GALIBOT - Black Earth, Brave Hearts ! (France - Black Metal/Post Black - Interview with Agathe).

Hello Agathe !  Thanks for taking the time to answer this interview ! Can you introduce yourself so that readers can get to know who is talking to them about GALIBOT? In general, can you tell me how it all started for you, how you discovered this musical universe, what attracted you to it, fascinated you, and above all, made you want to make music?
Hi! I'm Agathe, singer with Galibot. I discovered metal at the beginning of middle school, and black metal more towards high school with bands like The Great Old Ones and Harakiri from the Sky. I really got into black metal when I attended my very first black metal festival, the second edition of In Theatrum Denonium, in Denain. Already a fan of dark aesthetics and tortured music, I immediately felt imbued with this obscure and mystical energy. I was already making music before getting into black metal. I was a guitarist (kind of on my own), and I think it's a passion that has always been inside me! It follows my musical desires and tastes of the moment.

Before joining GALIBOT, what was your musical background? Are you involved in other bands? Is this also the case for the other members of GALIBOT, or is GALIBOT a full-time project that takes up all your attention?
Right after Covid, I joined my very first project on guitar, already with my dear friend Thomas (founder and guitarist of Galibot). It was a small project that allowed me to start cutting my teeth! Having been a black metal fan for years at that point, I was keen to get involved and contribute to this scene. In between, I released a very rootsy DSBM solo demo project under the name Diffamie, driven by a need to create, try my hand at recording, and express a number of emotions. Today, alongside Galibot, I'm involved in a cold-wave project, Sinistre Rose, as a singer and bassist. It's the romantic, danceable, goth side of me!
I'm also lucky enough to be invited to collaborate on quite a few tracks, notably with Bill the Dog (punk/hardcore), and many more are coming this year! As for the others, they've each had several past projects (Virgil for Julian, Lappaleinen for Robin, etc.).
Today, Thomas is involved in his project Supralunaire (black experimental/ambient), and Robin is also the drummer for Black Cube (prog) and Alwaid (folk black). Julian works at Minotaure Studio, recording, producing, and mixing for many bands in the region as well as throughout France, I'm thinking of Encounters, November, Neura... But for most of the band, Galibot is the project we are most invested in.

Tell me about the band... Its origins... How you met - the current line-up - past experiences - and above all - WHY the need to form THIS particular band?
The formation of Galibot is first and foremost a story of friendship. Originally, there were three of us: Clément, Thomas, and me. Thomas brought us together to join his project. We all share a passion for black metal, a desire to share our music, and above all, our northern origins coupled with our love for the heritage and history of the North. Thomas trusted us to perform his songs on the demo, which was called Wallers-Arenberg (named after his hometown, a mining town), and that was it! It was a challenge, especially for me, as I had never really sung before, but that just pushed me to work harder.
This band represents us, in terms of style but above all in terms of the energy and stories we want to convey through it. Mining history, industrial landscapes... that's our everyday life. It's a history that is deeply rooted in us, which we want to bring to life and which lends itself perfectly to the Black Metal genre.

For those who don't know... what is a “Galibot”? The choice of name is surely not random. What is the reason behind it? Is there any symbolism behind this choice?
Galibots were children sent into the mines to work in the very narrow tunnels because of their small size. Thomas chose this name when he created the project to evoke the fact that we are children of the North. Not that we are comparing our lives to the tragic fates of the children of the mines, but to represent our northern roots and the history of this region that we recount through our songs. We are the children of the North, of this black country with its ruthless industry that crushes men.
In our next album, which will be released in May, there is a track called Jeanlin. It is the name of a galibot in Zola's work, the embodiment of vice and violence: he represents the galibot as a vector of evil.

From symbolism to theme, there is only one step. The subject behind GALIBOT is the Mine, this Man-Eater that has both boosted the country's economy and devastated entire families, the industrial past of Nord-Pas-De-Calais, the harshness of life in this region, mining disasters, traditions..Did you feel it was important to address this subject? I imagine that, as children of the region, it is above all a way of paying tribute to your culture and heritage and your families?
Indeed, the mine and its entire industry have marked the lives of our ancestors, the landscape, and the stories we have heard since childhood. The mine set the pace of daily life in a city, with men working underground, women working above ground, and worried wives taking care of the home.
We felt it was important to address these issues to pay tribute to these people, but also to give a voice to this heritage, which is little known or misunderstood outside the region. Galibot is a way of paying tribute, of telling the story of mining through monstrous allegories and literary and ancient references. We're not giving history lessons either!

