SUFFERING IN SOLITUDE is an young american band playing death/doom metal with post-rock influences. At the end of this year (31.12) you can purchase their debut album entitled "A Place Apart" (six tracks / 29 minutes of music) via Domestic Genocide Records
News from the belarussian pagan./folk metal bands - Gods Tower:
We did it! GODS TOWER "Raven Tales" boxed set is out now!!!
8xDLP boxed set containing all GODS TOWER full-length albums and demos is released. With your priceless help we worked on this huge release more than 100 days. Here's the result. All those who made the preorder will get their limited sets soon. From today, the regular version of boxset with bonus A2 poster and 24-page biography\photo booklet will be available atwww.possession.ru
Hurry up, only 250 copies left!
Also we present new GODS TOWER 7'' EP "Roll Out" with 2 exclusive brand new tracks. Only 120 copies from 333 left already! Every copy of this EP includes an invite code for World of Tanks game. You can listen to this EP atwww.possessionproductions.bandcamp.com for free.
the boxset price: 139 USD + postages
the EP price: 12 USD + postages
We want to thank everyone who believed and supported our initiative! We sincerely believe that these releases will met your expectations. Wait for your parcels and then listen to amazing GODS TOWER music on vinyl. OYHRA!!!
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Since 6th of December you can purchase a demo of bulgarian blackened doom metal metallers from UPYR. You can buy it as a CD from band's bandcamp or as a limited cassete from Serpent Eve Records.
Icelanders from Skálmöld released their first DVD/live album called Skálmöld & Sinfóníuhljómsveit Íslands. The band had played there together with an Icelandic Symphonic Orchestra (if I am correct). You can buy it directly from the band (Facebook).
You can also watch a fragment of this concert here.
What is Korpiklaani propably every fan of folk metal knows. This is one of the most influencial band on the scene. In circles of grim, cult pagan metalers it is considered as a shame. Yet fortunetely I not one of them, so I can with a clear conscience describe you what "Manala" contains. Some of you may also say that I am a hypocrite, since I very often write how I disguist modern jolly-polka folk metal bands. Yet in my opinion Korpiklaani is something more than only merry glorification of alcohol, and I'll try to show you it in this short review.
The album begins in a very weak style - two first tracks are very bland. Really - no lively melodies, no relish of melancholy - nothing! Luckily after'em we can listen to the best track on this album "Rauta". This pulsatory bass, vivacious melodies and a bit "shamanic" relish makes it a perfect hit for a concert! Also vocals make a good impression - if you have ever heard finnish language you know that it can be so damn catchy! This is how Korpiklaani's music should sound.
Next tracks are not as good as "Rauta", yet they still keep the unique atmosphere of Korpiklaani's characteristic music. Sometimes it is more metal ("Ruumiinmultaa"), sometimes more melancholic (like a great song "Synkka") and sometimes the music turns into more merry fields. So Finns are giving us again more or less the same. There is nothing innovative here, but if somebody likes their previous works he should also like "Manala" (if, as me, hadn't listen to their every album though). Especially that this merry side of their music is now a smaller part, and that's very good in my opinion. And by the way the album is sung only in finnish - I really like that. Finnish language fits such music much more than english. I also appreciate how much this music is filled with traditional folk music of this region - it is so original that you can't mistake it with any other.
Some people say that Korpiklaani is a one, big joke with this merry singing about alcohol and other silly stuff. Yet first of all - that's just one side of the coin. More melancholic tunes are alwas important part of every Korpiklaani's album. And secondly - I think that what Korpiklaani is doing is in 100% authentic. The music recorded for this album is clearly played by people who love doing what they're doing. They claim that they are not pagans, yet their band is more "pagan" than many other true Heathen, Kvlt and Evil Hordes. Paganism is an affirmation of life, both this happier and sadder sides. And on "Manala" the band shows it again. Maybe it is not as good as the genius debut album "Spirit of the Forest", yet it s still quite nice.
Rate: 6+/10
Vladyka
P.S
I could rate it on 7/10 if not those two first tracks, which are horrible.
I've received such an information, so I am posting it here. You can watch new trailer of Woodtemple and check if their (or better his) upcoming album "Forgotten Pride" will be something interesting for you:
Album will be released in January or February 2014 via Sturmklang Records.
The limited paper edition of the first Heathen Altar Maga'Zine issue
will apear in 2014 - around February or March. It will contain every interview and all of the reviews
from this site + some articles about paganism and history. Possibly you
will find there also some extra adds. If you have any suggestions -
contact me: heathen.altar@gmail.com
BTW - I will be propably looking for somebody who is skilled in drawing. If you want to help me - you know how to find me.
OK, this review will be short, because "Mienje Na Svetcite" is just a single with only one track. It was recorded by macedonian band Maras - you must admit that it sounds kinda exotic, huh?
The music bases here on slow, guts crushing doom riffs with black metal feeling and very condensed, stifling production. One of the better elements here is surely a vocalist - the guy is spitting out deep, stertorous growls like some possessed demon (yeah, I know, veeeery original comparison). The music sounds quite powerful, and later it turns into a bit cacophonous-tribal areas. That's because of traditional balcan instrument - zurla - which creates very strange, disturbing atmosphere. If you can't imagine it you should know that it sounds similar to what you could hear on Rotting Christ's last albums (I mean this kind of trombone). The whole composition creates quite an interesting atmosphere. It works very well in a small dose of single, yet I am a bit affraid that in the long run of LP it could be tiring.
And that's it. You can check for yourself if this track is worth your attention or not. Personally I liked "Mienje..." well enough to wait for the upcoming full-lenght album (coming soon at the beginning of 2014).
Rate: 7/10
Vladyka
Click here to download the official single for free from Bandcamp.
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 :)
For those who don't know this band - Solstafir is hailing from Iceland. They are playing a psychedelic/progressive metal (although they started as a viking metal act), and "Svartir Sandar" is their 4th full lenght album.
It is also a bit different than the previous one, "Kold". The first thing that comes to ear is the production - it's much lighter. It can be still very sultry, but there are also moments when it become more spacious. Thanks to that the riffs are not as heavy as they used to be in the past. They lost some of their power, but from the other side they become more hypnotic now, which is also an interresting thing. The music is diverse - and it's very important, due to the fact that this album lasts for almost 80 minutes! That's really long, but fortunetely Solstafir knows how to rivet listener's attention. The music is this time stronger inspired by a classic rock (Led Zeppelin, for example) than their previous creativeness. From what I hear it concerns mostly the second CD. A bit strange, yet such tracks as "Stormfari" seems to confirm my words.
