Temple Of Demigod Interview

1.For those that have never heard of you before, can you tell us a little bit about the musical project?
 
  So Temple Of Demigod is a symphonic black metal with a lot of influences from various genres, I wanted to separate from Ghoulchapel (which is my other project along with my friend Ando), wanted to make more of an experimental  project, mix bunch of styles with symphonic black metal, you can also catch some deathcore influences in my earlier songs. This is the project where I can make whatever I want and not put myself within boundaries. It’s fast and aggressive symphonic black metal but yet calm and melodic at times. Symphonic part is mostly inspired by old classical music, I’m using different classical instruments besides standard synths.

2.How would you describe the musical sound that is presented on the recordings?

    It’s eerie, dark, it’s raw but more modern sounding, if that makes sense. Exactly what I wanted to represent Lovecraft’s Art through it. But I really want to make my sound even more raw and dark in the further recordings…
Someone told me that he was listening to one of the songs in his headphones, and the sound made him feel like he was floating within dark tunnels covered with sticky slime with an ocean smell, I think he described it better than I can do.

3.Your lyrics cover a lot of Lovecraft themes, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in this author?

   Lovecraft is one of my favorite authors ever! I’m also a big fan of Stephen King, but there’s nobody like Lovecraft, he is the most unique. I fell in love with his Cthulhu mythos, The Great Old Ones..I’m so obsessed with everything he created, that I start to believe in it. I love to think that Cthulhu is real, the Great Old Ones are real and actually are waiting for their time to come back. When I think of it this way and start actually believing, it scares me and inspires me to write about it.

4.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Temple Of Demigod'?

   When I first decided to start this project, I picked the “anti-christian” lyrical theme for the first EP album, and the name was inspired by the lyrical theme, Temple Of Demigod represents a Satan as a Demigod, and the world is his Temple.
But now since I’ve decided to change lyrical themes totally, the name Temple Of Demigod is still suits. I thought about changing it to something different, but ended up keeping it as it is.

5.With this project you record everything by yourself, do you fell this gives you more room to be creative?

   Yes absolutely. Working with other musicians is still fun and all, helps you to create something interesting, but in my case, I work better and more creative when I’m on my own and nobody’s around me. It definitely gives me more room to be both productive and creative. It’s tough, I have to do everything by myself, starting with writing lyrics, ending with creating artwork, but it’s worth the time and effort.

6.How would you describe the metal scene in your home country of Armenia?

     It’s  kinda weak, but slowly growing, metal is not that popular in Armenia, there’s a few bands trying to keep metal alive in here, I’ll name a few, my good friends at Nairi, they play heavy metal mixed with Armenian folk music, pretty awesome band! There’s also a couple of great bands, such as Rahvira also a good friends of mine; Avarayr – nice atmospheric black; Sworn, unfortunately no longer a band; Arbor Mortis – also friends; Blood Covenant, the band of my brother, I played with them before. There’s still other new projects and bands, hopefully they can make it!
A lot of rock or alternative bands that are more popular. So I really hope someday metal is going to be one of the most common genres in Armenia!

7.On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to your music by fans of symphonic black metal?

   It was and is pretty good! Most of people love it, and it gives me hope and desire to make more and better music.

8.What is going on with your other musical projects these days?

   I have a couple of other projects, recently I released a new long awaited album with Ghoulchapel, there’s also a new collab. project called Daemoon, along with my good friend Otto from Arbor Mortis. Hoping to release an album in the next year.
And last but not least, one of my older projects, originally called “Ao Eterno”, now renamed to “Beneath Her Skin”, I’m currently recording a lot of ideas for that one, it’s a atmospheric black/doom death metal, hoping to release the album next year as well. So stay tuned if that intrigues you. 

9.Where do you see yourself heading into musically during the future?

    I don’t wanna say it’s official yet, but changing the genre of Temple Of Demigod’s next album is actually in my plans, I want to make more atmospheric, dark and raw stuff, less symphonies, more atmosphere, I want the listener to feel that Lovecraftian horror though my music even more.
Also, it’s not metal related, but I’d really love to make retro synthwave music in the near future! I just really love it, and always wanted to make something different from what I usually do.

10.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?

The bands that influenced and inspired me to record my own stuff are Carach Angren, Vesania, Dimmu Borgir, Crionics, Troll, The Wicked, The Vision Bleak, Emperor!
These bands helped me to learn a lot about music, also helped me to go though some shitty times! Also I get a lot of inspiration from video game soundtracks, the games like Medievil, Resident Evil, Silent Hill, they have such a dark and spooky soundtrack , I love it! Currently I’m listening to different artists , different genres, I really loved Ellede’s latest album, new albums by Annal Nathrakh, ColdWorld, Alcest, Testament, Clouds.
You need to know, that I’m open minded person , so I also love rap music, I listen to a lot of rap artists nowadays as as I listen to metal, the artists such as Logic, Twisted Insane, Hopsin, Tech N9ne, NWA, Wu Tang Clan, etc.

