Interview - Summoning - returning once again into the Middle-Earth

Summoning is back! This information was a great news for all of Austrian's fans, who were patiently waiting for seven years to hear any new material from this legendary band. Well, now when it's out we can at last enjoy it! Check out what Silenius and Protector had to say about their newest, great opus "Old Mornings Dawn", Tolkien's possible reaction on their creativeness and some other things.

1. Hello! First of all I’d like to ask how fans reacted on your new opus? Are they mostly positive or do you also receive some negative messages?
Silenius: First of all - thanks for the interview. The reviews have been very good so far, but of course there are always some bad reviews. After all you have to devide this: those who never liked Summoning of course will not love the new one as well. And for those who have been fans for Summoning there are some „Oath Bound” followers who have been more or less disapointed by - in their oppinion less epic - mood of the album.
Protector: I think it’s important that we always keep our style in one way but never copy our selves at all. Each album is focusing on total different aspect and so naturally some will like one album more and some less. Generally I made the experience that people often have to get used to the albums. A typical scenario is that people always start to like the album before the new one as soon as the new one is released. Our albums seem to be like a good wine that needs some years in the barrel to get the full taste :-)

2. By the way – when did you receive a last letter (written on paper of course ;]) from a fan? Many older musicians say that internet has totally ruined underground and people involved in it. What’s your opinion?
Silenius: In former days I reveiced a lot of written letters and I of course can remember when I did all the interviews handwritten. Nowardays this nearly has died out, but never theless up and then I do receive hand written letters; mainly by older fans who want to be more personal. And I think that’s great of course, allthough it’s of course obvious that internet made a lot of things easier even for an old fashioned guy like me.
Protector: Well I am a programmer and naturally very opened to technology, so for me the possibility to answer interviews and letters via email is a big step forward. I now some miss those old handwritten "personal" letters of the bands they like, but I think the only people who miss my handwritten letters are the ones who never had to read my handwrit

3. OK, but back to your band – let’s focus on your latest release „Old Mornings Dawn”. I know that the reason of the long break you took was lack of inspiration for another material. Well, I must say that it was worth to wait – new album is much better than „Oath Bound”. It also seems to be more melancholic than the previous one. How do you appreciate it now, after almost six months?
Silenius: We are very satisfied with the new album, not only the songs but also the sound. We always said in interviews that compared to „Oath Bound” it has a more melancholical mood while „Oath Bound” was riding into battle with the sword hold up high heroically, the new albums has more this comming home from a battle - wounded and exhausted feeling; and I can remember that one fan said that the new album has a kind of elven feeling. I think he meant that the songs have this mood of a fading with a kind of desperate touch, compared to the elven race leaving Middle Earth.
Protector: Of course we needed more time than ever before for the album, but I think it’s noticable that the listeners got more melodies and rhythms in a single album than ever before. During the long tie we gathered so many ideas that the new album is simply more intense and more filled with details than ever before. I understand that some fans like more the unclearer, less complex songs, but for us it was definitely the step in a direction we wanted.

4. I appreciate very much that you are still putting medieval/ambient elements into your music. Now they sound more synthetic than in the past, but you defenitely kept Summoning’s spirit. Why did you decide to do it again in such way? Have you ever been tempted by the idea of using loads of orchestral samples, overused by many bands nowadays?
Protector: It’s strange, we never had so high quality sound samples of real instruments for our albums than on this album. While in the past I had to use the - for todays perceiving - quite cheap keyboards with short computer memory saving sound loops - while this time we only used fully recorded orchestral sound libraries. Silenius and me are quite surprised about your comment about the sound, but anways sounding synthetic is not a problem for us at all, and we never wanted to sound like classical music. It’s just a bit strange to get such a comment specially on the album with the most realistic sampler sounds.
[Well, you misunderstood me, propably because I’ve used the wrong word. Maybe not synthetic, but it has some hmm, a bit eletronic relish. It’s also being used a bit frugal, with taste. Thanks to that it doesn’t sound like many bands nowadays, which overuse it and create in fact something that sounds like a cheap orchestra, and not a metal music. Your sound is modern, yet it has an original spirit of old recordings – and I like that - Vlad.]

5. Since „Let Mortal Heroes Sing Your Fame” your music is going into more epic areas, and at the same time less dark. Can you explain me why? Did your musical inspirations change a bit during those years?
Silenius: I think that’s always a matter of individual perceiving because in my opinion the new record sounds fare more dark than for example „Oath Bound”, but I know a lot of fans who think the other way round. What is true is that after „Dol Guldur” our sound basically moved a little bit more away from the black metal influences in a more epic metal direction.
Protector: As Silenius said, it’s really a matter of taste what people perceive as dark. For the black metal scene in the beginning music was most dark if it was most fast, while for me fastness was always more in contrary to darkness, while darkness for me was more connected to slowness and depression. If i look back I think that „Oath Bound” was maybe one of our less darkest album while the new one has much more of those melancholic moods. Specially the final song „Earthshine” on our new album almost sounds like a black metal funeral song to me.

