Interview with Honza / Avenger

What's going on with AVENGER these days? I've heard that the 3rd album is already in the making, so when can we expect it to be released, what will it sound like compared to your previous stuff etc.?

Viva la Österreich, cheerz Robert !!! Avenger is surviving rather well, I would say... Well, we have gone through some line-up changes, which always sucks... But our new bass player Adam is the greatest
maniac we have ever been playing with so we are just glad of all these changes at the end... The goal is to find a second guitar player now, but I hope we will solve it somehow soon... OK, our new album will be entitled "GODLESS". We are about to record the final version of its music in the upcoming days. The stuff is completely prepared, we have already made a demo recording of the album some months ago. It consists of 8 songs plus two insttrumental compositions, again brutal melodic dark death / black metal. But all our works sound different from each other and the new one follows the line of refreshing and developing our style. If you ask me about some closer style description, imagine something like Swedish death and black metal mixed with Master´s Hammer and a few riffs ala Morbid Angel. I think it rather fits to these barriers, even if really own faced, I would say.... We´ve got pretty fine agreement with Deathgasm Records from USA so we hope to get this album released in the early spring 2003. First press is supposed to be 2500 copies, let´s hope Merciless will be interested in doing a licence LP´s again. Quite nice future, it seems to be....

Besides a cover of a MASTER'S HAMMER-song the LP version of 'Shadows Of The Damned' also contained your interpretation of MY DYING BRIDE'S 'The Cry Of Mankind' - an excellent choice if you ask me, but also a pretty unusual one for a band like AVENGER. Which reactions did you get for it? Are you planning to do more of these experimental cover tunes?

Reactions ?? sincerelly, nearly none... but picking some comments of those a few I got, people mostly like it. But I don´t care too much anyway. We have made it just for our enjoyment, both MASTER'S HAMMER and MY DYING BRIDE are one of the most excellent, original and enjoyable metal acts for me. We are actually coverversions fans, we have played quite a couple of covers at our gigs... BATHORY, CELTIC FROST, TÖRR, ROOT, HYPOCRISY, MASTER'S HAMMER, We took part at Tribute to FATA MORGANA (czech old school metal band) CD with two our remakes... Just now we are picking a new cover for the upcoming gigs again... We are not decided yet, if it´ll be some old DEATH or UNLEASHED, SAMAEL.... some old good death metal, dear friend...

As far as I know you are doing gigs almost every weekend, which sounds like a lot of stress to me. How do you manage to coordinate these activities with your jobs etc.?

Hardly, but we manage it... But you are actually right, we are slowing down a little bit, because sometimes it has been getting really unbearable. All of us have in a way liberal jobs so we are getting our free days quite problemlessly -just with one sacrifice: we spare all our holidays very, very carefully and it sometimes happens that you get to count all the tour dates, gigs, some free time around Open Hell Fest and you realize there are no more free days left. So no other holidays - it would be pretty fine to spend some time with my girlfriend near the sea or any such event... but NO CHANCE, hah !! I actually still haven´t had any "normal" holiday (in a way people mostly do) in my life... Everything always around metal !! But I don´t complain !! I love this life, being on road, drinking endless river of beers, listening to metal, meeting friends... Simply, this is the life for me !!!! When playing too much it gets tiring a little bit, but normally we love it. 2 - 4 shows a month are very best state....

You are playing the drums as well as doing the vocals on stage, which is quite unique - EXCITER - who did it that way almost 2 decades ago - and ABSU are the only bands I can think of who are doing this in a similar way. Do you need any special techniques to make it through your live set? How long did it take until you could do it properly?

No, I don´t think I am using any special technique to play drums and sing.... I play just like I taught myself to do it... Sorry, but this in a way stupid question for me since I am hearing it quite really often. I really don´t think it would be worthy such attention at all. I had been learning it maybe 3 months till I dared first time to perform it on stage. But I must say I am still learning, there´s always still much to improve....

As many probably already know you and your brother are the persons who are responsible for the Open Hell festival. I guess this means a lot of hard work and financial risk for you, so please tell us how you manage to put everything together without ending up in a total chaos.

