primordial

Archive | Interviews | "7 GATES mega-sin" Poland, 2005

01. Hell(o) Alan! You said that with "The Gathering Wilderness" You wanted to challenge yourself a little more and I must admit that You have been lucky. After a few dozen listens to "The Gathering Wilderness" I want You know that this album is for me a one of the best releases of 2005 year. There's news that reached to some changes. Of course it still the Primordial
style but now Your music is the most epic, tragic, complex, bleak, calm, subdued, reflective, emotional and sadness in Yours discography. I think that on "The Gathering Wilderness" have became heightened the dark a atmosphere from "A Journey's End".

Ans - people do say that but I don't really pay any attention. I think the album is darker and has a more rough and raw sound. A more live natural sound but we just make music and don't really analyse it too much.

02. The one of the strongest side of "The Gathering Wilderness" is the tone which is very "thick" and "live". You changed the studio, changed the engineer, went back to basics and ditched the triggers and samplers thereby You hit the bull's-eye. The thing is that the sound is very "deep" and "authentic". Perhaps its darker and more desperate sounding than on the
previous albums.

Ans - I agree with you man and I don't really know what to add to that. I'm sick of albums that sound like they are played by a computer you know. We wanted to go back to sounding like we do in rehearsal and sure its rough and raw and there are mistakes and it is far from perfect but this breeds character. If you want the new arch enemy sound then look somewhere else. If you think welcome to hell needs a better sound then look elsewhere.

03. In the "Studio Diary" You wrote: ".apparently the studio is haunted, so tonight me and Billy are going to dress up in white sheets and run up and down the stairs". Did You frightened the rest of Primordial members? He, he, he.

Ans - we never saw a thing to be honest although the studio had a really cool atmosphere and it was in the city we live in so we could head home at night.

04. In what way You varied time in Cauldron Studio because in the "Studio Diary" You also wrote: "Being the singer you see can sometimes be the most boring job in the world." and "Being the vocalist I'm spending most of the time skiving off as of course...who cares about the guitars right"?

Ans - fuck man I hate the studio generally its so boring and when you sing you have to spend hours sitting around doing nothing and then have to summon inspiration at will. I try and focus this frustration into something positive to be honest.

05. Limited version of "The Gathering Wilderness" include DVD "Studio Report". Why the two poor young girls Kate Walshe and Ciara Kennedy who have been filming You for the making of DVD annoyed You? He, he ,he.

Ans - no they were great, they needed to make a short film for their cvs and for college and there was no budget but I think it came out well. Not perfect for sure but it was fine having them around you know. And I think people get a little look into the band and what goes on in the studio.

06. During the recording session You listened to a lots of metal classic albums but You also listened something different like Leonard Cohen. It's mean like relax from the metal tunes.

Ans - yeah we all brought things in and played them here and there, cohen is great 4 am music and I am a night person and prefer to work at 2 am then 9 am to be honest you know. You have to be able to try and relax doing something.

07. I think that "The Gathering Wilderness" is well-thought-out in all details. The music is dark, lyrics are dark, sound is dark. As well the cover artwork reflect the mental and musical content of the new album. Why You hate multi coloured garish photo shopped covers?

Ans - this is a dark album with dark and grim subject matter and the artwork should reflect this. I hate the production line artwork from most labels without thought or meaning. Finally with metal blade I had the freedom to get exactly what I wanted and the gathering wilderness looks perfect to me. Dark and beautiful.

08. When I'm looking at who is the main composer of "The Gathering Wilderness" I have an impression that the C. MacUilliam is the musical brain of the Primordial. Did You have any influences on Primordial music or You just write the lyrics and sing?

Ans - well we all put the music together in rehearsal but often the ideas come from him. I guess over the years he has written perhaps 65% of the music maybe a little more but we all have our ideas and Paul the bass player has written songs like autumns ablaze and gods to the godless over the years you know. Someone comes with an idea and we all work on it.

09. You say: " The world seems a darker place even then we released our last album "Storm Before Calm". Can You tell me exactly what events since released Yours previous album makes that You are so negative and sceptical minded toward present times?

