Tyr - 'Valkyrja' (2013)

Tyr

'Valkyrja'

Metal Blade Recs.

2013

What is Tyr - propably everbody who likes folk metal (or even metal in general) knows. This faroese band is quite long on a scene, and 'Valkyrja' is their (let me just count...) album number seven.
I was very dissapointed by the previous longplay'The Lay of Thrym'. It had continued the more heavy-metal course that was initiated on 'By the Light of the Northern Star', but at the same time it was totally mediocre. Boredom, in one word, potentiated by the fact that Tyr plays music in very similar style on every album. So I was kinda sceptical about the new release, but happily the guys decided to record this time something with a soul. I have also a feeling that it's even more purely heavy-metal than 'By the Light...' and 'The Lay...'. Maybe it's just my imagination, but listen for example to such 'Blood of Heroes' or 'Into the Sky' - isn't it obviously inspired by Iron Maiden and other NWoBHM masters? Mostly the tracks have quite a big power - they are melodic, catchy and pugnacious so that the head after some time automatically starts to bang. Maybe the music is not very aggressive, it's calmer than two last longplays, but it has defenitely a soul.
There are also two tracks that should remind you older albums - 'Grindavísan' and 'Fánar Burtur Brandaljóð'. Sung in the national tongue of Faroe Islands, inspired by the folk music of that region. Well, as always it sounds good - those are one of my favourite songs. To be honest I prefered Tyr playing that more folk-oriented music, but I understand that they had to put some new elements into their music. So let's say that it's quite OK for me. There is also one novelty here - 'The Lay of Our Love', with guest vocals by Liv Kristine. To be honest it's just a tearful ballad, played completely in rock way. It's good that the guys at last tried to compose something different, but it doesn't make a bigger impression on me. It's not bad though, and one such song on the whole album is a nice ornament.
So as you can see - the whole album could be written in one sentence. 'Tyr recorded music in the same style again - and this time it's good". Some of the old fans will propably gruble that Tyr stands in the same point, bringing them more or less the same music as on 'By the Light...'. Others will say that this is good, just not very revolutionery. And of course there are younger/new fans, who will be very excited because everything that they need to be happy are vikings and pugnacious music. In which category you are - you'll decide. Personally for me the album is really OK, but I am not sure if it is solid enough to defend itself in the future. Time will tell.

Rate: 7+/10

Check out a video-clip for the track 'Blood of Heroes':

Tracklist:

1. Blood of Heroes

2. Mare of My Night

3. Hel Hath No Fury

4. The Lay of Our Love

5. Nation

6. Another Fallen Brother

7. Grindavísan 

8. Into The Sky

9. Fánar Burtur Brandaljóð 

10. Lady of the Slain

11. Valkyrja

12. Where Eagles Dare (Iron Maiden cover)

13. Cemetery Gates (Pantera cover)

Total time: 59:35

News from this week (part II)

Faroese progressive/viking band TYR just released their new music video. Feat. the guest - Liv Kristine of Leave's Eyes. Check it out:

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From viking metallers from EREB ALTOR:
'NEW RELEASE
Just in time for our tour with Borknagar we will unleash a 7″ vinyl named “The Lake of Blood”
Containing one brand new song and an acoustic version of the title track of our latest album “Fire meets Ice”
It will be out on Cyclone Empire !
Release date will come soon !'

Check out also band's music:

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North American instrumental black metal one woman project Crown of Asteria will release its debut full-length album “North” via the French label Le Crepuscule du Soir. Crown of Asteria were formed in May 2011 by their sole member Meghan Wood from Bancroft and released 2 demos and a split, all in 2013. Her music has a really beautiful atmosphere with ambient and folk passages. “North” is a transcendent and majestic instrumental work, paying homage to one’s homeland, a journey seeking the visceral and intrinsic connections and emotions found in nature. The album is already available for streaming on Crown of Asteria’s Bandcamp page and it will soon be released in a limited to 200 copies digipak edition on recycled paper.

Check out band's music here.

