In Dakhma on Rock Attitude
“The Zoroastrian influence in our name has deeply shaped our sound and lyrics, becoming an essential part of our band’s identity”
In this interview with Rock Attitude, In Dakhma discuss the dark atmosphere and ritualistic identity that define their sound, shaped by history, everyday struggles, and the symbolic weight of their name. The Croatian death metal band reflects on songwriting, visual identity, lyrical themes, and the balance between brutality and atmosphere, while also sharing their expectations for the Eastern European tour and the experience they hope to create for listeners.
Your sound feels deeply rooted in darkness and ritual—what inspires the atmosphere behind In Dakhma?
– It might sound cliché, but everything around us: politics, history, and everyday life, is filled with struggles and challenges. The Zoroastrian influence in our name has deeply shaped our sound and lyrics, becoming an essential part of our band’s identity.
How does your origin in Croatia shape your identity within the global death metal scene?
– We hope to inspire metalheads around the world to explore our vibrant, though small, metal scene and offer their support. Despite its size, the scene has become increasingly lively and creative in recent years. Every band brings its own unique story, and we’re truly proud to be part of it.
The name “In Dakhma” carries strong imagery—what does it represent to you conceptually?
– Starting from rock bottom, surviving, and ultimately rising to overcome any obstacle in your path. While rooted in darkness, it ultimately conveys a message of strength and optimism.
How do you approach songwriting—does the music come first, or the concept?
– Matko: We usually start with the music: Vedran or Tomi bring in the riffs, and from there, the song takes shape based on its structure and the musical interplay of its parts. We decide where the lyrics fit and how they should be delivered. The overall concept gradually emerges during this creative process.
Tomi: Usually, there’s music playing in my head throughout the day: melodies and rhythms looping until they morph into random, brutal, riffs. Unfortunately, I often forget these ideas before I reach a guitar, or they’re hard to translate onto it. Most of the time, we start with a riff, letting the music lead. During rehearsals, we collectively shape the song’s concept. Sometimes, I even dream entire songs, waking up with them in my mind, only for them to fade away as the day goes on.
There’s a strong visual aesthetic in your artwork and promos—how important is visual identity to your music?
– In today’s world, people are overwhelmed with music: often to the point where it becomes background noise. That’s why we believe a strong visual identity is crucial. Striking artwork can help listeners recognize your band, capture their attention, and draw them in to experience your music.
What themes dominate your lyrics, and how have they evolved over time?
– Our lyrics shift from song to song: some are steeped in metaphor and open to interpretation, while others are direct and uncompromising. For our next album, we’re considering introducing more conceptual elements into our songs, but we’ll see where the creative process takes us.
Touring Eastern Europe can have a unique vibe—what are you expecting from this run?
– We’re expecting a lot of energy and grit. Eastern Europe is known for its raw underground spirit, genuine hospitality, and dedicated metal fans. We’ll be visiting Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, and Slovakia, and it’s tough to choose a favourite stop on this tour. Hopefully, we’ll return next year or two and get the chance to play at some festivals, like the legendary Rockstadt Extreme Fest.
Are there particular bands or movements that influenced your current direction?
– There isn’t a specific band or artist we draw from in particular: our influences are diverse, with each of us listening to a wide range of music, including genres outside of metal. The list of inspirations could go on forever, but we do want to highlight bands like Bloodbath, Crowbar, Sepultura, Hypocrisy, Morbid Angel, Opeth, Mgła, Mastodon, and Pantera, among many others.
How do you balance brutality with atmosphere in your compositions?
– Hopefully, we’re striking the right balance hahaha! Ultimately, it comes down to having the courage to experiment with your sound and try new ideas. The real challenge is weaving those elements together so they fit naturally and, above all, serve the music.
It’s much easier when you’re unafraid of outside opinions and genuinely enjoy the creative process. Having just three open-minded members in the band also makes it simpler to compromise and get everyone on board with new ideas.
What kind of experience do you want listeners to have when they dive into your music?
– Matko: The absolute madness coming your way in the form of soundwaves crushing your eardrums, catapulting your eyes into the stratosphere from the sheer brutality of our songs. Oh, also to enjoy it.
Tomi: I’d like listeners to experience what I feel when some random band surprises me with their songs, that sense of happiness and excitement when they hear specific riffs or vocals. And of course, when we perform live, I want people to mosh, headbang and have that intense, brutal look on their faces while they’re enjoying it.
Vedran: I’m here just to sell merch. J
SΟCIAL MEDIA
https://indakhma.com/
https://www.instagram.com/in.dakhma/
https://www.facebook.com/in.dakhma/
https://indakhma.bandcamp.com/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDyzF5ZgseAB0IvAKgwz0kw
https://open.spotify.com/artist/084MbAlEmEortmT8mPkNXE