6. Yet there are still some tunes inspired by the older releases. I mean especially tracks „The White Tower” and „Of Pale White Morns and Darkened Eves”. They remind me strongly „Stronghold”. So did you listen much to those old records before composing new songs?
Silenius: No quite the opposite. We listen the old records after having released the new one to hear the differences in sound and vocals and again we are very astonished that you compare the new one with „Stronghold”. I think among the new reactions we got, this is absolutely unique. Because the new albums is compared with older ones then always the name „Dol Guldur” is mentioned. I think it’s because of it’s similar melancholic dark and sad feelings.
[Beside „Old Mornings Dawn” I was listenning a lot to „Stronghold” while I was writing the questions. So maybe that’s why I associated those two tracks with this album. Yet I can tell that „Dol Guldur” (along with "Nightshade Forests" EP) is also a good association – Vlad.]

7. Some of the tracks have also a bit folk relish. For example an opening of „Caradhras” reminds me a bit celtic music. Do you listen to the traditional european folk music, and can you name your favourite artists?
Silenius: Yes people said, that it remind’s a bit on Loreena McKennitt and that’s true. I really like her music. Other people find some Dead Can Dance influences in the new album and I also can not deny that I listened a lot to their music in former times. Basically I think those comparisons come from the fact the this time we have chosen different world music instrument samples for this album.

8. Now a bit weird question ;]. I know that four of the songs have lyrics which are inspired by Earendil’s character. As a half-elf he could choose one of two destinies – human or elven. If you have been in his shoes what destiny would you choose and why?
Silenius: Of course elven, there is no doubt. In Tolkien’s universe the elven race always was presented as the most pure, wise and fairest of all, among all others and that’s of course more attractive than everything else.

9. OK, last question about your last release. There are two guests on „Old Mornings Dawn” – David Says and Erika Szucs. Can you tell me who are those people and why did you decide to work with them?
Silenius: David Says is a professional English speaker, who gave his voice to different tv-jobs like advertisments but also he spoke for computer games. We got the contact over Napalm Records and we think he really did a great job. About Erika Szucs: we can tell you that we presented her on our facebook lately. She is a women from hungary who got in contact with Protector some years ago and lent her voice for the elven spoken parts on our new album. She also did some vocals for "Redhorn" - the different version of „Caradhras” - on our earbook edition.

10. What are your plans for the future? Are you currently composing material for the new album? And what with your side-projects – Ice Ages and Kreuzweg Ost?
Silenius: In the moment „Nightshade Forest” and „Oath Bound” are released on LP over Napalm Records. In the meantime we work on the missing songs from the „Old Mornings Dawn” session. I am not sure now how many songs we get out of this session, but all of them will be presented on vinyl in the end of next year and after having released all our releases on vinyl over Napalm Records next year we also will release the missing „Lost Tales” EP on vinyl too, via Napalm Records. For Ice Ages and Kreuzweg Ost we have no special plans for the near future. But both bands are still active and we definitely want to release more music somewhen in the future.

11. By the way, can I know why Protector decided to close the chapter bounded with Die Verbannten Kinder Evas?
Protector: There was never a decision like that. I simply was not in the mood for that kind of music since many years by now. Noone can say if I will not once make music in that direction again, but so far I am more interessted to work on Summoning and Ice Ages because they present my current taste better.

12. Summoning is one of those bands that really knows how to create an outstanding atmosphere not only with it’s music, but also image. The layout of your albums and photo sessions proves your good taste. Is anyone of you doing something bounded with photography or graphics? I mean not necessarily professionally, but as a kind of hobby
Protector: I actually like to deal with layout and photo software a lot. I like to change photos and give them special moods. But of course the result of our booklets are not only because of my technical backgrounds. It’s also the long reserch for new images that Silenius does for each release to get the most suiting pictures for the next release.

13. As we are talking about image, let me ask about it. Some people say that image has no importance at all, and the only thing that counts in music is music itself. And what’s your opinion?
Silenius: That’s of course complete nonsense, because image is of course very important. The music can be as great as possible but when the presentation is bad no one is interessted to give the music a chance. You always have keep in mind that the cover layout is the first thing a potentional LP or CD buyer gets in contact with. And so the presentation must animate a potentional listener.

14. Since it’s an interview with Summoning there have to be some questions about Tolkien and fantasy literature. So let’s start with the question what was the first fantasy book you have ever read?
Silenius: I can not remember exactly but I think it was some book of the female writter called "Andre Norton", but her books did not impress me at all. In those times I just bought books just if I like the cover or not because I did not know any writter and never heard for example of Tolkien or other ones. It was just a time of making experiments and slowly find out which of the fantasy literature is cool and which not.

