Ottawa Black Metal outfit Unreqvited are set to release their seventh studio album entitled A Pathway To The Moon on January 24th. The mastermind behind Unreqvited, 鬼 (meaning Ghost, real name William Melsness), took the time to talk with Metal Express Radio about their upcoming album, putting together his touring lineup, his favorite releases of 2024, and more. Check out the chat below!
Metal Express Radio: Your band, Unreqvited, are set to release their seventh studio album entitled A Pathway To The Moon on January 24th, what can you tell fans about your upcoming release?
鬼: As with nearly all Unreqvited releases, A Pathway to the Moon is yet another step in a new sonic direction. By now, I think listeners of my music have come to expect the unexpected with each new release, but I believe this one will shock even long time listeners. This will be the first record that is mostly lyrical and contains more clean vocals than screamed vocals.
MER: How was the writing and recording process having this being your band’s seventh album?
鬼: The writing and recording process has remained fairly consistent, it has always been and will always be me writing alone in my bedroom. I did however spend significantly more time crafting this record than any of my previous ones, because I wanted to ensure everything felt exactly right. I feel my writing/producing skills are still steadily improving, and with that growth comes an increasing sense of perfectionism. It’s becoming harder to reach a point where I feel a project is truly finished, as the endless cycle of making small adjustments can feel never-ending.
MER: You recently released another single from the album entitled “The Antimatter“, do you feel this song along with your previous single “The Starforger” represent the album well?
鬼: “The Starforger” is by far the catchiest and most accessible song on the album. I think it serves as a strong representation of its overall sound, as many of the songs have a softer tone with a lot of clean vocals. “The Antimatter”completely juxtaposes this, as the darkest, longest, and most technically intricate track piece – not just on this record, but perhaps in my entire discography.
MER: What do you see as your plans to support the album after its release?
鬼: I have a couple of North American tours lined up between spring and autumn of 2025, but beyond that, my schedule remains open for now. I’m hoping to expand to other continents soon, if the opportunity arises. In the meantime, I’ll be dedicating most of my free time to working on the next album.
MER: Who do you hope to tour with and why?
鬼: The list of bands I’d love to tour with is practically endless. It would be difficult to narrow it down to just a few. As Unreqvited is still a relatively small project that isn’t quite ready to headline tours on its own, I’m endlessly grateful to the larger bands who have been willing to bring us along on the road. A couple I’d really love to tour with in the next couple of years would be: Alcest, Holy Fawn, Deafheaven, Sylvaine, and Heretoir.
MER: How do you go about putting together a touring lineup for your band?
鬼: My touring lineup is made up of close friends I’ve grown up playing music with. Truthfully, if it weren’t for them, I probably wouldn’t be touring at all. Being away from home is never easy, but the companionship of close friends is what makes it possible for me to endure the challenges of the road.
MER: What were some of your favorite releases of 2024?
鬼: Here are few I found myself listening to quite a bit last year: Ulcerate – Cutting the Throat of God, Schammasch – The Maldoror Chants: Old Ocean, Ulk – The Carrier’s Blessing, Aquilus – Bellum II, Akhlys – House of the Black Geminus, Gaerea – Coma.
MER: Is there anywhere you hope to play live that you haven’t yet?
鬼: I’ve been eager to play in Europe for quite some time, and I’m hopeful that will become a reality in 2025 or 2026. Japan is also high on my list, as is South America. Honestly, there’s really no place I wouldn’t want to perform. I’m excited to bring my music to as many corners of the world as possible.
MER: Out of your band’s seven albums, what is one you would suggest to a new fan and why?
鬼: I believe A Pathway to the Moon will be the perfect introduction for new listeners who have yet to experience my music. This is the defining record for the future of Unreqvited’s sound, and is undoubtedly where a new fan should start listening if they would like to continue following Unreqvited’s musical journey moving forward.
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