11.Does Occultism play any role in your music?

Yes I guess we can say that my music based on occult themes, it’s mystical, spiritualistic, paranormal. So yes, occultism does play a role in my music.

12.What are some of your non musical interests?

    Besides music, I’m a graphic designer, work under the name “Gravedealer Art”, Doing artworks and logos for bands, and all the graphic design stuff, I make a living off of it and I really love my job. I love playing video games, a lot. I’m a retro games collector.
So that’s really it!

13.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?

Stay awesome, praise Cthulhu, and everything’s gonna be good.
Thank you for this interview! It was a pleasure answering these questions.


TEMPLE OF DEMIGOD

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/templeofdemigod

Youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUvX4QBoakTBpJs1vGPDuDw   

Pre-Order:
http://templeofdemigodus.bandcamp.com/album/the-great-old-ones

Cadaveria Interview

1.Can you give us an update on what is going on with the band these days?
Cadaveria: After the fifth full length album “Silence”, CADAVERIA just released the new EP “Mondoscuro”, joining forces with thrash metal legends Necrodeath. The EP contains six tracks, two brand new and co-written songs (Dominion of Pain and Ride Above), two covers (one of The Beatles and one of Type O Negative) and two unusual “exchange of roles”, that see CADAVERIA reinterpreting a classic by Necrodeath and Necrodeath performing a CADAVERIA hit. Mondoscuro was released on September the 2nd via Black Tears on CD and will be soon released in vinyl via Sleaszy Rider records.

2.How would you describe the musical sound of the newer music?
Cadaveria: While covering mater Tenebrarum from Necrodeath and Christian Woman from Type O Negative we maintained our personal style, that since the beginning mixes Black metal and Gothic metal with Horror atmospheres, and we confirmed our love for contaminations in music. Our version of Mater Tenebrarum ends with an outro taken from Dario Argento’s “Inferno” movie theme, originally composed by Keith Emerson. A cover in the cover… We had the pleasure to guest Lindsay Schoolcraft from Cradle of Filth in this piece. “Dominion of Pain” track can be considered a natural evolution of what we offered with “Silence” album: a genuine horror and black metal oriented song that welcomes Doom metal and gothic influences. The lyrics deal with spiritual growth and inner power.

3.Your lyrics deal with Occultism and Witchcraft can tell you us a little bit more of your views on these topics?
Cadaveria: My lyrics deal with my personal experiences in the material world and in my metal realm. Along the last fifteen years my approach to intangible dimensions has became more intimate and solitary. I completed a path that allowed me to better known my soul and to reach a higher level of self confidence. 

4.On the split you had also done a Type O Negative cover, what was the decision behind doing your own version of the song?
Cadaveria: Type O Negative and Bloody Kisses album in particular were a constant sound track of my adolescence. They are probably the main responsible of the Gothic halo now evoked by CADAVERIA music and also my band mate are great fans of TON. Among the songs they released, Christian Woman is quite far from CADAVERIA musical approach… and probably this is the main reason why we chose it. It was a challenge to perform a song written by a man for a man, I mean it is not in my chords! But I cannot resist to the temptation to sing “Jesus Christ looks like me”. It’s so sacrilegious and erotic!

5.What are some of the best shows that the band has played over the years and also how would you describe your stage performance?
Over the last four years we had great tour seasons: in Mexico, where we did two headline tours, or supporting Cradle of Filth last year. I also enjoyed a lot Autumn Moon festival in Germany and French Rock Metal Camp as well as Metal Female Voices Fest in Belgium. The show in Russia was very good too, we didn’t imagine to have so many fans over there! Recently we played at an important festival in Italy with Insomnium, Demolition Hammer, Dark Tranquillity and Sodom where we did a one night only special show with Necrodeath, inspired to Mondoscuro. This is probably the best show I did in my life. We finally had the opportunity to enrich our music with the proper scenic designs and the result was really great! Our live performances are built in the name of true heavy metal music and can be described as a ceremony of passion, energy and theatricality.

6.Do you have any touring or show plans for the future?
Cadaveria: We will start a new live season in Spring 2017. In the meanwhile we will approach to new compositions for out 6th full length album and we will re-release our second album Far Away From Conformity.

7.Recently you where a part of a split with 'Necrodeath', what are your thoughts on the other band that had participated on the recording?
Cadaveria: Well Necrodeath are our “cousins”, we share two band members with them: our Drummer Marçelo Santos is better known as Necrodeath singer  Flegias and recently GL, Necrodeath bassist, entered CADAVERIA band using nick name Peter Dayton. Necrodeath and CADAVERIA have always walk along parallel paths without meeting each other. Last year we finally had the opportunity to create something together, signing an artistic blood pact that gave life to a new evil creature named Mondoscuro. This EP is a birth and a death at the same time, it is a unique chapter in the bands’ careers that will never be repeated in the future. Mondoscuro is destined to become a rarity and a must have for fans of both the bands. I’m very satisfied of this release and of this cooperation.