Culture and heritage are still VERY present in everyday life in Nord-Pas-De-Calais today... there is a real desire to preserve and perpetuate all of this... For example, the 9-9bis site in Oignies is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site... Its buildings are classified as Historic Monuments... That says a lot! 
There's also this idea of “knowing where you come from to know where you're going”... what's your take on that? What does it inspire in you?
For me, it's essential to know where you come from, to know your history and your roots in order to engage with the past and understand the current situation of our region, its culture, and the lives of the people who made it what it is. It's not just a duty to remember, but a tribute.

It may not be obvious to everyone, but how do you think this theme connects with Black Metal? It's a far cry from the themes commonly addressed in Black Metal (and that's a good thing!)...
It lends itself perfectly to Black Metal, first of all in its harsh, dark, and frightening theme. All these underground passages inspire the worst nightmares, firedamp explosions and mining disasters that are a source of general concern, the harshness of work and suffering are all themes that lend themselves to the genre. Listening to Black Metal on the winding roads of the desolate lands of the North, among the ruins of the industrial past, the flat fields drenched in rain, the low clouds, and the forests pierced by slag heaps, is already a deeply melancholic expression of Black Metal. Beyond that, the industrial sounds and frantic rhythms of work also inspire the musical part. The cold, metallic sounds of certain intros and interludes are inspired by this, as are some very cold and jerky rhythms. We see the inhospitable lands of the mining basin as a Hell inscribed in the earth.

Inspirations/influences in terms of lyrics? There are quite a few references to French authors and literature... It's very thorough and super interesting to read/discover... What messages do you want to convey?
We draw our inspiration for the lyrics first and foremost from observing and immersing ourselves in the dark landscapes of our cities, which we sometimes walk through, and also from all kinds of historical sources relating to local mining events. Literature does indeed greatly influence our writing: Balzac for his writing style, Jules Verne for his universe — as well as in the visual arts, particularly certain pictorial works, such as those by Alfred Kubin, Fantin Latour, and Gustave Moreau...
The message is not only educational and informative. The idea is also to deliver an experience, so that the essence of the North can be materialized by reading these texts. They are akin to dark poetry expressed through a metaphorical view of the world.

Musically, although rooted in black metal, I hear dissonant touches, something “post”.... Could you describe your sound and WHY it is essential to listen to GALIBOT (that's me saying that, right!)?
Our sound , although very raw in the beginning, was meant to evolve into a mixture of our inspirations - the original sound of Galibot being more inspired by Mgla - and also to represent our theme. The post touches you describe are meant to give our sound an “ambient,” even windy and cold feel. All of this is interspersed with much more violent passages, bordering on hardcore breaks, to return to the infernal side of the mine. It's a mix that reflects who we are and attempts to immerse the listener in a world that is at once terrifying and cold, somewhere between fantasy and industrial, sometimes taking more poetic paths along a few more melodic riffs.
Why listen to Galibot? I think it's an opportunity to discover an original experience, to immerse yourself in northern history while enjoying a mix of influences through which we tell stories that are as poignant as they are sincere. Be curious and give it a listen!

Musical inspirations/influences? I don't think they're exclusively Black Metal... Within the band... do you all agree on certain bands, or does each member bring their own tastes, influences, and sensibilities? In short, what creates the chemistry, the “Galibot” style?
As mentioned earlier, I think there are as many sources of inspiration as there are musicians in Galibot. It's quite surprising that we manage to create together, given that our tastes can sometimes seem incompatible. We are far from limiting ourselves to Black Metal. If we had to name a few influences, Polish bands, with their incredible compositional strength, immediately come to mind. The French scene is also very prolific: leading figures such as Regarde Les Hommes Tomber, or more obscure bands such as Vortex Of End, have been spinning on our turntables for a long time.

Let's talk about your past productions... “Wallers-Arenberg,” the 2022 demo, and “Euch'Mau Noir,” your first self-produced album from 2024... How do you view these past experiences? Are you still satisfied with them, or with hindsight, do you think that certain things could have been done better with the means available at the time? What were the reactions of the media and the public to their respective releases?
The demo was a great artisanal introduction! Recorded in Thomas's bedroom, with a view of the Wallers headframes, we couldn't have been more inspired. The production is very raw but homemade. To be honest, we didn't expect this demo to be so well received. But that's what motivated us even more for the future. There was a lot more work behind Euch’Mau Noir. It was recorded and mixed at Minotaure Studio, and Julian's (guitarist and studio engineer) expert advice helped the album achieve a more professional dimension. This first album was even better received and allowed us to become a little better known in the black metal scene. And we were particularly touched to learn that our music resonated with people from all over France who have close ties to our region. After the release of Euch'Mau Noir, the media was quite curious to learn more about the band's theme and future, and the public was eager to see us on stage, which also motivated us to put together a live lineup!
Personally, I'm satisfied with these first two productions, even though the demo is difficult to listen to, but they are the first building blocks of Galibot's musical journey.