But the base is here still the same. Production - despite of mentioned differences - is still enough sultry and first of all psychedelic, with "cold sound" and many echeos of guitar. Solstafir's riffs are clearly inspired by post-rock, classic rock acts and proggresion. Luckily not that boring proggresion from the sign of Dream Theater with thousand of guitar solos masturbation, but from this more atmospherical bands. The music is really not very complicated, it bases mainly on frugal riffs, simple drum beats and some relishes hidden in the background. Technically it's not a masterpiece, but it's not a point here- the point is an atmosphere! And the guys know how to create it. What especially makes impression are vocals - Adalbjorn has such a characteristic, thrilling voice that your heart has to be made of stone if you are not moved after listening to such "Thin Ord", haha! The band very often goes into faster, more dynamic areas and I must say that was a good idea. If they would play constantly slow, minimalistic tracks like "Fjara" I would fell into a sleep after some time. And well, that's more or less everything I wanted to write.
If you would like to see pristine, cold landscapes of Iceland and you don't have enough money for a ticket you can always buy this album. It will bring you there, as it's just a sonic trip through the wildest parts of this island. Solstafir created something really great, something that will be appreciated by the people who loves a bit of frosty tunes in the music...
Rate: 8+/10
Vladyka
P.S
Here you can watch the amazing video created for the first single, "Fjara":
Tracklist:
(Disc 1)
1. Ljos i Stormi
2. Fjara
3. Thin Ord
4. Sjuki Skuggin
5. Aera
6. Kukl
This is the 3rd album of the english one-man project Nhor. I've never heard about it before, but that's why Metal Archives exists, huh? So, before the listening I've learnt that the band is playing black/doom metal, with additional adjectives such as "atmospheric" and "ambient". And what it means in reality?
If you will listen to this album for the first time, you will initially get the impression that the base here is quite raw, fast black metal, mixed with many doom metal parts. That's because of the first two tracks (even if in the second track there are some female laments mixed with screeching guitar sounds). The vocals are howling like some lost forgotten sad spirit (hehe), the riffs are being played fast (but not unduly) and drums are raging in the background. Yet thanks to a specific production it doesn't sound excessively powerfull, so don't expect blasphemously strong power similar to Marduk.
Since the third track starts, "Patient Hunter, Patient Night" the music strongly slows down. Nhor starts to create more tranquil atmosphere, full of once again screeching guitar riffs and piano-like synths played on keyboard. From time to time he is breaking up again with fast blast beats and tremolo pics, only to return later again to quiter forms of expression. He often uses clean guitars, but in that kind of playing it's really nothing new; yet he's doing it with fineness, so it doesn't sounds like some cheap weeping for depressed teenagers.
Most of the tracks are really long (something about 10 minutes) and they deliberately flow, creating a nostalgic, sometimes a bit melancholic atmosphere. It sounds interesting when leisurely, blurred riffs mingle with mentioned piano-like synths and croon of a singer (in for example the track called "Rohmet Etarnu"). And to be honest I discern the main potency of this album in such tranquiled parts. The music is not very complicated (yet with relishes here and there), though it sounds very mysterious. It simply draws a listener into its own dark world, and doesn't want to release him for almost an hour.
To sum it up: the fans of minimalist, gloomy music should be interested in getting this album.So if you like that kind of playing - this is something for you.
For some reasons I have never really listen to the previous album of Norwegians, "Axioma Ethica Odini". I was constantly making excuses "that I will listen to it soon". And suddenly I was informed that Enslaved is going to release another album. So please forgive me that I will not compare "RIITIIR" to the previous longplay, 'cuz the only thing I've heard from "Axioma..." was a promo video for that album.
Forgive me also if you will be disappointed by this review, but I am not going to write about every complex of their last opus. Mainly because I have not much to say. I've been listening to this release for quite a long time, and I am still under a big impression of this album. But let me start from the beginning.
First of all, I don't know why but I feel that this material is much harder to listen than the previous ones. I don't know is it because of the production (a bit more sultry, I think) or that the band again goes into even more progressive areas. Yes, again - if someone likes only their early works, he can skip reading this article and go find something better to do. But back to the topic. As I said, the album is more difficult to listen, even that from the other hand it has definitely much more clean vocals than the rest of their creativeness. For example I listen now to "Materal", I'm in mid part f this track and I hear there a really good melodies and hypnotic clean vocals of keyboardist (Herbrand), turning into a great rock guitar solo and then slow, heavy parts with Grutle's howlings.
This weird feeling that the album is heavier and more ethereal at the same time accompanied me in every replay. And there were quite many of them. I am not sure what I should think about it. But I am sure for one thing: I love it. Really - this album passess very quick (even duration is more than an hour) and it almost literally take you to some other world.
If you are a fan of Enslaved, you can be sure that you will like this album. The band is consequently walking on their own path into more and more progressive areas. They sound is once again lighter, but from the other hand much more complicated and with many relishes. They have lost on this trail their primal raw, black metal sound and that's why some malcontent's will be spreading bullshit again. But you know what? I don't care, and it seems that Norwegians don't care either. "RITTIIR" is a parfect, complex album with so many feelings and ideas that you should definitely check it for yourself is it worth your time or not.
This is the 5th album of ukrainian black/folk metalers from Kroda. Or maybe I should write "metaler", because this is also the first album released after leaving a band by one of the co-founders - Viterzgir.
Well, I am not sure if this is beacause of line up changes or not, by "Schwarzpfad" is much more rawer material than the previous ones. The ukrainian folk instruments are reduced here to minimum. But don't worry - Kroda haven't loose it's original sound. Traditional instrumentation this time is being used not to create an atmosphere, but to just highlights it. I love their previous stuff, but as for me that kind of playing is also pretty good! It can be clearly heard that Eisenslav decided to create much more darker compositions, and so to use more keyboard instead. It really works, the music is more mysterious and even a bit depressive. Just listen to this weird, haunted ending of the second track "Universal Provenances" which I am listenning now - it makes overwhelming impression.
Predominatingly characteristic, possessed vocals are howling desperately about the upcoming end of the world, guitars are mostly grinding listeners' ears with quite melodic, yet still very raw riffs and drums are quickly striking rhythm heralding the upcoming Ragnarok. Yet quite often everything turns into slower, more melancholic areas with usage of folk stuff or just acoustic guitars. But of course as I have written before don't expect another "Cry To Me, River..." because this time Korda explores more gloomy fields. The last novelty is the ending track "Cold Aurora", entirely composed as an cold, ambient thing. Most of the bands which tries to compose such things are just boring me to death, but in this case it's a great example how to end the album in a big way.