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Canadian acoustic epic folk project Demain, Wendigo has just released its debut full-length album “Projections“. This band was forged in the spring of 2013 by David Verret aka Bardunor (Hiverna, Monarque, Csejthe, Crèpuscule) and Vincent Marceau. Acoustic folk music with few passages of pagan black metal, displaying an epic and folkloric soundscape through legends about forest myths and creatures. “Projections” is self released by Bardunor’s independent productions Oaken Forge. It comes in standard jewel-case edition CD including a 12-page booklet, with artwork by David Verret himself. You can listen to their music and contact Demain, Wendigo in their official Bandcamp page below.

Check out band's music here.

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The new year starts with a great announcement for a split release between atmospheric pagan black metallers Zgard from Ukraine and melodic atmospheric folk black metallers Prohod from Romania. Zgard surprise us in every album, with their great atmospheric expression, while Prohod are following the same line from the first album with cold riffs, variations and great melody. The split is entitled “Ascension: Paramatman” and it will be co-released by Purity-Through-Fire and Fimbulvinter Productions. It will be available in a limited to 75 copies A5 digipak edition and in normal jewel-case CD. Release date isn’t announced yet, but ”Ascension: Paramatman” is already available for pre-order. You can also watch below one song from Zgard and a teaser from Prohod. I can’t wait! The wonderful artwork is once again by Moga of Kogaion Art.

Check out Zgard's music here.
And Prohod's here.

Vinterblot - 'Nether Collapse' (2012)

Vinterblot

'Nether Collapse'

Rising Recs.

2012

 From what I know Normans conquered the south of Italy, yet they were already christians. They hadn't much in common with Odin, Thor and other pagan gods. Nonetheless Vinterblot is hailing from Italy, and at the same time the guys decided to play viking death metal. Well, Italy bounds in my mind with many things - sun, beaches, ancient ruins and Bulldozer hehe. But defenitely not with viking warriors.

Also if you've read the genre and expects something in the vain of Unleashed - you will be surprised again. Or disappointed, although the music of Vinterblot is somehow infected by Sweden. By Amon Amarth, to be more precise. Honestly I like some rawer albums made by Johan Hegg and co. (and I will be forever cursed for that by true metallers, haha!). I also can understand that they can be a shining inspiration for young people. Yet I hate copycats - bands who are gazing at their idols and can't create anything by their own. Unfortunetely Italians are one of this kind. Most of their stuff consists of stolen ideas, only a bit changed. So we have hear powerfull sound, melodic, yet heavy riffs and a vocalist screaming with deep growl in vain of mentioned Hegg. And everything would be fine, but I don't feel here any authentic emotions.  There is only soulles, sad as dog's ass music with production pure and clean like virgin's thoughts. Boredom, in one word.

There are though moments when band sounds more interesting - mostly those are acoustic songs like 'Sol Invictus'. And here we are - as we can see (or hear) you can compose something for your own guys! Of course it's still not very original, but at least it's listenable.

I wasn't very surprised when I heard that Rising Records ended it's life, due to the fact that it was constantly releasing such failures as 'Nether Collapse'. Some well-done acoustic motifs are not worth of buying predictable music which was played earlier by older, better band. Every horde must start with something though - I hope that Vinterblot will come to their senses and next time records something better.

Rate: 3/10

Vladyka

 Video-clip:

Tracklist:

1. Prelude

2.Upon a Reign of Ashes

3. Council of Trees Beholder

4. Remembrance

5. Howling Shadow

6. Sol Invictus (Ritual Act)

7. Whispers to the Headless

8. The Forlorn War

9. ...to Nethereal

10. As Sleipnir Rides

Total time: 41:01

Irminsul - "Fäder" (2013)

Irminsul 

"Fäder"

Purity Through Fire

2013

Many people say that a reviewer must be objective in his work. That no matter how much he doesn't like certain genres of music he have to rate band's music by looking at their skills, sensitivity etc. 