These releases have allowed GALIBOT to make a name for themselves in the underground scene and bring you more visibility—and above all, land some great dates here and there — not just in your region... Are there any dates that particularly stand out for you? How did the different audiences react?
Indeed, as mentioned earlier, it was mainly the release of Euch'Mau Noir that caused a bit of a stir on the scene and prompted the audience to ask us to perform live. We still don't have many dates under our belt, but in my opinion, the two most memorable ones were, first, our very first show in Cambrai. We didn't know what to expect, but the audience turned out in large numbers and was very receptive. The other would be our Parisian date at the Péniche Antipode, our first sold-out show with a large majority of the audience discovering us for the first time, and very good feedback.

Speaking of concerts... what can we expect from GALIBOT live? Are you working on any stage concepts to best accompany your music?
Our goal is to offer a live experience that goes beyond a simple concert. During our last residency, we worked with Lucas, director of the theater company Laisse-moi manger ton cœur. After several meetings with him, during which we explained the essence of Galibot and what we wanted to convey live, he guided us in bringing the energy and sincerity of the project to life on stage. All this is accompanied by immersive stage elements that you can discover at one of our upcoming shows...

There's a lot going on with GALIBOT at the moment... first of all, there's talk of a reissue of your album “Euch'Mau Noir”... a “Euch'Mau Noir Bis” version... what can we expect? How is this new version interesting or what does it offer to those who already have the first version? And how did the deal with LES ACTEURS DE L'OMBRE come about, as they are far from being a new label, but rather a reference in the “black/post-black” underground scene? When is the release scheduled? What formats will be available?
Euch’Mau Noir bis is the completed and definitive version of the first album we released, but with the character and identity it was lacking. When we started working with Les Acteurs de l’Ombre Productions, they shared this observation. They therefore suggested that we rework the mix, the arrangements, and the mastering to make it more powerful and symbolize our integration into the label.
Our arrival at LADLO is no small thing, especially for us, who have been nurtured by this stable of bands with strong identities and unique universes. Beyond the honor, it has given us access to technical resources that we lacked: passionate people who specialize in music and who push projects to exist in a complete and professional way. You have to try your hand at everything when you embark on this kind of adventure, and a label like LADLO provides us with the tools we needed to take Galibot where we want it to go. It's an incredible opportunity, and we are very grateful to them.
The release is scheduled for February 20, via streaming, CDs, and vinyl (black and splatter), which are already available for pre-order on the LADLO website.

And... in the wake of this, a new album has been announced for May 2026... we need to know more about that... I imagine it's already been recorded... what are your thoughts on the final result? Where/when/with whom was it recorded? Can you tell us more about the content and how you would describe this new album in relation to what GALIBOT has released so far? Any different touches or surprising experiments?
The album is indeed ready! It was recorded and produced at Minotaure Studio and mixed at Studio Sainte-Marthe by Francis Caste at the end of 2025. This album, entitled Catabase, is more accomplished than the previous one in terms of composition and mixing. It is also much richer and more varied in terms of influences; we explored a number of styles that speak to us.
The difference from previous releases is that we all participated in the composition and writing of this upcoming album, which is why there is a greater variety of genres. As for me, I've been able to work on my voice and gain confidence since Euch'Mau Noir, allowing me to explore more techniques.Catabase reads like a sequel to the previous album, as we venture deeper into the earth, exploring new perspectives...

I imagine that the next step after these releases is to promote your music on stage... Are there any dates already planned for 2026 that you can announce?
Absolutely! We'll be playing on February 7 at the Black Blowing Snow Fest in Esquernes, then we'll be touring with Les Bâtards du Roi from February 19 to 23, stopping in Orléans, Vieux-Boucan-les-Bains, Bordeaux, and Lyon. More dates will be announced soon, and we can't wait to see you there!

Any other projects in the works for GALIBOT that you can mention? And... what would be the ultimate dream for GALIBOT ?
We have quite a few music videos planned for this year, as well as some new merch and concerts outside of France. That's all I can say for now!We've already started to realize our dream, humbly. Our main wish has always been to play on great stages, alongside bands that mean something to us. These are basically the same ambitions we've had since we were teenagers. More concretely, it's about continuing to write music without ever running out of inspiration, so we can continue to surprise our audience.

Well, I think we've worked hard ;-) Before we go, a few words about your local scene—the bands you're friends with and would like to mention?
In Hauts-de-France (Official name for the "northern part of France - Ed.), we are lucky to have a very rich and varied alternative music scene. We'd like to say hello to Encounters, Nornes (You already know this band if familiar with Rough Times, right ? Ed.), Canteleu, November... These are just a few of the bands that make our local scene so exciting, and we warmly invite you to check them out!

Thank you for your answers, your time, your patience... the last word is yours :-)
Thank you for your interest in Galibot! I would say that if you don't know Galibot yet, seeing us live is a unique experience that I invite you to enjoy!