All this is about love of metal, hard work and experiences of the previous issues. We are simply doing our best and I think we are improving that way... Slowly, but markably, in my opinion... It is in a way crazy to run such event, when you imagine what any risks it concludes... But it simply never got totally fucked up, people want it so we are just glad to run it on. We started as metal / HC / punk event (cooperation with some other people..) with budget cca. 2000 Euro.... Those 5 five years have developed Open Hell Fest into clear metal ritual, with budget cca. 8 000 Euro (my monthly income is cca. 400 Euro - so you must take this relation...), around 1000 people coming, which is really fine indeed. We give it still more and more work, because we want it always better... This time we are about to start planning OHF 2003 already in November / December.

If you'd be able to choose whatever bands you want to play at Open Hell without having to worry about money - which would it be? (it also doesn't matter if the bands still exist)

BATHORY 84 - 92, MASTER'S HAMMER, DEATH at their Leprosy times (RIP Chuck !!!) , DEICIDE, ROOT, GRAVE with their OLD SPIRIT, EMPEROR - old works, ENSLAVED - old works, DISSECTION, I would still praise CHRIST AGONY to come (even if they ripped me off...), old GOREFEST, MY DYING BRIDE, IRON MAIDEN, KING DIAMOND, MORBID ANGEL with Vincent.... These are just a few in a order of coming to my mind... I am sure I forgot milion other better acts, though !

From the outside one can get the impression that MASTER'S HAMMER are still one of the main sourece of inspiration for most czech Black/Death Metal bands after all those years. Are they really that important for your scene or do you see them more as part of a glorious past than an actual influence? And which other czech metal bands do you consider to be influentual for the metal scene in your country?

Whatever people do in czech metal, these are the bands they are most probably devoted to : MH, ROOT, TÖRR, DEBUSTROL, KRABATHOR, HYPNOS... maybe VAR, older works of ARAKAIN are killer as well. But as for MASTER'S HAMMER... for me personally they are KULT. It´s czech metal, original music both with its music, voice and language. They conquered all the wolrd with their art and that´s why I praise them, that´s why I would like to follow their path. One thing is music and absolutely genial lyrics.... I SIMPLY LOVE IT.... The second thing is kinda heritage... they are czechs, noone can understand to this art better than us czechs. Since they don´t exist since some time back, I think it´s neccesary to keep the spirit alive... in the name of glory of czech metal, in the name of uniqueness of our language and culture heritage.... That´s my point of view... I would not dare to speak for other bands, though...

Speaking of MASTER'S HAMMER: I once heard that they sold about 40.000 copies of 'Ritual' when if came out in your country, so I guess your scene was quite big at that time. How did the situation chance since then?

The information is not correct. It was first album by TÖRR called "Armageddon" which got sold in this high number, not an album by MASTER'S HAMMER. But it doesn´t change the meaning of your question at all. Yes, metal was major culture in the Czech Republic, just for a short time after fall of communism (90-91), because it was forbidden back in the communistic times. It was quite funny watching the official hitparades after the revolution with thrash and black metal clips in the leading positions, haha !! Once I saw hitparade with two MASTER'S HAMMER clips in it - once for their own album, once as representative of Ultra Metal compilation - that was killer !!!! This is, though, far away, all these times are gone. Maybe it´s bad... metal has no space in any medias today (just except "own" metal zines and mags....) But I think it´s also good that most of that trendy scum who was buying metal records as a subject of fashion got weakened... The strong ones stay faithful to metal !!!!!

Besides AVENGER you are also drumming for some other bands or at least did some session or live stuff for them (JUDAS ISCARIOT, MANIAC BUTCHER, NARGAROTH, DARK STORM, recently KRIEG). Can you tell us more about your work with them?

