1.Can you give us an update on what is going on with the band these days?
Hi! Well, since our last studio album “Mors Viri” we have mainly focused on performing live. We have been working on some reissues of older records and in recent months we have started working on new material for our next studio album.
2.Your last album was released in 2013, how would you describe the musical sound that was present on that recording and also how does it differ from the stuff you have released in the past?
I think that we have progressed as a band over the years when it comes to composing our songs. In general I think we haven’t changed that much musically. When we started out we wanted to write heavy and melodic doom/death metal and that still is the case. Over the years you definitely grow as musicians and composers, so you could say we have matured nicely. I think the biggest difference when you compare “Mors Viri” to the previous albums is the production. We had “Mors Viri” mixed and mastered in Sweden by Ronnie Björnström and he did an amazing job.
3.In the last 14 years there have only been 4 full length, can you tell us a little bit more about the gap in between releases?
That’s more or less the way things work for us. You see, when an album is done you have to get it out of your system. As a band we then mainly focus on doing shows and it usually takes a while before we get back in writing mode. Next to that we all have regular jobs and families so in the end an average of 3 years between albums isn’t all that long to be honest.
4.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects you explore with your current music?
Lyrics often based around themes like relationships gone wrong, depression and stuff like that. I feel it is important the lyrics go hand in hand with the vibe of the music. Our music is quite emotional and therefore I tend to write about subjects like these. I do try to steer away a bit from those subjects but it seems I always come up with lyrics about these kind of subjects.
5.The band has been around for more than 20 years, what is it that motivates you to keep going after all of these years?
It’s the fun we have as a band creating music together, performing live and everything else involved in being in a band. It’s just a cool thing to do. You get to see places and you meet a lot of great people. Of course there are also hard times being in a band, but in general the good things make up for it. It’s just a fun thing to do and I can recommend it to anybody.
6.What are some of the best shows that the band has played over the years and also how would you describe your stage performance?
We’ve done quite a few awesome shows over the years. Thinking back I have fond memories of our shows in Moscow, Malta and Spain. Supporting bands like Candlemass and Anathema. Doing shows with Evoken, Isole, Mourning Beloveth or Hollenthon. I could mention them all really. Playing live is one of the things that is quite important to us. Our performance is pretty basic. We’ll let the music do the talking.
7.Do you have any touring or show plans for the future?
We have a few shows scheduled. We’ll be performing for the first time in the Czech Republic for instance and there are a couple of gigs planned here in the Netherlands. Other than that there’s a lot of talk about other shows as well so hopefully we’ll be able to announce some more shows later this year.
8.Recently Vic Records re-released your 2004 album "Reason', what are your thoughts on this re-issue?
It turned out perfect I think. Since the original press has been sold-out for a while we were looking for a label that wanted to reissue “Reason”. I got in touch with Roel of Vic Records and we worked out a deal within minutes. That was one of the best cooperation we have had with a label so far. We did toy with the idea to add some bonus material, but to be honest we don’t have any stuff from that period that would be a real addition. We also feel that we shouldn’t decrease the value of “Reason” has for us and a lot of fans. The album was intended to be that way, so we kept it as it is. That’s why we chose to release it as a digipack with the artwork cleaned up and some liner-notes. I am totally happy with this new edition.
9.Over the years how has the feedback been to your music by fans of doom and death metal?
In general the feedback has been great. There are always people who think a certain album is less good or something like that. But hey, it’s music and you can’t please everyone. Some people even think we are too cheesy and I have no problem with that. Just don’t listen to us if you don’t like our music. There are also people who genuinely think we are one of the best bands around and that is awesome too.
I still feel honored when people still discover us even when we’ve been around for some time. Makes you wonder if we shouldn’t have done things differently in the past, but it still makes me proud when someone shows their love for our music.
10.Are any of the band members also involved with any other bands or musical projects these days?
I think I’m the only one involved in other musical projects at the moment. In the past I have done some guest vocals for Falling Leaves from Jordan and Doomed from Germany. I am doing vocals in The 11th Hour, which is Ed Warby’s doom metal band. I have a doom metal band with Seth (Severe Torture/Centurian/Voodoo Gods) and AJ (Temple/ex-Beyond Belief). This is called Extreme Cold Winter and our debut recording “Paradise Ends Here” should be out this year through Ossuary Industries. Next to that I’m also involved in Clouds. We just released our debut “Doliu”. I did vocals on 1 song but I think you can expect more from Clouds in the future.
Then there’s Dark Epoch, which is also an international band with members from Australian and American acts such as The Slow Death, Mournful Congregation, Innsmouth, Aldebaran, Cruciform and so on.
Last but not least I have a classic rock covers band called The Rock Of Ages.
11.When can we expect new music and also where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?
Like said before we have started working on new songs. I’d like to say we should be able to have an album out in 2016, but it could be 2017 as well. We first need to get some killer tunes written. We are also working on the recording of a cover. Once that is done we’ll post it online. I won’t mention what song it is but it’s a cover of a non-metal song.
12.What are some of the bands or musical styles that have had an influence on your current music and also what are you listening to nowadays?
As a band we listen to a wide range of music. As an influence I would say we still are inspired by bands we listened to when we started out. So, Paradise Lost, Katatonia, Type O Negative and similar bands. Soundtracks or bands like M83, Mono, Hammock or London Grammar inspire us as well.
Personally I listen to lots of music. A lot of death metal and some recent releases I totally dig are Maveth, Krypts, Horrendous, Swallowed. I could go on and on. Within our style I really like the new Paradise Lost and Shape Of Despair albums. And bands like Doomed, Norilsk, Helevorn to name a few. The new Valkyrie is awesome too by the way.
13.What are some of your non musical interests?
From a personal point of view I can mention that I like to read (Bukowksi being one of my faves), watch movies and series, watch football (or soccer as you want to call it), play darts and drink beer.
14.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?
Thanks for the interview, it’s much appreciated. Keep supporting bands, they need it.
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