To make it quick, generally speaking I am glad that Eisenslav do not goes the easy way, but still tries to create something fresh. "Schwarzpfad" is a great piece of black metal art. The maniacs of that kind of playing should immediately get this album, if they haven't already do it. All hail Ragnarok!
Ok, I must admit - I was biased when I saw the image of this american duo. When I saw the cover art of this EP and learnt something about their music and lyrical concept my bias has only increased. You see, Moss of Moonlight plays Black/Folk metal, with many female vocals. Additionaly the musicians are married. Because of that I was expecting a complete disaster, dressed up in some gothic or pseudoromantic attire.
Fortunetely I was totally wrong, and once again I've learnt that you shouldn't judge a book by it's cover. Yes, there are many female vocal parts, but they don't sound like another UnSun. MoM focuses on creating a ritualistic, pagan atmosphere close to neofolk projects like e.g. Wardruna. Most of the tracks are pretty long (lasting more than 10 minutes), and so there is a lot going on here. Traditional instruments are being used frugally, and thanks to that the specific atmosphere of this EP is only highlighted - I really don't think so that noisy, fast folk parts would fits here. If you don't believe me just listen to the last track on this release, and you will understeand me. "Hraefne" is a track almost completely composed in neofolk/ambient vain - but this shamanistic attitude is present in every song.
Mentioned female vocals are very often the element creating folk, a bit nostalgic atmosphere (like e.g. in the first track "Gaet" or middle part of "Catte"). Together with many slow guitar solo passages it sounds very interesting. Jenn (a vocalist) is often supported in singing by her bandmate Cavan. He sings both harsh and clean vocals, and I must say that I like both of these styles, especially when they turns into this more haunted, shamanistic areas.
A black metal parts neatly interweave with those ritualistic ones. The music flows very smoothly, and it's a true pleasure to listen to it. The only thing that I have mixed feelings about are the moments when a band sounds a bit like some power metal from Finland - and this stick mostly to the opening track "Gaet". This song seems to be a bit messed up - when I listen to it I always have the impression that in some moments the band doesn't know what they want to do. The music looses (ironicaly) immediately the power, and unfortunetely smear the musical concept. Too bad, happily each additional track is getting better and better. There is a hope that another album will be created without such failures.
Moss of Moonlight created a good album, mixing many of their inspirations into the interesting dish, flavoured by a pinch of originality. It tastes pretty good, although I hope that another material will be a truly satiating portion of some musical masterpiece.
In this year hungarian atmospheric black metal band Sear Bliss celebrates it's twientieth anniversary. That was a good opportunity to contact their leader, Andras Nagy, and make the interview with him. Read what he has to say about their last amazing album - "Eternal Recurrence", his inspirations, ancient shamanism and few more things.
1. Hello
Andras! First of all I'd like to ask you how's everything going? What are the
reactions on your latest album "Eternal Recurrence"?
Hi there! Everything is going well. We have a short
summer break at the moment. Enjoying holidays, etc..
As for the reactions for Eternal Recurrence, well, it’s a
bit diverse. Without doubt it is our most difficult and heaviest album and it
has met with a warm response only among those who are open to unusual and
surprising musical experiences. As I see it, many people did not understand
what these songs are about and I know most people enjoy music which is a bit
more simple and easier to dig into it. These songs are not for entertainment
but for diving into the very depths of human soul, to the depths which most people
are still struggling to face. Eternal Recurrence was born under very hard
circumstances, it is the result of a very heavy period on some personal levels,
thus it is a truly honest reflection of what we went through at that time. I
can understand that those who prefer our previous albums with more epic,
melodic and monumental songs don’t really like this new album but on the other
hand I believe there are many people who would enjoy Eternal Recurrence but
they are not really familiar with our band or they don’t really like our
previous albums or they just focus on other genres, so they didn’t have a
chance to listen to this album. So, this is a weird situation, however I don’t
care at all, as it was more important than anything for me to write, record and
put this album out. It was truly a personal revelation for me. Anyway, we got
really positive reactions too, so that’s great.
2. Between "Eternal..." and previus
album, "The Arcane Odysey" is a vast amount of time. Why it took you
so long to make this album? I know that you're working in Amsterdam, and the
rest of the band still live in Hungary. Is this a reason?
There are several reasons for the long break but actually we have never
stopped for a moment. After releasing The Arcance Odyssey we worked real hard
on our second DVD material which is still not released due to some unforeseen
difficulties with the label which was supposed to release it. Then I moved to
Amsterdam which made things a bit more difficult, plus we have written and
recorded the first album of Nefarious at that time, so I was totally busy and
not only me but the others too. You know, families to take care of, jobs, etc…
On top of that, we had an almost complete line up change and it also took some
time to get back to normal because of that, plus some personal difficulties too
which made things even more difficult for us. So, all these things together
resulted in that delay.
3. By the away, if it's not a secret - what's
your job here in Amsterdam?
I have already returned to Hungary. My job was electrical engineering. It was an
important change in my life to move there, so I accepted the opportunity when
it was given to me. Now I’m back and I can focus on the band and other
important things again.
4. When
I saw a cover art of your new album I knew that something is going on haha. It
is very different from others, more frugal. Can you say me something about it -
what was an idea behind it and why did you choose Benjamin Konig as an
illustrator?
Benjamin did the cover artwork for the Nefarious album and we really
liked what he did, that’s why we chose him to do the artwork for the new Sear
Bliss album too. He is one of the few artists who still believe less is more. I
got totally sick of the so many vivid, colourful, sharp photoshop artworks
which you can see everywhere for a few years. I wanted the opposite of it,
something totally different, something more simple but still impressive. We
used mostly grey instead of the vivid colours because it fits perfectly the
atmosphere of the whole album. I know many people don’t like this artwork but I
believe Benjamin did a great job.
5. What
I like about the new album, is that you didn't change your style, but simply
put some new elements into music. I appreciate it much, it sounds really
fantastic! Did "it still have to sounds like Sear Bliss" attitude
accompanied you while you were composing the new material?
It is an interesting approach you described but the only thing I had on
my mind while composing the songs for the new album was to be as far as
possible from the normal schemes and clichés. Similar attitude I described
regarding the cover artwork. On the other hand, we wanted to accomplish this
new approach with keeping the trademarks of Sear Bliss. The implementation of
new elements into our music went smoothly. Each single note has its own place
on this album. However, only a small portion of this change was conscious, the
greater part of it came from our subconscious.
7.
"Eternal Recurrence" is full of slow, proggressive tunes. I remember
how you said in one interview that you don't like prog music. I see that some
things change haha! What inspired you to put this new element into Sear Bliss'
world?