JUDAS ISCARIOT - I played at the only European concert at Under The Black Sun Festival. It was released on LPs, I have video recording as well. I am incredibly proud of having played this concert!! I have done two full lenghts and one split CD with MANIAC BUTCHER, around 15 live shows, Live in Open Hell Fest was also released on CD. I must say most of the gigs I made with them stick in my head because the support of the fans has been mostly massive. You get chills when hearing the scream of the crowd, calling for more..... I never forget. But it was also very important for me that it was the beginning of my cooperation with Vlad Blasphemer. I got to know him a little bit, he influenced me personally quite a lot, being great guy and most metal person I have ever met. When MANIAC BUTCHER ended, I joined Vlad´s other band DARK STORM and I must say I will keep on playing whatever and whenever Vlad asks me. Total praise to his twisted mind !!!! NARGAROTH was one weekend "affair". Kanwulf came to my house on one October Friday, I learnt the stuff and we shot the drums recording on Sunday. "Black Metal ist Krieg" is a very good album in my opinion, that´s why I am also glad that I could take part. KRIEG is mostly a friendship help. The music doesn´t touch me very much at all, but Neil / Imperial is great guy, I am having much fun because Imperial is trying to get me as much drunk as possible, I even don´t remember playing some of the shows, hah !! ... so that´s it.....

Please comment on the following:

- 80s metal vs. 90s-metal
84 - 93 is the best stuff I would say

- HELLHAMMER vs. CELTIC FROST
CELTIC FROST wins, I love them... it´s already a music, haha

- 'Hail satan!' vs. 'Fuck the world!'
Both defines my relation to the so called "society" of "normal" people. Staying in the opposite to christianity, living my own life, despising all that money based crap they try to force you...

- doing rehearsals/writing new songs vs. doing gigs
Both is essential for my life !! Each gives you different fine feeling and I love both of those feelings.

- playing at large venues/festivals vs. playing at small clubs
The best is of course to play big shows with great response of the fans. Well, I must say we are still not that "Big" band to play for thousands, so it can´t tell that you lose contact with the audience... But satisfying hundred or more people gives you the feeling you cannot get to know anywhere else. It´s pride, total self realization... hard to describe at all... But we are absolutely into playing smaller shows as well... If the dancefloor is not empty and the crowd is interested in you, we enjoy such gigs very much too. I can say it is far better to play at a small place for 15 killer maniacs than playing for noone at some huge venue...

- beer vs. vodka
MMMMNNNNNAAAMMMMM !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I LOVE ALCOHOL !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! But the beer must be czech... sorry, but I didn´t like any austrian beer yet....

How far does your musical taste go? Are you into any other stuff besides metal?

I know good and bad music. That´s all how I select music. Yes, I am into the very most music available. My major style is metal, but industrial, hard rock, even some of hardcore, folklore or jazz or even mainstream garbage gets to move me. Sometimes I even wonder myself what a shit I like, haha .... but I do.... Not to miss my big love

Feel free to use these last lines for your personal messages, hailings, fuckoffs etc.

All my praise to our fans !!! Thanx for that incredible support in Vienna last time !!! That´s what we never forget !! Thanx for the interview Robert !!! Cheerz Honza

EquimanthorN


Interview with S.M. / Trollskogen

You had a great start with your demo CD 'Vom Vergess'nen Land' ! Which reactions did you get for it so far?

Mainly positive reactions. The critics from several zines were really good. Of course, as usual in Austria I haven’t sold a lot of copies, but as long as I can realize my musical inspiration it doesn’t matter how much I sell. Folks who bought the record were overwhelmed and praised me, but I know, most of them wouldn’t be honest into my face.

Under which circumstances was 'Trollskogen' created? Do you plan to find other band members or will it remain as a solo project?

TROLLSKOGEN was planned and will always continue as a solo project! It might be possible that there will be contributions of one or two guest musicians, who play an instrument I’m not able to play, but there will never be other permanent members than me. I founded the band out of the wish to summon my personal creations with my ideas and inspirations. I couldn’t do that with other people who have their own opinions and views, because I don’t want to take any compromises.

What influence did other bands/individuals have on you when you were writing and recording the stuff for the CD?

Well, I would say no other individual than me had any influence on the Demo, because hardly anyone knew of it before it was released. I also could name no specific band which influenced me, I listen to a lot of music and in some way that all influences me subconsciously I think.

