MINAS MORGUL - A Different Shade Of Black Metal / Zine(US)
1. Can you give us an update on what has been going on with the band since the recording of the new album?
Berserk:
I can still remember we were just taking a photo shot in March last year. Then came the news of the first lockdown. That was the last time we all saw each other.
Weeks and months followed in a state that we have never experienced before.
everyone went to the studio separately, the songs were partly still unfinished, it was extremely unfavorable for an album production.
we tried to use the messengers as best possible for our communication. the mix and master phase of the album was lengthened, the layout was not finished, the release date had to be postponed, there were big internal problems for the band. In retrospect, it was a fucking busy year
with many obstacles, setbacks and disappointments. So we're all the happier that we're finally looking forward to the album release.
2. You have a new album coming out in April, musically how does it differ from the stuff you have released in the past?
Berserk:
three new, very good musicians were involved in the "Heimkehr" production (haffi: guitar, janke: bass, stef: vocals). We are particularly proud of the many facets of stef's singing style. In addition, all of the musicians incorporated their own creative ideas this enabled us to raise the album to a qualitatively new level. Heimkehr is probably the most varied album in our history. no song is like the other. we were able to incorporate our personal musical inspirations and since these are very diverse, the album has become very heterogeneous overall.
3. Can you tell us a little bit more about the lyrical topics and subjects you explore with the new album and also how would you describe your progress as songwriters over the years?
Berserk:
"Heimkehr" describes our journey back home, to the roots. We have implemented this symbolically on the song itself.
Other songs like "Niedergang", "Teufel" or "Weltenfall" tell of an evil creature called human who has aimed from the beginning of time to destroy himself and everything around him."Totenschiff" tells of the end of the world and "tiefe Narben" describes the life of an old man up to his death.They are songs that life writes, they are stories that accompany us, that touch and shape us.
4.A lot of your lyrics also cover Paganism themes, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in this subject?
Berserk:
This has not been the case for many years.
Since the release of the album "Ära" in 2012, via "Kult" in 2017 to the present day, a musical and content-related change has taken place. We are away from "Pagan Metal", because there are many more things in our heads that occupy us and that we want to tell. Black Metal beats in our hearts.
5. I know that the band was named after the writings of J.R.R Tolkien, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in his work and also are there any other authors that you have an interest in?
Berserk:
Minas Morgul was founded in 1997.
That was almost 25 years ago.
At that time we were fascinated by the fantastic world of Tolkins, in which great battles of good and evil were fought.Today we see our fortress "Minas Morgul" as a place that is within each of us. A journey into the self, where the wars of yourself are fought and you can only achieve your inner balance if you face all your demons.
6. Can you tell us a little bit more about the artwork that is presented on the new album cover?
Berserk:
As already mentioned, the new album is called "Heimkehr". It is the product of a creative process in which everyone was able to contribute and realize, as seldom before in the history of Minas Morgul. We walked all the way to the walls of our fortress, a rocky road to the base. We returned home.
We felt an inner need to portray this homecoming on the cover.
7. What are some of the best shows that the band has played over the years and also how would you describe your stage performance?
Berserk:
We played a lot of shows over the years, including some bigger ones like the "Ragnarök", "Ultima Ratio" or "Wolfszeit" festival. There were also shows abroad, for example Austria, Switzerland, Lichtenstein, which we fondly remember. Some were very adventurous. We were stuck at the airport for 10 hours, in the end completely drunk. We spent hours in a traffic jam in the center of Prague on our way to Austria. There were breakdowns, injuries, even a city ban.The most beautiful shows were often those in small clubs, close together with the fans and what felt like 100 degrees.
8. The band has been around since 1997, what is it that motivates you to keep going after a couple of decades?
Berserk:
Music is emotion. Metal is passion. And as long as we have emotions and passion, we will keep going. Take a guitar and tell the world how you feel and it will listen.
9. On a worldwide level how has the reaction been to your music by fans of black and pagan metal?
Berserk:
Many people have been with us for a long time and are still loyal to us. Some have left and others have just joined them. Life brings change. We change, the fans change. The albums from back then are no longer what we create today. We don't stand still, we do what we feel like doing. So do the fans. And that's why we still have a large fan base.
10. Where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?
Berserk:
"Heimkehr" has become an absolutely heterogeneous work in which the influences of all members are reflected. My wish for the future is to create a homogeneous atmospheric black metal album that is bursting with raw cold. We are already working on new songs. Stay tuned to see what will become of it.
11. What are some of the bands or musical styles that have had an influence on your music and also what are you listening to nowadays?
Berserk:
We are of course always inspired by the music we hear and like ourselves. Sometimes you play a "new" riff and it sounds familiar, until you realize it already exists. Then you rebuild it without destroying the atmosphere and create a new composition that will always remind you of your idols. For example, on the new album you can find homage to bands like "Scheitan", "Naglfar", "Dissection", or "Type o Negative".
But it is often enough inspiration when we rehearse together and everyone can contribute their ideas. The currents and moods then flow by themselves, from which compositions emerge that create potential for new songs.
12. Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?
Berserk:
We are looking forward to the album release and the reactions. We hope that the pandemic will end soon so that we can finally play live again. We would like to thank you for the interview, the label for the great support and the fans for their loyalty.
Stay straight! 1313
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