Zeal & Ardor

The Swiss band play a one-off UK gig at Desertfest.

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Formed more than a decade ago in Basel, Switzerland, Zeal & Ardor are an experimental metal band with four albums to their name, the most recent being last year’s Greif (sic). Leader Manuel Gagneux previews their co-headline slot at this year’s Desertfest in London.

Zeal & Ador have been tagged with many labels, including ‘avant-garde metal’, ‘neosoul’ and ‘industrial grunge’. How do you describe your music?

There are so many descriptions. I don’t like any of them. The one I wouldn’t use is ‘avant garde’.

The band’s sound is derived from spiritual music from the time of American slavery and black metal, two styles that most people would consider poles apart.

I was with another band, but kinda burnt out with it all, so I asked people which genres I should combine. Someone said black metal and another suggested ‘N-word’ music. Instead of being appalled I wrote a song in twenty minutes.

What was it like?