Canadian label Profound Lore has released some of the best underground extreme metal of the last decade, from Altar of Plagues to Cobalt, from Portal to Wold. Sander van den Driesche spoke to him about the label's past and future...
(((o))): Can you give us a brief history of Profound Lore Records?
The label started out in the summer of 2004 just as a hobby (with several former partners) where we released limited edition vinyl. I went back to school to do post-grad work in the hopes of finding a real job and/or career since I didn’t have much else going for me at the time, while I would do the label as a side hobby thing just so I can keep my life somewhat interesting. After finishing post-grad, during the two brutal years following nothing was materializing career wise, while at the same time the label was slowly starting to grow and I would put more energy (and money) into it as a result. Eventually it just became this thing that naturally made itself into something. There was no real initial plan to make it as notable as it has become. So I’ve just kept going with it all these years, doing my best to keep it at a consistent level.
(((o))): How many people are involved in the day to day running of the label?
With the exception of some outside help when it’s needed (i.e. graphics guy, webmaster, and, occasionally but rarely, when I hire a publicist) it’s pretty much just me running the vessel on my own doing pretty much everything.
(((o))): What is Profound Lore Records’ main musical focus?
It’s pretty much music rooted in metal for the most part, but focusing on the darker and more artistic, eclectic, and edgy aspects of the genre. Within every genre of metal, whether it would be death, black, doom, or traditional, I pretty much like to release bands that encompass my favourite aspects of each sub-genre within metal.
(((o))): How do you find the bands you release? Are you doing your own research or are most releases coming from demos sent to the label?
Most of the bands I work with now are either comprised of people I already know or acquainted with. If there is a new band I’m interested in, it’s either comprised of musicians I know of from other bands or referred to me from friends of theirs who I know personally and have (maybe) dealt with in other bands before.
(((o))): Do you focus mainly on North American artists/bands or can they be from anywhere in the world?
I guess I do focus mainly on North American bands, largely because I’m definitely more involved and entrenched in the scene over here and it’s mostly where my network of close contacts and friends hail from. So in that sense it makes it easier and that this is where my market is based. Of course though, if there is a band from outside of North America (I have enjoyed releasing records by bands from the UK and Australia, for example) that I want to really work with I’ll definitely pursue the possibilities of what can materialize. Sometimes though I would say that the needs of a North American band can be quite different than the needs and demands of, for instance, a European band; I guess that’s because there’s a different mentality, attitude, and way of thinking involved.
(((o))): What relationship do you have with your bands/artists? Are you good friends with most of your bands before you sign them/release their records?
Even though I have a different relationship with every band, since all the musicians I work with have their own unique personalities, it is very important for me to have that friendship implemented, in a way where I would also want to hang out with the people in the bands I work with. Of course some relationships with some of the musicians I work with are on a different level to some of the others but that’s what makes it interesting. I’m dealing with these unique individuals whose personalities often reflect in the music they create.
(((o))): What is/are your proudest moment(s) with Profound Lore Records so far?
I’d say that it’s been pretty much just maintaining consistency with the label, and managing to do this currently for a living, especially in the landscape of the music industry today.
(((o))): What would say was the hardest release you have put out, be it due to delays or financial issues?
Probably the new upcoming Avichi album, Catharsis Absolute, which has been the most bizarre experience for me with any release I’ve ever done. It was initially supposed to be released early summer but since then I’ve pushed the release date back at least five times and I currently don’t have a solidified release date until sole mastermind Andrew Markuszewski (aka. Aamonael) is 110% satisfied with the final mix and master. He’s been extremely obsessive over this. In fact, it's been fascinating watching him and hearing him out through this process but at the same time it has been an insanely frustrating process because of the obstacles (out of his control) that seem to be coming out of nowhere and just continuing to get in the way of getting the album he wants to present. I think there must be this curse hanging over it, that there must be some sort of outside force that doesn’t want this album to happen, one that has put this black cloud over it! Of course I have to believe it will be for the better since I truly believe the record is a modern day black metal masterpiece and that all these mixes I have listened to over time clearly show this album as a work of black metal artistry. I cannot wait for people to finally hear this and to get this album out. I suppose also that the story behind the completion of this album makes the whole thing more interesting.
(((o))): For anybody unknown with your releases, which 5 should they start with before diving into the rest of the catalogue?
Really hard to say and narrow it down to 5 releases but I guess I’d say:
Asunder – Works Will Come Undone
Cobalt – Eater of Birds
Portal – Seepia
Grave Miasma – Odori Sepulcrorum
Agalloch – Marrow of the Spirit
(((o))): Would you ever consider a compilation release to highlight your artists and releases?
If I did do some sort of compilation it would have to be something unique and different I guess. I know I would want to have a certain theme behind the compilation and I would want all tracks to be exclusive.
(((o))): How was your trip to Maryland Deathfest with Cobalt? It was only their second time performing, correct?
Technically it was Cobalt’s third time playing live, but I would like to say it was their official first live show at MDF, since their two previous shows were in a friend’s garage years ago in Colorado amongst a gathering of local friends and maniacs. When Cobalt played MDF and their handful of live dates that followed, vocalist Phillip McSorley essentially waged war on everything and everyone; total annihilation!
(((o))): If you were to have your Profound Lore Festival, which bands would you have on the main stage?
I was actually thinking about this the other day, but it would be so hard to narrow it down to just a few bands and, of course, it would have to depend on the budget I would have at my disposal, to at least put something together realistically in order for it to work in a financial sense. I guess the first thing would have to be where to actually have it. Then how many days should it be (no more than a two day fest)? How many bands per day because I would only want to have one stage? I know I wouldn’t want to have too many bands on one day because people would get burnt out if a show went on for way too long with too many bands... etc, etc. That’s why it would be hard to narrow it down to just a select few bands per day.
(((o))): What can we expect from Profound Lore Records in 2014?
It should be a pretty productive and big year with some key priority releases. So it should be interesting definitely! My bank just the other week reminded me that the label bank account was opened in 2004, so I guess that 2014 will (technically) mark the ten year anniversary of the label. Who would have thought it?!