Well, I guess that you know why I had written such an introduction. The music of this swedish horde is defenitely not something that I like. Moreover - the tunes that they are presenting belongs to the category called "Damn, not this again...". Partly is is my fault, because I searched this album by myself. I saw a cover, I've listen to a beginning of the first track and said "well, maybe it'll be good." Well, in my opinion it is not. I know that you will call me an internet-warrior, poser etc. But I gave some time to find something interesting here, so I will write what's following. 

The first track is indeed not bad - especially guitar riffs are quite interesting, even if not revolutionery. Yet the first groop that came to my ears were those keyboard-violin tunes in the backgruound. In some places they sound like a more frugal version of Nightwish or some Sonata Arctica thing.

Well, unfortunetely the band seems to really like that kind of playing, because already in the second song they are turning into more power-metal style. When I hear sweet keyboards, female nice vocals and sad riffs mixed with harsh vocals I know that this is not something for me. I even understand the idea of oldschool power metal in vain of Manilla Road, but I can't stand Sonata Arctica-like things mixed with music inspired by older Ensiferum albums. For me it is a pure horror! But a real horror is a track number three, where a singer decides too to do some sweet melodies. And it goes like this for almost whole album - sometimes it's more power metal, sometimes it's more similar to Ensiferum. By the way I am very curious where other reviewers hear on "Fäder" some folk influences. Those sweet-like-hell acoustic guitars and maudlin violin and fluet motifs have nothing bounded with folk music. That's just my opinion, but if a band wasn't promoted as a thing for fans of Falkenbach, Skyforger or Manegarm I propably wouldn't listen to it.

 I must also confess that this is the first album that I couldn't dare to listen integrally - I had to make a break in the mid. This is a good conculsion what I think about this album - for me it is just a waste of time. I hate such a mix of sweetness and brutality. Brutal things should be brutal, and sweet thing should be called pop music. 

If you don't vomit with a rainbow when you hear a music of mentioned below bands, you can check this album. Otherwise stay away from it. BTW I wish Irminsul all the best in the future - but I hope that I won't meet your music in my life anymore. That would be best for us all.

Rate: not-very-high/10

Vladyka

A Youtube "videoclip":

Tracklist:

1. Stupagraven

2. Nattramn

3. Galgaman

4. Hagridden

5. Letters from the Past

6. Bäckakarlens dans 

7. Clades Variana 

8. Ölbänk 

9.  Neverending Story (Limahl cover) 

Total time: 52:15

Interview - Ereb Altor - Forging a sound with elements of both black and epic metal

Read a review of "Fire Meets Ice" here. 
Ereb Altor is hailing from Gavle, Sweden. It was founded in 2003 and plays Viking metal highly influenced by a legendary Bathory. Yet this is not their only inspiration, and Ereb Altor's music clearly shows that the band has their own identity. Interested? If yes, read what Mats (Vocals, guitars, bass, keyboards) have to say about his fascinations (both musical and other ones), music and some cultural issues. Fans of epicness in music - this can be something for you!

1.Hailsa! First of all I would like to know how people in the undeground reacted on your last opus "Fire Meets Ice"? Did you receive some negative opinions?
The reactions have been great, better than after our previous albums. Great reactions when it comes to mails from fans and also great reactions from the media, both underground and bigger magazines.

2.We can listen to "Fire Meets Ice" a year after releasing of your previous album, that's kinda fast! Moreover, the material seems to be different than "Gastrike" - it's less black metal, even if there are some black metal influences in your music. Why did you decide to return to this more viking metal style?
Both "Gastrike" and Fire Meets Ice was written at the same time musically. I chose the more harsh songs for "Gastrike" because of the lyrical approach on that album.
I think "Fire Meets Ice" unites the history of Ereb Altor, forging a sound with elements of both black and the epic. It was a challenge to make an album with all these elements but I believe we succeeded.

