Photo courtesy of Worm
Conceived from the shadows of songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Phantom Slaughter’s mind, Worm emerged in 2014 as a raw and despondent output of black metal that has evolved significantly ever since. Channeling creative inspiration and emotion from that same chamber of shadows and beyond, Slaughter has continued to develop sonic landscapes that have expanded Worm’s sound and aesthetic with each chapter, pushing the project into various realms of funereal, chilling darkness.
A darkness that, through Slaughter’s netherborn vision and the combined instrumental sorcery of both him and dexterous stringsman Wroth Septentrion, culminated into the construction of the ever-enchanting Necropalace – the absolutely stellar symphonic black metal standout that unveils Worm’s newly crafted shadow realm.
“In those early days, I just wanted to be a part of the genre that was giving so much back to me,” shares Slaughter in regards to the formation of Worm. “Being in a BM band was enough for me, it didn’t matter who listened or who didn’t. I was doing it for me and it was extremely fulfilling. Now, I’m trying to challenge myself and grow with every release. We will never make the same album twice. That would not feel very honest or fulfilling. Every album is its own world and expresses its own set of colors and emotions.”
According to Slaughter, “Necropalace is a vampiric concept album that invites you into the domain of an ageless vampire lord.” Deeply inspired by Ravenloft, he wanted to mirror that gothic fantasy in album form, which really allowed for his imagination to run wild.
“Over-the-top was our motto for this record, and we wanted it to be cinematic and sound larger than life,” explains Slaughter. “The first song made was the title track ‘Necropalace,’ that set the foundation and tone for the rest of the process. We hinted at this new sound on Bluenothing and Starpath but now it was our chance to have it fully fleshed out for a full-length.”
He adds, “I’ve always wanted to make an album like this but never had the right players to execute it properly until now. I’m very lucky to be able to work with those who I view as the best musicians in the genre today. Charlie (Koryn) and Wroth (Phil Tougas) have their own unique voices and an immense amount of work ethic. When every band member has integrity and is pushing themselves, it makes for something real special. This marks really the first true collaboration between Wroth Septentrion and I. His contributions to the songwriting truly elevated the record as well as my keyboard playing.”
Weeping and tenebrous orchestrals, spellbinding shred, and otherworldly melodies steeped in spectral gloom, usher the listener into the “Gates to the Shadowzone,” on through the album’s epic conclusion, “Witchmoon: The Infernal Masquerade.” Slaughter and Septentrion channeled the atmospheric splendor of works like Abigor’s Nachthymnen, Dimmu Borgir’s Enthrone Darkness Triumphant, Covenant’s Nexus Polaris, Diabolical Masquerade’s Nightwork, and gothic cinema like Subspecies and Coppola’s Dracula, into their own poignant expression that shrouds Necropalace in pure mysticism.
Slaughter feels, “In order to do this genre justice, you must remove the human factor. The composers are merely entities that shouldn’t feel reachable. It’s really all about the music and the world it allows you to escape into.”
Slaughter’s all‑in approach to creating Necropalace was shaped not only by the inspirations mentioned above, but by an environmental change that allowed him to immerse himself fully in the process. Following the band’s 2022 release, Bluenothing, he left his hometown of Miami, Florida, relocating to an off‑grid cabin in an undisclosed location.
“My disgust for [popularized party and entertainment culture in Miami] is what led me to extreme metal in the first place,” he shares. “I could not relate to anything around me and outcasted myself. I mainly found comfort in the natural elements of my hometown like the swamps and untouched nature trails.”
He continues, “I decided that, for me, living in isolation among nature was the only way I could grow as an artist and express the more profound emotions I intended to. Living like this allows me to focus on what I believe is most important, which only helps my creative process. My life revolves around finding ways to gain inspiration for the band.”
Necropalace is out on Friday, and you can preorder it from Century Media Records. Follow Worm on Instagram for future updates.