A “psychomantium” is a chamber designed for gazing into the spirit realm, usually a darkened and mirrored room set up to induce a trance-like effect through sensory deprivation. The mirror-gazing practice has roots dating back to the oracle pools of ancient Greece, where reflective surfaces were considered conduits to other worlds.

Lethbridge metallers Psycomantium have slightly more recent origins than the dowsing style of their namesake, and a slightly different purpose.

With a full-length debut album in the works – and plans to take it on the road once completed – guitarist Arik Wagner assures that audiences can expect “high energy, hearing loss and liver damage” from their live performances.

“We’ve been described as a combination of Arch Enemy and Machine Head,” compares guitarist/vocalist Dave Khallil.

“Music you can mosh, head bang, and drink to,” Wagner adds.

And really, what more could Alberta’s metalheads ask for?

The two of you – along with bassist Mike Sanderson and drummer Dustin Gergel – seem to travel a lot for shows. Is this out of necessity, or is it just for kicks?

Wagner: For one solid year, we had to travel if we wanted to play at all.

Khallil: The show scene in Lethbridge has been more or less dead until recently. The resurgence is due mainly to the guys at The Bloody Maple Leaf Society. Thanks to them, there have been more shows in this area over the past two months than the last two years.

How do the venues/crowds differ from places like Edmonton, Red Deer and Calgary?

Khallil: Larger cities definitely offer a greater spectrum of venues and are generally more receptive toward our particular style of metal.

You’re in Calgary a fair bit. What is the appeal of performing there?

Khallil: We have always received a warm reception in Calgary. It always feels like home playing there.

Where else along the road has the band traveled for shows?

Khallil: We’ve yet to travel that far from Alberta, but we have been hitting the major centres and some smaller areas, like the Crowsnest Pass.

Regardless of the length of the road trip, what kinds of things go into planning, if anything?

Wagner: A full tank of gas and a GPS.

How do you haul your gear?

Wagner: We haul our gear and personnel with a sketchy 1981 GMC Vandura dubbed the “Psyco-van-tium.” She’s not pretty, but she runs and gets us from A to B.

What is your favourite thing about taking the band on the road?

Khallil: Making new fans and having the opportunity to meet and play with so many wicked bands.

The least favourite?

Khallil: Tear down and figuring out who is going to drive.

You’ve played a few shows for Devil’s Work Promotions – what are some of the pros of booking shows through a promoter, as opposed to calling up other bands or venues directly?

Khallil: Booking through a promoter has a lot of advantages such as local advertising and band networking, to name a couple. A good promoter takes a lot of the work out of gigging.

What are some of the disadvantages?

Khallil: In our experience, the only disadvantage of a promoter is having a bad promoter. That being said, we have been very fortunate to work with some great promoters, Jessica Morrison from Devil’s Work Promotions being at the top of that list.

Is it difficult being the out of town band?

Khallil: Being the out of town band can be a double edged sword. One big disadvantage is not having the drawing power of a local band. However, there’s always the opportunity to really impress someone who wasn’t expecting it.

Do you think online networking platforms like MySpace help eliminate some of the lines off the map for unsigned bands?

Wagner: Yes. MySpace, Facebook, and others offer great exposure for unsigned artists. They allow a band to showcase their music to the new worldwide audience.

And speaking of MySpace, according to your MySpace blog, you’re doing a bit of recording right now. Are these just demos, or are you working towards an EP… a full-length, perhaps?

Wagner: Yes, the rumours are true. We are recording and it will be a full-length album.

Where are you recording?

Wagner: We are recording and producing the album at our home studio. This allows us complete control over the project. Time and money also become less of an issue.

When you’re done recording, do you plan on taking what you’ve captured out on the road?

Wagner: Hell yeah! That’s the whole idea behind this recording. We can’t wait to leave the studio and hit the road in support of our debut album.