8.On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to your music by fans of black and goth metal?
Cadaveria: Considering we are a do it yourself band, we are totally free in our choices, we never paid to play and we don’t follow any trend, I can say we reached great goals along these fifteen years. We are appreciated and respected and this is a very good thing. Above all we like the idea to continue to create the music we like without boundaries and we know our fans will support us in every step we will do.

9.Where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?
Cadaveria: We will take our time to properly develop our ideas for the sixth album, that will probably see the light in the beginning of 2018. It will be THE album, our best release, something to be proud of for the rest of our days. This is how we see us in the future.

10.What are some of the bands or musical styles that have had an influence on your newer music and also what are you listening to nowadays?
Cadaveria: The band members have a different musical background that goes from thresh metal to doom metal, passing through black, death and gothic. We do not have any particular reference, our music is just the product of our growth as musicians and human beings. Mercyful Fate, My Dying Bride and Norwegian black metal have been my first love. Nowadays I also listen to some stoner metal and progressive metal. My favorite band are and will always be Tool.

11.What are some of your non musical interests?
Cadaveria: I am a video maker and I’m interested in making videos, watching movies and in visiting contemporary art exhibitions. I also like to travel around the globe. I became vegetarian about one year ago and now I like to discover new vegetarian and vegan food.

12.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?
Cadaveria: I just would like to thank you for this space dedicated to my band and to give my greetings to all the readers. You can reach us out at cadaveria.com If you like you can follow me on Instagram @cadaveriaofficial
Thanks.

Heather Wasteland Interview

Can you give us an update on what is going on with the band these days?
We are busy with promotion of our debut EP to be self-released as the 6-panel digipack mCD (hand-numbered and limited to 100 copies) on December 21, 2016. We’ve just got the CD’s from the factory, so our EP is already available for preordering. At the moment (November 2016), the majority of instrumental parts for our forthcoming full-length album are already recorded and we are busy with mixing process, and composing new material to be played with new band mates.

How would you describe the musical sound of your debut EP?
Well, our sound would be described as guitarless three-bass supremacy incarnated in Heretical Folk Art by Cimmerian metalheads! No guitars and keyboards. Just a drum kit, a 4-string bass, a 5-string bass, and a 6-string bass with some synth wizardry. All parts of string, wind and keyboard instruments are played using a 6-string bass with a Roland GK-3B midi pick-up via a Roland GR-55 guitar synth.
The EP was mixed by Andrey Ignatenkov, a sound engineer with high level of the concert experience owing to his concert work in the Crimea with such diverse performers as Joe Lynn Turner, Goran Bregović, or pop-stars like BACCARA or SECRET SERVICE, and many more. “Under The Red Wolfish Moon” was mastered by Iurii Kuz’kin, who is well known to the fans of Slavonic Pagan metal due to his work with CHUR, OPRICH and “Triunity” project.

The music uses 3 bass players instead of any traditional guitars, can you tell us a little bit more about this concept?
We are not “guitar haters”, but, from the very beginning in 2001, HEATHER WASTELAND gave a special role to the bass guitar with an intended refuse to use guitars, because two bassists formed the band’s original line-up, and added a third bassist after the reunion in 2014. At certain stages of the musical formation, in spite of their various musical preferences, the heretics of HEATHER WASTELAND came in touch with the technical death metal classics, as well as with progressive metal and even jazz. Therefore, it found a reflection in some heretical views on the idea of experimental “Cimmerian folk metal”. Due to this precise “heretical” reason, the group describes their style as "Heretical Folk Art”.

All of the songs on the recording are instrumental, are you open to working with vocals in the future?
Yes, we’ve already started our cooperation both with some legendary and rather underground vocalists from several countries. I won’t list any names till the moment they finish their part of our joint recording process. I’d rather prefer presenting our modest results, instead of chattering about our great plans. I just can tell you that some musicians have iconic status in Pagan/folk Metal, and we highly appreciate their guest appearance! At the same time, we are going to present our vocal abilities as well as try some local vocalists.

What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Heather Wasteland'?
Now, in 2016, I’m not sure, but probably in 2000 – 2001 the band’s name, in some ways, was inspired by a Galloway legend described by Robert L. Stevenson in his poem "Heather Ale". Since our childhood, all members of HEATHER WASTELAND have been remembering this poem and an old cartoon based on this poem. In 2001 we used the band’s name in Russian (pronounced as “Vereskovaya Poustosh”). It definitely comes from some associations with European folklore in general, as well as with visualization of heather wastelands – for example, desolate battlefields with ruined castles, scattered bones, rusty arms and armours, and heather growing everywhere – as a symbol of new life and resistance in a broad context. At the same time, you can find desolate places with heather growing in our mountains as well!

