Born from the influence of genre-bending bands like Alcest và Deafheaven, Pale blends the atmospheric beauty of shoegaze with the rawness of black metal, crafting a distinct sound that defies convention. We sat down with them during their first-ever visit to Vietnam after a crazy Run the Kaos show.
The founder and primary songwriter shares the band’s evolution, from college jams and metalcore friendships to experimenting with noise, post-rock, and glam influences. Along the way, we talk about genre fusion and the role of collaboration in shaping their identity. They also reflect on Japan’s tightly packed shows, the contrast of Vietnamese crowd energy, and the unbreakable drive that keeps them going.
Whether you’re a longtime fan of post-black metal or just curious about the scene that birthed Pale, this conversation is an honest look at artistic persistence, cross-genre unity, and international underground spirit.
Ethos:
Can you tell me about the beginnings of the band? What does the name mean to you? Why did you start a project?
Pale:
I started Pale because I was very influenced by post-black metal bands like Alcest và Deaf Heaven and I wanted to create something that resembles these acts.
E:
Ohhhh, it’s great you mentioned them. One of the questions on our list refers to these bands and the blackgaze genre in general. As the genre is relatively new, could you tell us more about your musical background and how you ended up in this spectrum of metal?
P:
I started with “regular metal” that was popular at the time I was in my teens. Bands like Avenged Sevenfold or Metallica. But I also quite liked bands like Sigur Rós, and when I discovered the first Alcest album, I was amazed by the mix of black metal and shoegaze, and I just wanted to do something that interesting.
E:
Is Sigur Rós big in Japan? I love Sigur Rós, but I’d say they’re a pretty niche band, even in Europe. Also, I’d say most of their fans don’t really come from a metal background.
P:
I don’t think so, no. But I was following some music recommendation groups on 5ch (Japanese forum website, similar to Reddit), and that’s where I found out about them.
E:
What about “traditional black”? Did any of the old school Norwegian bands influence you in any way, or were you exposed to that scene at all growing up?
P:
Yes, of course. I like Darkthrone, Emperor, Dissection, and more. But what mostly influenced my writing were the previously mentioned bands. I liked that they didn’t shy away from making longer songs, experimenting with their sound, and stepping away from typical song structures. So my goal was just to have that freedom in my own music, too.
E:
You mentioned Emperor, are you a fan of Ishan? His solo stuff is much closer to your sound.
P:
Yes! He is like a musical genius! I’m a big fan of what he does.
E:
Ok, we got sidetracked. I believe we could talk about different artists for hours. But let’s go back to Pale. Can you tell me more about the foundation of the band? Where did you guys meet? How did it all begin?
P:
I started the band with my college friends. I had been playing in an original band with a style similar to N.W.O.B.H.M., but I wanted to do a black metal project. Luckily, a drummer from that band was into it, so the two of us started Pale.
E:
Since you’re the founding member and the original creator of the band, do you still write all the music, or is it a collaborative thing?
P:
I write most of the music, but I’m influenced by the other guys and their style, their likes and dislikes. I like to draw ideas from other band members. If I were writing it all by myself, I think I’d be limiting us as a group. So I like input and different ideas from mine to make the final product, which is Pale’s music.
E:
What exactly are the musical preferences of other members of Pale?
P:
There are some overlaps in our taste, for sure. Especially in that classical sense of what metal music is. But for example, our drummer is more into metalcore, emo, and screamo. Bands like Underoath và Bullet for My Valentine.
E:
How about your singer? He has a pretty big rig on stage for a vocalist. I believe people here have only seen that when Full of Hell was here last year.
P:
Oh yeah, he likes to experiment. So his taste goes from noise and death metal, all the way to nu metal bands like Korn. He used to be in a deathcore band before, and another hardcore band similar to Nails.
E:
And your bassist?
P:
He’s mostly in rock and roll and glam. His favorite bands are Guns and Roses và Motley Crüe. Also, some old-school Japanese punk bands.
E:
What can you tell me about your artwork? All of your releases have a very unique style. Who’s behind all of that?
