primordial

Archive | Interviews | Quintessence, 2005

1) Once again the release of a new album surprised everybody, it is like its predecessor very different from the album before it. What do you yourself see as the main differences between "The Gathering Wilderness" and "Storm Before Calm"

well I think we wanted to strip things back with the sound, more like standing in our rehearsal room or something like that. move away from the computers and all that other modern crap. so sonically that's the main difference but it still has all the main primordial trademarks we always had, we just are not repeating ourselves. however at the end of the day I have to say we don't really think about it all very much, we just make music.

2) For this album you signed a new record deal, with long time label Metal Blade. Why this change?

you really need or want an answer ?. to be honest we just reached the end of the line. I don't think either us or hammerheart could take each other any further then we had gotten already. we just wanted to see how far the band could get on a bigger label and very soon we are going to find out.

3) Before you left from Karmageddon Media there was an album released with a bonus DVD. I must say that I was not impressed at all with the "Dark Romanticism" release. The artwork, musical quality and dvd quality was far behind on what I normally expect from a Primordial release. Could you elaborate on that release?

well...it was something we contractually had to do. but people always ask for that demo even still so we thought for the people who wanted it it was out there for them to find. there was no push or advertising for it. the artwork is pretty faithful to the original demo really. the bonus live tracks as it says in the liner notes are rough as fuck but I thought people would find them interesting. at least I think they are. the bonus DVD should really be seen as that...simply a bonus. sure its not completely professional but take it for what it is. gritty. however the main thing with that cd was simply for people to be able to get the demo on cd if they want to.

4) Also, in my opinion it contained songs that didn't even make it to the first demo. Why is there any use in releasing them now on a compilation of rare stuff like "Dark Romanticism" ?

to be honest one of the songs got pulled apart for a song from imrama so I think its interesting to observe the evolution and as for the other track. I still think that's a killer track and I don't know why its not on the demo. I think because of time and money really. however you know its not like we repackaged something 2 years after its release with some bonus tracks that were not good enough. this is over 11 years ago we are talking about...

5) Primordial never really toured a lot, the last real tour I remember was the tour with Rotting Christ and Enthroned. Is there any other tour in foresight for you guys?

yeah its been hard for us, we've done a few things but we are not the kind of band you are going to see every year 2 or 3 times. I think that would kind of ruin things to be honest. however I don't think we have had the right break yet to be honest. hopefully this year. there is lots of talk but nothing confirmed right now...

6) I figure you are hard to put on a suitable tour due to your unique sound. With what bands would you really like to go on tour with yourself?

yeah its true. we more or less don't fit anywhere really. I think we fit more or less with immortal and rotting christ, but I think we are fine with more extreme bands because generally we are more aggressive than them live. I don't know, I'd like to tour with any cool band we can share some attitude with and also have a good time with. I'd really like to tour with perhaps Solitude Aeturnus would be cool but not very practical!

7) I have seen you guys live quite often, but could you tell the unknown readers what a typical Primordial show consists of?

passion, honesty, blood, sweat and fucking tears. Absolute Hunger !!!!
no complacency

8) On the times I saw you live around Europe you not often have your original guitar player with you, what is the reason for his absence on great festival gigs and so on?

well, sometimes we are all there and its better when we are but sometimes we cant be and peoples lives are reasonably complicated you know that we all can't get the time off we would like to play every show so we have a friend who understands what we do and helps us out. its not ideal but when you make fucking nothing from playing often these are the problems you have to face.

9) Speaking about festivals, any ones booked for this summer?

so far up from the ground and under the black sun in germany and kaltenbach in austria. hopefully some more soon. we need them but people at the moment seem to be wanting the same old shit and not willing to take a risk.

10) I am very fond of the vocals on your latest album, however I heard remarks from the press here and there that your vocals would be out of tune on certain points. What would you like to say to people who say that?

haha, no they are not out of tune. I haven't heard anything like that in the press ?. sure sometimes its rough and I'm more interested in the overall feeling then technicalities but so far we only have received positive comments about them ?. however I really couldn't give a shit, I know what they are and they are from the heart so I couldn't care less.

11) What else will the near future of Primordial behold for us?

don't know ?, hopefully travelling places. meeting people, playing some killer shows, meeting old friends, playing and partying hard....we might see you !...

joy and strength

Nemtheanga