Interview with death metal band from Spain, Catalonia - STENCH OF SORCERY.
Answered Jaume Roca Roca (guitars, vocals), thank you!
Recenze/review - STENCH OF SORCERY - The Palegold Menace (2026):
Ave STENCH OF SORCERY! Greetings to the Catalan underground. I hope everything is going well for you. It should be you’ve just released the first fantastic full-length album of your career this year. I have to admit, it literally pinned me to the wall. It’s dark, energetic, and cuts like a sharp knife. It’s very clear that you’ve done a great job and brought a lot of talent to the table. How do you view the new album in relation to your previous recordings? Where did you want to take things, and in what ways do you think the albums differ?
Oi Jakub! Jaume here. First of all, thank you for having us. It’s a pleasure to do this interview, and I really enjoy talking about these things.
That’s an interesting question because when I started Stench of Sorcery, I was going through a very difficult period in my life. My only goal was to record a death metal demo that was aggressive, direct and straight to the throat. I was angry, frustrated and had a lot to get out of my system. Looking back now, I can clearly hear that in songs like “King God Savior”. It’s relentless from beginning to end, and honestly, it’s probably not the kind of song I would write today (laughs). Hopefully that just means I’m a little more at peace with myself these days, although that’s always hard to say for sure.
At the time, I didn’t even have the idea of starting a band. I simply wanted to prove to myself what I was capable of doing after leaving previous projects, and then move on from music entirely. But you know how these things go... I started writing, then kept writing, and eventually I just couldn’t stop.
Comparing The Palegold Menace to our first two EPs, I see it as a more mature and complete version of what we had been building from the beginning. It combines the oppressive and darker side of Unseen Battles with the raw and groovy death metal of Spellcaster. We took those foundations, refined them and focused on writing stronger songs. The result was The Palegold Menace.
I think the evolution between the three releases feels very natural and organic, and we’re extremely happy with where it led us.
“The Palegold Menace” embodies all the attributes of good death metal. For me personally, it’s an album I love coming back to. How did it come together? How does STENCH OF SORCERY compose new material?
First of all, thank you very much. We’re really glad to hear that the album keeps bringing you back.
When Gerard joined on second guitar, I already had some new material written. From the beginning, we agreed that we wanted to create something a little more refined and cohesive. We wanted to slow down, focus on writing better songs, and avoid the temptation of simply stacking riff after riff. We also wanted to consolidate a sound that truly felt like us, something we’re still refining to this day.
Our writing process is actually very simple. One of us usually brings in an idea or a basic structure, and then we start working on it together. We exchange riffs, arrangements, transitions and all kinds of ideas until the song begins to take shape. Sometimes one of us writes almost an entire song and the other helps refine the structure, dynamics or details.
The important thing is that everything ends up being a collaborative effort. We both have our own roles within the band, but every song becomes a Stench of Sorcery song through that collaboration.
What helps tremendously is that our musical tastes are incredibly similar (sometimes it’s almost scary (laughs). Because of that, we rarely struggle to find common ground, and we usually end up with something that excites both of us. In the end, that’s what matters most.
Luis later joined on vocals, and we’re very proud of him because he does an exceptional job, honestly!
I looked it up and saw that Dan Swanö and Unisound Studio handled the mastering and mixing. I have to confirm that the sound is literally killer. It keeps making me turn up the volume on my stereo. Dan Swanö created a sound for you that is brutal, raw, yet dark and primal. What was it like working with him, and why him specifically? Which studio did you record in, and how did everything go?
Working with Dan was an absolute pleasure. Everything was very easy, smooth and straightforward from the beginning. He quickly understood what we were aiming for and found a sound that fit the album perfectly.
We chose Dan because he has worked with many bands we admire and because he has a remarkable ability to bring clarity and power to extreme music without sacrificing character. We knew he was a safe pair of hands, and his reputation speaks for itself.
