Founded in Marseille, France in 2016, Stone Horns is a groove death metal act who made their debut with The Beast Inside in 2018 following with Rise of Apophis in 2021. As the band preps for their third album Chimaira on Rockshot Records on January 26th, vocalist Devf was kind enough to sit down and discuss the band’s evolution, collaborative process, influences, and more.
ATN: Tell us about the formation of Stone Horns.
DEVF: I founded the project in 2016, following several group experiments that proved unsuccessful, but forged my character nonetheless. I wrote, composed and recorded the first album The Beast Inside myself, helped by Antoine Roszak(who would later become our guitarist) for the guitar solos. As this first album was particularly well received, I decided it was time to turn this project into a full-fledged band.
ATN: How would you describe your sound in five words?
DEVF: True, pure, metal, headbang, groove
ATN: What kind of listening experience will Chimaira give fans?
DEVF: Each track has its own universe on this album, but it’s also part of a whole, because like the previous albums, Chimaira is a concept album. There should be something for every taste and color. The aim of this album is for fans of every sub-genre of metal to be able to say to themselves at some point when listening to it: ‘I really like that beat’.
ATN: How did you decide on the tracks for this album? How much more music can fans expect?
DEVF: Chimaira features seven tracks, with a total running time of around thirty-five minutes. Depending on the success of the album, we may release a few bonus tracks!
ATN: Where do your lyrics come from? What inspires your writing?
DEVF: The lyrics on this album are inspired, as the name suggests, by the mystical creature known as the Chimera. My usual process is to write a short novel that tells the story that the album will develop from start to finish, and then I divide it up into different acts, which will be the different songs on the album.
ATN: How is the writing process for the band?
DEVF: I compose and write the majority of the compositions myself, and then each member of the band adds his or her own personal touch. Mathis, our current solo guitarist, on the other hand, has a white card to write his guitar solos.
ATN: Are the songs a collaborative effort?
DEVF: Some yes, some no. As I mentioned earlier, I make the skeletons of what most of the songs will be, and then each musician comes in and puts his or her own stamp on them.
ATN: Does the band have a main songwriter?
DEVF: Yes, it’s me. I don’t play guitar during live shows but I compose the majority of the riffs, and I write all the lyrics.
ATN: How does the music affect the lyrics and vice versa?
DEVF: It’s mainly the music that influences the lyrics. First, there’s a first draft of the lyrics, which is then reworked to suit the different rhythms and dynamics of the songs.
ATN: Are any of the band members known on the local scene from any other bands?
DEVF: Our former guitarist Antoine, who is now our producer, also plays guitar with Marseille-based Acod. Mathis is also a guitarist in the band Social Prophecy.
ATN: How would you describe the evolution of the band’s sound?
DEVF: We’ve gone from a very aggressive sound on Rise of Apophis to one that’s more accessible to the listener’s ear. Meanwhile, the mix on this album sounds powerful and deep. Listeners will make up their own minds about it. All I can say is that Chimaira has nothing to envy the big American productions.
ATN: What can people expect live from your band compared to other bands?
DEVF: Stone Horns’ music really comes into its own live. The songs sound brutal, and the band’s energy is undeniable in their live shows. I often refer to the band as ‘True Metal’ before going into genres or sub-genres. This is the essence of what Stone Horns is all about: big riffs, energy, circle pits…what else can metal fans ask for?
ATN: Who would be the five influences or bands that Stone Horns may sound like?
DEVF: Machine Head, Devildriver, Slipknot, Lamb of God, Jinjer
ATN: What metal genres influence you as a band the most?
DEVF: Definitely Death Metal and Groove Metal are the biggest influences of Stone Horns.
Chimaira is out January 26th on Rockshots Records. Pre-order at https://bit.ly/ChimairaCD.
