Austere Say Their DIY Decision Spawned LP They Had Always Wanted to Make
If there’s one thing we’ve to come to expect from a studio album by black-metal duo Austere, it’s that it’ll be a no-nonsense affair that eschews humor in favor of maintaining a laser-like focus on cerebral, emotional, and even spiritual growth. In our recent exchange with the Australian duo–consisting of Tim Yatras (drums/keyboards/vocals) and Mitchell Keepin (guitars, bass, keyboards, vocals)–we discovered that, as human beings, they as direct as their no–frills music.
The symmetry between art and the personality of the artist who created it is not to be confused with what corporate suits call “on brand.” Those shysters insist that artists, in order to make a living, must prove their artistic mettle in tandem with their ability to socialize and hock their wares–honest advertising be damned.
The reserved Austere don’t seem to have a natural knack for acting like salesmen, but their shortcomings in the areas of marketing and publicity are immensely dwarfed by their eye–popping musical excellence. They have ability to cultivate a world–however big or small–that matches the entrancing, transcendent music they release, including their new record, the recently released Stillness of Dissolution.
We caught up with Austere a few months before the early June issuance of the new album on their longtime label, Prophecy Productions. Austere insisted on an email interview, which made sense given the premium they place on privacy, solitude, and reclusiveness. What resulted was a serious, thoughtful conversation that The Bad Penny was grateful to engage in with Yatras, as Austere’s email submission was as instructive and enlightening as it was well written.
Congratulations on your unofficial 20-year anniversary. What prompted your decision to make a new record after a 10-year dry spell?
For a long time both Mitch and I were busy with other musical projects. I think we both felt that Austere was “unfinished” in a way, but as the years passed, it became less likely that we’d ever get back to it. However, that all changed in 2021, when we decided to just try a bit of music together again, and see how it felt.
Immediately, it sounded like Austere, and it gave us inspiration to start working together again. The difference this time is that we had the means to do everything ourselves, and take as much or as little time as we wanted [on certain tasks].
When did the germ of the record materialize, and why did you decide to pursue it?
As far as the new album goes, it began in early 2024. Mitch sent over some demos he was working on, I added drums, and quite quickly we had a couple of songs ready to go. From there, we had a bit of an inspired time and started the recording in July of last year.
Stillness of Dissolution strikes me as not only the strongest Austere record to date but also the catchiest. Did you aim to create more infectious songs this time around, or is that simply how the cookie crumbled?
Thanks, that’s great to hear. I don’t think we really set out to make the songs more infectious but more to continue what we did on [2024’s] Beneath the Threshold: writing slightly shorter and more concise songs. And spend some time to actually work on the structures, not just two or three riffs repeated endlessly.
Throughout the making of the album, did it evolve in any ways you hadn’t expected it would?
Not really. We had a pretty clear vision of what we wanted to achieve with the album. I do think the songwriting changed a little during the process, though. The first few songs were more straightforward “rockers,” while the later songs written for the album are a little more epic.
What are you most proud of, in terms of the final product?
I don’t know, really. I think it’s a cool album. I could say I’m proud that we did everything ourselves this time. Since we got back together, we’ve always recorded and mixed ourselves, but this time I also handled the mastering. So if people complain about the sound of the album, there’s no one else but us to blame. [He laughs.]
What do you think this album captures about Austere that your previous records didn’t, or at least didn’t necessarily accentuate or highlight?
Maturity, both as musicians and as people. The lyrics delve into some pretty strong subject matter that we hadn’t written about in the past. Musically, it shows that we are not feeling confined to a certain style that people may think about us. But at the same time, it’s unmistakably an Austere album.
Please don’t perceive this question as a challenge or affront, but dissolution implies the act of disassembly, which is an action. So how can dissolution be “still,” from a technical standpoint?
Mitch came up with the title for the album, so I asked him this question. Here is what he had to say:
“The title, The Stillness of Dissolution, is presented in a poetic/thematic way. It’s paired with the ties of existence, the act of dissolve/decay, laying dormant within, and the stillness that follows after that action. It’s tethered within, unavowed, and lacks ceremony. It’s about how every life comes with its own death sentence attached to it. Time will proceed of its own accord, laying within it silent and still waiting.
What was the greatest challenge you faced during the making of the record?
There wasn’t really anything particularly challenging. Everything flowed quite naturally, from the writing to the recording. Mixing an album is always a challenge. We went with some different tones this time, compared to the last album. It was a bit of a challenge to find a balance, especially in the guitar tone. Mitch has a unique style, and we had to find something that still allowed the riffs to be atmospheric, yet clear and biting.
Given all the changes that Austere has undergone over the years, how would you describe the essence of the project that has remained intact throughout its existence?
As long as it’s Mitch and I, then it’s Austere. And importantly, we don’t write music for other people, we do it for ourselves. That’s a big factor in my opinion, staying true to ourselves.
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Austere have five concerts lined up in the Netherlands, Germany, and Belgium in early December, but no additional tour engagements locked down just yet, including any happening Stateside. But that could change.
Snag a copy of Austere’s new record, The Stillness of Dissolution, right here.
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