works have long been difficult to obtain. While now presented in different formats – digipak and collector’s box “Ars Nocturna: The Early Invocations” – the essence remains unaltered. These are not new incarnations, but renewed gateways, crafted to bridge the distance between the devoted and the source. From the very beginning, our path has been one of autonomy – and even in collaboration, we remain bound only to our own will.”

Have you ever thought about re-releasing “The Pest Called Humanity” again? I mean, even the re-release has become a collector’s item in the meantime, so a new edition would definitely make sense – maybe combined with the material from your split releases as bonus tracks?
“”The Pest Called Humanity” was never meant to vanish into the abyss of time. What once marked the first spark of DARKENED NOCTURN SLAUGHTERCULT continues to echo through new forms – collectors editions, LPs and even the cassette manifestation. Each reappearance is not driven by nostalgia, but by the will to preserve the essence in ever-changing vessels of sound. Who knows there might be a forthcoming Picture LP rising from the depths, it shall not serve as a token of repetition, but as another sigil carved into the circle of continuity – a reminder that what was once evoked in primal fury still breathes through the veins of the present. As for additional material – the idea of merging chapters or tracks is not completely off the table, but each release remains a deliberate fragment of the greater whole.”

I’ve read somewhere that three of you once rented a house together and that you rehearse in the basement. Is that true? I suppose you’re all very good friends then, aren’t you? Were you never afraid that this situation could one day destroy the friendship and, as a result, the band’s line-up?
“For the creation and essence of DARKENED NOCTURN SLAUGHTERCULT, it has always been essential that not only the music, but also the characters behind it, are in harmony. What unites the members of DARKENED NOCTURN SLAUGHTERCULT above all else is a deep bond and genuine friendship. At some point, we grew utterly tired of sharing rehearsal rooms with others and constantly worrying about expiring rental contracts. Thus, we decided to bring everything into private surroundings and rented a house together. It offered enough space for each of us to live – and for DARKENED NOCTURN SLAUGHTERCULT to rehearse in the basement. The years we spent together under one roof were, without exception, the most beautiful I have ever experienced. This period lasted for about seven years, until the property was sold by its owner and we had to move on. That event ultimately led to the decision to build a house of our own – with a soundproofed and dedicated rehearsal room, ensuring DARKENED NOCTURN SLAUGHTERCULT could continue to thrive. This time, however, not as a shared band household. Still, I would do it again without hesitation.”

How do you manage to work full-time jobs and still be able to invest the necessary time in rehearsals, recordings and live shows?
“Everyday life is stressful and demanding – but ultimately, it all comes down to what or whom you dedicate your priorities to in your spare time. It’s a matter of will and self-organization. Admittedly, it isn’t always easy. But that is the only way it works.”

When it comes to line-up changes, it seems to me that the main problem you have is finding a steady bass player. I mean, there are already six ex-bass players listed on Metal Archives, so what led to those changes? Have you ever thought about working completely without a bass player?
“The bass remains a vital pillar within our sound – we would never abandon it entirely. Yet, fate has not always granted us lasting fortune in finding a steady bassist. There have indeed been occasions in the past when we performed without one, and while those concerts carried their own intensity, the presence of the bass adds a depth that we ultimately consider indispensable.”

Is it true that you recently parted ways with longtime drummer Horrn? If so, what were the reasons for that, and have you already found a replacement?
“Unfortunately, that is true. Horrn’s decision to withdraw from live performances for physical reasons was very painful for us and marks a great loss. He will, however, record the upcoming album with us and continue to support DARKENED NOCTURN SLAUGHTERCULT behind the scenes. At present, we have the honor of working with Tyyn (Toni Merkel) – a highly talented and passionate drummer who has seamlessly integrated into our ranks. We now hope for a stable and enduring line-up for DARKENED NOCTURN SLAUGHTERCULT.”

Okay, Onielar, that’s all for now. Thanks for taking the time. I wish you and the rest of the band all the best and hope that the upcoming DARKENED NOCTURN SLAUGHTERCULT shows will be very successful for you. I’m also looking forward to your next album. Any plans for full-length number seven already?
“The next chapter has already begun to take form – it is no longer an idea, but a living entity steadily growing in the shadows. The essence has been summoned, the foundations are laid and preparations for the studio invocation are underway. On behalf of DARKENED NOCTURN SLAUGHTERCULT, I thank you for the interview and wish you and Voices From The Darkside many more years of unwavering devotion in raising the banner for the underground.”

www.slaughtercult.de, www.facebook.com/d.n.slaughtercultofficial, www.instagram.com/d.n.slaughtercult_official

Live pics: Stefan Raduta Photography
Interview: Frank Stöver