Doomed Confessionary: Jason & Martina (The Answer Lies In The Black Void)
The Answer Lies In The Black Void is a collaboration between Martina Horváth (Thy Catafalque) and Jason Köhnen (Celestial Season, Bong-Ra, ex-The Kilimanjaro Darkjazz Ensemble). The duo also work together in the transcendental music project Mansur.
Horváth and Köhnen joined forces through their passion for all things doom, presenting their personal take on the doom genre in all its beautiful darkness and from all possible angles. Bringing their own mix of atmospheric, gothic laden doom metal.
After their immensely well received debut album »Forlorn« (2021), The Answer Lies In The Black Void returned with their second album »Thou Shalt« (2023), both released on Roadburn/Burning World Records. They are currently working on their third opus, which will see the light in mid-2025.
Can you say a few words about your band?
The Answer Lies In The Black Void (TALITBV) was formed back in 2021. We’ve released 2 albums on Roadburn/Burning World Records.
TALITBV is a joint Dutch/Hungarian band with Martina Horváth on vocals, also vocalist for the Hungarian avant-garde metal band Thy Catafalque, Jason Köhnen the main composer, also part of Celestial Season, Bong-Ra and ex-The Kilimanjaro Darkjazz Ensemble with session musicians Attila Kovacs, Botond Fogl and Mark Potkovacz.
What was the biggest challenge for the band?
No challenges really, we’re trying to keep Doom alive with our own take on the genre.
What can you be most proud of so far?
We’ve released 2 great albums, some successful EU (mini) tours, so all in all our music is gradually touching more souls. People are connecting and that is something to be proud of we guess.
What was your biggest regret?
None really. Learn from our mistakes to grow.
What was the best concert/tour so far and why?
It was our last show of this year (November 1st) in Budapest (A38), everything gelled perfectly.
What was the biggest surprise on the music scene for you?
Theres not much that surprises us really.
What is currently in your heavy musical rotation?
Seeing its autumn what else can you do than play some Type O Negative classics.
Photo by Peter Palotas
What was the best advice you’ve ever been given as a musician?
Jason supported Saint Vitus in Amsterdam 1993 with his then doom band Celestial Season. Dave Chandler advised him to make sure he got a degree because there was no money in doom metal. They treated us so well, letting us their gear, shared their whiskey and basically being the big brother all night.
What are your guilty pleasures?
Naked orgies and virgin sacrifices in the forests on Northern Hungary…
Can you say something more about current music scene in Hungary?
Hungary has their own universe when it comes to the metal scene. As its a somewhat isolated country due to the language there is a specific Hungarian metal microcosm.
Where can we see you live this year (concerts/tours)?
Next year we have a 10 date mini-tour in March playing Hungary, Romania and The Netherlands, from 7 to 31 March.
What are your plans for the future as a band?
The 3rd album is scheduled to be released early/mid 2025, we just signed to a new label so things are looking good.
Do you have any special plans for New Year’s Eve?
Get drunk.
How can people best support your band?
Follow us and/or buy our music here: theanswerliesintheblackvoid.com.
Do you have any message for your listeners?
Let there be Doom!
Links:
Website | Facebook | Instagram | Bandcamp | Spotify | YouTube
Bojan Bidovc // music enthusiast, promoter, misanthrop and sometimes a journalist as well