I got the impression that your art is influenced by bands like ULVER ('Nattens Madrigal') and SUN OF THE SLEEPLESS (project of Schwadorf/EMPYRIUM). What do you think of them?

It’s not influenced directly by them, but surely I know those projects. But I was far more influenced by Empyrium itself, than by SOTS. Garm of Ulver and Schwadorf of Empyrium are also two characters who I appreciate a lot for their open mindedness and their intelligent views which sometimes do match mine exactly.

Both bands moved to more experimental/electronic directions after their BM-releases - do you also consider this as a possible option for TROLLSKOGEN's future?

As far as I can say it today definitely not. I have ideas in the experimental directions and I also record them from time to time and they might also be published, but not under the name Trollskogen. I can already reveal that the new album will contain a track consisting purely of synth elements, but it’s more like the stuff on the last two Burzum albums. I did this, because it fits into the concept of the next album and it also serves as Outro. You will also hopefully hear more acoustic elements in further Trollskogen works.

The booklet says that you were using minimalistic equipment - can you describe it in a more detailed way?

In fact this means: a crappy guitar, a very old effect processor, a shitty microphone and I recorded it on my PC not on a analog band recorder (of course this might be more “cult” or “true”, but I don’t have such things). I will record upcoming releases the same way. It’s really low budget, but you have to make the best out of what you have, don’t you?

How long did it take to write and record the CD?

The desire to do such a project was in me for a long time. Trollskogen was then founded in Summer 2001, I wrote one song on my vacation in Sweden and the rest at home within three months. Since I was not familiar with recording songs by myself it took me then two weeks to record it.

What do you think of the 'BM scene' both in Austria and generally? Are money and stealing others' ideas more important than creating something unique these days? Does 'True BM' actually exist?

Well I’m quite tired of talking about the scene, there are a lot of bands again overall, some with good music, some who play riffs we already have heard fifty times. Most bands destroy their music with their political influence and I hate it. In Austria we have only a few bands which come to my mind. But it’s not a matter of quantity, quality counts. I don’t know what is “true” or what is “untrue”, I really try to avoid these terms when I’m talking seriously. I listen to music the moves my emotions, I can’t state more to that topic.

Your lyrics show a strong connection to nature. Do you think nature could still 'rule' over the destructive urges of humanity as it is described in the beginning of 'Vraket'?

Yes that is my belief. I have no respect for anything except nature, it makes our human inventions and acquisitions look so tiny and worthless, because we will never ever be able to control mother nature, and if we destroy her, we annihilate ourselves.

You call NSBM a plague - what do you think of combining music with politics?

A combination of music like Blackmetal and politics is not acceptable. The music and the mystic behind it should be the main interest, not right propaganda. I am very sad that people have learned nothing from the happenings in the 20th century and so they glorify it. Maybe most of them are also hanger-ons. NSBM seems to be like a trademark to day, an argument to sell more, nevertheless I don’t understand why the especially the youth supports this in large numbers, mankind really seems to be foolish.

And what about religion?

I do not belong to any religious confession because I want to live my free will, but I won’t write any lyrics like “kill all Christians” because I don’t care about religion. I have some interest in old pagan views, because they are also connected to the respect of nature, but since organizations like “Paganfront”, “Deutsche Heidnische Front” and similar abuse this paganism for their right claims and propaganda it has become very difficult to speak out that you agree with pagan views. Anyway, real Paganism is not compatible with right opinions, so it’s no problem for me to claim that I sympathize with it.

Is there any chance that TROLLSKOGEN will ever appear live on stage?

This is the most asked question about Trollskogen to date and it has the simplest answer of all: I don’t know!

Are there any plans for a new CD already?

Sure, there have been plans previously to the release of the demo. I finished over two third of the music for the next album and some lyrics. So you can expect over 40 minutes of Trollskogen by autumn/winter this year, if there are no unpredictable complications…

Are there any reasons/circumstances/... which could convince you that it would be better to put TROLLSKOGEN on ice?

After reflecting a little bit; I can mention two things. Firstly if I lose any inspiration and dedication for this kind of music, I will stop it, because it would be a lie. But I cannot imagine that this will happen. Secondly a reason more probable: If the scene will only consist of Nazi scum and there are no more supporters of my music, because it don’t partake in this rightwing flood, I will stop releasing music, because such people simply don’t deserve my work.

