Doomed Confessionary: Mathijs Ignoul (High Inquisitor Woe)
Lommel, Belgium based doom metal band High Inquisitor Woe was conceived as a two piece band in late 2014. The primary purpose has always been creating a blend of traditional doom metal and other heavy genres. With lyrical singing but carefully seasoned with other vocal styles as well. The deeply dynamic songs take you on a mystical journey through movies, comics, both fictional and scientific literature, and many other things. To date, High Inquisitor Woe have released 2 EPs, 1 full-length, and 1 live EP. These endeavors have involved an ever growing number of cooperating musicians, with Glenn and Mathijs being the only constants.
High Inquisitor Woe’s new album »Painted Vision Of An Era Forlorn« will be released on October 28th, 2024 via Gio Smet Records.
Can you say a few words about your band?
High Inquisitor Woe started in 2014 when me and Glenn decided to write epic music with lyrical singing, about rather serious and dark themes. I personally have always been a death metal and black metal guy, and I felt like doing something else at the time. I have been the lead guitarist and backing vocalist since the band started, and I played drums on the first record and our very first live shows.
What was the biggest challenge for the band?
Finding members to perform live with has proven to be a big challenge. We are very bad at networking, and we’re also not very good at social media. That last part has made getting exposure an issue as well, which is a struggle to this day, really.
What can you be most proud of so far?
I feel like where we are today with High Inquisitor Woe is the furthest I’ve ever gotten with a project that I founded myself. The last album is the first one I engineered, mixed, and mastered myself (under the name of Caveman Cave Productions), which I am quite proud of.
What was your biggest regret?
My biggest regret is not making the decision sooner to just work with session members, and that we didn’t take social media serious enough since the beginning.
What was the best concert/tour so far and why?
We haven’t really toured yet, but we hope to do so in the future. We played a show at MTS record shop in Oldenburg, Germany, which was very cool. Another show we think back on a lot was in Gent, Belgium, which happened to be Dennie’s last show as our bass player. We supported British bands Morag Tong and Tuskar on two appearances in Belgium, and Gent was the last one. Something had just gotten under our skin, especially me and Glenn, and we just didn’t give a flying fuck anymore during that whole evening. Some very memorable pictures have survided!
What was the biggest surprise on the music scene for you?
I’ve always known in the back of my head that the music business is about promotion and making money, just like any other industry. Somehow though, it keeps surprising me how certain acts that are absolute shit, can still have a career just because their promo is good.
Another one was when I was a roady for The Doomsday Kingdom, with Leif performing his first show in years at Roadburn, and everything just seemed so mundane. Here were these famous musicians, and they just traveled with suitcases and a plastic bag full of cables. Almost as if they were teenagers showing up to a talent show to play one or two songs! They killed it at Roadburn though, and I got to soundcheck Marcus’ awesome setup with two Marshall JMP’s and a very nice Gibson SG.
What is currently in your heavy musical rotation?
I had never really given Paysage d’Hiver a chance, so working through his discography at the moment. Also going through the remasters of Death’s albums again. Gave the latest album by Wormed a try a few times, and been spinning the new Defeated Sanity single as well. Also »Sacred« by The Obsessed, to at least have some doomy stuff in there. I never payed much attention to Tool, but I have been listening to »Fear Inoculum« a fair amount recently.
What was the best advice you’ve ever been given as a musician?
There is plenty I don’t like about the things he’s done, but Stephen Goss (classical guitarist/composer) once told me “those who persist, make it”. Probably the best advice I’ve had.
What are your guilty pleasures?
I stay away from electronic music as much as I can (dungeon synth excluded), but I do enjoy Night Satan every once in a while. The short movie they did and the accompanying album are absolutely brilliant.
Can you say something more about current music scene in Lommel / Belgium?
I feel like Belgium just has many small scenes, usually revolving around a city, venue, or region. The cultural barrier between Wallonia and Flanders is also very apparent for me. I never considered High Inquisitor Woe to be part of any scene, by the way.
Where can we see you live this year (concerts/tours)?
We basically announced earlier this year that we were going to quit playing live for the time being. However, we are quietly looking into options for the future again, and we hope to be able to appear at Gio Fest on 05/10/2024. No further plans so far.
What are your plans for the future as a band?
Like I said, playing live is probably going to be part of it again, but nothing is set in stone yet. I am looking forward to releasing our latest album »Painted Vision Of An Era Forlorn« and creating some new merch. I really hope to get some long sleeves this time! We do have plans for more records in the future, so we will see.
How can people best support your band?
Listen to our music and share it where you please. Give us a like on social media (Instagram, Facebook, YouTube), and if you have some money to spare, consider getting a digital copy of our work on Bandcamp or visit the Gio Smet Records shop online to get the physical version. Of course, if we do appear live, you’re welcome to join and delve into an evening of epic doom with us.
Do you have any message for your listeners?
On the title track of our new album, Glenn vigorously points out “REPENT!”. So, the message is clear: repent and join the following of the high guardian of the true steel, who is the High Inquisitor of Woe.
Bojan Bidovc // music enthusiast, promoter, misanthrop and sometimes a journalist as well