15. I remember like once Christopher Tolkien said that his father wouldn’t enjoy the movies based on his novels if he was still alive. And how do you think he would react on your music?
Silenius: I am pretty sure he would be shocked. I can not imangine that he would like black metal guitars and vocals and as he was a very christian thinking man he would absolutely be disgusted by our occult image.

16. Oh, and by the way how did you enjoy those movies? I mean especially the last one „Hobbit”. Personally I like „Lord of the Rings” trilogy, but „Hobbit” is too cartoony as on my taste. I will even not comment the fact of making another „trilogy” based on the book that has only 350 pages haha!
Silenius: I know what you mean. And in some aspects you are right, but nevertheless I liked the movie a lot. You also have to remember that the hobbit originally was meant to be a book for little children and just in the end of the book it became more epic with a glimpse of what has to come in future with Lord of the Rings, so I absolutely have no problem when the new hobbit movie has some childish aspects included.

17. In the ‘90s Austria had quite a creative underground. How would you compare it to the modern austrian metal scene? Are there young bands that you would recommend?
Silenius: To be honest I don’t over look too much the present metal scene in Austria. As far as I know the band "The Sorrow" have been very successfull nowadays, even if I dont know their music. I like the latest release of Rauhnacht, it’s a side project from Golden Dawn. Otherwise I can not remember any new bands nowardays, but I am pretty sure that there are a lot of them around.

18. As I mentioned Austria I will also ask something about your country’s history. In this year we are celebrating the 330th anniversary of Battle of Vienna. How do you think things would be different if the battle was lost by the european forces?
Protector: Well war is always a game for the mighty ones, while the normal people like you and me have to die for it, while the people responsible for that war are never the people dying on the battle fields. Of course all those battles themes are inspring for me in Summoning as well, but I can make a clear distinction between fantasy and reality and I know in war people can not make music.

19. OK, last question will be nice and easy. You have answered many questions and did numerous number of interviews. What was the weirdest question you have ever received?
Silenius: I can not remember specially any weird quetions, but what I can remember is interview questions in such a bad english that we really did not know to find out the meaning of the question.

20. OK, that’s everything from my side. Thank you very much for your precious time! Last word belongs traditionally to you.
Silenius: Thanks again for the interview and a big salut to all our fans from your country.

---
Official trailer for "Old Mornings Dawn":

Photos: band's archieve.
Interview by Vladyka 2013. Please do not copy this interview without HA'Z permission. Respect the copyrights!

Hellveto - "Damnaretis" (2012)

Hellveto

"Damnaretis"

Pagan Recs.

2012

Hellveto is a one-man project, founded in 1995 in Ostrołęka (Poland) by L.O.N., and is playing black metal with orchestral elements and lyrics about paganism. "Damnaretis" is it's (let me count...) 15th full lenght album. 

It took two years for L.O.N. to transform his visions into another dark soundscape. Normally he is known to record even two orthree albums a year! But to be honest I am glad that he took a break. The previous opus, "Wiara, Nadzieja..., Potępienie" was simply very weak. Instead of good ideas we had there only insipid, blurred riffing with tiring, overused orchestrations. Luckily "Damnaretis" is different (and better). Although the music hasn't change very much - it's still very dark black metal with epic atmosphere - it's again more powerful. I have an impression that orchestral parts are fewer this time, and more place is filled by pure metal section and more melancholic parts. Thanks to that the album isn't tiring like the previous one. Moreover - it sounds fantastic! Also camparing "Damnaretis" to last albums, the music is much slower. But it's great, because I've always more like those slower, atmospheric moments than fast ones. The riffs are really good, and the atmosphere is often highlighted by some relishes - strange noises, wind effects, desperate clean singing etc. Oh, and about LON's vocals - there are perfect! The guy knows how to use his voice - he screams in very dramatic way which is hard to mistaken with anyone's. Taking it all together we receive something unordinary - because it's hard to compare Hellveto's music to something else. Maybe Limbonic Art or Summoning? But even it is far from this polish (one-man, hehe) horde...

The sound has power in it because of a great production. LON accustomed fans to the exellent level of his albums and "Damnaretis" is not different. Really, no reproaches here. The orchestral parts sound very epic, while a metal section has gloomy, dark feeling.

To sum up: it's good to hear a new Hellveto album after a small break. It's not a revolutionery thing, but it's defenitely a good piece of epic black metal art. If you like darkness and grimness in music, "Damnaretis" will be something that you'll enjoy very much.

Rate: 8/10

Vladyka

Unofficial videoclip:

Tracklist:

1. Damnaretis

2. Żałobny Taniec

3. Właśnie tam...

4. Syreni płacz

5. Sznur odkupienia

6. Grudniowy zmierzch

7. Krocząc ciernistą aleją

8. Konający anioł 

9. Bez odwrotu

10. Nefaria

Icelandic sagas and secrets of the runes

 

As you already know, from time to time I try to write here on Heathen Altar articles about european history, traditions, mythologies etc. Today I will use something which is not written by me, but what you should find interesting. Here are some links to the useful sites - take a look:

Icelandic Saga Database - if you can't find some icelandic saga in physical copy, here you have it online.

