Cloak are deadly serious about converting black-metal fans to the razor-sharp, melodically masterful sound the band started honing 10 years ago in Atlanta. It’s a mission the foursome will extend to Austin when they play at Oblivion Access in one of the most coveted slots of the four-day event: a Friday closing set from 12:45 to 1:45 a.m.
According to Cloak, the group will “bring the Black Flame” to Texas, an expression the musicians use to refer to touring behind their third full-length, Black Flame Eternal (Season of Mist). Released a month ago, it’s already one of the most talked-about black-metal albums of the year, with Oblivion organizers Dusty Brooks and Dorian Domi recently telling New Noise that Cloak and Ludicra are the torch-bearers for the subgenre at this year’s event.
Coming off a scorching performance at Baltimore’s Hell in the Harbor late last month, vocalist and guitarist Scott Taysom touched base with New Noise about Cloak’s recent spike in popularity and how he hopes they move the needle forward again at Oblivion. The stoic frontman also opened up about his hopes that bigger bands will boost their exposure by inviting Cloak—rounded out by Max Brigham (guitars), Billy Robinson (bass) and Sean Bruneau (drums)—on tour. To Taysom, that’s the missing leg on Cloak’s trek to fame.
Despite the lack of banter that Cloak bring to the stage, Taysom spoke freely and honestly with New Noise about his aspirations, the long wait for Black Flame Eternal, and winning over new fans.
During the conversation, Taysom didn’t mince words: Cloak are out for the kill.
How’s it going, Scott? Excited that Cloak LP #3 is finally out?
I’m feeling both motivated and tired. We’ve been sitting on the third album for a couple years now. We finished writing it in the middle of ’21 and finished mixing it in the middle of ’22. So for us, it’s almost old news.
But it is refreshing to see it in the live setting now. Black Flame Eternal got a rebirth in a way at Hell in the Harbor (in Baltimore late last month). Such a great set for us. That was probably our favorite festival experience, honestly. We weren’t too rushed. The stage had plenty of room. The crowd was huge for us. It was a really good response, from what I could tell. I’m really grateful to have that (audience response) the weekend (Black Flame Eternal) came out.
I feel like the (album itself) is another rebirth for the band in a lot of ways: with our sound, how it’s being portrayed, and even a little bit of the imagery. So I think having (newcomers) being introduced to (Cloak) on the third (album) is cool because it’s where the direction of Cloak may go in the future. Right now is an exciting period for Cloak, for sure.
It seemed like most of the crowd at Hell in the Harbor—and it was a huge crowd—weren’t really familiar with a lot of your music. But by the end of the show, holy shit, if you hadn’t won over every person in that room…
That’s awesome. That’s what you want to do at a festival. You have a short set, typically, and it’s like a sampler for people. We sold a ton of merch that day (at Hell in the Harbor), which really was awesome.
How did you turn around the crowd in that situation, when the initial response was relatively tepid? Maybe the fans weren’t used to Cloak’s new material yet?
We have toured a lot, but we probably haven’t got as many bigger opening slots as we really would’ve liked to (by now). And that was just ‘cuz touring shut down within the past couple years when we were putting out the last record, (2019’s The Burning Dawn).
We were starting to get opportunities, and then it just kind of got squashed. So we’ve just been piecing together (our plans) and doing what touring we can—but (the right way). The goal is to really get on those bigger tour-opener slots. We got a big tour coming up in September that hasn’t been announced yet. More popular bands are headlining it, so it should be good for us.
Can you elaborate on what you said about Cloak’s sound evolving on your new material?
It’s more aggressive, more punchy—but still maintains a lot of the melodic leads. The production is more lush. A lot of people are saying we’re moving in a purely black-metal direction, which can be hit or miss. We have songs like “Eye of the Abyss” that aren’t really very black metal at all, (even though) the vibe, the dark energy and the lyrical themes are still there. (That could be why Black Flame Eternal) is cutting through to people much better.
Prior to the release of Black Flame Eternal, you said you wanted to try a different approach to Cloak. Did you feel like your older material wasn’t grabbing crowd members the way that you wanted it to?
