Hi there. Congratulations to your great new album. Please describe the reactions to the CD so far.
The reactions have been great, very positive. some people a little surprised at the direction, sound and songs but its still primordial 100%.

Do you care for the opinion of your fans, the press and people in general? Or is it just you and your music?
I used to care more. worried about what the press would write but over the years I care less and less. I know when a song is good these days and sure you have doubts every now and again but I don't need someone in a magazine to tell me what is and isn't good. thankfully we understand each other really well in this band and what makes primordial primordial so we can keep our trademarks very strong. I do care however what the fans of the band think. that's different. but firstly we please ourselves you know. our fans just have to trust us in what we do.

What are the differences between "The gathering wilderness" and "Storm before calm" in your opinion?
The new one is perhaps more tragic sounding, more epic and perhaps less aggressive then the last one. the sound is more raw and live sounding though  then storm which is the big change. that the new one is released by metal blade is a pretty big difference as well however !.

What are the reasons for these differences?
The reasons ?. well we don't analyse things like that. that's for you guys. we simply write music and don't second guess ourselves. what comes out comes out.

Please tell us about the "birth" of your new album - a little bit "making of".
Nothing really that different then the old ones. still the same formula in the rehearsal room as before that was no different. the background was a little different in that we were going through tons of legal hassles trying to sign to a new label. our second guitar player was writing things for the first time with us and that was changing things.

My favourite is "Cities carved in stone". Can you tell us something about this song and it's history?
Interesting choice. this song is a real album closer. brings things down nicely at the end. the lyrics really are about travelling. about that feeling you have when you are away from home when you realise no one knows where you are and you could simply leave your old life behind and start completely again.

And what about "The song of the tomb"?
More simple raw song with a pounding bathory feel. carries on from sons of the morrigan on our last album. again about the concept that what you do in life should live beyond your death.

What does "The gathering wilderness" mean to you?
The album?, its hard to say. it means a lot of things. for one thing its great testament to our willpower and to not giving up and giving in as now 14 years in we are in the strongest position we have ever been in in the band. so the album is incredibly personal and meaningful to all of us as we all put a lot of not only physical but emotional effort into the album. it also stands as the perfect antidote to all the plastic, hollow, over produced, over hyped, soul less shit out there in the scene right now.

Where do you get your inspirations from?
Everywhere and anywhere. it could be anything I don't put any limits on it at all.

Any plans for some further stuff like singles, video, DVD etc.?
We have talked about a DVD alright. we will have to see what happens about that. single ?, I doubt it. a DVD would be cool of course and would be something great to do. hopefully in the future.

How would you describe your own music?
Dark, passionate, honest, pure, Irish metal....if I had to

Please tell us something about your process of songwriting.
Someone has an idea and brings it into rehearsal and we all work on it together and slowly but surely it comes together. it could be months or it could be a few weeks. there have been ideas knocking around for years you know. its hard to analyse when you are in the middle of it you know. you just know when something clicks together.

What are your musical influences in your opinion?
I guess they are now what they always have been. we don't really think about other bands when we write or anything like that. we just have our primordial  style and way of working but in the beginning it was bathory, venom, Celtic frost, candlemass, old metallica, slayer and megadeth, iron maiden, judas  priest, manowar, black sabbath, sabbat, and then some of the early black and death metal scene had a big inspiration for us. stuff like death, possessed,
morbid angel, tiamat, dark throne, etc...

We'd like to know something about your background in making music. How did you learn to play, what are your experiences and which musicians are your main technical influence?
Well Paul and Ciaran started together learning as kids together in what became primordial back in late 1987 when they were like 13 and 15 years old. Simon our drummer started even younger and I guess has been playing drums since 1987 or so ?, Michael our other guitar player is playing since about 1990 and I had other bands before I joined in 1991. we can all play other instruments as well whether they are Irish traditional or for example Simon can play the bass and so can I and all that kind of thing. I guess the musicians who were our main influences were the ones we grew up with that made us want to play. so for me it was wanting to be Bon Scott or Bruce Dickinson you know...

What do you think: How will Primordial sound like in let's say five years? Is there a master plan?
No master plan. no plan at  all only to never compromise and never let the bastards grind us down.

Please name some lately released CDs that you like to listen to at home.
ok
dead soul tribe - january tree, moonsorrow new one, high on fire - blessed black wings, witchcraft - witchcraft, the butterfly effect, desaster - live blasphemies, morgion - cloaked by ages, lots of things. right now I'm listening to the last godly absu album tara !

Do you still watch other bands play? Have there been some shows lately that impressed you?
Sure always. I'm still always interested in the underground scene and what's going on. the last show I saw that impressed me was actually when we played with Unleashed at a festival in Holland about 2 months ago that was a good show.

We'd like to know something about the underground in your hometown. Are you still in touch? And if so: Where do you hang out? Are there some yet unknown bands that you like?
I think if anyone wants to look into the Irish scene then they should check out www.metalireland.com that has more or less everything regarding all the  bands and the places people go...

What about the Irish Metal Scene in general? Do you know some bands, and if so, is there friendship, rivalry or more or less nothing special?
The scene is very small and I guess in the old days there was some rivalry but things have mostly changed and people are much more closed knit then before and most people are helping each other when they can. I guess there is always some kind of rivalry but its usually friendly rivalry and we aren't really a part of that anymore. I've been around forever and most people know me these days...

How important is it for you to play live on stage?
Totally. its what being in a metal band is all about. I've had some of the best times in my life on tour that's for sure and I cant wait to get started with these new songs.

Please tell us something about further Live activities.
Right now there is lots of talk but nothing concrete for a tour. the only things I can say for sure are under the black sun and up from the ground in Germany and kaltenbach open air in Austria for festivals.

Is there something that you have never been asked but always have been eager to say?
I don't know man. after all these years answering interviews I couldn't think of another thing !

We are looking forward seeing you in Germany. Best wishes to you all. Any last words?
We hope to see you all in Germany as well in 2005. it will happen. strength and joy to you all.

nemtheanga