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.
Note: this article describes only women's position in pagan societies, mainly in the context of local laws. I skip here the situation of roman and greek women ('cause everybody learns about it in school. At least here in Poland...) and will focus on germanic, slavic and baltic people. Their laws were very similar, so there is no point in dividing this topic unto three different parts.
About celtic women you will read in an article describing the role of female element in celtic myths.
Mund
Mund (old germanic mundo, or latinized mundium) was a privilage of the head of the family. It litteraly means "protection", and it belonged to the oldest male member of the family (understood as all persons related by blood). The men who had mund over the other person (children, wife etc.) had a right to decide for him about marriage, his political actions etc. This power wasn't absolute (as many people think), but was of course limited by the law. Moreover, this privilige was also a kind of duty - to protect the family against all problems and dangers. It was indeed a matter of honor, but also the law.
The institution of munduol was inherited. So for example when a father of the family dies, his oldest son take care of it. When he also dies, and there is no adult heir, the brother of the father take care over the family. Et cetera.
There was also many kinds of mund. Other was mund under your own child, other under a wife and other under your mother-widow.
Now, when this typically barbarian law is known to you, let me describe the situation of women.
Their situation
Woman of those times (and I mean something around VIII-XII century) was always under protection of man, whether they wanted it or not. The society was than very patrarcharne, which means that it was dominated by man. It was beginning since the girl's birth day. The father were deciding if he accepts her as his daughter or not. And sometimes he actually didn't - if he suspected that his wife was cheating him with another man. In such case the girl was left in a forest, and a wife was sent back to her father (or oldest brother/son).
The girl was raised only by mother (even with in those times father could spent quite many time with his children). Under her protection she was learning farm management, weaving, cooking. singing and of course how to influence men ;] Sometimes she was also learning how to fight, due to the fact that man (as a warrior) quite often was leaving his farm to raid some lands, or protect the tribal land. Eventually she could even became a shieldamaiden - a woman who decided to be a warrior (of course by a permission of her munduol). Altought it wasn't very popular (as pagan men weren't very happy to see women taking care of their traditional male activities) sometimes it happened - but only in the land of norse and russian people.
Most of the women became wifes. Icelandic family sagas show us clearly that very often a women were choosing husbands for their own. However sometimes father were urging them to get married with particular men. Just remember - the woman could refuse it. Forcing women to marriage was recognized as a big stain on the honor.
A marriage was a happy moment especially for the slavic fathers - because they were getting a big amount of wealth (or money, or land) for mund of his daughter. It is also important - a new husband was buying a mund from his wife's father, and not a wife as a person! It means that he was becoming a new protector of a woman. And by the way - a woman was also receiving her bride price just for her, as her own property. It wasn't a small thing - norsemen were able to give for example equivalent of annual profit of local forges. I don't have to mention that blacksmiths were one of the richest persons in such societies?
The women hadn't - of course - any political rights, but quite often they had a big influence on their husbands. Norse sagas describe many situations when men (like Sigurd) were taking advice of their wifes, or when woman had quite a big power and prestige in a whole scandinavian world (like Sigrid, a sister of polish prince Mieszko I).
But what happened when woman was abused in her home, she got raped by her husband or her spouse was insolvent? Well, she could ask her relatives to prosecute prepetrator of her misey on a local thing. She couldn't do it for herself, but a family was supposed to defend her in such situations. If he won a trial, she was free to go under a mund of her father/brother/oldest son. As a widow/divorcee she was receiving a right of re-marriage - from this time she could got married with whoever she wanted to. SHE was a side who was negotiating marriage, and not her munduol.
So to conclude - the position of women in pagan societies was different than most of people think nowadays. In his work "Germania" Tacitus, a roman historian (56-117) was astonished how much freedom had germanic women (comaring to the situation of roman ones). The rights of pagan women were old, and well preserved through ages. Because pagan men, even if they were dominating in the society, understood very well how important to them were their daughters, wifes and lovers.
Books:
K. Modzelewski - "Barbaric Europe" ("Barbarzyńska Europa")
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.
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!
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Photos: band's archieve.
Interview by Vladyka 2013. Please do not copy this interview without HA'Z permission. Respect the copyrights!
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)
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!
This is the split release of the two polish bands - a well known in pagan metal scene Graveland and lesser known Biały Viteź (the guys have only one demo and other split on their account). The cover artwork is really good, so you are propably asking yourself "is their music really good too?". Well you can think no more, and simply satisfy your curiosity by reading this review.