You recently released a tape which is limited to 10 copies - what's on it and who got a copy? Which were the reasons for limiting it to such a small number?

You mean the “A Tribute to the North” Tape. Well it was a special present for close friends who believed in Trollskogen and helped me a lot. So it was not official or for sale, I distributed it exclusively to those who were planned to get one and these are just a few. On this Tape were two tracks, a Trollskogen song called “A Tribute to the North” and a Cover Version of Darkthrones “En Vind av Sorg”.

Under which address can the interested reader order you CD?

Trollskogen
Postfach 30
8073 Feldkirchen
AUSTRIA

The address is stated on the bandhomepage www.trollskogen.at.tf too

Final words:

Don’t betray yourselves and listen to honest music - Support the underground. Be prepared for the next release in the end of 2002. Thank you for the interview.

Amahil (Additional questions by EquimanthorN)


Interview with Nybras / Wind Of The Black Mountains

This USBM legend has been one of my cult bands ever since I first heard their classic 'Sing Thou Unholy Servants'-debut. Hearing that they finally found a new label and are going to record a second full-length almost made me go nuts - an interview was inevitable...

WOTBM have been out of business for quite some time, and I guess most people believed that the band was already dead and buried. Can you tell me the reasons for your disappearance from the scene?

Actually, we never really went out of business, we've been around the whole time. Before the release of 'Sing Thou Unholy Servants', I joined Tchort to help him out with drums and writing. We went into
the studio in 1998 to record a new cd entitled 'Feasting Upon Christ', but due to the studio shutting it's doors and the owner leaving state, we never got to finish up production on it, and also never got the dats or reels back from him, so we pretty much lost the whole recording. By that time, we already had some new material written and ready for recording, so we went into a different studio in 2000 to record the next release, which will be entitled 'Black Sun Shall Rise'. Shortly after recording 'Black Sun...', we added other members that we have played with in the past to have a full line-up for playing out and for future recordings.

Your new album will be released very soon... is the new material comparable to ,Sing thou unholy servants'? In which way does it differ from the old stuff?

The stuff on the upcoming album definetly shows our maturity as musicians. It is alot faster and definetly more technical, mostly due to there being real drums. Also, Tchort and I have had a few years of playing together now, and we've both grown to be better musicians by far. We will be entering the studio again around x-mas to record again, and I think this next one will be sort of an in between mark of Sing... and Black Sun...

I've read that ,An Autumn Evening' from ,Sing...' will also appear on the new album. Is it a new/different version or did you just re-record the song?

Yeah, it will. We decided it was a good, simple song that we could throw on there for the hell of it. Not really anything has been changed at all on it, but we thought it sounded more fuller with the real drums added.

According to your HP you recorded an album in 98 which never got released. Did you consider the material to be too weak? Can you still imagine releasing it or is it just a closed chapter for you?

We've talked about releasing it, but that would mean having to go in and re-record everything, and some of the songs we would consider weak now, I think, but only time will tell. At the moment, we're finishing up the new material for the next cd, but we haven't ruled it out.

Why did you leave Moribund Recs. and sign to Barbarian Wrath? What do you think of both labels?

The deal that was made with Moribund was something Odin and Tchort had worked out in the past. We had initially recorded 'Feasting Upon Christ' for Moribund. But after not having any replies back from Odin for a couple of years, we decided it was time to move on. Moribund has definetly done alot to get the WOTBM name into the underground, as well as many others. Eternal hails goes out to him for that. As far as Barbarian Wrath goes, I talk to Blackgoat every single day, so the communication is awesome. He had gotten ahold of us through email only a few days after we got an account for WOTBM set up, and we've been in constant contact since. I have good feelings about working with Barbarian Wrath.

Are there any plans to play live in europe as you're signed to a german label now?

That's our next goal after we're done recording this next cd. We'd love to hit Europe next summer, possibly some of the fests, or even a small mini-tour would be killer. We'll have to wait and see what happens in the future. We definetly want to though.

