THE DARK LORD OF LOGOS
INTERVIEW BY KLAUS PICHLER
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Click for a slideshow of logos
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Vice: So, Christophe Szpajdel, we hear that you’re the master of black-metal logos. But who are you, really?
Christophe: I am 37 years old, I come from Belgium but I live in Exeter, Devon, in the UK. In the last 20 years I have drawn more than 7,000 logos, mostly for black- and death-metal bands from all over the world, including Emperor, Moonspell, Nachtmystium, and Enthroned.
So do you sit alone by candlelight in the uppermost chamber of a castle and draw sinister things all night?
No. Besides drawing logos, I am a forestry engineer and I have a regular job as a customer-service assistant in retail. I need a job to support my artistic activity.
Will you stab me with a cursed, ruby-encrusted dagger if I say that I think you’re inspired by the Art Deco and Art Nouveau eras?
No. I am a big fan of Art Deco, Art Nouveau, and the Vienna Secession artists. But most important is a school of calligraphy that I created and developed. It’s called Depressiv’Moderne, and it’s a result of the merging of Art Deco, depressive dark ambient, and the actual economic depression we are in right now.
So you work in forestry engineering. Isn’t it contradictory to work for the protection of the environment while at the same time supporting music that wishes to lay waste to the earth until it’s a stinking heap of sulfur and bones?
I wouldn’t say so. In fact, it is some kind of a yin-yang. There are bands that make extreme music but lyrically deal with the purity of nature. They offer the perfect fusion between my fascination with nature—especially mountains—and metal. But a lot of extreme metal bands deal with the destruction of mankind, which I think is needed. Maybe not a complete destruction, but at least a drastic cull. Our streets need to be cleared of all the scumbags walking on them.
See all articles by this contributor Anonymous, on Dec 15, 2009 wrote:
SICK SICK SICK SICK | | Anonymous, on Dec 3, 2009 wrote:
Man oh man, I’ve been in a brand identity business for more than 10 years. Servicing a fast consumer, leisure, hospitality, business services, property brands, etc.
Love a black and death metal too. But I keep myself wondering. Who in the hell create these sort of logos? This style of design uses specific font type that I think it isn’t really a font. It’s a calligraphic of some sort.
All the designs look so creepy, we’ll the intention is meant to be with that personality. I think Christophe is really an artist. He knows what he’s doing.
m/ | | Anonymous, on Oct 2, 2009 wrote:
hello there mr Christophe my name is nada
and am from saudi arabia i loved your work its so deep and awesome its tells lots of thought so i would like to ask you to do me a logo for my band and the band name Disturb The Balance
and i would like to talk with you so we can talk about it
| | Anonymous, on Sep 21, 2009 wrote:
hola hijos de puta :D | | Anonymous, on Sep 8, 2009 wrote:
Interesting designs. I do agree you can’t read the names. Which is the main focus of a logo. They would make great tattoo’s. The one that looks like tree roots is so un-recognizable that a person looking for the cd would by pass it. I see where they are coming from but a little more association with the band name would make a better logo. This is a professional opinion. Take a look at the classics like Led Zepplin and Rush’s starman. You know exactly what band by the logo. | | Anonymous, on Sep 5, 2009 wrote:
I can’t read any of them. Not one. | | Anonymous, on Sep 4, 2009 wrote:
""Pure GARBAGE Logos !!!!! I know a couple of 3rd graders who can draw logos 100x Better than this mumbled jumbled GARBAGE !!Have a day good..."
go back to listening to Deerhunter or portishead"
hey now... i listen to portishead and christophe’s work rock. hard. we’re not all cardigan wearing hipster asshats.
but yeah, to say any of those logos are garbage you’d have to be either blind or stupid. or both. or an ignorant, disrespectful jackass. | | Anonymous, on Aug 24, 2009 wrote:
poor interview with an interesting theme.
please re do it! | | Anonymous, on Aug 15, 2009 wrote:
Christophe is an excellent artist and a good man. He did my band’s logo yeeaarrrsss ago. | | Anonymous, on Jun 30, 2009 wrote:
That interviewer should be ashamed. | | Anonymous, on Jun 9, 2009 wrote:
i think klaus should be fired. what a horrible interview. i mean, really. doesnt he know that there are some vice readers who are genuinely interested in this guy? i mean, you wouldnt interview some other famous artist in such a way, right? how unprofessional, he should really be embarrassed (and fired).
but on to the pulp of the matter- this christophe dude’s art gives me a huge black metal boner. HAIL. reminiscent of modern graffiti, no? | | Anonymous, on May 29, 2009 wrote:
"Pure GARBAGE Logos !!!!! I know a couple of 3rd graders who can draw logos 100x Better than this mumbled jumbled GARBAGE !!Have a day good..."
