by Emilio Moreno Atienza

"Storm before Calm" is your newest album. Do you think that "cultural, political and social storm" is near? Is this the hidden mean of your album?

- I think in some ways the title cryptically refers to the state of politics, especially in Europe. Where I think major upheavels are on the horizon in the coming years. The most evident meaning of the title is really that you must Storm before you can embrace the Calm. Meaning you have to challenge yourself. Storm before Calm is a test of willpower.

Do you think that European society need a depth change in cultural and political level?

- Definitely. POliticians and governments are planting seeds right now that will reap them a very bloody harvest in the future. They are selling our culture, our history in the name of social progress and this will only back people into a corner where they will feel they have nowhere left to turn but for example to the extreme right. We need some logical thinking and rational debate on many matters here in Europe. However knee-jerk political correctness so far has prevented people discussing this. Everything needs to be up for discussion. And that means issues of immigration, employment, education, among many things. We need a logical middle ground based on rational argument. At the moment there is only right and left...I am not either, I am only on the side of what makes sense. Whether other people deem my views to be right wing is of no concern to me. Or left wing for that matter. who knows what will happen, times are dark.

To be true, I don't think that nowadays there is a European culture, but anti-European culture called "contemporary European culture". For example: music is inspired in African music; picture and sculpture show abstract (and ridicules) forms; literature only has space for marginal groups, psycho-killers or sexual illness. Are you agreeing with me? Do you think that "Contemporary European culture" is shit?

- It really depends, it is hard to take this argument in singular terms as we are talking about something so vast. However I can see it is indeed what we could call a trend to adopt certain cultures and their influence and blow it out of importance. People may very well return to tradtional European cultural and artistic values in the future, however I am not so sure they ever left ?, perhaps you just see the negative things that speak to your current state of mind. Most people feel rootless, lost and confused.

Maybe Heathen metal or other musical styles such as Neo-Folk and Neo-classical music are shy purposes of recovery of true European culture.

- perhaps indeed. Everything has a small part to play.

Do you believe that metal, in it pagan way of expression, is a coherent mix between traditional culture and modernity?

- As far as Primordial is concerned I believe so. We are not romantics, we do not long for an age gone by. We acknowledge the age we live in and face it's realities however there are indeed many things from our past that we could do well to learn from and apply in todays age. You need roots from which to build. We play Metal, yet we have a strong organic even cultural feel that people recognise as Irish. What we are expressing is not only something Artistic but cultural as well.

Primordial have always offered something different on each work, with respect rest of the metal bands. Maybe do you feel the music like an artistic expression and nor like business?

- The business side can be very tiring and complex and really take some of the pure enjoyment of playing music away. However we dont make a living from this we do it because we need it, Primordial is part of our lives...without it life would not be complete.

But I suppose that you've some musical influences. What're your musical influences?

- Sure, we are 80's Metalheads so it is bands like Iron Maiden, Manowar, Judas Priest, metallica, Slayer, Bathory, Candlemass, Sabbat, Kreator, AC/DC, WASP, Celtic Frost, Venom, Possessed, Black Sabbath, bands like that, then the early Death Metal scene and the second wave of Black Metal was something we were very much part of. Apart from that we are into Irish traditional and folk, soundtrack and classical and some things like Dead Can Dance, Devil Doll, Nick Cave etc...

What does Art mean to you?

- Huge question. Something that moves you emotionally. Something created from the want to express emotion ?.

You've many references to cultural legacy, forefathers and identity in your new album. Do you feel connected to your motherland, your culture and forefathers?

- Of course. To me many music these days is music for the sake of music...it has no meaning or energy. We are trying to make timeless music with depth and meaning. And our expression of our culture and folklore is part of this, yet we are more then just that, there are many emotional personal things gone into the music of Primordial. We are connected to where we are from, it alters us everyday.

I've heard that your demos have been re-released. Is this true?

- No, not yet. We have re-released our first two albums actually. The demo should be re-released at the end of the year in a special package I think. Something for collectors.

Have you good relationship with Cruachan?

- Yeah I know those guys for over 10 years, we get along fine with them. I dont see them that often these days but things are fine.