3. The material is also highly touched by an almighty spirit of Bathory. I know that questions like this one are present in every interview with you, but do you imagine the world without Quorthon'smusic? And how do you think he would comment "Fire Meets Ice" if he was still alive?
Yes, it’s true that he had a great impact on my world of music. It’s impossible for me to imagine how it would be without it.
Quorthon would probably not comment the album at all, or say something weird as he did in most of the interviews.

4. Do you think that this is important to keep the spirit of oldschool viking metal alive, if we are around this subject? How do you personally rate the present scene - it's strong, weak or simply mediocre?
To be honest I don’t listen that much to the viking metalscene, mostly because I can’t recognize it. It doesn’t sound the way at all as it did when I grew up with "Hammerheart" and "Twilight of the Gods".
To me the old school Viking metal is glourious and let’s stick with that.

5. I suppose that Bathory had also started your fascination with norse mythology and history in general. How important are those topics for you? And here's my favourite question to scandinavian bands, hehe: what do you think about those who are worshipping norse gods nowadays? This makes sense in our high-tech societies or not in your opinion?
I am interested in mythology and supernatural things in general. Not only Norse mythology and legends from Scandinavia. But since we have a nordic touch in the music and we are from Sweden I think it suits us very well to deal with such topics.
I think everyone is entitled to worship any religion as long as no one is forcing others to follow their belief. But to me it’s more about inheritance and history, to understand how things were from where we come from.

6. Your lyrics are also inspired by a fantasy literature. You even named your band after a fantasy roleplaying game. It was in your youth, but do you still have an interest in such kind of stuff? Can you name some of your favourite authors?
I grew up playing fantasy games and I grew up with reading Lord of the Rings but I wouldn’t say I am a big consumer of fantasy litterature nowadays. I mostly read historic litterature and books about folklore. I also read regular books about murders and so on but no fantasy. And there isn’tmuch inspiration from fantasy in my lyrics either though it was supposed to be from the beginning but I changed the direction and focused on our inheritance and dark stories from the north instead.

7. In some moments, and especially in "The deceiver shall repent" I hear an echeos of some more traditional music, even if I wouldn't describe it as folk. Some more epic moments remind me a heavier soundtrack to some movie. So what would you say if some director had called to you and proposed to compose music to his new, upcoming epic movie about vikings? Agree or not and why?
Perhaps you are right… I thought the album needed some traditional elements to fulfill the dynamics.
Of course I would say yes, it would be a challenge! I’ve never done such a thing and I belive it would be a good experience.

8. Ha, speaking of movies, I like your lyric-video to "Nifelheim". Can you tell me who's the creator of it? And do you have any plans to record a real videoclip in the future?
It’s done by Luigith Web design (www.luigiht.com).
We have discussed to record a real video many times and I hope we will soon!

9. Modern pop-culture seems to be full of vikings, norse mythology and cliches bounded with them. Why in your opinion we can observe such an excitement about your ancestors' culture? Sadly, too many times a topic is treated very superficially...
The pop-culture touches everything sooner or later but only for a short period of time so it was inevitable that it would come across Norse mythology at some point. Trends come and go and most of the time the research is not the best.

10. OK, back to your music. "Fire Meets Ice" has a strong relish of doom metal, and I know that in the past it was even stronger. Because of that diversity of your musical fascinations, your own music is more diverse itself, and thanks to that more interesting. Am I right, haha? But while listenning to your albums, do you have sometimes thoughts like "Damn, that riff sounds too much like Bathory"? Or the opposite - "Shit, Candlemasshad stolen our riff!".
I’m actually not focusing that much on riffs, I focus on a song entirety. Working with atmospheres.
Even if you still look at one single riff and it might be sounding a lot like for instance Candlemass you can make the music sound different still, working with song harmonies, keyboards, basslines etcetera.

11. By the way, don't you think that closed-minded musicians are a problem for many genres in a modern metal music? I am not saying of course about being desperetaly original at all costs, but about an own identy.
It’s important to have an own identity and I think we have. But trying to be too original often complicate things too much and the most important thing, making good music, can be lost.

