I’m talking about unknown people who make huge sacrifices often in vain for their beliefs, their land, their people , themes of nationhood, empire building, borders, history, faith and suffering. Themes of martyrdom and alienation, what happens to a people when they die. Their language, religion, folklore and culture. For the people who fought for these things believing they would last forever and are now gone forever. The nameless dead who gave their lives in wars, in the mud, shit, blood and filth who are remembered only as numbers.

You're against the mediocrity which is so usual in the metal scene now. What do you offer to attack this mediocrity?

We offer something that is not mediocre !. Kinda silly question really. Of course I'm going to say that. Who aspires to mediocrity and banality and being just like every other band ?. Not me, Not Primordial.

Why have you recorded in an analogic way? Do you want to recover the old feelings from the past?

Well it sounds better for a start, much more powerful. The gathering wilderness was an experiment that nearly worked but not quite. Its rough and raw but missing something. This time we have it, it sounds epic and huge. But natural unlike most modern metal. Anyone who tells me the drum sound on most new albums compared to Mob Rules and Killers is better can get fucked.

What are the reasons why you are so happy with the result of your new album?

We are happier then ever with any recording. We were more prepared then ever with our budget and what we wanted to achieve. We knew the songs were strong and thankfully all the pieces fell into place much more easily then ever before. We were away from Dublin and the chaos of a big city. I think it shows. I think the scene right now needs a strong album from a band like Primordial.

Signing Metal Blade was the most important step in your career?

Possibly it was I don't know. it was at least one of the most important steps. We needed to make a step up when we did and thankfully things are working out just fine. they trust us to create something special and proper.  They don’t interfere with what we do . Sometimes some advice about what is and isn’t possible as regards packaging but overall they let us do as we please knowing that it will sound and look complete. Then once we have done that then it’s up to them with the advertising and promotion so it’s a two-way thing.

The beginnings of Primordial were very hard, but however you managed to get through it. Do you remember those times? What about that old show in Wacken 1998? It was a dark milestone within the band career?

Fuck after ten years people are still asking me about this ?. I'm sure people have read my answer about this before. it was a long time ago and we were very unprofessional and inexperienced but we have learnt a lot since then. Forget about it.

Do you recognize any influence from Phil Lynott or Thin Lizzy in your music? What you think of his career?

We all like Thin Lizzy to varying degrees. I'm not a fan of the earlier albums but from the mid 70s on they have some great songs. I don't think they were really an influence upon Primordial but they were an influence of course on Iron Maiden and together with Judas Priest influenced any band who uses the twin metal guitar melody which we do use so yeah you could say indirectly. Phil was a classic tragic Irishman in every sense, creative yet deeply flawed.

Dublin is a multi-cultural city with many pubs with live music... Do you feel yourself influenced by this musical atmosphere?

Not really, of course a really good traditional Irish music session can be quite inspiring but I'm from Dublin and most of what you find here is for the benefit of tourists. However as an Island Ireland has always had a great musical tradition and I find that can be inspiring.

What Irish musicians have influenced you most throughout your career?

More likely to be writers like William Butler Yeats, Sean O'Casey, Brendan Behan or Patrick Kinsella who have influenced me to some degree more then musicians. I admire the purity and honesty of much traditional musicians and as a vocalist I really find people like Luke Kelly or Liam Weldon very inspiring. i can't really think of others who have been actually inspiring, some bands here and there I like but nothing more then that.

Where do you like to hang around in Dublin? Do you avoid going to Temple Bar area due to the big tourism...

I dj often at a metal bar called Bruxelles so I'm often there, other then that it doesn't really matter as long as I'm with friends. It's impossible to talk about Dublin without mentioning drinking and bars so I'm found here and there when the mood takes me.

Dublin and Ireland are well known for the nice landscapes, the Irish music, Guiness since 1759... What else has Ireland to offer?

I don't work for the tourist board so you'd better google dublin tourism and find out what you can.

Do you feel comfortable within the Pagan Metal genre? What're the most important bands in the style?

It doesn't bother me really, thats up to journalists to classify bands. We just do what we do and after that it's up to other people. At the moment this "pagan" metal scene is very popular in the metal scene and fundamentally it is positive as it has some kind of cultural and historical worth to some of it but very often I find it all too romantic in it's view of the past and happy sounding musically. I'm proud to consider myself part of a band that is culturally aware and singing about something real after that the genres and classifications are up to people like you...

What are your hidden influences, those your fans never expect from you?

By now Primordial is really Primordial. We have forged our own style and know what sounds Primordial but we can't deny of course our influences. Mostly these are the bands we grew up with who still inspire us. Black Sabbath, Maiden, Bathory, Frost, Venom etc. I'm selective with what I listen to but have quite a broad taste. If there is one thing that has been a massive influence on me the past few years that I would recommend to anyone its 2 bands from the USA called 16 Horsepower and Woven Hand.

What are you plans for the future; live...?

The plans are really to see how the album is received, hopefully spread the bands wings further, some festivals, touring, traveling new and interesting places and meeting real people !.  More then that I don't know. The end isn't in sight anyway I can say that !

Nemtheanga.