Stonehaven Interview

1. Can you tell us a little bit about the band for those that have never heard you before?
S: Stonehaven is a Viking-themed Black Metal band from Midwest America. We've been together for 5 years.

2. How would you describe your musical sound?
S: We've been compared to Windir and Enslaved, although I feel our music has taken a stronger turn towards straight black metal in the last couple years. Our previous demo had much more of a viking metal sound, whereas our current full length strays away from that. I would like to keep the perverted and opposite mixture of Einherjer to Sargeist.

3.What is the meaning behind the band's name?
S: Stonehaven, as in the preservation of ancient things, sentiments, etc.

4. How would you describe the lyrical content of the music?
S: My lyrics are meant to capture the terror of Viking age Europe. It is about the horror of a Christian man watching his wife get raped. It is about the hot shit streaming down the leg of the man standing in his first shieldwall, cowering at the charge. It is about Nordic-themed atrocities and murder. The unwritten sagas of murderers and killers versus the typical glorification of Viking 'heroism.' While Norse Heathenism and typical Viking-Metal lyrics encompassed our previous music, my lyrics have transitioned to represent the utter blackness of the Old World. From brothers killing brothers, the boast of a rapist to his comrades, to the whispers of dying men as they lay on the pyre, offering their knowledge of the Nine Worlds to those who would listen.

5. What are some of the best shows that the band has played so far?
S: Our recent tour brought many impressive shows. Personally, I enjoyed playing LA the best. LA is known for many elitist black metalists, and their large approval of our band and performance was honoring.

6. Are there any plans to tour Europe in the future?
S: I feel that whenever the opportunity presents itself to flatten the Old World, we'll take it.

7. The new album is self released do you have plans to look for a label in the future and if so what kind of label do you think that would be a perfect fit for your music?
S: Being in the MidWest, finding a label would be very helpful for us. There's a deficit of Black Metal in our area. We were very well received on the West Coast, and I believe a label would help us expand our audiences. That being said, many fledgling black metal bands jump at labels too quickly, and the label that gives them their home ends up giving them their grave as well.

8. How would you describe your musical progress over the years and what direction do you see the music heading into on future releases?
S: N. and I have been playing music for about 8 years now. Originally we had a thrash/black metal sound. At a point, we had an extremely viking metal sound. Now I feel we've combined the best of our past to influence our future. Again, our sound will move towards many black metal bands we respect (Horna, Pagan Hellfire, Kampfar, Marduk, etc), but our most clear influence is ourselves.

9. What are some bands or musical styles that have influenced your music and what are you listening to nowadays?
S: I can only speak for myself, but Burzum, Infaust, Sargeist, Nordreich, Satanic Warmaster, Horna, Walknut, etc..

10. What role does Paganism or Occultism play in the music and how would you describe your views on these topics?
S: Nordic Heathenism is a central tenant of my music and life, however, I don't feel it's an open table discussion. It disgusts me to no end to see hipsters take up any sort of heathenry. I don't feel explaining my elitist views on the matter would do anything other than possibly motivate a reader to take up the same views. This would be an affront to the purity of my ideals.

11. What are some of your interests outside of music?
S: History, Western Martial Arts, and reenactment.

12. Any final words or thoughts?
S: It excites to me that the rest of the United States that has experienced us is so receiving. We seek to please no one other than ourselves, and the fact that the other blue-bloods of black metal who we've run across in person have favored us so is honoring.

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