The three first tracks are recorded by Graveland, so I'll start with this band. Generally speaking, there is not much to say. One of those three tracks is "Biała Husaria" - a song previously known under an english name "White Winged Hussary". And well, it's very good, and sounds really fantastic. But I really don't know why Rob decided to rerecord this song. The two new hymns are a bit faster. Rob again entered into a more aggressive areas, with blast beats and more furious riffing. Thanks to a great, organic production they sound like they were supposed to sound - very epic, and at the same time very atmospheric and powerfull. Fans of Graveland should be pleased by this release, even if it's really nothing new.
The second part of this split belongs to folk metallers from Biały Viteź. They creativeness is much closer to what was invented by the eastern pagan metal bands. As in Graveland's case the sound is really powerfull, but at the same time a bit more dirty and underground. Guitar riffs are evidently inspired by the polish black metal hords from the '90s, while atmospheric parts of keyboards sounds a bit like Drudkh. But don't worry, the guys from BV are not a copycats, and their create something fresh. The metal parts together with usage of folk instruments and "mystical" keyboard sound really interesting, for 100% in slavic vain, which is a great advantage in immersion of celtic and nordic bands. By the way folk parts really remind me Jar - it only shows that BV is really into polish pagan scene, and not just another bunch of jolly dumbasses.
The vocals on this album are sung in very characteristic way - some will like that, some will not, but in my case I count it as an advantege. To be honest, the only weak element of this material is the last track - it sounds like a too long outro. I know that there must be a place for atmospheric parts, but for me some sad accords and a guy singing in the same vain for almost 4 minutes is not an "atmosphere". I call it "boredom". Happily the rest of their music sounds fantastic, and I guess that "Kędy mój los" will be a concert killer - there is a place for aggressive mosh, and for the epic singing. Ideallly, hehe.
To sum up: for fans of pagan metal this split will be something like a pearl in the sea of crap. It's really worth to have this album - especially because of great part recorded by Biały Viteź.
Rate: Graveland: 7/10, Biały Viteź: 8+/10
Vladyka
Tracklist:
Graveland:
1. Zimno z za szarego horyzontu
2. Pancerna Pięść
3. Biała Husaria
---
Biały Viteź:
4. Intro - ku chwale
5. Na swój miecz
6. Gdzie umiera dzień
7. Kędy mój los
8. Kiedy skonam
Contrary to what some people believe, playing good folk metal is not an easy thing. There is a thin line between folkish, vivavious yet still serious stuff and some jolly-polka merry singing. Luckily for me (and You, dear reader) last Waylander's album is that first, good kind of folk metal.
"Kindred Spirits" is the continuation of what those northern Irish guys created on their previous album "Honour Amongst Chaos". The folkish tunes are generated by the traditional instruments, like whistles, mandolin etc. It sounds really good - the musicans are not some kind of amateurs, and they know how to create an addictive, celtic atmosphere. The only flaw that sometimes irritates me is the sound of the mentioned whistle - in some parts it's really needless (like in some moments of "Twin Fires of Beltine"). Luckily a band rarely do it. Also the parts when a band plays only on folk instruments automatically reminds me of some movies (like "Braveheart"), it's really a pure pleasure to listen to them.
The metal section bases mainly on traditional heavy/speed metal, but quite often it turns into a bit darker forms (like more aggresive "Erdath", or slow, dark parts of mentioned "Twin Fires..."). Generally speaking this album is heavier than it's predecessor, both in quick and slow parts. There is a lot of going here - the music often changes tempo, and folkish section very well highlights the atmosphere.
Over this instrumental core screams and growls the vocalist (in a bit black metal vain), who's often supported by his band mates. They are doing a good job, some parts can be really memorable, like e.g. choirs in "Of Fear And Fury".
The sound of this album is very good - selective, and properly heavy. The folkish section is produced in a bit soft way. Generally it's a good thing, also sometimes it makes a whistle a bit annoying - like I said before.
To sum up: Waylander recorded a very fine piece of music. In some parts it reminds me Skyforger's album "Kurbads", propably due to this heavy metal inlfuences. So if you like that kind of playing, you can search for this album. Maybe this is not the most original thing, but it'll surely brings you some good moments.
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!
