CMPT is a black metal band emerged from haunted cults and dark folklore from the blood-soaked Balkan lands. The band name is styled in capital letters to resemble the Cyrillic spelling of the Serbian word for "death".
Inspired by local cultural patterns, CMPT plays black metal with atmospheric and folk nuances and their lyrics are based on the authentic cult of Death that has been practiced on Balkans for centuries.
The band released their first EP "Mrtvaja" back in 2021 through the legendary Osmose Productions, and later the same year, the full-length "Krv i pepeo". Their current release is the second full-length album "Na utrini", which was released in December 2024 on the same label. While the first album is conceptually rooted in the symbol of blood and bloodlust, "Na utrini" paves its way in the symbols of land, mud and dirt, and as such explores the mysticism practiced in the lower reaches of the Danube river. Found on a specific cross between the old indigenous elements and the ancient Slavic folklore, CMPT is a dedication to the authentic Balkan worship of Death, dark folklore, a monument of praise for the unclean spirits, nocturnal rites and forbidden cults that have cursed these lands centuries before the first Byzantine missions arrived.
-Interview- (12/23/24)
1. How did you get started with music and how did you develop your sound? How did the name "CMPT" come about and is there any meaning to it?
CMPT is a black metal band from Serbia that was formed in 2020. The band name is styled in capital letters to resemble the Cyrillic spelling of the Serbian word for "death". The word itself is comprehensible in majority of other slavic languages and it was chosen as a band name to reflect the main emotional and logical focus that CMPT explores and that is the dark side of the Balkan folklore and more importantly the authentic worship of Death that has been practiced on these lands for centuries.
2. What do you want people to take away from your music?
In an era prevailed by the spirit of postmodernity, everyone has the right to their own "reading" of things, especially when it comes to subjective creations such as experiencing art. Our own approach is clear on this. CMPT is a devotion to ancient dark cults and Death itself and that is the logos and the praxis of our achievement.
3. How would you describe your sound to the average listener?
The art of CMPT is native black metal deeply rooted in the local traditions of Balkans. Some label our sound as "atmospheric" or "folk", the notions we do not object as long as they are focused on the darker side of the cultural spectrum.
4. Who are three bands you’d like to tour with?
In a scene flooded with hyperproduction, if you approach the music and select carefully, one can still find plenty of quality artists with whom we could share the stage. At this point I won't name anyone in particular, but I will emphasize that it is important for us to share a part of artistic ethos with such bands.
5. What's your thoughts on AI generated music?
Same as with AI generated covers, mostly negative.
6. What’s your take on the current state of Black Metal?
If we allow ourselves to accept the existence of a "global black metal scene" with all the flaws and shortcomings of such an approach, we can immediately notice that the scene has long been developing in multiple directions simultaneously. On a personal level, I'm glad that certain trends are receding due to overwhelming oversaturation, such as the fact that we have to deal less and less with music that sounds like an evening school of Orthodox christian studies. On the other hand, as I said before about the art scene in general, with careful selection and good taste, quality and depth can still be found, even in the global black metal scene.
7. What’s the current music scene like there in the Balkans?
If we're talking about the sound closer to the sensibility of CMPT, which is ofcourse primarily black metal, the Balkan scene is quite fragmented. I would say that the black metal movement still has its strongest support in Greece as a continuation of a glorious 90's era of hellenic sound and so on. The Serbian response to this is traditionally not so strong, but there are still some significant bands such as: Šakal, The Stone, Khargash, Endarken, Svartgren, In Cold Silence etc.
8. What’s your take on the royalties that streaming services pay out to artists?
This topic has been quite controversial lately and is especially being discussed in artist circles after the pandemic. It would be good if all the circumstances could be investigated more properly, because there are some suspicions that streaming services may not be fully open towards the artists they represent.
9. What’s next for CMPT?
Our second full-length "Na utrini" will be released these days on CD/digital/vinyl by Osmose Productions and CMPT has officially started playing live to promote the material. In the time ahead, our main focus will be on live performances, and after that we will also dedicate ourselves to new recordings that are planned to complete the Balkan black metal trilogy started with our first full-lenght "Krv i pepeo".
10. Any shoutouts?
Thank you for your support and interest in what CMPT represents and stands for.
»Mors certa, hora incerta«
