Tabernaculum (Australia)

Interview with Karl Stephen (guitars & bass)

https://tabernaculum-band.bandcamp.com/album/tabernaculum-demo-2026

While the land down under is world-renowned for its blistering garage rock and driving pub punk, a fiercely dedicated underground scene has long been brewing a much slower, heavier poison. Australia’s doom metal bands have mastered the art of sonic desolation, channeling the vast emptiness of the continent into monolithic riffs, agonizingly slow tempos, and profound atmosphere. Today, we are sitting down with one of the compelling forces driving this heavy movement, band named Tabernaculum and Karl Stepien (ex-Gallileous) on guitar/bass to talk about their new Demo 2026, favorite acts, dream festival line-up and not to forget band’s upcoming debut full-length, Tabernaculum Mortis ad Meditandum. Read about all of this and more in the interview below.

Metal Revolution: Hello Karl, how are thing in and around your band and the city of Sydney, Australia?
Tabernaculum: Hello Sacir. There is positive vibe around Tabernaculum now, as we have just released our debut demo (Demo 2026 on Bandcamp & Youtube) and we are closing down on recording full length debut material Tabernaculum Mortis ad Meditandum (9 songs 43 minutes) as we speak. Sydney underground scene is vibrant. 2 days ago I went see gig of legendary doom metal band Cruciform. Tonight I am seeing whole day Dethfest with Exhumed, Origin, Burial Chamber and plenty more.

MR: Would you be kind and introduce Tabernaculum to our readers? Tell us something about the very beginnings of the band. Did you set out to find musicians who shared a specific vision, or did the band’s identity organically emerge once you all started playing in the same room?
Tabernaculum: I started writing riffs from the beginning of 2025 without even thinking of forming band yet. It was only for my own guitar training skills as I had not played guitar for a long while. Mid – 2025 I stockpiled plenty good riffs and started to consider recording it in some local Sydney studios. Around July 2025 I went to see underground death/black/grind/thrash/hardcore whole day festival at the pub. Coincidentally I met Scott Mullins there, who was drummer of ancient Sydney band Persecution in 1988-1994. Lots of people still recognise Persecution in Australia, as they were supporting Bolt Thrower, Pungent Stench, Fear Factory on their Australian shows. We decided to form Tabernaculum with Scott and organised some rehearsals. We had few people dropped out from the line up and we are still looking for the musicians.

MR: If you had to describe your Tabernaculum Demo 2026 using only three words, what would they be?
Tabernaculum: ‘Titans, 1980’s, Tribute’. Reason I picked those words are because Demo 2026 is tribute to titans of 1980ies metal. Demo contains covers of Swedish band Stillborn, Swiss band Messiah and Dutch band Necro Schizma. It is our interpretation of their music. On that demo you can also hear vocals of our previous vocalist. On new stuff, new album recording, I am doing completely different vocal styles.

MR: The only originall songs from Tabernaculum Demo 2026 are; “Intro – Crypts On Nibiru” and “Outro – Crypts On Nibiru”, right? What can you tell about these two particular songs? What inspired you to choose this title(s)?
Tabernaculum: “Intro/Outro Crypts on Nibiru” is the portal passage where those massive ancient songs are rested in underground tombs of metal and rock. We used vocal tracks from mate Chris Ollis and layed them over some film soundtrack, then all that was mutilated and melted together in the studio. It’s a short 1.20 intro as well as outro.

MR: The visual side of doom is so crucial. What is the story behind the artwork for this release?
Tabernaculum: Demo cover was designed by Indonesian artist Novaldo under my instructions. He also designed our logo. I think is dark and mysterious, as red and black works well together. He added that snake in the middle which is cool ha! Please also check art cover for forthcoming album Tabernaculum Mortis ad Meditandum. We have longsleeve winter shirts for that on our Bandcamp already.