- What are some of the best shows that the band has played so far and also how would you describe your stage performance?
- When we were younger, we were more violent onstage. In 2001 our debut 12-minute performance created a furor owing to the music itself and the unrestrained energy at the stage that moved the bored crowd. The group became a discovery of the festival, and a concert photo of yours truly (raging onstage bare-chested) was published in a very conservative newspaper. So, the group remained memorable long after the show. I hope that in the nearest future, with our new band members, we’ll be able to make more theatre-like shows with onstage dress and make-up.

Do you have any touring or show plans for the future?
It would be great to do. That’s why we are looking for the bass maniacs to be our new band mates with eagerness and possibility for touring abroad or at least going to play several gigs in neighboring cities.

- On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to your music by fans of folk metal?
No negative feedback at all, especially if we are talking about our audience among fans of gothic, neofolk, art rock, neoclassic, occult rock, experimental music and even black metal. Of course, many fans of grindcore, thrash & death metal will find our stuff too soft or boring, but some of them are our old fans since 2001. The majority of critical comments were connected with the absence of vocal parts and lack of heavy guitar sound. Many metalheads changed their opinion listening to our cover on PESTILENCE’s song “Personal Energy” featuring Andrey “Ind” Merzlyakov (GRENOUER, TARTHARIA): https://heatherwasteland.bandcamp.com/track/personal-energy-pestilence-cover

Where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?
Even if we add some real folk instruments, in any way we are going to use the drums and three bass guitars – in order to stay the founders and adherents of three-bass supremacy incarnated in Heretical Folk Art created by Cimmerian metalheads!

What are some of the bands or musical styles that have had an influence on your newer music and also what are you listening to nowadays?
We had some changes in our line-up, but I find it correct to tell you about those members who took part in recording of the stuff we are promoting now. The original members are: Alexander Vetrogon (6-string bass), he is a fan of folk metal/rock, progressive metal and fusion/jazz; Anatoliy Polovnikov (drums), a fan of old school thrash metal and techno death metal; and truly yours Sergey Pavlov (4-string bass), a fan of Pagan/folk, black metal, darkwave, ritual, occult rock and techno death metal. The fourth member is Andrey Anikushin (5-string bass); he is a metalhead with really wide interests – from Arthur Brown to gore grindcore bands.
As for my personal influences which inspired me to compose the tracks of our debut EP, I must name EVOL, CRUACHAN, early IN THE WOODS, BATHORY (of Viking period), BURZUM (of ambient period), and maybe old SKYCLAD. The band concept was definitely influenced by ANCIENT RITES.
The band was broken up for a few years, what was the cause of the split and also the decision to reform?
- As far as I remember, a lack of time in general and the main band of our drummer and other bassist were the main reasons for the split-up, although I was a manager of their band. Another serious reason was a kind of fear of… solfeggio (Rudiments of Music) which struck me, when my ex-wife tried to give me solfeggio lessons. Just as I attempted to realize my own music from a point of the musical theory, it resulted in a way of “the centipede effect” from a well-known anecdote. Trying to analyze my own music, I ceased the way of feeling it without analysis. I understand that this is absolute nonsense for the majority of “normal” musicians, but it became my reality to be dragged on almost for 15 years. Fortunately, in January 2014, I was involved in the organization of the Ukrainian mini-tour of Newton Schner Jr., a piano player (LEBENSESSENZ, Brazil), also known due to his participation with some black metal bands (DROWNING THE LIGHT, EVIL, KYLA etc.). Midnight conversations about the music and life convinced me that I met a spiritual brother who was able to estimate my music, and understand my problems with "solfeggio phobia" in the best way possible, and I decided to reform some of my old projects. Almost immediately after LEBENSESSENZ’s tour, I came across an old acquaintance – our original drummer of HEATHER WASTELAND, who told me about his desire to gather the original line-up of HEATHER WASTELAND, and our reunion became possible.

What are some of your non musical interests?
- Besides playing music, I would name music journalism, dream interpretation, alternative history, obscure or “forbidden” topics of Pagan and medieval periods of European history (mainly in the esoteric context), linguistics, psychology and PR-technologies.