12.  You released your new album via Cyclone Empire. Are you happy with it? And why did you left Napalm Records - you weren't pleased with them? As far as I know, your second band Isole is still in Napalm, can you explain it?
Yes, we are very happy co-operating with Cyclone Empire, it was a good and natural step for us. We wanted a label that believe in our music and a label that are dedicated to us. Napalm Records have a lot of bands and a lot of them are much more famous than Ereb Altor so I think we will benefit with a smaller label that put more effort in the band.
Yes, Isole is still in Napalm Records.

13. Speaking of Isole - what's going on in this camp? Do you have any plans of releasing some new material?
We are recording a new album right now. But I want [propably Mats wanted to write "won't" - Vlad.] be giving you any details.

14. OK, now's time for a few short questions not bounded with your band. What is your favourite:
- beer
I don’t like regular lagers that much… I’m more of a Guinness guy.

- band (besideBathory ;])
Opeth

-hockey team?
Don’t like any hockey teams at all… I like soccer… Liverpool!

15. And at the end, please tell us about Ereb Altor's future plans.
In March next year we will go on a European tour with Borknagar, Månegarm and Shade Empire. We will do a release of some new material in one way or another, perhaps a 7” vinyl.
We also have some festivals booked and we are focusing on getting more festivals with ourbooking agency ”Doomed Events”

16. All right, that's everything I wanted to ask. Thank you very much for your time! The last word is traditionally yours.
All Hails to Quorthon !
See you in Valhalla !

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A lyric-video for "Nifelheim" on Youtube: (click!)

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

Ereb Altor - "Fire Meets Ice" (2013)

Ereb Altor

"Fire Meets Ice"

Cyclone Empire

2013

Ereb Altor is hailing from Sweden, they have lyrics about vikings and norse mythology and plays epic viking metal. Guess what is their main inspiration than, hehe.
Yes, as you might already know it is Bathory. Everyone who love such the epic albums as "Hammerheart", "Blood On Ice" or "Nordland" will defenitely know what to expect from "Fire Meets Ice". I must admit that I was a bit sceptical while I was turining on my music player containing this album for the first time. But as the music was flowing I realized that it is not just a lame immitation of Quarthon's genius. Sure, all those choirs, pathos and riffing (especially in the first tracks) can be associated with Bathory. Even the clean vocals have a bit something to do with it. By the way, they are so damn heroic and poignant that listenning to them is a pure pleasure. If a vocalist is performing his skills in some other bands, than I will defenitely check them out.
But returning to Ereb Altor - so from one side we have a Bathory fascination, but from the other side Ereb Altor has also it's own spirit. Much of it. First of all it sounds that Ereb Altor in the past was more inlfuenced by doom metal. Thera are quite many slow, heavy riffs that can be associated only with this style of playing. It is also obvious that the creativeness of swedes is inspired by black metal - it can be heard in harsh vocals, as well as in some riffs and blast beats like in a track "Helheimsfard" or purely black metal "Post Ragnarok". There are also more nostalgic moments, with a big usage of acoustic guitars like in "Sacrifice", "Our Legacy" and especially "The Deceiver Shall Repent". They very much reminds me the traditional epic songs from Scandinavia and British Islands. And what can I say - they flow very fast, giving a listener a great portion of viking metal. The music is complemented by a good production and the amazing cover artwork and layout. A pure feast for the eyes.
Put it all together - "Fire Meets Ice" is a highly listenable piece of music. This mixture of many mentioned influences gives us a high octane music, which should be like a fuel for all those who love epicness in metal.

Rate: 8/10
Vladyka

A lyric-video for "Nifelheim":

Tracklist:

1. Fire Meets Ice

2. The Chosen Ones

3. Nifelheim 

4. My Ravens

5. Sacrifice

6. Helheimsfard

7. The Deceiver Shall Repent

8. Post Ragnarok

9. Our Legacy

Interview - The Flight of Sleipnir - A musical interpretation of the writings of poets long since gone...