Prove it. Show them or shut the f#@% up.
| | Anonymous, on May 24, 2009 wrote:
I wonder how the interviewer will react if he hear the logo owners musics... | | Anonymous, on May 22, 2009 wrote:
"Pure GARBAGE Logos !!!!! I know a couple of 3rd graders who can draw logos 100x Better than this mumbled jumbled GARBAGE !!Have a day good..."
go back to listening to Deerhunter or portishead | | Anonymous, on Apr 29, 2009 wrote:
m/ m/ | | Anonymous, on Apr 29, 2009 wrote:
m/ HaiL BLack Fucking MetaL m/ | | Anonymous, on Apr 26, 2009 wrote:
picate el culo | | Anonymous, on Apr 1, 2009 wrote:
The interviewer missed a great chance to be silent. He had a great theme and we blew it. | | Anonymous, on Mar 23, 2009 wrote:
Yes the interview wwwasquite moronic. I speak with Christophe a lot through email. He is a really cool guy, always traveling, and draws logos wherever he goes. He’s not really all KVLT like this guy makes him out to be. Very down to earth person. And why he said the forest is not black metal is beyond me! | | Anonymous, on Mar 6, 2009 wrote:
Wow, cada uno es una obra del diseño. Simplemente ¡excelentes! | | Anonymous, on Mar 6, 2009 wrote:
parce q logos tan peyes | | Anonymous, on Feb 3, 2009 wrote:
hm...I’m not very impressed with the "professionalism" of the interviewer, but I think the logo designs are pretty sweet myself. And as for readability, sure it’s not the easiest thing in the world to read, like most logos, but it fits the style of music that he’s designing for. And at the very least, they’re fascinating to look at: all the intricate details and whatnot could provide me with endless hours of entertainment. | | Anonymous, on Jan 20, 2009 wrote:
Pure GARBAGE Logos !!!!! I know a couple of 3rd graders who can draw logos 100x Better than this mumbled jumbled GARBAGE !!Have a day good... | | Anonymous, on Jan 6, 2009 wrote:
yeah, i kind of wish the interviewer asked real questions. it would be nice to know a little more about his inspirations, methods, and day job perhaps.
:*(
sad face. | | Anonymous, on Jan 5, 2009 wrote:
why are metal fans and a sense of humor always mutually exclusive? | | Anonymous, on Jan 5, 2009 wrote:
whoever interviewed him suuuuucks. bad. | | Anonymous, on Jan 5, 2009 wrote:
"music that wishes to lay waste to the earth until it’s a stinking heap of sulfur and bones"
Too bad the interviewer knows nothing about black metal. Christophe puts up with the stupid questions quite well, and those logos are all amazing.
| | Anonymous, on Dec 24, 2008 wrote:
He is a TOP CLASS ARTISTS
i like his stuff as well as the drawings of DAN SEAGRAVE AND NECROLORD.
the best artists
and that raymond swanland, that finished the artwork for the new PSYCROPTIC cd. OBSERVANT.
Christophe did my bands logo too, as well as my second band
logo
www.myspace.com/thyresis
www.myspace.com/restindisgra
ce
JP
| | Anonymous, on Dec 22, 2008 wrote:
Wow what terrible interview questions. Quite pathetic. Trying way too hard to be funny. It is failing.
At least I enjoyed Cristophe’s side of the conversation, you know, someone that actually talked like a human being and not a failure of an interviewer.
If I were Cristophe, I would have told the interviewer to stop acting stupid or I’d get up and leave the interview. | | Anonymous, on Dec 12, 2008 wrote:
vice is such garbage. | | | Next 30 comments > |
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