- Can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in Pre-Christian European History, Philosophy, Esoterics and art?
- Without getting involved in the maze of a certain ceremonial or practical context of Paganism, I will tell you that my dreams play an important role – I mean prophetic ones, and symbolical dreams with images whose meaning becomes clear later. Taking into account the subsequent recognition of their personal meaning, it is possible to see interrelation between the World of Nav’ and the visual reality (Yav’), as well as interrelation of events which do not seem connected with each other.
I don’t treat Paganism as “an organized institution of religion”, I do not belong to any official movements or societies, except for a small group of my Pagan sworn brothers, who treat Paganism as their way of life, as a serious philosophy and knowledge. It is the Way to know, not just to believe as a blind man. As for me, Paganism is a symbol of harmony between the Man and the Nature, an equivalent of honoring the traditions of ancestors, and living under the laws of conscience. Moreover, it’s a symbol of internal freedom with the main law: do unto others as you would have them do unto you, BUT DO IT FIRST – before someone’s deeds impact you!
Talking about Occultism, I’d rather prefer using such definition as "Slavonic and Nordic Pagan Esoterics" in order to make a distinction between different "schools" and avoid unnecessary associations with those systems which are alien to me. As you understand, it’s not my “cup of tea” if we are talking about drawing some Cabbalistic signs, banging the voodoo drums, or ganja smoking to get “augmented cognition”. At the same time, Esoterics should remain something “clannish” to be clear for “the clan” only.
I’m a fond of Pre-Christian and medieval history, and if we take a look at it through the lens of the little-known historical facts concerning my native Cimmeria-Taurida, we’ll find a lot of interesting things concerning archaeological, linguistic and cultural heritage of Celts, Normans, Greeks, Slavs, Goths, Genoeses on the shores of the Black Sea. Ley lines, Opuk’s runic stone, the ruins of the Genoa fortresses, the Crimean Gothia’s Celtic place names and some little-known artifacts, which are associated with taboo subjects of history.

Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?
I’d like to thank Occult Black Metal Magazine for this interview, as well as your readers and our fans for their interest. We appreciate your attention and always try to reply all “mentally competent” messages of our fans and interesting persons. Follow us on:
https://heatherwasteland.bandcamp.com
https://www.facebook.com/heather.wasteland/
https://www.instagram.com/heather.wasteland/
I’d like to express HEATHER WASTELAND’s gratitude to all our heretical supporters – you know who you are!
Don’t advocate a view, but common sense: the figure of nine may look like the figure of six, especially from the opposite point of view, but zero is always zero. Look for your own Path and don’t betray the dreams of your life. Be blessed! \m/

Temple Of Demigod/The Great Old Ones/Black Lion Records/2016 CD Review

  Temple  Of  Demigod  are  a  solo  project  from  Armenia  that plays  a  symphonic  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2016  album  "The  Great  Old  Ones"  which  will  be  released  in  December  by  Black  Lion  Records.

  Tragic  sounding  keyboards  start  off  the  album which  also  get  very  symphonic  after  awhile  and  after  the  intro  the  music  gets  more  heavy  and  melodic  while  also  keeping  around  the  symphonic elements  and  when  the  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  blast  beats  can  be  heard  and  death  metal  growls  also make their  presence  known  on  the  recording.

  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  hear  a  great  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  and  the  songs  also  bring  in  a  great  amount  of  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  and  the  solos  and  leads  also  stick  to  a  very  melodic  style  and  violins  can  also  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording  and  some  of  the fast riffs  also  use  a  decent  amount  of  tremolo  picking.

  Temple  Of  Demigod  plays a  style  of  black  metal  that  is  very  symphonic  and  also  mixes  in  elements  of  death  metal  to  create  a  sound  of  his  own,  the  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  evil,  darkness  and  Lovecraft  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Temple  Of  Demigod  are  a  very  great  sounding  symphonic  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  solo  project.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Ominous  King"  "Mountains  Of  Chaos"  and  "The  Great  Old  ones".  8  out  of  10.

http://templeofdemigodus.bandcamp.com/album/the-great-old-ones

   

Heather Wasteland/Under The Red Wolfish Moon/2016 EP Review

  Heather  Wasteland  are  a  band  from  Russia  that  plays  a  heretical  form  of pagan/folk  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2016  ep  "Under  The  Red  Wolfish  Moon"

  Folk  instruments  along  with  a  medieval  atmosphere  starts  off  the  ep  and  after awhile bass  guitars  make  their  presence  known  on  the  regular  and  they  replace  traditional guitars  as  a  lead  instrument  and  the  music  also  incorporates  a  lot  of  neo-folk  elements  which  also  gives  the  music  more  of  a  modern  day  feeling.

  The  songs  incorporate  the  use  of   4  5  and  6  string  bassists  and  there  is  also  a  brief  use  of  blast  beats  while  all  of  the  songs  are  instrumental  and  they  also  bring  in  the heaviness  of  extreme  metal  into  the  heavier  sections  of  the tracks.

  Heather  Wastleland  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  neo  folk  music  and  mixes  it  with  pagan  metal  while  keeping  everything  instrumental  to  create  a  musical  style  of  their  own  and  the  production  sounds  very  professional  for  being  a  self  released  recording.

  In  my  opinion  Heather  Wasteland  are  a  very  great  sounding  heretical  folk  metal  band  and  if    you are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Under  the  Red  Wolfish  Moon"  and  "Wicker Man".  9  out  of  10.  

HEATHER WASTELAND Bandcamp

HEATHER WASTELAND Facebook

 

False Reality Interview

1. Can you give us an update on what is going on with the band these days?

False Reality: In the present we’re rehearsing, preparing for our album release shows that will start in winter. The rehearsals are very important now also because we’ve recently had a line-up change, Marc becoming our new bass player after Radu left False Reality. We also have an incoming photo session and we’re planning our expenses with the new album.