I wouldn’t say we’re influenced with how the crowd responds. I think Black Flame Eternal captures where our hearts and our minds were at—and hearkens back to how we were as people and musicians in the past.
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“We wanted [Black Flame Eternal] to be a statement for Cloak and a monumental piece in the history of the band.”
-Cloak vocalist/guitarist Scott Taysom
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How did you learn to become a musician?
I came from playing hardcore D.C. punk. Sean was in a lot of hardcore bands. So it was having that sort of aggressive element introduced back into it with thrashier riffs.
We’re still very proud of the first two (records, 2017’s To Venomous Deaths and Burning Dawn), but (Black Flame Eternal) came together in a way (that made us) so proud of it. And we still are. We wanted each song on the record to be a statement for Cloak and a monumental piece in the history of the band.
Are you able to put that “statement” into words?
It’s hard to say. If you just listen to the first two songs on Black Flame Eternal, “Ethereal Fire” and “With Fury and Allegiance,” and then you listen to the third one (“Shadowlands”), you’ll definitely hear it. The statement is about empowerment, and it hits a certain nerve in people’s hearts and souls. That’s what I would like this record to represent: regaining or developing a sense of power.
Would it be fair to say that it’s got like a hardcore spirit to it, given you and Sean’s background playing in hardcore bands, even if all the songs themselves aren’t hardcore by definition?
More of a punk spirit. It’s a little more to the point maybe, but Cloak, in its nature, is a very punk-minded band. This has taken me a while to realize, but we’re so DIY, we create all of our music videos ourselves. Most of the graphic design is done by me, and I edit all the videos. We get small teams to do all the filming and shirt designs.
What’s your take on the resurgence of hardcore and hardcore punk?
I was from more of a crust punk/D-beat scene but still involved in the metal scene. I don’t really listen to hardcore a lot, to be honest. Loved Power Trip, and they were kind of hardcore adjacent. Enforced is a newer band that’s similar to Power Trip. I don’t listen to much (hardcore punk) either.
Why did you pick Oblivion Access among the seemingly record-breaking number of music festivals taking place this year?
I don’t know, actually. It’s a festival I didn’t hear about before. It was a last-minute thing that we got added to (after another band dropped off). But looking at the bill, it’s very eclectic: Godflesh, Drab Majesty, and so many different types of bands. We’re headlining a smaller room called Valhalla on Friday, and it seems like we’re playing with some cool bands, although I haven’t heard ’em before. It’ll be more of a small venue show like we’d play on a tour—but hopefully more packed since it’s part of a festival.
And you’re cool with playing that club setting at a festival like Oblivion?
We definitely feed off the energy of the room when it’s like that. But we have that same demeanor and presence at a smaller show as well, ‘cuz this music really is driven by something else. For us, it’s very internal and introverted. When we play these songs and I sing these lyrics, it means something to me every night. Even in band practice, you know, it’s the same when you feel it. And I think the energies that stir in the room when the crowd is feeling it just adds to that intensity. There’s moments where I’m closing my eyes and tuning out and forgetting where I am and have no idea what the fuck’s going on.
These songs are important to us, and I think there needs to be a bit of a respect and serious nature to ’em. It’s not a very lighthearted thing for us. It’s more personal.
How do Cloak integrate fun into recording, touring, and other collaborative activities you guys do as a band—all the while staying serious?
We’re best friends, so we can have a meal together and laugh and joke. But when it comes to making music, it’s serious business for us. I think it’s important to keep a balance. You don’t want a tour to be miserable, or people would quit. Touring isn’t really that fun anyway because you sit in a van most of the day. You figure out where to get gas and where to eat. It’s such a different lifestyle than I have at home, where I’m pretty low-key. I like to exercise.
What an exciting time to be you—and to interview you!
It was a great interview. I always appreciate the well-thought-out questions.
Cloak will perform at Oblivion Access at Valhalla tavern in Austin, Texas, on Friday night/Saturday morning from 12:30 to 1:30 a.m.
For more profiles on Oblivion Access participants, check out our brand-new interviews with Cloud Rat, Bosse-de-Nage and Pallbearer.
Photo courtesy of Cloak