This american band was formed in 2007 in Arvada, Colorado by Clayton Cushman and David Csicsely. While their lyrics base on old nordic poems, their music is much harder to label. The Flight of Sleipnir is a unique mix of stoner, doom and viking metal. Read what band's drummer, David, had to say about few topics like his music, inspirations and ancestry. And after that check out band's music - it's really worth your attention! 

     

1. Hello! Let’s start this interview with something nice and easy – tell me about a couple of albums that you’ve been listenning to lately that have made a big impression on you.

        Lately I’ve been enjoying the new Wolf people album ‘Fain”as well as the new Jex Thoth album ”Blood Moon Rise”.

      2. OK, now let’s talk about your latest album – „Saga”. This time you decided to tell a story which bases on saga of Ragnar Lothbrok. Why did you choose this particular tale, and not for example the Njals saga or Laxdoela?

        After ‘Essence of Nine’ we decided we wanted to do a concept album, something where we could do a more lengthy composition. We had many different ideas for other concepts but we decided to go with the Ragnar saga as it best suited the musical direction we were leaning towards.

      3. Not so long ago canadian History channel produced a series “Vikings”, which loosely refers to Ragnar’s story. Have you seen it, and what do you think about it? In my opinion it’s pretty good, even if some things are a bit fucked up (like the whole episode about Uppsala’s temple).

        Honestly I have yet to see the series. I’ve heard many good things about it and I plan to check it out eventually.

      4. Back to the music, “Saga” is in my opinion a bit more harsh release than “Essence of Nine”. Thanks to that it’s more diverse than the previous longplay. That was a plan, or it came naturally while you were composing new material?

        Absolutely, we wanted to get a little heavier with Saga. EON is probably our most laidback album and when writing Saga we wanted to get back into doing something with more dynamics.

5. The nostalgic tunes, played on acoustic guitars again appears in your music and again like “Essence…” fill most of the album. I see that something pulls you in this more minimalist, emotional direction. Can you tell me why that is? Are you a couple of melancholic guys?

        We actually write a lot of our music on acoustic so I think it naturally comes out that way. As far as being melancholic, sitting on mountain tops and contemplating our existence, no, we’re really just a couple of normal guys.

      6. Thanks to a groovy, a bit stifling production slow, doom parts many times reminds me classic stoner tunes. That was always a part of your musical world, yet still it’s something unusual in Viking metal. Do you remember when you came out with this idea? You’re both fans of stoner/doom bands like Electric Wizard or Stoned Jesus?

        To me it didn’t seem like such a stretch to incorporate Scandinavian mythology with doom, honestly I think it fits better.  We are both definitely fans of bands like Electric wizard, Sleep, and Pentagram and when we started the band we wanted to incorporate some of those elements into what is now TFOS, but not so much that we would fall into a “stoner” classification.

      7. Another unusual elements are classical blues/rock tunes, appearing here and there like e.g. in “Hour of Cessation”. Many people says that it’s something natural for Americans to put such things in your music, because you are permeated with that kind of playing. How do you see this?

        I think that has truth to it. I think it makes sense that musicians, especially from America and England would incorporate these styles in their music since it was such an influential style for those cultures. 

      8. Generally speaking that’s something I like about your band – you are influenced by so many different, sometimes distant genres, yet still your music is very consistent. I see that your motto is “music has no boundaries”, haha!

        Yeah, we pretty much do whatever we want musically as long as it doesn’t take away from the overall feel of what we are doing.

      9. This originality is very perplexing for people who tries to describe you music, not to mention labeling it. So how would you personally describe your music to somebody who has never hear it?

        Describing our music is something we don’t typically like to get into , haha. If we must, I’d say it’s something like if Pink Floyd started a Viking metal band. The trick is to not over complicate it.

10. I’ve read several times that people describes your music as “doom/folk” metal. Maybe I am wrong, but I don’t hear such elements. What do you think? And are you fans of more “typical” folk metal bands, like e.g. Moonsorrow, Otyg and Skyforger?

