Ninkharsag Interview

1. Can you give us an update on what is going on with the band these days?
We are currently seeking a label to put out our first album which is recorded and mastered. It is nine tracks of solid black metal majesty hewn from obsidian and tempered with dust and grime scraped from old tomes and sealed tombs. We have also begun work on a follow up release for the album, which we are very excited about.

2. How would you describe the musical sound of the newer material?
We have begun work on a couple of new songs which are beginning to take shape. The sound is definitely more focused and Wagnerian in scope with more melody and counter harmonies, yet retaining raw, elemental power. It is the sound of ancient, forgotten lore being dragged kicking and screaming into the present.

3. The lyrics cover alot about Occultism and Magick, can you tell us more about which forms of the occult and also which occultists have had the most impact on the band?

All the  lyrics on our first album tell a tale...whether it be about the infamous assassins of Jerusalem during Roman occupation (The Sicarii) or  the destruction of the Knights Templars (Pastoralis Praeeminentiae). There is also influence from obvious sources such as Crowley and Austin Osman Spare regarding the magical aspect, but then we are also interested in pre Sumerian history regarding the Anunnaki.

4. What is the meaning and inspiration behind the bands name?
Ninkharsag (or Ninhursag) is the Sumerian mother goddess who spawned eight deities from the seed of Enki.  We are interested in this tale due to it's alternative history being that the Annunaki were a race of starfarers who descended to Earth in pre-history to genetically modify the fledgling human race to work as slaves.

5. The band started out as a solo project, what was it that lead to a formation of a whole bands?
A general disdain for the majority of contemporary black metal led us to form the band. We strive to retain the sacred essence of black metal without compromising it with fickle trends or other weak, pointless influences which have crept in over the years.

6. What are some of the best shows that the band has played so far and how would you describe your stage performance?
So far we have shared the stage with Bal-Sagoth, Wodensthrone, Dark Fortress and many others. We invoke strange atmospheres on stage with low lighting and smoke to draw in the audience and seperate ourselves from the crowd and put ourselves into a more ritualistic way of thinking while performing.

7. Do you have any touring plans for the future?
There are plans in motion for a UK tour around the middle to end of summer with another, well respected black metal band. There is not much of an underground scene here in England so it is difficult for us to get out and tour as much as we would like but we are confident that when the album is released, we shall tour on the back of it around europ.e

8. Currently you are unsigned, are you looking for a label and if so what kind of label do you feel that would be a perfect fit for your music?

There are plenty of good black metal labels in Europe at the moment, but few who provide the level of dedication we need. We have no interest in sitting in the shadows with this band...we intend to charge forward and conquer. There are many bands out there who have label backing purely based on their contacts within the scene and nothing to do with musical talent. We intend on putting a knife to the throats of such drivel...metaphorically speaking.

9. On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to your music by fans of black metal?
Until the album is released, it is difficult to judge how well we are perceived on a worldwide basis. More important to us is the reaction we get when we perform live...the reception is often a wild uproar which certainly let's us know we are doing something right. Our plan is to get to Europe this year where we can spread our tenticles further to be seen by the right people...

10. What is going on with the other musical projects these days?

All of our horde have been or are members of various, well respected bands but they are superfluous to our collective aim with this band.

11. What direction do you see your music heading into on future releases?

Ancient Black metal Art. We will never compromise our music for the sake of attracting the common hanger on. Musically, darker, heavier and sweeping.

12. What are some bands or musical styles that have influenced your newer music and also what are you listening to nowadays?

We all have very ecclectic tastes in music but we try not and let outside influences into this band. We will remain ancient black metal art. Aside from that, there are some excellent bands in the underground at the moment such as Cultes Des Ghoules, Mare, Hetroertzen all producing brilliant, occult black metal.

13. Outside of music what are some of your interests?
We are busy with various other musical projects but we enjoy live music when there is someone worth seeing.

14. Any final words or thoughts before we wrap up this interview?
'Let the manes put off their terror, let them put off their aqueous bodies with fire. Let them assume the milk-white bodies of agate. Let them draw together the bones of the metal.' - Ezra Pound - The Alchemist:  Chant for the Transmutation of Metals

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