Runes, alphabet of mystery - a great site containing information about meaning of the runes, their history etc. as well as some sagas and source texts.

Runy - something for polish-speaking users. It's not as good as the upper site, but it can turn out that it's also useful.

Forefather - Last of the Line (2011)

Forefather

Last of the Line

Seven Kingdoms

2011

Forefather is a viking... I mean anglo-saxon metal band, founded in Leatherhead (England) by two brothers - Athelstan and Wulfstan. In brief the play black metal mixed with heavy metal with an epic attitude and lyrics about anglo-saxon period of english history. 

The music is not very complicated, but it has it's own spirit. What surprised me is an almost merry beginning of the album, played in the vain of traditional heavy metal. Later the music is darker, but I must admit that pure heavy metal now dominates in Forefather's music. There are loads of great melodies here, but played in a way that it doesn't sounds like some crappy Gamma Gay or other shit like that. The riffs are being played with very folkish attitude, yet don't expect any folk-metals or a music from the sign of Tyr. Athelstan and Wulfstan are heavily soaked in old school heavy metal and of course Bathory. The only reminiscences of old black metal style are harsh vocals (but even them are less common than clear, sublime ones) and some guitar pitches, and very quick tempos at the end that can be associated with BM.  

The album, even if as I said is not very complicated , is constructed cleverly. There are more epic, slow tracks like for example "Up High" with dignified vocals of Wulfstan. The song remind me a bit some hymn or thing like that - but anyway it's a very enjoyable piece of art. There are also wilder, faster and darker tracks like the next one on the list - "Wolves of Prayer" or "Shadows of Dead" with an intensive tempo (blast-beats). I have also a feeling that the music is getting heavier since "Wolves...", but still don't expect some complete sonic massacre. 

I am writing and writing, but you still don't know is "Last of the Line" good or is it not. Well, it's good. It's almost completely unoriginal, but from the other side it's composed with taste. The music is not getting boring even after many replays, and you can remember some melodies already after a first time with this album. A fine piece of anglo-saxon music :)

Rate: 7+/10

Vladyka

Tracklist:

1. Cometh the King

2. Last of the Line

3. Chorus of Steel

4. By Thy Deeds

5. Up High

6. Wolves of Prayer

7. Wyrda Gesceaft

8. Doomsday Dawns

9. Shadows of the Dead

10. Spears of Faith

11. The Downfallen

12. Into the rising sun

Interview - Belenos - Cold, hard and severe...

Belenos is a band hailing from France, founded in 1995 by Loic Cellier to realize his need for playing black metal inspired by celtic spirituality. It turns out that he is a quite talkative guy, so instead of torturing yourself with a boring preface just read what he has to say about his band, modern metal scene and celtic heritage of his country.

1. Hello! The history of Belenos is quite long, yet my first contact with your music was last album so far, “Yen Sonn Gardis”. Because of my ignorance, I’d like to ask you to write shortly about band’s history, and it’s musical evolution.

I founded Belenos in 1995 as a one man band and I recorded 3 demos. From the end of the 90s till 2004 Belenos became a real band but the line up was very unstable. We performed at about 25 gigs, mostly in France, and 3 albums were written during that period that leaves a rather bad taste in my mouth. A turning point took place in the mid 2000s when I moved to Brittany (I used to live near Belgium) and I started on my own again. This period worked out much better, I was able to record a lot of things and start live performances again on a good basis. This rather stable situation should continue as such. Musically speaking the style has quite changed, but Belenos has always been and always will remain a band which mixes a black metal base with a lot of non-commercial things!

2. You describe your music on your website as “a mix of black metal (fast and dark) and pagan metal (dark and slow parts with Celtic choirs)”. Do you consider your band as something unique and original on metal scene?

No, it has nothing unique or original and yet! When we take the big majority of bands, very few of them evolve in both universes at the same time, they are rather one or the other. The term "pagan black", which I consider correct to be applied to my music, can be applied to rather few other bands! Will there one day be a pagan black fashion after the black metal one? I certainly hope not!

3. Also, can you tell me what inspires you when you’re composing new tracks? You seem to be a fan of old, good Norwegian scene, but also of doom metal. And what with folk approach, do you often listen to such music?

I am indeed a fervent fan of the Norwegian scene which has inspired me a lot, that's for sure! I used to listen to a bit of doom at some point but I don't that much now. I certainly listen to more folk music than before but it's not easy for me to bring out this folk aspect , the melodies being often festive, on a dark metal basis : to make them both cohabitate isn't an easy thing. The track "Gorsedd" that you seem to know is a good summary of all the influences that compose Belenos. 

4. “Yen Sonn Gardis” made a big impression on me. It’s hard to describe it, ‘cause of many tempo changes in each track. You also use “typical” folk tunes quite rarely, and focus on creating a certain, mystical atmosphere. A lot is going on here, so the album doesn’t bore even after many replays. Can you agree with me?