Hm, I don’t know when and what exactly I said. Maybe I referred to
bands like Dream Theater, etc. I still don’t like bands like that. On the other
hand, I have always been a fan of innovative music. Most of the music I listen
to are innovative in some ways. Even the bands of the early black metal era were
all innovative and this is what I miss nowadays. So, the striving for
innovation might be one of the inspirations, I guess.
8.
Another novelty are some jazzy patents, starting with trombone tune in the
first track and appearing in small dose until the end. I like them very much,
thanks to them the music is more original. That was the intention?
The intention was to create something unusual, something we haven’t
done before. However, we didn’t create an exact plan of how the album should
sound and we didn’t care how we should combine different genres. We added
something extra where we felt it would work. For example, in the first song,
which you mention too, that jazzy part has its own place. It’s an unexpected
turn yet it works well and flows smoothly into the song. It carries the song to
a different dimension, thus it becomes really exciting.
9. And
of course, I have to ask do you like jazz music and listen to it often?
I like some jazz music but I’m not a fan of it, so I don’t listen to it
often. On the other hand, I love the sound of the fretless bass. This is why I
played fretless bass on the entire album. It has such an amazing, special
sound. It is mostly used in jazz music, therefore it was a great challenge for
me to implement it into our music. Anyway,
Oliver, who played the drums on the album, is a great fan of jazz music and he
is involved in some jazz bands too. You can hear those influences in his
playing without doubt.
10. As
the time goes, you reduce the usage of keyboard. On your first albums,
especially "The Haunting" they were ubiquitous. Now they are more
frugal, and more ominous. Your style of playing is quite original, hard to
describe. You create some kind of cosmic, and sometimes even onirique
atmosphere. Am I correct?
I agree that the presence of the keyboard became less and less
prominent during the years. We found out that it’s no use playing it during all
songs. However, keyboards play an important role in Sear Bliss’ music and we
use it to add an extra atmosphere to our songs where it is needed, to create a
special vibe.
10. Also
the new elements are these longing choirs, present here and there on the whole
album. My first association was Enslaved. I mean, they don't sound similar dot
to dot, but they create a bit close atmosphere. What do you think about it? And
do you like the music of these Norwegians?
Yes, I like Enslaved but they are not an influence for us. I already
wanted to have clean vocals on our previous albums but somehow we didn’t
succeed in working it out at that time. The new songs were written the way that
clean vocals and choirs fit into them much better. We are able to express a lot
more with the help of clean vocals. It’s a lot more interesting and exciting
than just growling and screaming all the time.
11.
From the beginning your trademark was the usage of brass instruments, like
trombone. I think that now they appear more often, displacing the usage of
keyboards. What I like is that contrary to other bands, you use them not only
to bring some monumental epic sound, but also in many other ways. So I guess
that there will be no Sear Bliss without brass section?
That’s right. I can’t imagine Sear Bliss without brass. It became sort
of a trademark of the band since the very beginning. It has its special place
in our music and it is even a fundamental part of our song-writing method too.
I believe brass instruments fit perfectly to metal music because of their loud,
harsh and powerful sound.
12. You
said that in some way this is your heaviest album so far. I think I can agree
with that, inter alia thanks to
production. It was hard to create such a powerfull sound?
Oh yes, it was definitely our most challenging production and studio
work. We worked incredibly hard to create this sound and album. We spent almost
two months in the studio. We tried several equipment and instruments to get the
sound we imagined and our producer worked really hard and did a great job to accomplish
it. I’m really satisfied with the result.
13. In
the last track, "Entering the Seventh Gate" appears a guest - Alba
Hyseni. Please tell me who is she and why did you cooperate with her? Those
schizophrenic vocals makes a big impression... Also, can I know who is
responsible for this haunted male singing?
Alba is an outstanding and highly talented vocalist in the Hungarian
underground music scene. She is well known of his unique and special voice. By
the way, she has Albanian origin but she was raised in Serbia and she lives in
Hungary for 15 years now. I wanted a special voice for the finishing track of
the album ’Entering the Seventh Gate’ and our producer Viktor recommended Alba
because she has this witch-like voice which would fit to the song. He already
worked with her previously. I was totally amazed in the studio because she made
such unbelievable voices. She is very
professional and a really nice person too. As for the male singing, it was done
by me. By the way, we plan to perform this song together with Alba on our 20th
anniversary show in Budapest at the end of this year. I’m looking forward to
it.
14. Due
to all those original elements, you moved away from typical black metal sound.
There is only little of that kind of playing. But Sear Bliss was always more
like around a black metal scene, than a part of it, so I guess it's not a big
problem for you? Or maybe I am wrong?
That is absolutely right. We have never been a pure black metal band.
We have always combined a lot of different genres and ideas in our music. This
comes from the different personalities in the band and also our striving for
exploring new paths. Our music is dark and there are some black metal elements
too but we carry a wider musical spectrum.
15. Last
thing about newest album that I'd like to ask are lyrics. Your style of
writting is much deeper and different than all other metal bands'. Can you tell
me about a concept that you've created on "Eternal Recurrence"? What
is hidden behind this intriguing title?
The lyrics are quite different on this new album compared to the
previous ones. The idea or concept behind the title is about the eternal cycle
of rebirth, the eternal return of all in nature, earth and cosmos. All these
thoughts and concept are expressed in a more philosophical way this time.
16. Hungary
have no seacoast, so as Amsterdam. So I simply have to ask - what inspired you
to write a track called "Ballad of the Shipwrecked"?
I use the word ’shipwrecked’ in a figurative sense, allegorically. In
this sense, shipwrecked means forsaken. I tried to express the feeling of
loneliness, as if shipwrecked on the eternal sea of sorrow. The whole song has
this wavering feel, as if sailing on a restless sea. But in this case the sea
represents the soul.
17.
Yeah, and about your fatherland's history - it was always a part of Sear Bliss'
music. Hungary has unique language, traditions and complicated history. I
simply ask - are you proud of being Hungarian?
Absolutely. In some ways, being Hungarian is kind of showing
resistance, fighting for justice and against oppression and we are proud of it!
Our cultural heritage plays an important role in our lives and yes, it was
always part of Sear Bliss’ music.
18. An
important element of magyar tribes's culture was shamanism. Do you have an
interrest in that subject? Maybe you will use some "shamanistic"
musical patents in the future?
I am absolutely interested in the ancient
history of Hungary, especially the pre-Christian era. The Hungarian „shamanism”
is very unique and different. I study it and it is very inspiring. Fortunately,
it becomes more and more famous in Hungary now and people start to realize how
important it is to explore the wisdom of this ancient belief of ours and how we
can save and use it in our modern society. A few weeks ago I went to see a
group performing ritualistic music based on our ancient beliefs and I was
totally amazed. By the way, last winter I had the chance to travel to the far
north, the northern part of Lapland and get a glimpse of the ancient Sami
culture which was very interesting too, a bit similar to some of our ancient
beliefs. I had the chance to listen to some shamanic music there and it was
really inspiring and I thought it would be an interesting and exciting
experiment to incorporate some features of it in our music.
