According to the latest news, the economic state of almost the whole world is going to the dogs right now and it seems there is no such government that could give us the permanent solution to our problem. How do you see happening this in your country, and as a musician, in your eyes how badly does it affect the musical thinking of bands or a band such as Primordial?

This is such a complicated question I could answer a book about it. Ireland has just had the International Monetary Fund and the ECB here to dictate the financial terms of our surrender. Greed, political cronyism and mismanagement has sold not only the sovereignty of the country to the Central Bank but also the future of its children. We are in freefall and facing massive emigration once again. Otherwise stay and be damned. As a musician? For what we do it’s ok although we are not a professional band or make a living from it but for a new band attempting to ‘make it’ you might as well forget it in 99.9% of cases. Sales are plummeting and everyone wants a piece of your live income.

Regarding that your lyrical attitude involves and deals with a wide spectrum of global issues and having read some of your assessment of existing capitalism and nationalism, do you consider Primordial as a guidance that uses cultural references to be able to draw the attention to the importance and values of every aspect of individualism?

I’m just a singer in a band, not a politician. We reach some people and hopefully make them aware of some things but what are we/am I but a drop in the ocean. The war maybe lost but at least we have the chance to fight out own personal battle. I can’t write about fantasy or escapism, I feel I owe it to my heritage, lineage and and culture to address real issues and fight to the very end speaking my mind, anything less would be shameful. I consider us going against the grain, a thorn in the side of corporate, hollow nature of the industry. We are an individual band and if you see yourself as such you will see yourself within us, it not, turn the page.

Traditional black metal groups used to use face paintings to develop a proper atmosphere for their live shows but nowadays it is subjected to mockery. Seeing your live performances on All Empires Fall it cannot be doubted that you were able to integrate it into your art as a necessary item for supporting the seriousness of Primordial. What does this “engaging” live act of yours stand for and mean to you?

Of course I agree. Most bands look like clowns but for me at least this is part of our and my metal tradition and I understand the aesthetic. For me it’s a Jekyll and Hyde situation, it takes the form of ritual. You prepare for the stage and focus your energy. You don’t play a character, it us you, you just release that side of you. I’ve never been interested in standing up there in jeans and a t-shirt. As pretentious as it sounds to anyone Primordial is art and we are artists no entertainers, a show can be entertaing but we are not ‘performers’.

When I was lost in the music of In the Woods and Bathory at that time my encounter with Primordial was definitely a pleasant thing since I could hear someone resembling to these great voices not to mention the authentic musical ground it was built on. What do you think is necessary to be capable to preserve the fire to create timeless and individual records?

Bathory was definitely an influence, In the Woods not. A good band but peers of ours and we try not to be influenced by our peers. To create something timeless you just have to have the right attitude and for the most part stand opposed to the way modern society treats people who wish to do so. Just say what you mean and mean what you say.

You played in Twilight of the Gods at MetalFest Open Air which was kind of a way to remember Quorthon’s legacy. How did the idea come about to do a tour with this formation?

Just an idea I had, I thought it might be a fun challenge and a good way to pay reverence to Bathory. It’s not meant to be Bathory or replce Bathory simply too keep the music alive. It didn’t buy me a holiday home in the Bahamas either so people should relax about accusing me of making money off a dead man. It’s just a bunch of guys playing some songs for people who might enjoy it. No different from seeing Nick Cave doing an evening of Jacques Brel or something like that…

After the reissue of Spirit the Earth Aflame there was an interview with you in which we fans were given an update about a new album was on its way. Could you tell us any spoilers of how the process has been coming on so far?

It’s called “Redemption at the Puritans hand’ and will be done and dusted hopefully by the end of the year. It sounds epic and massive but also definitely darker than TTND. Time moves slowly in Primordial land.

How would you compare the new record to the previous one To The Nameless Dead? Was there any intention to try to do some parts differently? For instance lots of bands are trying to summon a sound that prevailed on records of the early 80’s or so.

Are they? I thought most bands at least in the mainstream were trying to sound as modern as possible? We never think too much about what we are doing, if it sounds good to us we move ahead if not we don’t. We don’t sit around thinking how can we follow what we did before. You have to trust your instincts.

Primordial has always been kind of a band that plays contemplating music based on a flowing guitar manner that doesn’t leave you untouched. But with Blood Revolt you managed to build your conception on a more extreme and angry way of music. What made you participate in this project?

I’m a big fan of Axis of Advance and also Revenge and it was exactly that, a chance to do something different and challenging. Some love it some hate it, which is all is great as far as I am concerned. Life is short, focus, achieve and bend it towards your will. Blood Revolt is just another step along my bloody minded path.

Do you see Blood Revolt evolving into something huge as Primordial is or it is too early to ask questions like that?

No definitely not. It’s too extreme for people. Generally anything actually dark or extreme never gets too popular. The stuff about unicorns/beer/trolls and fantasy will always sell more. Most people don’t want to be reminded how grim the world is. It just is what it is.

On The Gathering Wilderness in Tragedy's Birth there was a guitar theme that for me seemed to be similar to the mood of a Burzum one. What do you think about his and the Norwegian atmospheric musical thinking?

I don’t know, is Burzum typical for Norwegian atmospheric thinking? Is there any Norwegians bands left doing Black Metal with that kind of feeling? I guess there are some similarities in the tone and the fact we use some droning and monotonous signatures/notes.

In the end, with what feelings are you going to look back to this year as a band and as a person as well?

Like always, some great highs and some great lows but somehow we keep going and write another chapter. As a person? Another year nearer to the grave, nothing more.