The recording and mixing were actually done in Barcelona at Axtudio, where we had also recorded our previous two EPs. We have developed a great relationship with the studio and always feel comfortable working there. The foundation was already strong, but Dan's mastering elevated the final result and gave the album that extra punch and cohesion we were looking for.
The CD is an integral part of the release and a sort of bonus for fans today. You released it yourselves, and it features interesting artwork. Who designed it? How did you choose the motif, and how does it relate to the music on the new album?
The artwork was created by Orhan Mert. I discovered his work after speaking with several artists who recommended him, and honestly, I couldn't be happier with the result.
The cover represents the first glimpse into a story that is gradually taking shape through our music. We call it the "Execrated Lands Saga", a conceptual narrative built around themes such as good versus evil, light and darkness, corruption and resilience.
The Palegold Menace serves as the opening chapter of that story. The artwork was designed to reflect those themes and introduce some of the central characters and ideas that will continue to evolve in future releases. For those interested in exploring the lore further, the first chapter of the saga can be found on our website.
In your lyrics, you deal primarily with history, wars, and the darkness of human existence. Who wrote them, and where did they draw inspiration from? Were they old books? Movies?
Up to this point, I have written all the lyrics myself.
The inspiration comes from many different places, but fantasy literature is probably the biggest one. I have always been fascinated by medieval fantasy, grimdark fiction, science fiction, mythology, historical lore and poetry. Films, books and even historical events often find their way into the writing process as well.
I don't really like setting strict boundaries for inspiration. If an idea sparks my imagination and fits the world we are building, it can become part of a song. Looking ahead, I don't see that changing. If anything, I expect our influences to become even broader in future releases.
I've been wandering the underground for over thirty years now, and when it comes to music, I always turn to Spain it's a sure bet. I think we share a similar temperament and taste when it comes to metal. I really like your bands and follow your scene closely. Maybe I even envy you a little we only have a few death metal bands back home that are worth checking out. How do you explain the fact that death metal is doing so well in your country? How do you perceive your scene, fans, and labels?
First of all, thank you for the kind words. There are many dedicated musicians, promoters, labels and fans who keep supporting underground music despite all the difficulties that come with it.
To be honest, I'm probably not the best person to give a complete overview of the current Spanish death metal scene. These days I'm quite focused on my own creative work and don't follow every new release or movement within the underground as closely as I once did.
At the same time, I believe it's important for every band to find its own voice rather than simply becoming part of a scene or following trends. For us, the goal has never been to fit into a particular movement. We want to build our own identity, connect with listeners who genuinely enjoy what we do, and allow the music to evolve naturally over time.
You come from Catalonia, a region I’ve visited several times. Beautiful nature, history, but also very nice people. How has the place where you come from influenced your music? Do you have any tips for us on a good club or a place I should visit next time?
Thank you! Catalonia is indeed a beautiful place, and although I wouldn't say that our local culture directly influences our music in the same way that traditional folk music might influence other bands, the environment certainly plays a role.
I live in a small town, and the peace and quiet of that setting gives me the space to think, write and compose in a way that would probably be impossible in a large, crowded city. I think that sense of solitude and reflection inevitably finds its way into the music.
Unfortunately, our region has been experiencing a gradual decline in live music venues over the years. Tourism has become such a dominant industry that many cultural spaces struggle to survive, and local authorities are often more interested in protecting other economic interests. It's a shame, because those venues are essential for keeping underground music alive.
That said, if you're looking for a good place to visit, I'd recommend the Undead Dark Club in the Sants district of Barcelona. It's a great spot with a genuine underground spirit.
And if you'd like to see something a little different, I'd actually recommend my hometown, Polinyà. We have a church that is over a thousand years old, still standing with original medieval frescoes on its walls. Walking inside feels like stepping back in time, and it's one of those places that reminds you just how much history surrounds us, often hidden in plain sight.
You play old-school-influenced death metal. These days, a band can’t really avoid comparisons, but I’d be interested to know how the idea to form STENCH OF SORCERY actually came about, who your role models were and are, and where you want to take the band? Are you tempted by big international festivals, for example, and would you be willing to go on tour with a more famous band?