19. On
your previuos album "The Arcane Odyssey" there is a track called
"Path to the Motherland". It contains an usage of traditional folk
instruments. What was an impulse to do such a thing? And did you ever
considered to write lyrics in hungarian, to highlight this folkish element?
There is always a hint of our history on each of our albums and Path to
the Motherland was inspired by our cultural heritage. A friend of ours was a
member of a group using special folk instruments and we invited them to add
something extra to the song Path to the Motherland.
By the way, the cover artwork of The Arcane Odyssey is based on an
ancient Hungarian mythological tale. I have a plan to create a special song
with Hungarian lyrics and maybe we will do it on our next record.
20.
This year you celebrate your 20th anniversary. That's a vast amount of time, so
do you consider yourself as a metal veteran? And are you happy with everything what
you have achieved during those years?
No, I don’t think we are a metal veteran band. The average age of the
band members is only 32 years and we still have a lot to write about. 20 years
is a long time and I know we made some mistakes, some bad decisions but there
is nothing to be ashamed of and I’m happy with what we have achieved.
21.
What can we expect from Sear Bliss in the future? Are you already composing
material for the new album?
Yes, we are in the composing process right now and we have already
written some material for the next album. It will be a bit different again but
it’s not surprising as we have never repeated ourselves. The new album will be
a bit more atmospheric. At least this is how it looks at the moment. It’s too
early to tell more about it now. On the other hand we are preparing for our
anniversary show which will be held in Budapest in November. We plan to invite
many guests and we will perform a special set. Plus there is a plan for a short
European tour for the end of the year.
22. OK,
two last questions. You also play in a black metal band called Nefarious. Can
you tell me what are plans of this camp for the future?
Well, there are no exact plans regarding Nefarious for the near future.
A few months ago our debut album was released on vinyl which is great. Right
now we are rather focusing on our other project Forest Silence with Winter
(former Sear Bliss keyboard player). We are writing new material and hopefully
there will be some fresh releases in the near future.
23. And
at the end, please recommend some good music and good literature that made on
you big impression lately.
Well, for me it’s a bit hard to find interesting music in this mass.
There are too many releases and it is really difficult to find the ones which
really deserve attention. The last album which made a big impression on me
lately was Childhood’s End from Ulver. Fantastic album. Regarding literature, I
haven’t discovered anything new lately but maybe it is because I didn’t have
enough time to read in the last few months. By the way, I went to see The Wall
performed by Roger Waters last week in Budapest and it made a big impression on
me.
24. OK,
that's everything from my side. Thank you very much for the interview, and I
wish you another lucky 20 years with Sear Bliss. Cheers!
Thank you very much and thanks a lot for your
support! Cheers!
---
Photos: band's archive.
Interview by Vladyka 2013. Please do not copy this interview without HA'Z permission. Respect the copyrights!
I was waiting for this album with big misgiving, since previous album "Night Is The New Day" simply disappointed me. There were some good songs, but generally speaking it was boring and emotionless. "Dead End Kings" is a bit better, but still it's more or less the same case.
Well, let's start with something positive. First of all, the layout is really amazing! It's done in "modern" style, yet I love such weird, surreal kind of art. To be honest I bought this album without even listenning one song, just because I saw this amazing cover in a music store.
Also a modern, clean production is something I liked. Of course it's a matter of taste, but I'm quite OK with that. You see, I hate such sound while it come to more traditional metal. But here everything highlights a bit surreal atmosphere, which is cool. The only thing that I haven't like is a sound of vocals - sometimes there are superimposed two tracks of singing, one on another, and it sounds just awful.
Most of the songs are being played in the style that Katatonia elaborated somewhere upon "Viva Empitness". Thanks to a new production many times they sound a bit psychedelic (like in "Hypnone"). Jonas still sings in this characteristic manner of a guy who really doesn't care about anything. It works (as always) if a song is, let's face it, emotional. If not, it's simply getting boring.
And here's the main flaw of this release: some tracks are so emotionless that together with this clean production and monotonous vocals are making me sleepy. Maybe that was intented, but to be honest if I want to sleep I simply do it, without any boosters. For example the second track is so sweet and tiring that I am really wondering why they decided to record it. Silje Wergeland, who has sang in it, really doesn't help. In fact her vocal is just annoying. Or look on another boring track - "First Prayer". It extends and extends, but nothing really happens. The song is passing by, while I am falling into the arms of Morpheus (no, not this from Matrix).
Luckily there are some highlights. E.g. "Leathen" is a great track, full of sorrow and desperation, also an opening "The Parting" is a very strong position. Agh, if the whole album was as good as those tracks...
I could grumble like that for a long, long time but it really doesn't has any sense. Let's say that 60% of music on this album is really good. The rest is an ordinary boring stuff. If you're a fan of Katatonia, you should check it by yourself. Maybe you won't be disappointed - unlike me.
Here you can find a special polish version, promoting gig in Warsaw.
Skyforger is a Latvian folk/pagan metal band,
founded in the year 1995 in Riga. By this time, they’ve got quite big audience
on the scene, spreading the Baltic metal music amongst the fans. In this
interview Peter (vocalist and guitarist) talks about band’s history, cultural
heritage of Latvia, modern pagan metal scene and some other things. The
interview is really long, but also very interesting, so I hope you will make
it! Enjoy.
1. Hail! First question will be light-hearted,
just for a good start. Tell me about two albums that you have bought lately and
made on you big impression.
Hello Nasu!
Well, I
recently got album by our local punk legendary band Inokentijs Mārpls – “Pupu
mizas”. They started out in mid 80-ties and just recently released this third
album. At some point I also was playing in that band hehe. They recently won
our local Gada Balva Awards (similar to Grammies) as best rock band.
But in
general naked truth is that I (and many more of my countrymen) don’t have much
money, which could be spend on buying albums or vinyls. My payment is
considered here as total minimum to barely survive and thus it all goes out for
food and flat and things alike, where the rest , what little is it, I spend on booze and cigarettes. But that’s
not big deal for me – money and wealth have little importance in my life.
As back to
your question – I have friends, who buy albums and give me to listen. I am one
of those, who listens music mostly on mobile telephone on the way to work and
back. As for two albums – I am very critical on music and there are very few
albums lately who can bypass my critique to impress me. But to name two, they
could be two latest Absu albums and Asphyx’s “Deathhammer”, oh well and Venom’s
“Fallen Angels”, though it is from 2011.