2. You have a new album coming out at the end of October, how would you describe the musical sound that is presented on the recording and also how does it differ from the stuff you have released in the past?

False Reality: Our new “End of Eternity” album has 7 songs that are pretty long, by normal musical standards, the average length being somewhere over 7 minutes. The musical sound is both aggressive and melodic, wrapped around death metal, black metal, doom, progressive and even some other genres too, with both growls and clean vocal parts. In this material you definitely can feel a more mature approach to music compared to our past creations. First of all, the sound quality is a lot better, since we had a very good sound engineer, Robert Cotoros, who took care of all things from the recording and mixing to the mastering and the production of this album. We think the sound of this album is different from other productions out there because we did our best to use real instruments rather than digital VSTs, the sound being thus somehow warmer.
In this new material we didn’t take a very distinct path, musically speaking, from the older songs. This album still has a touch of the old False Reality vibe and way of making music, that being to the fact that six of the songs were composed from 2011 to 2013, while the first track, “Bewitched”, is an inheritance from our first period of activity.

3. This is your first release since 2002, can you tell us a little bit more about the 14 year wait?

False Reality: The main issue to talk about is the 8 years break we took since spring 2003 until spring 2011. It was a tough time for us, but our dream of making music didn’t die and after finding the right people to fill in the vacancies, we embarked on our second journey as a band. Since then, we took our time to develop the right musical and human relations between us, but of course, the financial part is also a big factor to take into consideration for the long time between releases. We started recording this album in august 2014, but we didn’t have the financial power to release it ourselves. Without the help of Loud Rage Music I think “End of Eternity” would’ve been released even later, so we’re glad and proud to finally have the band’s first LP, after almost 18 years since False Reality started its journey. We’d like to say a huge “Thank you!” to all who helped us and believed in us throughout the years.


4. What are some of the lyrical topics the band explores with the newer music?

Lucian: The lyrical topics have remained more or less the same in our newer music, covering love, death, nature, passage, sadness, supernatural, struggle, the darker side of things and souls and so on, usually based on inner feelings and emotions metaphorically expressed through means of external events and actions. Each song was individually composed, but in arranging them to form the album, we discovered a hint of a story throughout our material, a tragic story of impossible love, a journey filled with rites of passage and transformations, which all eventually lead to the end of everything, an ending seen as another beginning both in regard to our story and to our band’s journey. If I were to cite any influences, I’d say Mihai Eminescu, Nichita Stănescu, Gheorghe Tomozei, Isaac Asimov, Therion, Dream Theater, Samael and the list could go on and on.

5. What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'False Reality'?

False Reality: The main inspiration for our name is the power of music. It can take you in unreal places you’ve never been before, in supernatural worlds born from fantasy and from the emotions conveyed by this very powerful tool mankind has - musical and lyrical creativity. Of course, each and every one of us has had his own personal experiences and musical journeys that ended up defining us as musicians and as music listeners, so in a way, music is a very personal experience, a means of escape from the mundane reality, namely a False Reality.

6. What are some of the best shows that the band has played over the years and also how would you describe your stage performance?

False Reality: Our biggest gig so far was during the first edition of Rockstadt Extreme Fest, in Râșnov, near our home town, and it was a great experience, opening for bands like Carach Angren, Napalm Death and Gojira. We’ve also been the support artist for Arkona’s concert in our home town and we fondly remember our experiences at almost every edition of Rockstadt Fest (indoor fest with rock/metal bands from our home town only) and also on the Extreme stage of Revolution Fest in Timișoara and many more.
There were also some very nice shows that we definitely didn’t expect to turn out that way, considering the venue and the small number of people in the crowd, like in Turnu Măgurele or in a very small club in Bucharest, but those types of shows are different, since there is an air of intimacy about them and it really connects you a lot better with the audience. Of course, playing in our home town is always special, both due to the location - the amazing Rockstadt Club and due to the support of our friends.
When it comes to stage performance, we don’t usually rehears that part, there isn’t any choreography there, it’s just us, playing from the soul and enjoying the moment, each in his own way. Being on stage is like a drug to most musicians, since the energy that is going back and forth between the artists and the audience is really one of the most beautiful experiences we’ve personally had.

7. Do you have any touring or show plans for the new album?

False Reality: Yes, we’re planning a number of shows in Romania starting in January 2017, and we hope to reach a lot of locations. We might even reach neighboring countries, most likely Bulgaria, but this is for now just a small possibility.

8. On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to your recordings by fans of extreme metal?

False Reality: We haven’t received much attention worldwide yet, but usually we’ve had positive feedback and people from around the world have liked our Facebook page (no, we didn’t invest money in that, it’s just organic reach). Just recently a metalhead from Brazil contacted us for an appearance of our new album on his online channel and also declared himself a fan. We’ve had feedback from South America, Central America, North America, Europe, and also the Far East, but we’re hoping that with the launch of our new album we’re going to attract more attention to our music. We’ve already received some great reviews for our “End of Eternity” album from a couple of metal oriented webzines and we’re expecting even more of them.