        We typically go by Psychedelic folk/doom. I think it’s really up to the listener to decide and that’s fine by us. I personally don’t listen to a lot of folk metal, but I do enjoy some Einherjer or Mithotyn from time to time.

      11. The production of “Saga” is like I said before very groovy and stifling, yet enough spacious in slower, acoustic parts. It fits the music very well, so was it hard to obtain such a good sound?

        Clay does all the recording, mixing, and mastering for TFOS. Recording is like any craft, with practice, you get better and I think Saga showcases Clay’s recording mastery rather well.

      12. Your art works are very different from other Viking metal covers, as you make them in a secessionist way. Where did you come up with this idea? Personally I think that’s a great idea and I am a big fan of what you’re doing!

        Thank you! I basically just felt it was the best way to make a connection between the themes and sounds of TFOS. For instance, a traditional D&D style painting of some Viking battle wouldn’t really represent the band properly, where as using a more psychedelic “art nouveau” style fits a lot better with the band’s aesthetics.  

      13. You’ve also created a cover art for your split with Apostle of Solitude and Rituals of the Oak. Where the idea came from? And are you friends with those bands?

        The idea came from a collaboration between the guys from ROTO and AOS. I was actually commissioned to do the art work before TFOS was even a part of it, originally it was supposed to be a two way split between both bands, but we were asked to be a part of it afterwards. Apostle of Solitude are really nice guys and with what contact we’ve had with ROTO we could say the same.

      14. I know that you’re organizers of the annual festival, taking place on every winter solstice in your home city. Can you tell me something more about it? And what kind of bands do you invite to play with you?

        We’ve actually been taking part of the Denver doom fest every year instead of the Solstice. We try to play the solstice as much as possible but booking on the day or weekend of is a nightmare and almost impossible. So this works out great for us. It’s more doom/psychedelic oriented bands and it’s put together every year by Zach Salmans of Stoic Dissention. Definitely worth checking out if you’re in the area. 

      15. Since “Essence…” you’re music is being released by a german label Eyes Like Snow. Are you happy with it? And do you like some of their roster?

        Eyes Like Snow is a great label and Torsten is very easy to work with. I think one of the best aspects of ELS is his attention to detail with all his releases. There are some great bands on the label, for instance, Wheel and Apostle of Solitude are both fantastic bands. “Saga” was our last release through ELS and we have since then made a new deal with Napalm records.

      

      16. Your creativeness is inspired by the old Scandinavian poems. Can you tell me why did you choose them, and not for example ancient greek works, old Russian stories or old hindu ones, like Rigveda? You know, I am asking about it because there are quite many bands which bases their lyrics on Scandinavian mythology and sagas. I’d like to know what do you personally enjoy the most in such literature.

        Clay and I both had an interest in Scandinavian mythology even before we met. I think it was on this common interest that we established the band, it kind of united us so to speak. If we were both into Greek myth, the band very well could have been inspired by that instead. I’ve always found the mythology to be very rich in literature, as well as very poetic.

      17. Do you think that modern people still can learn something from those old tales?

        I think everyone can learn from all mythology, you just need to be perceptive. It was created not only as a religion but also as a guide for living your life with a certain code.

      18. It’s propably a bit stupid to ask, but I will do it anyway, haha. Your last name sounds very Hungarian. Did you learn your genealogy and find some Hungarian ancestors? And have you ever considered making a song with lyrics based on some Hungarian folk tales?

         Good ear, the name Csicsely is a Hungarian name. My family is Hungarian on my father’s side and Czech on my mother’s side. I honestly haven’t thought of doing anything lyrically based on any Hungarian folk tales. The Flight of Sárkány? [Hungarian for "dragon", Vlad.]

      19. Last question. What are your plans for the future? And when we can expect new album?

        We are currently working on a new album which should be slated for release early next year worldwide through Napalm Records. We are also hoping to do some touring, mainly Europe next year as well.

      20. OK, Thank you very much for your time. Last word belongs traditionally to you, cheers!

        Thank you for the interest, it’s very much appreciated! 

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Photos: band's archive.

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