MR: Out of the tracks on Tabernaculum Demo 2026, which song came together the fastest? What is your favorite track from Tabernaculum Demo 2026? Is it hard to choose your favorite or…?
Tabernaculum: Yeah it is hard to pick favourite… Messiah song “Total Maniac” is probably the fastest, but is still extremely colossal. Stillborn song “Son of Sodom” is probably my favourite. Previous vocalist did really good job! Stillborn is Scott’s pick. I picked Messiah & Necro Schizma as that would be always my choice even years before I formed this band. I love all 3 songs and this demo! It is a cult classic already!

MR: Where and under what conditions were you recording the debut Tabernaculum Demo 2026? Who was in charge of sound, production and mastering?
Tabernaculum: Demo was recorded at Rehearsal 13 Studio in Padstow, Sydney with Jack Cranney sound engineer. We started recording it at the end of January 2026. It took us few visits to studio because our guitarist left the band, I had to erase his work to re-record both guitars. I am normally a bass player though. Another reason demo recording was dragging for very long, because I was same time recording our main material Tabernaculum Mortis ad Meditandum in Canberra, where I am working.

MR: Doom metal relies heavily on atmosphere, tone, and the ‘less is more’ philosophy. How has your past experience playing in other bands influenced the way you approach pacing, guitar tone, and the overall heaviness in this new project?
Tabernaculum: When I was teenager I started funeral doom metal band Gallileous. In 1994 we recorded ‘Passio et Mors’. According to French magazine Spirit of Metal it is ‘evilest and darkest piece he ever heard’. You can read his full review of ‘Passio at Mors’ on Metal Archives.

Obviously experience playing in such a band like early Gallileous is going to carry over my musical input into Tabernaculum ha! So please expect lots of heavy tones on Tabernaculum Mortis ad Meditandum too. While Scott was playing in Sydney’s Persecution which wasn’t a doom metal band, but was still extremely heavy music in vein of Sepultura Morbid Visions or Napalm Death Harmony Corruption.

MR: You’re a relatively fresh name in the doom community. What has been the steepest learning curve you’ve faced so far as a new band trying to cut through the noise?
Tabernaculum: Probably first step was to record that demo (debut Demo 2026) and spread it around. So far I have plenty positive feedback from labels and magazines. This demo job is to prepare ground for landing of Tabernaculum Mortis ad Meditandum album later this year. We have to find some label and new line up to perform gigs. Steepest curve is definitely to find suitable musicians, however as soon demo and album will start making noise, it will be easier to find line up. I am positive on that!

MR: Doom is as much about the space between the notes as the notes themselves. How do you approach crafting your guitar and bass tones to achieve that massive, monolithic heaviness?
Tabernaculum: Yeah, you right! One riff on new recordings didn’t fit with the metronome in the studio, so we have to go more intentional sometimes. Doom metal is completely different type of difficulty. Timing and spacing has to be rehearsed too. I usually play guitar after work. I am also taking lesson once a week to convert myself from bass to guitar.

MR: Doom metal often flirts with themes of the occult, cosmic horror, or dystopian dread. What kind of imagery, books, or real-world experiences fuel your creative direction?
Tabernaculum: I definitely like history books, horrors and science fiction. Recently I came across lots of conspiracy stuff, some of that is funny but some interesting. I am using that in my lyrics for album. I am not always believing in it, it’s just to spark controversies and mysticism. I also like political anti-government stuff ha!
I have written lyrics about ancient Sumerians, Phoenicians and Egyptians exploration and mining of Australia, we have plenty evidence of that. For some reasons Australian government is trying to hide it. Other lyrics are for example about Uluru/Ayers Rock being an astral teleportation portal.

MR: What is the single heaviest riff in metal history that made you all say, ‘Yes, this is why we want to play doom’?
Tabernaculum: Would be definitely a few, as I am listening to this type of stuff since I was child 1985 or earlier. Probably the main riff is Polish band TSA from the song ‘Heavy Metal World’. Then AC/DC ‘Hells Bells’ would follow, Black Sabbath ‘Iron Man’, Deep Purple ‘Perfect Strangers’ and before, Diamond Head ‘Am I Evil?’, Judas Priest ‘Defenders of the Fate’ stuff.
Yeah, I remember rehearsing with Gallileous around 1994/95 we were playing Deep Purple ‘Perfect Strangers’ song in heavy tuning. If we progress to modern era 1990, I loved bands like Protector, Messiah ‘Hymn to Abramelin’, Benediction ‘Subconscious Terror’ and all early death metal wave.