WOTBM has been the solo-project of Tchort for quite a long time, but nowadays it consists of three musicians. Can it be considered a band now or is it still Tchort who writes all the music etc.? Did the music change because of the addition of two new members?

Actually, we're a 4-piece now, which makes us a full-time band now. We added Azazel a while back, who I originally played with in Left Hand Trinity, and we have just recently added Alkazar from the band Project Apocalypse, which I had filled in on drums for before. So, we all have a good working relationship together. We were a 2-piece for a couple years there with just Tchort and I, but we wanted to do shows every now and then, plus get a little more input on the music too, so we added the members. The music changed a little due to added members, but the music was already changing due to the musicianship improving in the band anyways.

,Sing...' has been hailed as a totally unique masterpiece in underground mags all over the world. I, too, think that your style can't be compared to any other band, so I guess there must be some pretty unusual influences, especially for the weird ,psychedelic' parts...?

Alot of the influences for Sing... were induced through partying I think. hahaha. Tchort has alot of talent and originality flowing inside his head. Some of the stuff we've collaborated on for the next release will be even more stranger I think. We're always thinking of what kind of strange things we can add into songs when we're writing new material.

I've only read some of your lyrics, soI wonder if they are all in the typical BM vein or as strange and unique as your music...

The lyrics for the most part are about Satan, whores, and of course, anything having to do with ridding this world of the ultimate fag, jesus fucking christ!!

Both the 7" and the album contain pictures of Tchort doing nice things to his mistress. Will this tradition be kept on the new LP? Do these pictures actually have a deeper meaning?

Yeah, we have a couple girls lined up for pictures in the next release and also for the website soon. Black Sun... won't have any pics like that in it, but I guarantee the next one will be luder than Sing...

Can you give me some information (releases etc.) about Tchort's former band Masochist? They are often called US Black Metal legends, but besides that no one seems to know anything about them, at least not here in Europe.

Masochist was a kick ass band back in the early 90's, when there were not really too many other black metal bands around this area. They used to have quite a few demos out that were mostly self-recorded on cassette and some help from Moribund, and that seemed to get them alot of recognition. There was also Summon at the time, but that disbanded to form Masochist. And there was Lucifer's Hammer and my old band, Left Hand Trinity. Most the shows we played were in my basement at the time and whatever other places had the balls to let us in.

I noticed that the pic on your HP shows you holding an U.S. flag. This seems to be quite unusual as most USBM bands seem to hate their home country because of its lack of culture and the incredible amount of stupid people. What's your opinion on such statements? Do you see yourself as a patriot?

I've always been a strong supporter of the U.S. flag. As far as I see it, it symbolizes the freedoms this country was set up to have and withhold. I don't look at our flag as a symbol of what the people here are like, but how we were meant to be.

Are you guys still interested in today's BM releases or do you try to live in the past?

We still listen to alot of the older stuff, but we definetly try to keep up on everything we possible can that's coming out now. We're just like a big cd trading circle within ourselves just about everyday.

Do you think that satanism is a necessary part of BM or are there other beliefs/ideologies that fit as well?

I don't know about necessary, but black metal will always have its ties to satanism I think, as well as everything else that has been brought into the lyrical content and our everyday lives.

What are your opinions/thoughts on USBM/the BM underground in general? Which bands (both popular and underground) do you think are still worth listening to?

I think there's a decent scene as far as the amount of bands that are out there right now. It's been a little nicer now that the amount of tours through the U.S. have picked up a little bit. As far as bands we listen to, killer bands such as Judas Iscariot, Grand Belial's Key, Absu, Summon, Thy Majesty, fuck, I could be here for days listing everything we listen to. hahahah

Feel free to add some final comments/hailings/insults....

Hails to all our true black metal brothers and sisters worldwide! Look for our new releases to be out within the next few months and make sure to stop by our website and sign the guestbook to let us know you exist out there, and to you, equimanthorn, thanks for giving us space in your 'zine!
HAILS,
Nybras W.O.T.B.M.

http://wotbm.topcities.com

EquimanthorN

 

 

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