I would say that it's a rather dark album, not as much as Chemins de Souffrance, but nearly. One has often told me that it's a relatively brutal album, although not as much as Chants de Bataille, and it's probably the one that's the most difficult to perform on stage because it is quite technical, though not blatantly so. I don't think this album is better than the ones before, I think it is harder to listen to, it needs to be listened to a few time to really be able to make an opinion on it. I am satisfied but I can do better!

5. A middle part of “Gorsedd” sounds a bit similar to Thergothon. Are you a fan of them? And don’t you regret that they released so little music? 

Really? I used to have one of their albums but I hadn't thought about it, it's true that this track possesses some doom parts but with some typically celtic melodies. 

6.  Until “Yen…” you were using French lyrics. Now it changed, and you are writing in Breton. Why did you decide to do it? And are you a Breton yourself?

I am not of Breton descent ( I actually have distant Polish origins!) but I've been living here for the past ten years or so.

Little reminder : Brittany is the peninsula at the far west of France, it is to France what Scotland is to England: a land where the Celtic tradition is still quite alive, with therefore the Breton language that has no common point with French.

I chose this linguistic transition for many reasons :  French has lost its originality and exoticness to my taste, and since I am very linked to the cultural heritage of Brittany, it's logical for me to somehow be its ambassador throughout Belenos. The next album that I'm currently finishing will be in Breton as well.

 

7. Also, I can be wrong, but it seems that the lyrics are very important to you. Is this true? What they are mostly about? I mean, not only on your last album, but in general.

I write texts because I need some to be able to scream something, I admit that I am much more motivated for writing music than the lyrics! But then I don't like to botch things, fall into clichés or get external help, so I force myself to do them my way, and I usually manage it. Working in Breton is more interesting, I feel freer.

8. I know that you have returned to playing live gigs. Who are your new companions onstage? And why you play concerts mainly in France and Belgium? Is there no interest abroad? I think that now it is, because you’re going to play in Austria and Ireland…

Dealing with the concert activity for Belenos is particularly difficult, the innumerable conditions aren't often reunited to allow us to produce ourselves on stage easily. There have been  long periods where stage activity had to be on standby, between end 2004 and 2010 for example, because it simply wasn't possible.

I found motivated and technically suitable people to accompany me on stage only recently and with a lot of difficulty! And we can't rehearse very often at all because it takes me three hours to get to where they live, plus they play in other bands (Les Chants de Nihil, Kerifern).

About ten years ago, Belenos was less or maybe not known at all abroad, that's why we mostly played in France. Performing abroad is something really recent for us : Germany, Ireland, Switzerland.. Leaving France is very complicated because of the distance and the costs that it implies, most organizers aren't prepared to pay 1000-2000€ for one concert, they would if we were more famous but let's be honest, we are far from having that notoriety that would make all the difference and after 18 years of existence, though I don't complain about Belenos's career, I doubt very much that it will rise at a point where there is a lot of demand for us. 

9. What are Belenos' plans for the future? I know that you're going to release a new album entitled "Kornog", can you tell more about it?

I'm working on it right now when I have some free time, which is rather rare! But the hindsight is necessary. I am not in a hurry, I'd rather "take" a year than record an album that isn't ripe. As I write, all the tracks are written as well as half of the texts, I will need a few more months to clarify certain parts or structures that deserve to be improved. Only then will I start the final recording, probably at the end of the year because many session musicians are required for playing traditional instruments. I'm no good with estimations but I guess everything will be done before summer 2014...

 

10. Since 2007 you cooperate with a German label Northern Silence. Are you happy with it? Most of bands seem to be very positive about them. Also do you like some of their roster?

Yes everything is going well with them. I don't know much about them but they usually produce good stuff, be it pagan or post black metal..

11. Yeah, and about other bands: do you follow modern metal scene (especially this pagan/folk) or just keep to listen only what you liked in the past? And can you recommend some bands from France? To be honest I don’t know many pagan acts from your country... 

There aren't that many pagan/folk metal bands in France! We can find some in Paris such as : Bran Barr, Heol Telwen, the Nightcreepers, Nydvind, Himinbjorg. All my favorite albums date from the last century, there are some good things once we sort out the new stuff, but I don't recognize Belenos in the current pagan folk scene at all!

12. You were playing in many other bands, and among them three were death metal. I know that you’re going to release another death metal album, can you say more about it? You seem to be a big fan of this kind of playing!

Before getting into black metal, at the beginning of the 90s, I used to listen and play death metal. I don't deny this period and it's true that I'm currently trying to record an album, just one, just for the fun and nostalgia.

13. Your playing a pagan black metal, so I have to ask you - what means paganism to you? Are you taking part in rituals and festivals? Or is it only a philosophy of life for you? Because I don't believe that you treat this only as a "cool" topic, like many other metal musicians.