MR: Beyond the foundational giants like Black Sabbath or Candlemass, what non-metal artists, obscure eras of music, or even atmospheric films do you draw inspiration from to give your sound its unique weight?
Tabernaculum: Yeah by the way, I saw Candlemass in 1991 in Poland and even met band members after the gig ha!
When I was kid I liked Tangerine Dream, Jean-Michel Jarre. Later also liked Sex Pistols, The Exploited, Ipswich band The Adicts. Films: Canadian ‘Quest for Fire’, then ‘Altered States’, ‘Poltergeist’, ‘Evil Dead’, ‘Exorcist’.

MR: What are some musical influences or bands you love that might surprise your listeners?
Tabernaculum: I like classical music, folk, keyboard/organ, blues, jazz, ethnic music. Dead Can Dance is one of my favourites.

MR: If you could curate your ultimate doom festival line-up, living or dead, who is headlining right above or below you?
Tabernaculum: Winter, Pentagram, Necro Schizma, Thergothon, Beyond Belief, Skepticism, Disembowelment, Count Raven, Reverend Bizarre, Sleep, Lord of Putrefaction, Mystification (Poland), Ysigim (Poland), Scald (Russia), Dark Opera (Poland), Insanity Reigns Supreme, Spina Bifida, Celestial Season, Chorus of Ruin, Paradise Lost, Pan-Thy-monium, Crone (Australia), Pantheist, Dissolving of Prodigy (Czechia), Wijlen Wij, Themgoroth (Poland), EyeHateGod, Sandbreaker (Poland), Gallileous (early), Tabernaculum. I have recently seen My Dying Bride again and have tickets for Candlemass, November in Sydney so I am not mentioning them.

MR: What about your long-term and short-term plans for the future? What do you want to achieve with the band now that the demo is out in the wild? What is the ultimate goal for the band’s next chapter? Recording a full-length album?
Tabernaculum: Yes, we are very close to finalise recording debut full length album Tabernaculum Mortis ad Meditandum, then it will be send for master mix to Europe. Main thing will be to find some label and release it, that’s why we wanted this demo to circulate around first. I have also partly recorded 4 songs for next MiniLP called Bohemian Grove which will be ready towards the end of this year 2026 or alternatively we will use these songs for next second album. As I say before, line up has to be upgraded to perform live. Ultimate goal for the band is still unknown at this stage. I am just happy to keep Tabernaculum band going for now and see where it is going to lead us. I am happy with negative and positive feedbacks. I think negative feedback is more productive, however at this stage we are receiving predominately positive or enthusiastic feedback.

MR: How can people reach your band & music?
Tabernaculum: We have YouTube channel and Bandcamp. In the future I am considering to start Facebook and Tabernaculum webpage. We have longsleeve shirt/jumper and plenty more merch coming soon too. I would like to have physical releases like cd and vinyl, otherwise I will be still happy to have it digital as it is anyway. If labels or mags or fans want to contact us they can do that through Bandcamp.

MR: As the shadows close in and the amps finally cool down, thank you so much for sharing your time and your art with us today. May the riffs remain eternal and the tone stay heavy.
Tabernaculum: Please wait for doom/death avalanche Tabernaculum Mortis ad Meditandum album, it will be soon out this year 2026. In a meantime you can refresh little bit of underground history with Stillborn, Messiah, Necro Schizma covers on Tabernaculum 2026 debut demo out now on YouTube and Bandcamp.

MR: Thank you for descending into the depths with us today. We truly appreciate your time and your music.
Tabernaculum: Big thanks to you Sacir for this interview, it was really nice chatting to you!