2. Ok, let's start the right interview. Firstly
I would like to ask you about the roots of Skyforger - why did you found this
band? You were playing previously in the death/doom band called Grindmaster
Dead, and few years later became a pagan metal band. It was because you have
"suddenly" discovered interested in Latvian mythology, or because of
more and more growing fascination about this?
I think the
second is true. We were already into historical lyrics, but then I thought -
why we, as Latvians, are singing about medieval Europe while we have our own
history and traditions? And that’s why we changed everything in band – name,
lyrics and music style also. We tried to start anew, with this new concept and
ideas.
3. Ok, I will ask you about a scene and paganism
later, now let's talk a bit about your music. Demo "Semigalls' Warchant"
and your first LP, "Kauja pie Saules". From musical side they were
more black metal than folk metal, as it on your modern stuff. Why is that? I
read somewhere that (as I remember) Norwegian scene had big influence on your
music, is that true? What do you think about modern Norwegian black metal
scene?
Yea, that’s
true – we were pretty much influenced by this new black metal stuff at that
time. I was into other styles before. At start it had fresh ideas and
aggression we lacked so far. But at same time we didn’t want just to copy it in
our music - that’s why we tried to join it with some Latvian folk melodies and
metal riffs in Skyforger’s songs. We were constantly looking for our own way to
play black metal. Unfortunately as we know black metal all soon became
mainstream and that wasn’t way for us.
Today I
don’t follow Norwegian black metal scene anymore – it lost its grip long ago.
The old leading acts became boring or changed their style and new bands just
try hard to copy what was already done or play boring music - at least it is
boring for me. It seems that every style in metal genre went this same way –
even pagan/folk has become mainstream today.
4. Aggressive music needs also brutal lyrics -
they are more or less about wars between Order of Teutonic Knights and your
ancestors. How do you think those events influenced Latvia as it is today? Do
people in your country know and care about their roots and history?
Those events
changed a lot for our nation. If Baltic crusades were never happened, who knows
how it would be today for Latvian people - maybe there would be all different
now. Also these crusades stopped our natural evolution as nation and put us
into decline for centuries under German (and later Russian) occupation.
At those
old times our people were free and warlike, we had our own culture and were
just few steps behind central Europe, but suddenly it all was stopped and
destroyed. That’s why that period of time is so important for our people. You
can read more about those crusades in my blog http://history.skyforger.lv/
More or
less Latvian people of today know something about these historical events, but
do they care? I think majority don’t care - especially in this century of
cosmopolitism. But then again, there is still enough of those, who still have
great interest in history and own roots.
For a small
nation like we, Latvians, are, such things as historical heritage, traditions,
folklore and language are very important, because without them and without
keeping them in our hearts we are going to be extinct!
5. Your another album, "Latviešu strēlnieki",
could be shock for all those fans of folk metal, which love lyrics about
"brave Viking which is proudly fighting" hehe. It is about Latvian
soldiers fighting on the fronts of World War I. Why have you chosen this
subject? Is it because Latvia won freedom after it? You know, this topic seems
to be as important for Skyforger as your pre-Christian history...
It is a
long story, but I try to make it short. I was reading a lot of books at that
time about Latvian history and somehow I came across one book which told the
story of Latvian Riflemen in World War I. I knew a little about those events
from school time and never really had serious interest in that period of time.
But when I read that book, it become like a true revelation! I was so
overwhelmed and fulfilled with Latvian Riflemen topic, that I had great urge to
make an album about them “right now”!
I remember
how I was persuading my band mates to change lyrical topic in such drastically
manner, but finally they agreed and we made such album.
Latvian
Riflemen are a legend for our nation and there simply has no other way for
Skyforger, but to have an album dedicated to them!
6. " Pērkoņkalve" was much calmer
than everything you have done before. Why is that? I heard that it's because of
lyrics - they were about Latvian mythology, not about wars. So have you written
all those lyrics before writing a single song?
You are
right about lyrics – the Latvian mythology was main topic of this album and
that’s why songs were not that aggressive and with greater folk music influence
than before. I think every Skyforger’s album is different each from other –
mainly because of lyrics of specific albums and also because we don’t want to
do the same thing in a same way again and again. If it is once done, then it’s
done and we are moving on.
Maybe it
could be confusing for you to hear, but I write lyrics always when all music is
already done or even after songs are recorded in studio! The thing here is,
that when we start to write music for a new album, I have concept for whole
thing already in mind and keep it always in background, when composing songs.
Then I listen to the songs and after my imaginations and feelings try to write
lyrics. But as I said I have the main concept always in mind when writing riffs
and putting them together in songs. In a simplified example, if there will be
something about battles, I try to make some aggressive and fast song and later
after listening to it, write down fitting lyrics. Maybe weird, but that’s the
way I have always worked.
7. And later, in 2003, you released the
strangest thing you have ever made (hehe). "Zobena Dziesma" is in
100% folk album. Can you tell me why you have released this material under
Skyforger's name, and not as a side-project?
And what's going on with this statement: "This record has been
released with the support of the Culture Capital Foundation of Latvia".
This is the organization bounded with your government or something like that?
Also, I know that many people ask about it, but let me be the next: do you
planning to record another folk album?
We released
it under Skyforger name because folk music was always part of our band. I mean,
in all our heavy albums there are some folk tunes. So idea was why not make one
whole album like this. Latvian folk music is a great part of our culture and
for a band, who are making albums about Latvian and Baltic history, it was fine
opportunity to present to our listeners another piece of our Baltic heritage.
Also I
think it helps to people understand how serious we are about what we are doing,
that Skyforger isn’t just another mainstream Viking metal band singing about
beer, trolls, Odin and jolly polkas hehe.
Culture
Capital Foundation of Latvia is a government made council, which financially
supports various musicians and artists here. Of course the sum they gave us was
small one; this was few hundred euros for studio costs. And the rest we covered
by ourselves. But better this than nothing at all! But the truth is they gave
us money because they saw that we had a good aim and why not support it. Our
government still has that programme and everyone with good intentions can
apply.
As for
another folk album - only time will tell. In fact, we’ve got some folk songs
already recorded, but not enough for a full album, but if I will have some
time, inspiration and ideas, then yeah, why not made another folk album of
Skyforger!
8. Could you recommend some folk bands from
your country and abroad? How big is your interest in this genre of music?
Sure, I
have great interest in folk music – how could we otherwise sing those songs and
recorded folk album?! I also listen to some medieval music too.