Paganism is vague! For me, I'd say it concerns my everyday life. I'm not the kind to follow religious beliefs, but I'm rather a bit of a hermit, being pagan for me is to live close to the nature and thus far away from cities and all this shitty modern society, eating bio food from one's garden, looking after one's physical strength, defending one's culture, values and heritage against globalization and appreciating some kind of wild liberty.. It's a way of living before being a musical genre.

14. It was always bothering me - the Romans gave French people language, the Germanic invaders gave you name (Franks), yet most of your nation treats Celts as their direct ancestors. Why do you think is that? Maybe because of hidden celtic spirituality in each of your countryman?

Well the big majority of Europe used to be Celtic more than 2000 years ago. This culture has remained alive only in a few regions of the west of Europe. The rest of France, culturally speaking, is closer to countries such as Spain or Italy and much less like Germany or the UK.

 

15. How does life look in France now? I know that there were many protest against your government, especially against this whole gay-marriage and adoption thing. Your thoughts about that?

Our beautiful country has been decomposing itself for the last 30 years, and things have considerably accelerated these last 4-5 years. Our leaders are cowardly, corrupt and incapable of doing anything, gay marriage is the only thing that seems to be a progress for them in our country when there are so many much more serious problems that weight on the society. I don't complain about the quality of life I have here but it's far from being easy, people are getting poorer and poorer (except for the rich), the years of glory and prestige are over, decadence is coming! 

16. You're on the scene with Belenos since 1995, having on account 3 demos and 6 longplays. You've seen many passing trends and fashions. Do you feel like a veteran, haha? And what are your thoughts about a thing that divides metal fans - internet. Many say that this is a thing for poser, others that buying CDs and vinyls (not saying about cassettes!) is just a waste of money. And some says that this is OK for promotion, but the true heart of music is always on the physical format. Your opinion?

Yes indeed, I'm starting to become part of the old ones who have seen all the tendencies pass, we have a lot of stuff to tell the new generations who haven't known the rich 90s in real time! Internet turned everything upside down, to pass from a closed scene where only cassettes and fanzines were exchanged to a virtual world where everything is accessible was a shock, a lot of adaption was required. Internet is a good thing for promotion but too much information reduces its efficiency. CDs are suffering a lot today!

17. OK, that was the last question. Thank you very much for your time, last word is yours. Good luck in the future, and I hope to see you someday on the gig in Poland!

Thanks for the interest you have in Belenos, I hope to one day be able to perform in Poland! 

---

Photos: band's archieve.

Interview by Vladyka 2013. Please do not copy this interview without HA'Z permission. Respect the copyrights!

Graveland - "Thunderbolts of the Gods" (2013)

Graveland

"Thunderbolts of the Gods"

No Colours Recs.

2013

Graveland is a well-known amongst fans of pagan metal polish project founded by Rob Darken in 1991 in Wrocław. "Thunderbolts..." is a 13th album of this veteran. 

One thing is certain - Rob decided to use all of his experience to create another good opus. For some time Rob was creating much slower albums, full of epic war hymns. Yet lately he is dropping it and returns to more extreme areas. The album is full of tempo-changes - from slow parts with usage of acoustic guitars and choir samples to fast, furious atacks. That positively influences a diversity of the music, so it is a good idea. Yet everybody who is following the band will discover here nothing new. Graveland is simply following the path that it has chosen many years ago - and so it brings us another portion of characteristic epic pagan metal sound. The music is not very complicated and a bit raw - the riffs thanks to the production are a bit noisy, yet tunes are highly memorable. There are more epic tracks ("Wolf of the North") and more agaressive moments (opening "Possessed by Steel"). And as I see it - it is better, more dynamic than last recordings. It simply kicks ass. I was affraid that "Thunderbolts..." will be just "another" position in Darken's discography, well producted but a bit emotionless. Yet this time I listen to something authentic, full of rage and passion!

Oh, and about a production. It's the same as last Graveland's releases, but that's a good thing because I simply love it. Organic, yet genuinely highlighting the epicness of the music (especially great parts of choirs). No critical notes here.

There is nothing more to write - and the thing is simple: if you like last releases of this band, you will certainly admire "Thunderbolts...". It is not original at all, yet it is a good portion of epic tunes in the characteristic style of almighty Graveland.

Rate: 8/10

Vladyka

Here you can watch a trailer of the upcoming videoclip:

Tracklist:

1. Possessed by Steel

2. Thunderbolts of the Gods

3. Chamber of Wicked Tears

4. Wolf of the North

5. Red Polaris

6. When Hammer Shines (outro)

Kroda - "Varulven" 2013

Kroda

"Varulven"

Purity Through Fire

2013

This album is a compilation of previously unreleased material. It contains only four songs, and lasts for circa twenty minutes. Here you can read more about it and actually listen to it for free - as it's available on Kroda's bandcamp. I may only add that the physical version (limited digipack) will be released by PTF in the beginning of November. For those who are not familiar with this band I will write few word why it's worth to have it in your collection.