Ans - we just seem to be de-evolving. Things like American foreign policy, western multinational coercion, the middle east, the "war on terror", the rise of the right in Europe, so many things you know. Peoples minds seem to be in darker places then ever before.

10. In my personal opinion "The Gathering Wilderness" musically is an opus magnum of Primordial and Pagan Dark Black Metal. I also think that "The Gathering Wilderness" inducing to reflection about our past and bringing dismal accusation toward today's devaluation of heathen tradition and history of pagan forefathers. Am I right?

Ans - among other things you know, we never said we were a pagan band but our history and folklore are our basis for how we view the world today and it is important to know where you have come from so you can have some grounding in this fucked up world. There is a lot we can learn from our past. For one thing how to live more in harmony with the world around us. With the gathering wilderness I really wonder has the pendulum swung too far against us you know.

11. When I listening to "The Gathering Wilderness" I hear in Your voice a lot of sorrow, bitterness, desperate, nostalgia, sadness and suffering. I have a felling that Your voice is "ancient scream of the ages" and lurk in You a primeval spirit which is horrendously tired in the contemporary world. Do You really feels like ".a wounded animal in the dying throes" because ".that time heals nothing." as You singing in "End of all times (Martyrs Fire)"?

Ans - you know its real simple. When you mean what you say and say what you mean this is what you sound like. This is not shit about zombies or fast cars or unicorns. This is absolute grim reality, this is honest and pure and emotion that cuts to the bone. Perhaps not something year hear all the time in the modern metal scene anymore.

12. In "End of all times (Martyrs Fire)" You have also singing ".broken oaths and betrayals; the empty words and dead rhetoric; of my sold and broken culture.". Do You think that the heritage of old values became squandered through the consumer character of mechanical world?

Ans - more or less yes you got that right. Basically it continues the theme from the heretics age about politicians for example selling our history and our culture or peoples liberties because it doesn't suit their view of the way democracy should be or the way we should relate to the past. But in the end of that song I sing. and maybe just maybe ill take you down with me.

13. Do You think that Primordial can influence into the national and historical consciousness of Irish youth?

Ans - realistically primordial is a small band in the grand scheme of things but you know we exist in parallel with our culture and the music depends on it, one cannot exist without the other. But I would hope for some people we can make them think, make them feel that something real and honest is within the band and while we are not for everyone and we are not going to sell 250 000 albums we moved people in some way.

14. In the title song You claimed that: "My Faith is not welcome here". Did You have any problems in Ireland because of Your beliefs?

Ans - not really to be honest. Ireland is not very religious anymore to be honest. Not since the late 80s. perhaps if we were like deicide or something we would have some problems but I don't think anyone gives a shit about that anymore here.

15. In "The Gathering Wilderness" You have also singing "I've cursed the vermin, the vermin of the earth". Who is this vermin? Maybe the multinational globalism which in the form of firms like mc'donalds in one of interviews You suggested to burn it? He, he, he.

Ans - maybe it is, maybe its many things. In that song I'm looking back over some of the things I've said, some of the foul, bleak and black visions I've had. And wondering where they all stand in the world now you know.

16. "Mens Hearts are turning. Darker and darker as every days pass. Old Europe is changing, the world is changing" - this is Your words from liner notes to "The Gathering Wilderness". When I read all lyrics (for example ".This is the twilight of the ages." from "Song of the Tomb") I suspect that in Your opinion Mens Hearts are turning into the brink of a precipice of
desperate aspects of reality. I think it seems like we all live on the edge without any moral inhibitions. Would You agree with my interpretation?

Ans - in ways yes, this album is the sound of desperation and alienation. As peoples liberties and freedoms are sold and their lives cheapened. They are desperate and will do anything. That's why I use the phrase the martyrs fire because so many people on this earth have nothing too lose anymore because everything has been taken from them and often in the name of western profit.

17. Maybe the panacea on spiritual weakness of humanity is hiding into feelings which You describe in "The Golden Spiral"? I think about something like unity and brotherhood with the people. Something like heathen morality. When I read "The Golden Spiral" lyric I become convinced that the gods are in us.

18.
Ans- that's what I mean, in a very primal way. The gods are within my blood, within your blood. And sometimes through all the shit, all the complicated shit life throws at you you can still share primal moments with people and feel kinship with them.