There are a
lot of folk music groups in Latvia and Lithuania and in times when we resisted
Communist regime and fought for our freedom, folk music and bands who performed
it was a great inspiration for our people then.
One of
greatest is band Iļģi, especially their early music, when they were more to
folk roots than nowadays. Now they are experimenting a lot and using more
modern instruments in their music. Then there is Grodi, Vilki and Vilkači,
Trejasmens, Skandinieki and many more bands. The good site to see more about is
our local folk label Lauska: http://www.lauska.lv/
9. Ok, and now let's talk about
"Kurbads", your last album so long. This is a conceptual album about
a man called Kurbads. Is he a mythological person, or did you just make him up
and bounded with Baltic mythology? What was your intention in showing Kurbads'
story?
“Kurbads”
is our fairytale or legend, so the main character here is some supernatural
hero, like for example, King Arthur, Irish Cuchulain or Sigurd/Siegried from
Niebelung saga.
There is a
long background to this story, but in short our intention was to introduce
people with our Latvian legends and fairytales. Everyone knows (ok, maybe not
everyone) about Norse sagas or Knights of the Round Table, but none knows of
such existing tales from Baltic lands and that’s why we made Kurbads.
When we
were young boys there was even a great book and cartoon movie made in 80-ties.
10. "Kurbads" is again more
aggressive album (even if not so aggressive like the firsts releases). But I
can also feel the influence of, well, hard rock? You even covered an old Latvian
hard rock band's song, called "Kurbads (!)". Do Opus Pro means any special
to you?
You are
right, we were very influenced by old good heavy metal when wrote Kurbads. It
was also intentional, because I felt that such an epic tale will go fine along
with some heavy metal riffs. As for Opus Pro, it was great heavy metal band
here in Latvia, when we were young. They had this song also named Kurbads and
we thought why not made cover of this long forgotten song and include at the
end of our album. At the time it carried a hidden message inside. They also had
some more great songs back then and also with meaningful lyrics against
Communism regime, but today this band do not exist.
11. I also heard that you are working on the
new album. Can you tell me something more about it?
Our new
album will tell about Old Prussians, the third Baltic nation, who was defeated
by Teutonic knights in 13th century, their lands were occupied and themselves
they were lately exterminated or germanised.
In those
times they were most advanced of Baltic people. Prussia also was main pagan hub
with archpriest settled there. Old Prussians took the main blow from European
crusaders and made a bloody stand against them, almost till the last man!
Today as
they are no more, many of Latvians and Lithuanians know nothing about them and
that’s why we are making such album.
Right now
we have all music composed and preparing for studio. And as always I need to
write whole lyrics yet. There will be 9-10 songs with one or two folk tunes
included. We will even try and sing some in Prussian language, which is not
used for centuries as you can guess! There are maybe 1 person who know this
language a little bit here in Latvia.
If
everything will go sound and fine, there will be new Skyforger album out in
autumn/winter – we hope so very much.
12. To sum up band's history - what were the
brightest and darkest points of your career over these 18 years?
All in all
the darkest times was always those when band was on the brink to break up. When
someone left the band or threatens to leave, or when there were no new ideas
and people started to felt that there is no future for band anymore. This is
the hardest thing – to keep band together through the years!
And the
brightest moments always are those when our work is well received, when people
come to our concerts and they say how they like our music. It is great impulse
to continue and then you feel that your hard work was not in vain.
13. What do you think about modern pagan/folk
scene? Don't you think that there are definitely too many bands which play it
and don't really care about the past and the pagan spirituality? For many of
them it's just a "cool topic"... Also, have you noticed that mostly
these problems concern western bands, while eastern bands (like you for
example, Kroda and others) take it more seriously, they talk and write much
about it and they want to follow pagan values in their own lives?
As soon as
pagan and folk metal became mainstream, it lost its value. And as soon as it
became mainstream, then there arrived a lot of bands and organizations who
tried to make some profit out of it. At
one point I felt like now everyone is singing about Vikings, starting from
heavy bands - and ending with death metal bands.
Unfortunately
the big “thanks” there goes to fans, who blindly support and buy all this
polka, beer and Hollywood Viking crap.
If years
ago metal music was something like protest against mainsteam pop culture, then
now it almost became part of it! Unfortunately same tendencies can be seen
almost in every art lately. People don’t want to think themselves anymore; they
fall in for cheap shiny things to have fast entertainment and then move on to
next thing.
And there
is also answer why eastern bands are more serious than western ones – because
they don’t have this mainstream music business approach yet. Though I don’t
know for how long it will last ‘cos more or less their eyes are set on west
anyway.
But then
again there are still a lot of great and serious western bands out there too -
of course most of them are in underground, not the ones who are constantly
rotating on magazine covers and big festival line-ups.
14. What are your thoughts about religion - do
you find it negative or positive? Do you believe in Gods and practise religious
form of paganism, or do you just follow the pagan values in your life (like
honour, courage, honesty etc)?
I am not
religious person; paganism for me is more like philosophy of life, wisdom of
our ancestors. I’m also attracted by mysticism, magic and superstition which
surround these things. But it is very complicated.
Look,
paganism is part of our European culture, piece of our nation’s heritage and
that’s why we must carry it in our heart. Christianity tried hard to tore it
out and forbid paganism, but it is ours and it is very bad that European people
declined their ancestor religion to give a place for some religion, which came
from far south, from Judea!
Also I see
it that there is no way to turn back those times and make paganism as main
religion for Europe again – it is simply gone! The people of today, who live in
cities or industrialized country are very very far from how it was for our
ancestors. People can try and pretend, but it will never be authentic. But I
very sympathize and support everything, which keeps these memories of our pagan
religion alive, because as I said it is part of our history and culture.
15. What is a situation of paganism in Latvia?
Is it strong?
It is
widely accepted here, because as I said above it was/still is part of our
culture. Pagans no need to hide in Latvia nor are they somehow otherwise
suppressed. There are those pagan festivities, like summer or winter solstices,
which are celebrated on nationwide scale.
Many of
those traditions are taught to children along with our folklore in
kindergartens and schools. Here it all is more like “that’s our Latvian
culture” than simply old pagan religion; I mean - it is not religious at all.
Sure there
are also some people or groups, who perform rituals and give sacrifices at
sacred sites (we have a lot of such sites here still standing), but they are
minority.
16. About Christianity - what your thoughts
about it? What do you find especially dangerous in this religion? Or maybe you
just don't care about it, and you don't have any antichristian views?
I strongly
stand against Christianity! Their time has gone - we are not in middle ages
anymore! The truth is that Christianity is just a hotchpotch of many ancient
pagan religions, garnish with later century’s ideas and philosophy.
