"Ok...some words about our history: noctifer were founded in 1994 by me (drums) and another man as guitarist. Our first moniker was Der Nacht that changed into Noctifer in 1999 when the band had a rebirth. During these 11 years we have faced so many problems to find a solid line-up (many and many were the changes) and the problems of othere genres. This stopped our activity more than once, that's why our discography is so poor for a band so old. We recorded as Der Nacht a demotape in 1997 called 'Hymns of Sorrow and Darkness'. Then we have the first stop to our activity ...we had a rebirth in 1999 as Noctifer and we recorded the same year 'Empire 1999' a promo cd with 2 inedit tracks. After this release we had the longest pause in fact only in 2002 we recorded our Mcd 'Odiosa Vis Astrorum'. In 2002-2004 we did a lot of concerts to promote this cd while in 2004 we signed a deal with the French lable DeadSun Records to release 'Manifesta Superbia', our first full length cd, out just in this period worldwide! Currently our line up is: Regulus(drums)-Tanatos(guitar)- Surtr(bass)-Entheos(vocals)- Herr Wolf(guitar)
Originally the band was called "Der Nacht" and released the demo 'Hymns of Sorrow and Darkness', but why the name change to Noctifer?What does Noctifer mean?
"When the other guy I founded the band with left us I felt the necessity to change name for my band and to give birth to a new creature. So we changed the name into Noctifer, it's a lating word that means 'binger (or announcer) of night'.It's dark, evocative and majestic as I want the music should be, and then a latin name is closer to the bands concept than Der Nacht was.'
In 1998/1999 Noctifer came to a stop for some time, why?
"As I told you before, me and Tanatos had some personal problems during those years and we got no possibility to play in that period."
Your demo 'Empire' was a success it sold out, how many demos were printed?Has Noctifer planned on repressing the cd?
"Well...'Empire 1999' wasn't such a great success. We printed only 100 copies and they were sold out very soon...it was a promotional cd. We are really proud of the 2 songs included in it and we are looking for a good label interested in releaseing this reprint!A success can be defined the following Mcd 'Odiosa Vis Astrorum' that was self produced but was distributed worldwide and sold more thatn 1000 copies 'till now!"
"No, Noctifer are totally another band now! 'Hymns...' doesn't represent at all what the band is now and I don't think we will reprint it in the future."
Noctifer has lyrical themes of War and othe the Kingdom of Italy, who writes the lyrics? Is it by a sole member or does the whole band contirbute to the lyric writing? Is it the same for the music?
"These themes were chanted in 'Odiosa Vis Astrorum' but they are not the only lyrical theme of the band. Noctifer's lyrics could be about our culture, about religion, nature, war and so on...everything that express our feelings and our way of thiking. I'm the main writer of the lyrics but also Zrohell (in 'Odiosa Vis Astrorum') and Surtr (in 'Manifesta Superbia') wrote some lyrics. About music, the birth of every new song it's a slow process and every member of the band contribute to it giving to the new creature something of himself."
This new cd 'Manifesta Superbia' how many songs does it contain and when does it come out? What label is 'Manifesta Superbia' coming out with, or is it a self-produced album?
"Manifesta Superbia' will contain 7 songs+intro+and outro written for us by our friend, Lord Azazel (Exsecratum / Ga. SS Kammer). The music will be more raw and grim that in the past, more fast and more heavy...'expect a blast' as it's written in the Deadsun Recs website, the label who will release this album."
You're also doing a split album with Nokturne called 'Wargod Domination' how many Noctifer songs are on the album, and when does it come out?
"In September we will record 2 new songs for this split, I don't know exactly how many songs for each band will be included in the split but I think 3. Nokturne are really a great band from the USA, and I hope also to play live with them one day anywhere..."
Well that about ends this interviw. I would like to thank Regulus of Noctifer for taking time in doing this interview.
Line up
Regulus-Drums
Tanatos-Guitar
Surtr-Bass
Entheos-Vocals
Herr Wolf-Guitar