1.Can you give us an update on what is going on with the musical project these days?
Moordrawn: Hi, thanks for having us! We are currently writing and demoing our next album. I'm refining some aspects of my studio and getting some maintenance done, plus minor gear updates to get a smoother workflow and to ease our process of making albums. Brim is working on some of those aspects for me as well, and also has his own projects regarding the same matter on his end. We have a clear vision of our next album, and I'm sort of trying to look beyond that already. Never let the future catch you unprepared.
Brim: Hello there! And at first, thank you for this interview! We're making some improvements to the studio and writing new songs for the new album as well. Busy times, but still doing fine!
2.So far you have released one full length, can you tell us a little bit more about the musical style that you went for on the recording?
Moordrawn: I started out as a keyboard player, so melodies have always been at the core of my songwriting. I like to think of our music as symphonic black metal. I try to represent my take on that musically. I freely let other songwriters influence and feed my inspiration, and follow my intuition throughout the writing process. You can definitely hear a lot of influences from a variety of great bands in our music, and that will continue on in our future albums, as I have no desire to shut them out.
I approach music and writing of music most of the time with religious fervor, a sort of fanaticism that I long to hear and feel through music. Especially when it has to do with Satan.
Brim: Both of us are fans of black metal genre. Also death metal and progressive metal are in our favourites. We try to mix all of them together. Black/Death metal is also a perfect genre to express yourself lyrically.
3.A lot of your lyrics cover political themes, which aspects of politics do you writ e about with the songwriting?
Moordrawn: We have our own political views. I detest blind equality and favor meritocracy. I value nationalism and healthy trade. I see merits in working together without handing over the rule. I am very territorial and loathe border violations.
I hold no value to life in itself: we are free to give value to it, but we can never demand that of others. Instead we should only be prepared that they never will, and be free to act accordingly.
I favor death penalty as I see no reason to waste resources on trying to fix a cog that is beyond repair. I value family or a comparable collective. Hierarchy is very important to me.
Through my life I've seen the leftists and their trends causing damage to nations, damage to people, corruption to culture and on top of that they try to enslave nations by making them dependent on various support programs that are put in place to patch the failures of their own policies. They want to solely determine everyone's needs and force a society based on their standards and belief system. They want to be able to control speech, opinions and thoughts, spewing prison sentences for any opposition. They want to be able to twist any law to benefit themselves without taking responsibility of their own actions. The amount of hypocrisy and corruption in their ranks is beyond contempt. Do not get me even started on the left and the migrants...
Brim: As there are many people, there will be different opinions about politics. I think, that our lyrics is about to make people stand up for their own political stand. I like to make my political opinion listening to different kinds of views. But I recall the power to the people and not to the machinery.
4.What are some of the other lyrical topics and subjects the band has explored so far with the music?
Moordrawn: There is the strong presence of opposing the left wing. We've brushed the migration issues, politicization of judicial system, invasion and both internal and external oppression, vengeance and satanism. We are determined to hold true to our values, yet develop our lyrical direction. I'm prone to building albums around concepts.
Brim: Much of the lyrics contain a political stands, but also we add Satanism, heresy and blasphemy to the songs, for that the religions are not the way to right a wrong.
5.Can you tell us a little bit more about the artwork that is presented on the new album cover?
Moordrawn: I really love to talk about this! Veera Arstio did a terrific job on the artwork, and I hope to commission art from her for our future albums too!
I had this vision for the album cover, which is a scene taken quite directly from Frostglade, the second track on our album, featuring a wartime execution of prisoners. They are hanged and left on display to demoralize the opponents. There is a reference for the holy trinity as well, hanged.
We put much thought on the perspective and balance of the scene. I presented my vision to Veera and she sketched it out before my eyes and I was sold. We discussed the details of the scene and then she set out to make it happen. I got the original artwork with me still, though I forgot to return the folder it came with! She's also responsible for our logo, which, I think, is a homage to death metal of 80's and early 90's. Veera is very talented artist and easy to work with.
Brim: A great artwork by Veera! I think that the essence of the lyrics is drawn in one picture. The three hanged figures represents something, the frostglade and pine pranches also has a meaning. It is up to everybody to find these meanings in the lyrics.
6.Currently there are only 2 members in the band, are you open to expanding the line up or do you prefer to remain a duo?
Moordrawn: I am open to it. It does not mean that there would be a lot of willing participants after a week of recording with me, though. I am not willing to dilute a good song and make compromises on the quality of an album. I work with what tools I have, bring out the best of them and drive them hard. That includes myself. As I was responsible for our first album, I got to order Brim to perform according to my vision and he more than delivered. He suggested and added stuff for the songs too. But I was in charge and got the final say. That is not a healthy way for a band to work, so we have found a workaround for the future. We divide the songs between us, and we take the role of the director for those songs.
Now if we had three more members, it would become increasingly difficult. It would leave very little motivation to write songs if someone could just rewrite most of them. So in a way it could become counter productive. I don't want RawMoor to become another failed attempt at democracy either.
Brim: This is an interesting question. Sure, if we find artists who share the same opinions, views, and the desire to make a stand in life. Also we have our own way to make music. But if these standards meet, I would definitely flag for expanding.
7.The psychical version of the album is going to be released on 'WormHoleDeath Records', how did you get in contact with this label?
Moordrawn: Jacopo, their A&R specialist, contacted us after we released En Route on bandcamp and asked if we were interested to do a collaboration. I dismissed the whole thing as I thought a collaboration meant some split album with another band, and told Brim that he was free to follow up if he had the time. And boy, am I glad he did. It's safe to say that without Brim's initiative and curiosity we would not be answering any interviews.
Brim: A guy called Jacopo contacted us, after releasing En Route on bandcamp, He said that there could be a chance for collaboration of some kind. So, I answered him and he gave the address to be in touch with. And pretty much then collaboration started with WHD.
8.On a worldwide level how has the reaction been to your music by fans of symphonic black and death metal?
Moordrawn: I am genuinely pleasantly surprised. We have had a lot of positive feedback around the globe! WormHoleDeath is doing great work promoting us!
Brim: Thankful for all the positive feedback so far! Thanks to all the supporters and fans!
9.Do any of the band members also have experience playing in other bands or musical projects?
Moordrawn: Yes we have and yes we do. But I would rather keep this subject separate from RawMoor, as I hold us a sort of "detatched space", free of and from the burden and burdening of our other musical pursuits. RawMoor is my unholy sanctuary.
Brim: Yes, We have had and have projects in the past and in the present.
10.Where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?
Moordrawn: I will try to elevate everything. We are doing a sort of a concept album next. Brim will take lead in directing some of the songs, and i will continue to lead others. Brim will also take charge of writing some of the lyrics. So far I will be responsible for the musical output, although we already involve both of us in songwriting. I have a "producer's seat" in my studio, where Brim can sit hungover and tell me how a song should be played!
Brim: As said by Moordrawn. Nothing to add.
11.What are some of the bands or musical styles the band members are currently listening to nowadays?
Moordrawn: Lately, aside all my old staples, I've listened to Havukruunu, Advent Sorrow and Minenwerfer.
Brim: There´s lots of genres and bands I listen to.. But if I have to say some: Turmion kätilöt,Fear of Domination,Behemoth..
12.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?
Moordrawn: Again, thanks for having us! It was a pleasure to answer an interview that clearly was tailored for us. I hope you enjoy our music, and continue to do so.
Brim: Thanks for this interview! And to all disciples out there, keep supporting metal! Thanks to listeners and supporters!
www.youtube.com/channel/UCv5TPiRLJo-OHOaxl5p3b1g
rawmoor.bandcamp.com