And it's woth because it shows a bit different face of Kroda. The first track is played (as it's written on bandcamp) in a viking rock style, and bases on traditional nordic song. The main vocals are a female one, while the howling of Eisenslav is a bit on the second plan. In my opinion it sounds very good, and it would be interesting if a band adopted such elements on a new release. 

The rest of the material is more typical for this project. "Nemesis" is a german folk song, played on traditional ukrainian instruments (sopilka etc). If you heard "Oj na Gori..." from "Funf Jahre Kulturkampf" you can be sure that it sounds really (let's not be affraid of that word) nice. This track is also a good break between "Werwolf" and "Der Scharlachrote Tod". Both of those tracks are covers - the first one is Temnozor's, while the second one is Absurd's. It's not a big secret that Kroda knows how to play in interesting and ass-kicking way music of someone else. "Werewolf" is a bit different than the original, and moreover it's so full of energy that it looks a bit strange how only one person can make such a gehenna! The last track is like his predecessor a guts-grinding piece of brutal art, except it's a live version. And well, it just proves that Kroda is a beast on the scene!

I listen to "Varulven" whenever I can, and I am already preparing some money to buy the upcoming digipack. To everyone who is a fan of this ukrainian band or is simply interested in pagan/folk metal scene I recommend to do the same. A short, yet very good release.

Rate: 8+/10

Vladyka

Tracklist:
1. Varulven
2. Werwolf
3. Nemesis
4. Der Scharlachrote Tod (Absurd cover)

Interview - Waylander - "Kindred Spirits refers to those who are followers of the olden ways..."

Waylander is a pagan metal band, formed in Armagh (Northern Ireland) in 1993. A year ago they released 4th full lenght album entitled "Kindred Spirits", containing a great portion of oldschool pagan metal. It was a good oportunity to ask them some questions. Read what a co-founder and vocalist of the group, Ard Chieftain O'Hagan, have to say about last album, his band and some other various things.

1. Hello! Let’s start this interview with something nice and easy – please name some good music that you have listened to recently. 

Greetings. Recently I have been listening to my old tapes. A lot of the old Thrash stuff hasn’t aged well but Sepultura’s "Schizophrenia" is one album that stands the test of time. I’ve been really enjoying Bathory’s "Blood Fire Death" and "Under the Sign of the Black Mark", truly inspiring music.

2. OK, that was a warm up, now let’s talk about your band. It’s been a more than a year since you released your last opus „Kindred Spirits”. What were fans’ reactions on this material? Did you receive any negative opinions? 

Most people were of the opinion that Kindred Spirits is our strongest album thus far, which is obviously pleasing to us. I honestly can’t recall reading a really negative review, which makes me a tad paranoid to be honest!

3. I must say that the title „Kindred Spirits” is very intriguing. Can you tell me something about the lyrical concept of this album? What are your favourite lyrics and why?

Kindred Spirits refers to those who are followers of the olden ways, those who consider the Earth we live on to be sacred. On this album I am quite pleased with the lyrics to Lamh Dearg, I think they set the scene well and poses some questions which would be considered a bit controversial round these parts.

4. It seems that a lyrical part of your creativeness is very important to you. Do you think that people who listens to your music get interest in Irish literature and history?

Over the years many people have developed an interest in Irish Folklore and History after getting into Waylander. It is very gratifying to say the least and makes it all worth while for me on a personal level. Coming from the north  I find it especially pleasing when people from opposing traditions can both take something positive and enlightening from my words.

5. When it comes to a metal section your music is very diverse – there are many musical influences which we can hear on every album; black metal, doom, thrash and even classic heavy… Each member of the band is such an open-minded person, haha?

Some of us are more open minded than others, that’s for sure! Basically, we are all just Metal fans who don’t as a rule get ourselves bogged down in any one particular genre. From a personal perspective I just couldn’t imagine only listening to one genre only, it would bore me to tears. Diversity is the spice of life.

6. As far as I know your plan was to create a bit more heavy album than “Honour Amongst Chaos”. I think that you’ve reached the goal. But why did you decide to go into darker musical fields? What was inspiring for you this time during a composing process?

Most of us are into the more extreme end of metal so it made sense that we travelled down that road a little more than usual. We did agree at the outset of this album that this was our goal but to be honest it wasn’t really discussed much more after that initial meeting.

7. You are playing folk metal in very oldschool way – I mean, the folk tunes are only an addition to a purely metal core. I’d like to know how looks your style of making new songs. Do you always starts with a metal riff, or sometimes the first step is a creation of folk tunes?

For the most part the riff comes first but obviously there are exceptions to this rule. Whatever sounds good to us really is our simplistic way of judging things. We have always said we are a Metal band, not a Folk band and that remains true to this day and I am pretty sure this will continue to be our mantra. 

