How are the recording sessions going for the new album? You must currently be at an early stage? 

we only have vocals and a few guitar over dubs left and then mixing. So I would say we are about 75% there right now. Things are going very well. Much more productive then any other time we have spent in the studio. 

Do you write your stuff prior to recording – if so how does this album differ, at the moment, from The Gathering Wilderness? 

we rehearse when we can, it’s a little harder with the distances we live apart but usually about 75% of things are completed before then we leave a certain amount to the studio. We rely on our creativity coming to the fore under pressure, when it counts. I think we were a little less prepared song wise then with the gathering wilderness but the situation in the studio was far more condusive to being creative. We were able to all play together live in the same room and jam the songs out in a relaxed environment. 

How come you decided to record in Wales this time around? 

combination of reasons. We wanted a studio with old gear, capable of getting an older warmer sound. Far removed the plastic, hollow, computerized bullshit that passes for most modern metal these days. So the guys at metal blade uk and rise above recommended foel studio in wales. The price was right and they were very accomadating from the word go so once the logistics were worked out and the dates fitted into place we began to work things out.

Do you think the isolation of the recording situation will affect your music? 

totally. During the recording of gathering we were in the centre of Dublin and all of the chaos and distractions in my opinion had a negative impact upon the recording. The temptation is always there to loose focus and concentration. In foel for the new album we were able to concentrate on the album 10 or more hours a day. Theres nowhere to escape or run to. 

… And recording in the summer rather than the winter – how do you think this will change your music?

I think I cursed the gods as I did it on purpose. Being sick of stepping out into the pissing rain and grey misery that is the irish winter I thought the middle of somewhere in the middle of nowhere would be a much more positive environment and less depressing. The music is generally dark enough without having to brave the irish winter on the walk home from the studio every night. However of course as you well know the summer has been a complete wash out so it was more or less exactly like any other time we have recorded. 

At this early stage in the recording what do you hope to achieve by the end of the recording sessions? What are your hopes and expectations for the new album?

we don’t rush things, primordial is about quality not quantity and I think this album is going to show that more so then ever. It sounds full, rich warm and loud. Our old school metal influences are coming more to the fore but it sounds totally primordial. We just do what we do and after that its up to the label and the people who buy what we do. All I can say is 6 albums in and there is no compromise and I don’t think people will be let down. And I’m proud to say it stands opposed to the way most metal sounds these days. I don’t know if it will take the band to another level commercially, that’s up to the label and the economics of modern metal. However that’s not the point is it. 

Any ideas for the cover art as yet? I understand Paul is working on this one as with The Gathering Wilderness?

yeah paul made such an excellent job on the gathering wildneress he is going to do the new album. There are lots of ideas being exchanged. I am just waiting for that moment of inspiration to hit me and it will all become clear. But one thing is for sure it will look beautiful as gathering did and again will be in direct opposition to the modern photoshopped, colour of the month, two dimensional, fantastical shit out there. 

Any lyrics/themes – you have said this is about nationhood. In what way? Do you think this will be affected your own nationality and nation’s history?

the new lyrics are about a lot of things but I’ve become really interested in things like the movement of borders and the origins of a peoples claims to nationhood. What happens to languages when they are eclipsed. If you had fought for a nation that now ceases toe exist in another century where does all the folklore and myth go. All with a modern context of course as well. The themes have the usual fury and bile to them, definitely as weighty and serious as ever. Ive continued with the themes of alienaton and martyrdom I was exploring on gathering and one very simplistic hymn to the old gods and their culture in the vein of the golden spiral, in quite a metal context which might surprise people. The usual fare !.  

There are themes which seem to run throughout your work – isolation, a certain dark feel, and a few more. Why do you think these are such constants? Do you think they are reflected in the music, or the does the music inspire such themes?

I write independently of the music, I write when I have to, when im moved to and then i put them to the music. What themes fit the music best. The constants really are feeling at odds with a modern world that prizes banality and mediocrity over individuality and creativity, prizes globalization and multinationalism the local good, turning this world into one consuming culture-less, face-less world of shit. Resisting this is what drives me…. 

You have also mentioned a second project by the name of Plagued, how did this come about, and when is the music being released?

I have an album of my own songs ive been writing over the years but have never managed to put it together with a proper band, but a few years ago me and Primordial’s guitar player Michael put together two songs. He helped me out recording them on an old 4 track. One of them is being used by the guys at Einheit productions from germany and they are now releasing it as a split with trimonium. Should be out in October. Just old school primitive and epic black metal.

How does this differ from Primordial’s music?

there are touches of primordial in it, some old immortal and some old rotting Christ in there, its just old school black metal. Take it or leave it… 

You mentioned in a previous update you had exams – what do you do outside the band, and what were these in?

I went back to college as a mature student. Nothing more. It doesn’t really have a relevance to primordial so it doesn’t matter. 

And how is the art going?

lots of ideas but nothing is really coming together as I would like. However I have some plans. I want a photo, with some depth and scale to it. So at the moment me and paul fro scald are looking at various things right now. If my plan comes to fruition it will be something special, we’ll have to wait and see ! 

Any more news from the Primordial camps, and any guesses as to when the new album may surface?

I don’t even have a working title at the moment, so many ideas I haven’t channeled them all yet. The release date is looking like November 30^th through metal blade of course so things will slowly start winding up to that date from now on….watch the skies. 

N 

Thanks again for your time, much appreciated, and good luck with the recording!