19. ".sometimes I get to thinking of the past; when I've had more then a drink or two; who knows where the days go; and would you ever want them back." - You singing in "Cities Carved In Stone". Are You often sentimentally and reflective after an alcohol?

Ans - i'm irish man what do you expect. I'm very reflective when I travel to be honest. Give you a lot of time and space to dwell on things.

20. I agree with subject matter of "Cities Carved In Stone" about our universe alienation and our powerless in global village which is Earth. But I also think that the "Cities Carved In Stone" brings an everlasting humans question: "Where are we from and where are we go?".

Ans - well I guess so. For me that lyric comes from being in Rome doing the vocals for the void of silence album and just being out in the city and no one knowing where I was and thinking I could actually walk out on my life right here right now.

21. You saying about yourself: "I'm a restless spirit". How it display in Your life?

Ans - im restless simple as that, always wanting to travel or concocting schemes to take me out of the country and new places.

22. I think that the quintessence of bleak tunes, gloomy atmosphere and sombre mood is "Coffin Ships". In this song are the dissonant full chords and mantra like repeated riffs, timbre of Your vocal is disturbing sad with piercing grief and at the same time melancholy, tragic, nostalgic and solemn. I must You say that when I listen to "Coffin Ships" I really feel that the history of Your land is a litany of tragedy and blood. This song pierced me to the marrow. This the Dark Hymn of Irish suffering.

Ans - I always wanted to write a song about the famine here in Ireland and could never figure the words out well enough and then finally for this album we managed to get it to fall into place. It kind of represents the emotional high point of the album really.

23. In liner notes to "Coffin Ships" You said: "The coffin ships themselves were what the ships that set sail for America in search of a new and better life were called". In Your opinion by means of what interesting aspects of life, culture, behavior and tradition Irish people influenced on American mentality?

Ans - well we basically helped build the country you know and I think we brought a sense of community to the country but so many other nations emigrated there we all added something to the American conscience. To be honest ive never been to the states so I'm not sure how to answer the question fully.

24. What is Your opinion about Polish people who arriving to Ireland in search of a new and better life and better pay for their work? They often working illegally thereby Polish people take work away from Irish people. It sad for me but it's true.

Ans - its true man. I think we had 40 000 last year. We need people to work here its true but I don't think socially our country can cope with so many immigrants. It will lead to many problems in the future.

25. Why the Void of Silence split-up? Don't You think that in doom parts of "The Gathering Wilderness" can be hear echoes of Void of Silence music?

Ans - I don't think so personally. But I think we will make some more music in the future. If you haven't heard it go out and get it, this is so dark it almost is not real

26. Let's change the topic. Why You hate so much the Sinead O'Connor?

Ans - shes a joke, a fuckin idiot. Contradicts herself with every opportunity.

27. I heard that You have also don't like the metal groups with female vocalist. It means that metal music is only for mans? In that case don't You like Cruachan?

Ans - I don't like cruachan no, they are cool people but not musically. I'm just not into all this modern nightwish wannabe pop shit. I like warlock, third and the mortal and a few other things here and there but personally I don't really like female vocals no.

28. Is it true that after the ones of the concert which You played in Germany You was standing in the toilet trying to clean the blood and dirt off You and 2 girls came in to take a shower? He, he, he.

Ans - eh yeah that's true. Liberated women they were. They didn't give a shit I was there. Blood and dirt !, that what I like my metal with not fuckin airbrushed shampoo add metal.

29. Do You still paint the backdrops and logos for bands?

Sure
Go to ww.primordialweb.tk and go to nemtheangas art

30. When the 7" split with Mael Mordha will be released?

Ans - September I guess

31. Your contract with Metal Blade will take Primordial to album number 8. Don't You afraid that in this case they will be pressing on You to recording the next albums regularly. Thereby the Primordial may lose magic, spontaneity and authentic?

Ans - not really they let us do what we want completely. No pressure. They are very easy going and supportive. So far the perfect label for Primordial I think.

32. How is Your plans for the summer? (I excluding concerts, festivals and all things connected with Primordial)

Thanks for reply and cheers!