EMQ's

EMQ’s with The Host

EMQ’s with The Host

Hi everyone! Welcome to another EMQs interview, this time with Brazilian Black and Death Metal band, The Host. Huge thanks to their vocalist, W.A.R., for taking part.

What is your name, what do you play and can you tell us a little bit about the history of the band? 

W.A.R.: I’m W.A.R., vocalist of The Host, a Brazilian Blackened Death Metal band. Our journey began in 2004, during which we released three demos and an EP between 2004 and 2010. Afterward, we went on a 12-year hiatus, returning in 2022 to work on songs left unfinished during that period, as well as new material. Since our return, we’ve released two singles, along with their respective videos: “Blasphemare MMXXIII” and “The Origin Through the Void”. Currently, we have a completed album ready for release and are reviewing proposals received after the positive reception of the singles. The release is scheduled for the second half of this year. Additionally, we are already in pre-production on new compositions for a future release. 

The Host – Blasphemare MMXXIII (OFFICIAL LYRIC VIDEO)

How did you come up with your band name? 

W.A.R.: Both the name and the logo of the band were created by me, based on what I thought was essential at the time. I wanted something unique and striking that would stand out and, at the same time, spark curiosity. The name had to reflect our concept, especially the critique and subversion of Christian dogmas, while the logo needed to convey strength and balance. I came up with a design where the letters were arranged with one central letter and an equal number of letters on each side, creating a harmonious effect.  

The name The Host came to me naturally, and to this day, I still think it was the perfect choice. It holds multiple meanings that connect deeply with the essence of the band. First of all, it refers to the Catholic sacramental host, subverting that liturgical symbol which represents the body of Christ. It can also mean army, legion, or horde, which fits perfectly with the Black Metal concept.  

Also, The Host represents “the host” of an idea of rebellion, an infernal “host” or a vessel for forces opposed to Christianity, like fallen angels, demons, pagan entities, or even Lucifer, seen as “the host” or carrier of knowledge and liberation. On another level, it could be interpreted as a reference to the biblical antichrist, a “host” that carries within it chaos and the destruction of humanity.  

This variety of meanings is what makes the name The Host so special and so connected to everything I aim to express, both in our music and in the concepts I stand for. 

What Country / Region are you from and what is the Metal / Rock scene like there?   

W.A.R.: I’m from the Brazilian metal city, Belo Horizonte. The metal scene here has always been strong and a world reference.  

What is your latest release? (Album, EP, Single, Video)   

W.A.R.: Our last release was the single and its respective video “The Origin Through the Void,” released on December 2nd, 2024. This single will be part of our upcoming full-length album “Ars Tenebrarum,” scheduled for the second half of 2025. 

The Host – The Origin Through the Void (Official Studio Video)

Who have been your greatest influences?   

W.A.R.: : Our biggest influences have always been Sarcófago, Sepultura, Death, Carcass, Moonspell, Rotting Christ, Deicide, Morbid Angel, Dissection, Immortal, Behemoth, and Belphegor. But just to name a few, we’ve got a lot of other influences in metal, from Heavy Metal to Brutal Death and Black Metal.  

What first got you into music?   

W.A.R.: My older brother always listened to Rock and Hard Rock, so I grew up hearing that every day. But when I was around 7, I first heard Iron Maiden, and from then on, I just kept diving deeper into metal. By the time I was 11 or 12, I was already into a lot of extreme metal. 

If you could collaborate with a current band or musician, who would it be? 

W.A.R.: If it were possible, I’d love to do something with one of the bands I mentioned earlier as our influences. That would be amazing. 

If you could play any festival in the world, which one would you choose and why? 

W.A.R.: Definitely, Wacken Open Air or Inferno Festival would be our top choices. They are two of the biggest metal festivals in the world, and it would be incredible to share the stage with several of our influences 

What’s the weirdest gift you’ve ever received from a fan? 

W.A.R.: I wouldn’t call it strange, but rather unusual and very rewarding. A fan once sent me a photo of a hand-painted shirt with our logo, back when we didn’t even have merchandise. Another memorable moment was when a guitarist who used to attend our shows started doing guitar playthroughs of our songs on his YouTube channel as a tribute. Today, he’s a close friend of the band and continues to support us with those videos. 

If you had one message for your fans, what would it be?   

W.A.R.: I think it always will be: Thank you for supporting The Host! 

If you could bring one rock star back from the dead, who would it be?   

W.A.R.: Chuck Schuldiner, for sure. He was a genius, and his work influenced and will continue to influence generations. 

What do you enjoy the most about being a musician? And what do you hate?   

W.A.R.: What I like the most is the composition, because it’s the moment when I can express my ideas in a creative way. What bothers me the most is the recording, because I never feel fully satisfied with my results in the studio, or what I envision for the music doesn’t turn out the way I imagined. This makes me want to constantly redo the vocal lines, but this is not always possible, and I can’t always achieve what I’m aiming for in these re-recordings, which ends up causing some inner stress. But I think it’s all part of the craft, so patience. 

If you could change one thing about the music industry, what would it be?   

W.A.R.: I would get rid of the current streaming system and bring back only vinyl, CDs, and tapes. Things were much better in the past. 

Name one of your all-time favourite albums?   

W.A.R.: Morbid Angel, Blessed Are the Sick. 

What’s best? Vinyl, Cassettes, CDs or Downloads?   

W.A.R.: Vinyl, of course. 

What’s the best gig that you have played to date?   

W.A.R.: I think it’s always the one we haven’t played yet. Every gig is a great experience, but the ones ahead always have the potential to top the last, especially as the band evolves and new opportunities come our way as we keep moving forward. 

If you weren’t a musician, what else would you be doing?   

W.A.R.: Maybe I could be a writer, and maybe I’ll even do that. I have several ideas and plans in that regard, but I haven’t been able to bring them to life yet. 

Which five people would you invite to a dinner party?   

W.A.R.: Absolutely, it would be my family members. I’m not very sociable, and being with family feels more comfortable and meaningful to me. 

What’s next for the band? 

W.A.R.: Our current focus is to release another single by February to kick off the year and secure a partnership for the release of our album Ars Tenebrarum later this year. If we can’t secure a partnership, we’ll proceed with an independent release. 

What social media/website links do you use to get your music out to people?  

W.A.R.: 

https://www.instagram.com/thehostbd

https://www.youtube.com/@TheHostbd

https://www.metal-archives.com/bands/The_Host/44022

https://thehost.bandcamp.com

https://www.facebook.com/thehostblackdeath

https://soundcloud.com/thehostbd

https://open.spotify.com/artist/30PRsnBRLrUpTN1g5C4gFB

There’s a long-standing food-based debate here in the UK. And we’d like your help. So… A Jaffa cake – is it a cake or a biscuit? Discuss!    

W.A.R.: I’m Brazilian and wasn’t familiar with this debate, so I did some research on the topic. From what I found, it seems that Jaffa Cakes are classified as cakes, mainly because of their texture and shape, even though they’re small and round like cookies. Personally, I don’t have a strong opinion on it, but I found the whole story quite intriguing. I guess I’ll have to visit and try one for myself to form a more solid opinion! 

Thank you for your time. Is there anything else that you would like to add?  

W.A.R.: I would like to thank you for the opportunity and take this chance to invite everyone to subscribe to our YouTube channel and follow us on our social media to stay updated on the release of our singles and the upcoming album! We’re really excited about what’s coming next! 

Disclaimer: This interview is solely the property of Ever Metal. It is strictly forbidden to copy any part of this interview unless you have the strict permission of both parties. Failure to adhere to this will be treated as plagiarism and will be reported to the relevant authorities.