P:
That’s actually a funny story. I was working at the same Korean BBQ restaurant with this guy. Over time, we became friends and started sharing our art with each other. I showed him the music I’m doing, he showed me his drawings, and we started working together, outside of the actual workplace. His name is Riku Ogihara. Check him out!
E:
This is your first time playing in Vietnam. Let’s start from culture and what you’ve seen around. Any shockers?
P:
Traffic! It’s crazy! But haven’t seen any accidents. That’s amazing.
Also, what I really like is how people are proud of their country here, with all the flags on display everywhere you go, people wearing their flag on t-shirts. In Japan, you never see that. Especially on the locals. I admire people’s spirit and the sense of national pride here.
E:
What about the scene? Can you draw some parallels with Japan? Is there a scene for your genre in particular?
P:
Big metal shows are really big. When a band like Alcest plays in Japan, the venues are packed. Most touring bands get good crowds, I’d say. For us personally, not that great. We play smaller shows and really have to push our promotion hard to get more people. It’s usually hardcore fans who are also regular showgoers.
E:
So would you say it’s more or less, as in all areas, when a big touring band comes, people go wild over them, but not so much for their local scene?
P:
Yes, exactly. For that reason, we always do mixed-genre shows so we can get bigger exposure. We play with hardcore bands, with metal bands, and post-rock bands. But I think it’s really good since our music doesn’t really fit one specific frame of genre, we have bits of all of these, so potentially we can appeal to different crowds.
When Pale started, I was surrounded by people who liked post-hardcore, post-metal, and punk. All of this influenced our music, so it makes sense to show it to these same audiences now.
There are not many bands that play the same style as us, so if we played only with them, it would limit us for sure. For example, when Pale started, there was just one other band playing this style of music – Asunojokei. You should definitely check them out, they’re currently the biggest post-black metal band in Japan. They have an interesting mix of black and J-rock. So they’ve become bigger, and Pale is still trying (hahah).
E:
Could you make a parallel between the Japanese scene and what you’ve seen here tonight? The audience interaction, general feel, and vibe at the show?
P:
Well, first of all, the most obvious is the audience’s reaction. In Japan, most people would stand and listen. Here, everyone is moshing, screaming, and going wild.
On the other hand, I can say I’ve noticed way more people back home showing appreciation for underground metal. Over the period between our releases, even our scene grew. Besides Asunojokei, another band surfaced and is doing well – Kokeshi. They blend nu-metal with post-black, a really interesting style. So I’d say more people care nowadays and show appreciation for what our scene is doing.
E:
Good to hear! Growth is always welcome. Let’s slowly wrap things up. Question number one for the great finale – If you had to pick one Pale song to showcase your band, what song would that be?
P:
It’s hard to single one out, but I think the right choice would be a song “Dakhme”. It has soundscape influences of Alcest and Deaf Heaven, old-school heavy metal riffs, a guitar solo for arena, a noise section, so everything we like and do.
E:
What’s next for Pale?
P:
Our current live set and releases were written with other people, so I want to write more songs with input from the current lineup to make more Pale music. There’s some material in the works, but since we just released the new LP this year, I don’t think the new one will be out until next year.
E:
What would be your message for people just starting their musical journey, have a band, some ideas, and motivation to create? How do you get to a point where you release original music, tour, and do all the things you guys are doing?
P:
It’s very simple – Don’t give up! Just keep trying, keep it going. It gets hard sometimes, you face breakdowns, creative blocks, but you have to continue. That’s the only way.
With roots in Japan’s DIY underground and eyes set far beyond, Pale reminds us that great music isn’t born in a vacuum; it’s forged through friendships, missteps, or that one forum post that changes everything.
Their message to aspiring artists? “Don’t give up.” It sounds simple, but in a world where it’s easier to hit play than pick up an instrument, showing up day after day, riff after riff, takes real guts. Whether you’re screaming into a mic, scribbling lyrics, or just trying to find your sound, keep going. The scene needs more noise, not less.
Here’s to Pale! May their journey stay heavy, their spirits stay light, and their pedals always patched in.