8. By the way, I heard that you don’t like the term “folk metal”. Is that true? Do you think that there are to many poor bands, and so you don’t want to be associated with them? Nowadays there are loads of bands that plays jolly polka-metal, singing about trolls and booze, so it wouldn’t be a big surprise for me… 

Haha, yes, I think you have hit the nail on the head there. When we began there was no such thing as folk metal, it was something that was invented by journalists. At the end of the day it isn’t very important what we are dubbed. We are what we are, like it or not, call it what you will.

9. One more question bounded with genres. I noticed quite many times that your band is labeled as “Viking metal”. Don’t you think it’s kinda weird for a Celtic band, especially that your ancestors were fighting with the Scandinavian raiders during the Viking Age? 

I’ve never really noticed that we’ve been called Viking metal before. Now, that is the height of lazy journalism! In fact, it is retarded. The Irish, after all, gave the norsemen quite a few kickings over the years!

10. OK, back to the music. What inspires you when you are adding folk tunes into the songs? A Celtic folk scene is pretty big, so can you name some particular bands? 

Horslips and Clannad always. There’s no point in getting bogged down in listing bands. At the end of the day, the irish traditional music scene is alive and vibrant and there is a multitude of things to be inspired by.

11. Let’s talk a bit about your past now. There are quite many interviews in which you’re describing band’s history, so I will focus only on some details here. You founded your band 20 years ago, in 1993, in the time when folk metal almost hadn’t exist. Can I know how has it happen that you started to incorporate a folk tunes into your music? Maybe a Skyclad was one of inspirations for you back than?

Many years before Waylander I had an idea for a heavy metal version of the Horslips but nothing ever came of it. When Skyclad came along it was only a matter of time before Waylander were formed. I was a big Sabbat fan and was quite blown away by "Wayward Sons" when it came out.

12. By the way, what do you think about this band nowadays? Don’t you think that they deserve more attention, as one of the pioneers of this pagan/folk metal genre?

To be honest I’m not that bothered by anything post "Jonah’s Ark". And, yes, they definitely should get a lot more credit for defining a genre.

13. Until “The Light, The Dark and The Endless Knot” your music was a bit more raw and extreme. So how has it happen that you had soften your sound on “Honour Amongst Chaos”? That was a plan, or maybe it came naturally to light during the creation of the new album? 

No plan, and I have to disagree with you here as I don’t think our sound softened at all on Honour Amongst Chaos. We did consciously add more atmosphere but I think the almost ‘ proggy ‘ feel to the album came about due to the length of time we had the songs around for. We couldn’t resist adding little parts here and there. At one stage one of the songs clocked in at 23 minutes for example but we somehow managed to edit it down to 10 minutes.

14. “The Light…” has a very weird artwork, well, at least I think it’s a bit weird haha. Can you tell me what story is hidden behind this picture?

It’s all about perceptions of Light and Dark. One figure is the Horned God, Cernunnos, who the christian church demonized, who became the satan figure. The other is the Earth Goddess, a representation of Light. The Endless Knot connects both of them as they are all part of the cycle of life. The artwork does seem different for Waylander, but in saying that, that album was also very different for Waylander. In effect this was an experimental album which didn’t quite turn out how we expected it to. The artwork was created by Paul McCarroll of Unhinged art fame and was a definite deviation from his normal work.

15. As I see it, after releasing “Honour…” your position on pagan metal scene has strengthen. This album had much better promotion than the previous ones, and since then you don’t struggle with too many line-up changes. What do you think about it? It seems that Listenable cares pretty well about your band.

I agree with you here. Listenable have done all they can for such a small label. They took a punt on us when noone else would so we will always be grateful for that. As for lineup changes, well, these things happen, we’ve got to the stage now where it no longer fazes us in any way.

16. OK, now let’s talk about some things outside the world of music. I know that nowadays not many people on your island speaks Irish. So do you know this language personally? 

The language is still spoken in many areas and the number of primary schools who teach through the language is very much on the increase, so I think the language is here to stay. As for me, I am not fluent but I still can converse on a basic level and have a great respect for the language of my land. My son and nephew are now learning the language so I am trying to help them out and in turn this is good for me as i now have to polish up on my knowledge.

17. The Irish literature is reach in many meaningful characters. Who is the most inspiring Irish hero for you and why?

CuChulainn, without a shadow of a doubt. He trained as a warrior near to where I was born, at Emain Macha, the Ancient capital of the northern province of Ulster, so I always have and always will have a special place in my heart for CuChulainn.

18. Last question is simple. What are your plans for the future?

To write more music that inspires us. 

19. That’s everything I’d like to ask. Thank you very much for your time, and good luck in the future! If there is anything you would like to add, feel free to do it. Cheers! 

Many thanks for the questions and the support, it is greatly appreciated.

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A single from "Kindred Spirits":

  

Photos: band's archieve.

Interview by Vladyka 2013. Please do not copy this interview without HA'Z permission. Respect the copyrights!