9. Are any of the band members currently involved with any other bands or musical projects these days?

False Reality: Half our band has connections with Hteththemeth, another band from our city of Brașov. Codruț and Lucian are full members, while Marc is a session member, filling in whenever the bass player or a guitar player are missing.

10. Where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?

False Reality: Well, this is mostly a mystery to us too, since we don’t plan the musical style of our compositions, we’re just going with the flow. Yes, it’s definitely going to be metal and it will most likely still be rooted in melodic death metal. We really want to keep the melodic aspect of our creations and we might even go further in that direction, and we’re even considering adding more instruments to our sound. I guess time will tell.
We are currently thinking about doing a reissue of our 2002 EP - “Tales of Eternity”, also including two old songs that haven’t been featured on any recorded material so far. Moreover, we’ve partially figured out the main concept for another full length album, but we’ll take it step by step. Our main priority now is promoting “End of Eternity”.

11. What are some of the bands or musical styles that have had an influence on your newer music and also what are you listening to nowadays?

Ioan: I enjoy listening to old metal bands like Samael, Opeth, Behemoth and others, so they are also my main musical influences.

Lucian: I enjoy a lot of artists from a lot of genres, classical music, jazz and blues, electronic music, flamenco, pop, rock and all the way to metal. I really think you can be influenced by some genres that have almost nothing in common with what you play, since it’s all about the music and the feelings. For me, the list of influences is huge, but I feel I must include the following: Dream Theater, Opeth, Pink Floyd, Therion, Queen, Crematory, Vanghelis, Chopin, Vivaldi, Portishead, Ennio Morricone, Steve Vai, Al Di Meola, Vicente Amigo, Ray Charles, Louis Armstrong, Norah Jones and many more. When it comes to Romanian music, Phoenix have been a great influence in my forming years as a musician, but I also enjoy Tudor Gheorghe, Nicu Alifantis, Taine, DorDeDuh, Luna Amară and a very deserved mention to The Bipolar Disorder Project, a solo endeavor of our friend, Robert Cotoros.

Silviu: My musical influences come mainly from the metal and rock area, with artists like Dream Theater, In Flames, Samael, Opeth, Death, Conquering Dystopia, Hypocrisy, Arch Enemy and many others.

Codruț: I have a huge background in listening to music from very different musical genres, like rap and hip-hop, pop, pop-rock, electronic music, all categories of rock and metal and so on. I’ve been listening to music my entire life and I think this is not going to change much. Lately I found that I’ve become very selective in my musical choices, the new discoveries that I’m enjoying right now being Leprous and The Bipolar Disorder Project (solo musical project of my friend, Robert Cotoros).
In my forming as a musician I’ve been greatly influenced by Anathema, Lake of Tears, Metallica, Manowar, Cradle of Filth, Era, Enigma, Guns N’ Roses, L.A. Guns and many more.

Vlad: I have been mostly listening to melodic death metal, black metal and progressive. Some of the bands that inspired me for this album are Opeth, Dream Theather, Dimmu Borgir, Children of Bodom, Samael and In Flames.

Marc: I’m trying to expand my musical horizons as much as I can, so I always try to take some time to experiment with new stuff that I find. My playlist varies from progressive metal, sludge to witch house, jazz and anything that catches my attention, e.g. Neurosis, Between the Buried and Me, Nava Mama, oOoOH, Erik Satie and many more.


12. What are some of your non-musical interests?

Ioan: I enjoy skiing and hiking in the mountains and also meeting with my friends and drinking beer, but a lot of my free time is devoted to my family and especially to my two children.

Lucian: Although I don’t really have a lot of free time, reading takes an important part of it. I enjoy mostly literature, but I also have an interest in history. I like to watch movies and play board games with friends, but I also like to go swimming, biking, hiking in the mountains and also playing a number of sports like football, tennis, badminton or basketball. I am a fan of our local ice hockey club - Corona Wolves Brașov, so whenever my schedule permits it, I go and see them play (not as often, sadly).

Silviu: I love my job in web development and usually in my free time I’m doing some freelance work. I could say that one of my hobbies is to get wasted by drinking beer while doing some barbeques with friends.

Codruț: My main non-musical interests revolve around sports, since I’ve practiced football all my childhood and I’ve finished a sports oriented high-school. I also enjoy traveling, but my life has completely changed since the arrival of my new full time job - my son Eric, which I adore. I want to say that I am very lucky to have the full support of my beautiful wife, since my musical and artistic activities can keep me away from home more than usual. I also am part of a fire juggling group called Hyponsis Fire Show, with whom I participated in events all over the country and also abroad.

Vlad: I`m a big fan of technology, video games and IT related activities. I also like mountain bikes in general and I occasionally enjoy video production, photography and stage light arrangements and effects.

Marc: For me personally, music is a secondary activity, since I just graduated from medical school and currently I’m going through the last steps of becoming a doctor. I just hope it won’t interfere too much with the band’s plans.


13. Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?
False Reality: First of all, thank you for the interview, it was a pleasure! We have just one message for all those who enjoy music: support the underground! The mainstream music has proved to be mainly business time and time again (or just business), so if you find underground artists that you like, try so support them as much as you can, since without that support it’s incredibly hard to keep going.

False Reality
Ioan Crișan Alexandru - vocals
Lucian Popa - guitars and vocals
Silviu Stan - guitars
Vlad Amariei - keyboards and vocals
Codruț Costea- drums
Marc Spedalska - bass guitar

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Huldre Interview

1.Can you give us an update on what has been going on with the band since the recording and release of the new album?

Well not much really. We recorded back in april, then we planned the release and on the 3rd we release it during a magnificent release party in Copenhagen.
A small trip to play in Estonia in between that but otherwise it has been pretty quiet.

2.Recently you have released a new album, how would you describe the musical sound that is presented on the recording and also how does it differ from the stuff you have released in the past?

Overall it should still sound like us, but in a more mature fashion. The songwriting on the last album could sometimes be fairly chaotic and a lot of stuff is happening at the same time, but on Tusmørke we have tried to control the chaos, and give more room to each other. Allowing the individual "voices" to have, and fill, their own spaces in the composition and work and weave better together as a whole.

3.This is the first album to be released in 4 years, can you tell us a little bit more about what has been going on during that time frame?

Intet Menneskebarn was so well received that it allowed us a lot of live gigs, which in turn allowed us to practice and hone our skills on stage. That album brought us far, and it especially took off after we won the danish wacken metal battle, and got third place at the wacken festival itself. Besides having the honor of playing Wacken, it opened up for more gigs and the bigger metal festivals in Denmark, including taking second largest stage at Copenhell, and stand in front of thousands at the belgian fantasy festival "Trolls & Legends". All amazing experiences.
We also spent some of the time writing new material of course, and trying it out on stage.

4.Your lyrics deal with a lot f Nordic Mythology, can you tell us a little bti more about your interest in this topic?

We all come from some form of background in viking reenactment and authentic medieval/viking music so there is a natural interest for the subject among us in the band, but the lyrics actually deal more with inspiration from folklore stories and the Nordic Nature and old believes. Only the song Mørke can refer to a later kind of Odin Figure from East Denmark. Most of the lyrics on this album Is very dark: death, sorrow, anxiety, dark Scandinavian nature-creatures who interacts with human lives, old folk remedies, people who turns in to creatures etc. are some of the topics.

5.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Huldre'?

Huldre is the name of a creature in scandinavian folklore. Described chiefly as a very beautiful female, with a tale and a hollow back, who will lure men to their deaths in the forest or bogs. We figured that was a pretty good metaphor the music that we create

6.What are some of the best shows that the band has played over the years and also how would you describe your stage performance?

Wacken, Copenhell and Trolls & Legends must surely rank high due to the sheer amount of people and the experience of playing at pro festivals. Beyond that, anywhere where we are greeted and treated well, and people are happy to see us, are good gigs.
Our stage performances are wild and joyfuld. Mosh pits and dancing goes hand i hand, and you can always tell that we love to play this music.

7.Do you have any touring or show plans for the new album?

We have a special show coming up on the 26th of november at Gimle in Roskilde, together with bands from all over Scandinavia; Audn, Bergtatt, Fejd and Hamferd.
Other than that, we are working on setting up some good stuff for the coming year so stay tuned for that.

8.The new album was released on Gateway Music, can you tell us a little bit more about this label?

Gateway is not really a label in the traditional sense. Its connected to the "Danish Musicians Union" and the TL:DR: version is that its a "label" that you can more or less hire to handle the practicalities of releasing an album yourselves. Physical as well as digital distribution is handled by them, but otherswise we handle everything ourselves.

9.On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to your music by fans of folk metal?

Really good so far. We haven't really seen any bad reviews and it appears that a lot of people appreciate our sound and approach to folk metal.

10.What is going on with some of the other bands or musical projects these days that some of the band members are a part of?

There is always something going on, you know. Our drummer is perpetually busy with a band like Virelai and Asynje, which also contains 2 other members of the band. Most of the band is also in Gny, which is a medieval band. So yeah, a lot of stuff is happening.

11.Where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?

Thats impossible to say. We go wherever the music takes us.

12.What are some of the band or musical styles that have had an influence on your music and also what are you listening to nowadays?

Nothing really. Or all of it. Our band is run on consensus and that goes for the compositions as well. Especially the compositions. So the music becomes a product of 6 individuals approach to music which means 6 individual paths of inspiration and music.

13.What are some of your non musical interests?

ooh. A lot. Varying from nerdy stuff (games of all kinds) to trees, and nature. Long walks on the beach in the moonlight while singing a serenade to the nearest tree


14.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?


Thanks for having us and thanks for the nice review. Folk on :o)

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