[Cover photo credit to Alex Krauss]
Operatic Black Metal outfit Folterkammer have unveiled an in-studio performance video for their new song, “Algolagnia!” The clip was once again created by Folterkammer drummer Brendan McGowan. The song is taken from the band’s sophomore full-length album, Weibermacht, which is due on April 19, 2024 via Century Media Records.
Guitarist Zachary Ezrin comments:
Algolagnia is a special song because it’s the first and only song that we wrote together in the studio. It’s a really raw and brutal piece that I’m very proud of.
Vocalist Andromeda Anarchia further explains:
Musically, I would say that despite all its rawness, this piece also has a somewhat modern character. It is very unusual. This contrasts with the more traditional, dramatic-romantic operatic singing that floats over the raw music at certain points. My main inspirations for interpreting Algolagnia as a singer were Rob Halford, Nina Hagen, Nova Twins, and Joan Sutherland.
She continues:
“When it comes to lyrics, one of the main inspirations for ‘Algolagnia’ was the opera ELEKTRA by Richard Strauss, which is one of my all-time favorite operas. It portrays strong women with strong voices, and that’s exactly what I want for our music. For Algolagnia, I paraphrase a passage of the aria: ‘Wie stark bist du!’ (‘How strong you are!’). (A personal note: This opera is so bloody and brutal, a must-see for all metal fans who want to venture into the world of opera. It’s heavy! You shouldn’t expect overly romantic melodies and sweet voices in this opera; it is written for women with strong voices from the so-called dramatic vocal fach. It’s incredibly demanding to sing! Badass!)
“In addition, I also paraphrase a passage from a spicy comic-mythological operetta called ‘DIE SCHÖNE GALATHEE’ (‘The Beautiful Galatea’) by the Austrian composer Franz von Suppé. The operetta is about the beautiful nymph Galathee, who, to Pygmalion’s dismay, turns out to be a very capricious lady. This theme also plays wonderfully into our hands when it comes to the concept of ‘Weibermacht’ (the term that refers to an art and cultural-historical motif that describes the triumph of erotic, cunning and/or brutal women over powerful, strong, and wise men).
“‘Algolagnia,’ from Greek /ælɡəˈlæɡniə/: ἄλγος, álgos, ‘pain,’ λαγνεία, lagneía, ‘pleasure.’ Lyrically, as the song title suggests, it is about the phenomenon of sexual pleasure and stimulation through physical pain. The woman depicted in the song is the source of pleasurable pain, described as a kind of sun, warming, life-giving and sustaining, but also dangerous, life-threatening hot if you get too close to her. The descriptions are based on the legend of Icarus and the sun.”
Folterkammer has also recently announced their first ever U.S. tour. They will be embarking on an East Coast headliner with support from Witching which kicks off on March 22 in Baltimore and will circle back to the band’s hometown of Brooklyn, NY on March 30th.
FOLTERKAMMER U.S. TOUR DATES (w/ WITCHING):
03/22: Baltimore, MD @ Metro Gallery
03/23: Richmond, VA @ Another Round
03/24: Columbus, OH @ The Summit
03/25: Chattanooga, TN @ Dark Roast
03/26: Nashville, TN @ The End
03/27: Indianapolis, IN @ Black Circle
03/28: Chicago, IL @ Cobra Lounge
03/29: Cleveland, OH @ No Class
03/30: Brooklyn, NY @ Kingsland