But the
main thing why it is here is because of Roman Empire, which took this new
religion and turned it into official tool to keep people down and brainwash
their minds. Christianity was forced upon Europeans by the ruling caste, which
followed Roman trails.
Christianity
did so much wrong to mankind through centuries that if there were any sanity
this religion must be forbidden now! How people can hypocritical talk about
Nazis and their crimes, while say not a word about Christianity.
If today
they said sorry about what happened, then in same way Nazis can say sorry too!
This is such hypocrisy. This religion is alien to European people and has no
place here anymore! But no, it is still here and still brainwashes simpletons’
minds, take money from their pockets and even try to influence politics.
17. Nowadays there are more and more people
which become atheists. They break up with Christianity, but they don't find
anything that can be a fundament in their lives so they are getting more and
more depressed and/or immoral. People don't care about anything than money, there
is more and more divorces etc. Why do you think this is happening? Can we blame
technology (especially internet) for getting people more and more alienated
from the real world?
I am happy
to see how church and Christianity is losing their grip over people of today.
That’s mean people started to think more by themselves. I don’t believe that
human beings need any religion to fulfil their life or become happy or
whatever. What they need here is education! But if education is only about how
to get better job with maximum payment, then no wonder that they care only for
money and wealth and nothing more.
In my youth
(and it was in times of Soviet regime!) I was taught about comradeship,
honesty, of how great it’s to help or defend your friends and values like that.
There were indeed a lot of such movies made for kids and youth on TV. Imagine
that the Soviet communist system tried to teach its youth such things!
And what is
today? I see that there is nothing left of it – it is whole new and different
world. Of course race for money was always there, but nowadays it is on hyper
level. If you can’t catch along, you are left behind, become depressed and
lost. I bet if they will teach children that without money there are some
greater values in life, the situation could be different. But then again there
are enough of educated people, who can think by themselves and that’s just
great - only they are still in minority…
18. Ok, now let's talk about everyone's fav
topic - politics. Firstly, I heard that Latvia is very indebted, so the EU get
it a proposition: they will forgive you a part of your indebtedness if you will
take more immigrants from Asia and Africa. What do you think about it? And what
your thoughts about massive immigration in Western Europe and politic of EU?
In fact,
politics are on bottom of my interests. About this proposition - this must be
some kind of bullshit. Economy is growing, Latvia has already started to pay
back our debt and there were nothing about forced immigrants from Asia and Africa,
you are misinformed, friend. We still have very few of them here. [oops, my bad
– Vladyka]
But yes, as
every European, I watch this massive immigration with great worry. And I don’t
think that soft democratic system is in guilt here. I bet as always there is
something shady going on behind the curtains. And I feel that it have close
connection with what is going on in Palestine now. People get massively
brainwashed by ruling caste again for decades. They play their dirty games as
always and we just simply continue to believe everything they told us. Or even
worse! We know what’s going on but remain silent – and I mean Palestine again.
I simply
refuse to believe that European governments are mild sheeps and so stupid to
allow such immigration without any restrictions and all just in name of
democracy! And where was this soft democracy when they attacked Iraq?
As I said
it is all the game and there are great puppet masters behind the curtain
leading this game.
19. I know that you have a big problem with Russian
minority, as they don't have citizenship even if they are something like 25% of
whole society. Can you tell me more about it?
Yes, sadly
there is such thing here. There is many of Russians who live here, but are
disloyal to independent Latvian state. And with them we have some problems.
They are constantly instigated by secret services and Russian TV. They refuse
to learn Latvian language and thus get citizenship, because they still believe
that Soviets soon came back and take this land again. And Russia is trying hard
right now. Their millionaires buy out land from stupid old Latvians on
countryside, buys factories and enterprises – in one word they are silently
working everywhere behind the cover. And the worst part here is our government,
which does nothing about it (I sometimes even think that they can’t really do
anything about it), in some cases they even support those Russian businessmen
here.
Some of local
Russians constantly cry out of how they are oppressed here in Latvia, but the
funny thing is that when offered - they refuse to leave for better life in
Russia and what’s more funny - we have mayor of capital city Riga and he is
Russian! In reality local Russians have fine life here, they have businesses,
schools, kindergartens, private enterprises, they can freely speak their own
language, they can travel all around just like Latvians, but nevertheless they
still hates independent state.
Of course,
there are a lot more of those who love Latvia and can speak Latvian and are
loyal to our state – with them we live nicely along. But yes, the problem is
that other part who hates Latvia and still are dreaming about united Russian
empire and bringing back old Soviet times.
20. Your logo has changed a bit, hasn't it? Why
have you removed a solar sign? And what means this new sign?
It is
another conspiracy running high against old European pagan culture. And World
War II stands behind it. You know – history is written by the victors! We were
in constant trouble because of swastika or as we call it here Thundercross, we
used in our logo – some German concert organizers and venue owners were afraid
to get accused by supporting Nazism. People also refused to print our CD or
just afraid to sell them because of the sign and after a long time we saw that
there is no way to explain it. If we want to play around and spread our music
there were no other options for us left.
I can tell
you that there is no problem with swastika sign in our country and we use it
here, because this sign is part of our culture – on local money, dresses,
architectural designs etc. But in Europe people are afraid of something! I bet
you can imagine who dictates this crap there. The new sign means nothing, it is
just an O letter made in some national style, that’s all.
21. Ok, last three short questions. Maybe it
will sound a bit pathetic, but what do you think about:
- Latvia's future?
It looks
bleak. Right now we are on the verge to be no more as Latvians in future. There
is zero national politics here - no support for growth of birth-rate and new
families, no support for national things, like culture, art or music. No
reasonable education system and so on. And this fault is upon Latvian people
themselves. We allow such governments to operate for years, we allow Russian millionaires
and secret services to buy out our lands, we chose not to fight back but
instead to leave for other richer countries and live there.
We hope
that it will get settled by itself somehow, but it will not!
Though hope
dies last…
- Europe's future?
I don’t
know, but if they will not stop immigration, there will be trouble anytime
soon. As I said for someone it is very gainful to make things to happen this
way and if people not wake up, soon it will be too late! I have nothing against
that there will be no borders in EU and Europeans will feel like they live in
one big country. But specific cultures and languages must be there – after all
this makes people different and interesting and without past there is no
future!
- And of course Skyforger's future?
We will
continue to do our job as long as it will be possible. And our job is to spread
word about Baltic people, their culture and history!
22. Ok, that's all from my side, thank you very
much for this interview! The last word belongs to you, cheers!
Thanx man,
for this chance to introduce Skyforger to Polish metalheads and hope to see you
guys someday in Poland in concert! And watch out for our new album in autumn of
this year! Dziekuje!