As I mentioned before, Stench of Sorcery wasn't really born with the intention of becoming a proper band. At the beginning, it was simply a personal project. I wanted to prove to myself what I was capable of creating after leaving previous bands, and I thought it would probably be the last thing I ever did in music. Fortunately, things didn't work out that way.
Of course, there are some very obvious influences in our sound. Bands like Bolt Thrower, Benediction, Immortal and Death have all left a mark on us in one way or another. But as time goes on, our range of influences keeps expanding. These days, artists such as Opeth, Dream Theater and many others have also become important sources of inspiration.
What I can say is that the new material we're currently working on goes a little further than what we've done so far. We have no interest in repeating ourselves. We are very proud of The Palegold Menace and feel that we achieved everything we wanted to achieve with that album. Now the doors are open, and while death metal will always remain part of our DNA, we're becoming increasingly interested in atmosphere, storytelling, dynamics and creating something with a stronger identity of its own.
As for festivals and touring, absolutely. We'd love the opportunity to share the stage with bigger bands and reach new audiences. To be honest, at this point almost every band is more famous than we are (laughs). But we're ambitious, and we're not afraid to dream big. If the opportunity to play major festivals or tour internationally came our way, we'd jump at it without hesitation.
When I started my website ten years ago, my vision was to support bands that I felt weren’t getting enough attention and to let the world discover them. I think I’ve been pretty successful in that regard, at least judging by the feedback I’ve received. How do you approach promotion? Do you leave it up to the label, or do you send out CDs for reviews yourselves? For example, I often buy albums that I really enjoy. What about you? Are you also fans who like to support your peers? Do you go to concerts? Do you party?
The truth is, we don’t currently have a label or anyone backing us. In fact, we haven’t even released physical editions of our new LP yet because we need to recover financially first. Of course, if any label were interested, we would definitely be open to releasing physical copies!
We’re big fans of buying physical albums ourselves. There’s nothing quite like going into a record store and savoring the moment of holding an album you really love, or one that has caught your attention, and being able to enjoy the experience of reading the booklet and taking in the artwork. I think we’re slowly losing something very important in music: the physical experience.
As for concerts, we do go quite often, but personally I prefer to attend shows I truly care about rather than just going out for the sake of it. I don’t really enjoy a live performance if I haven’t genuinely connected with the music beforehand through recordings.
On the one hand, a band starting out today has many ways to get their name out there, but on the other hand, there are also a huge number of bands, and listeners can easily get lost in the crowd. Many people simply download MP3s from the internet and, instead of going to shows, prefer to vent their frustration online. How does modern technology influence you as STENCH OF SORCERY? What are your thoughts on downloading music, streaming platforms, and online discovery tools?
Honestly, I miss the times when people actually bought physical music. That’s definitely something I prefer.
If I have to be honest, these days I listen to a very wide range of music, almost more than just death metal, haha. But I can say that when I do listen to death metal, it’s purely because I enjoy the music itself, not because of any lifestyle or need to prove anything to anyone. It’s just something I appreciate.
To wrap things up, a classic but important question: what does STENCH OF SORCERY have planned for the coming months? Where can we catch you live? And if you have any message for fans, labels, or promoters, this is the place.
We’ve got a few shows lined up toward the end of the year. We can’t announce anything just yet, but they’re looking very promising. And of course, we’re still working on new music and already deep into the process!
And to all our fans and supporters: thank you so much for the continued interest and support. It truly means a lot. And to any labels or promoters out there: we’re always open to new opportunities and collaborations, so feel free to reach out.
And thank you so much, Jakub.
See you and stay safe!
Thank you very much for the interview. I wish not only the new album great success but also that your fan base grows as much as possible. I look forward to seeing you live somewhere, and I wish you all the best both musically and personally. I’m going to blast “The Palegold Menace” again!
Recenze/review - STENCH OF SORCERY - The Palegold Menace (2026):
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