Daemonheim Interview

1. Can you give us an update on what has been going on with the band since the recording of the new album?

Well, after finishing the new record called “Tidian” we made a contract with Naturmacht Productions to release the album in 2014. We also did some smaller promotional things because 6 years between the releases are a long time. And then we will see what happens after the release is done.

2. You have a new album coming out during the end of May, can you tell us a little bit more about the musical direction of the new recording and also how does it differ from the stuff you have released in the past?

Musically it is a mixture Black Metal with some elements of Death Metal, folk influences and some other (non-) Metal styles. Mostly in high tempo but also with lots of mid-tempo atmosphere-passages. The main difference between “Tidian” and the former albums is that it is really more progressive but still in the way Daemonheim created the last 15 years. It is brutal, in some way also raw but no less intense and atmospheric. The production is also more powerful than our former releases but still in a raw way that Black Metal should be.

3. This is going to be the first album released since 2007, can you tell us a little bit more about the 7 year gap?

It was no real gap rather than a developing process. If we had “Tidian” released a few years earlier it would be a completely different album than it is today. Of course there were several problems with equipment and spare time but nothing uncommon like other bands have. In conclusion it was a good decision to create this album for such a long time. It is really the best work we have ever done and the third album in history
of a band is the most significant one (if you believe in such things).

4. What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores with the newer music?

“Tidian” is the conceptional second part that began with “Hexentanz” in 2007. It goes on with myths and legends of old German lore that depends on the landscape of Harz, our homeland. “Hexentanz” dedicated itself on the myths that are quite known by many people who are interested in lore. “Tidian” is more on the minor known legends. It is also more regional than “Hexentanz” was. “Tidian” is about hunting dragons, mythical phenomena, revenge and such things that mostly happened in the early middle ages. A journey between fantasy and reality.

5. What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Daemonheim'?

The name itself means nothing special. I invented it 15 years ago. It was in a time Black Metal was more mystical and not mass-beloved than it is today. It should have been a name that is unique, not depending on a book, film or something like this. The inspiration behind Daemonheim was to create our own vision of Black Metal, to make our own unique interpretation of an art style that it is in my opinion that best one to express the most emotional feelings.

6. Currently there are only 2 members in the band, are you open to working with a full line up again in the future or do you chose to remain a duo?

I think Daemonheim will remain a duo consisting of TH and me. We play together for more than 12 years and every line-up went be back to this stable formation. I don’t want to exclude that it will grow bigger again if we meet someone who is in the same way as we are and who is worth to be along with us, musically and personally. But the chance that this will happen is very low. We are able to play all instruments that are needed for our music and have a really good way to compose the music with which each other so that there is no need for another one. But time will show the way.

7. The band has never done any live shows, do you feel this adds up to the
mystique of the band?

Yes. Maybe a little bit. There is nothing against live gigs but I never felt that Daemonheim should have stand on stage. Why should we do this? Because most of the other bands do? No way. It is no music to get drunk in a crowd and should not be cried along by the masses. It would destroy the kind of misanthropy that stands behind Daemonheim. And to play the songs just down on stage is disgusting. The material was never written to be performed live and it would no be the same feeling as it should be. So it is improbable that you will see us on stage.

8. On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to your music by fans of black metal?

It’s really hard to say. I don’t much about the feedback of Daemonheim outside our homeland. I think it is still not well-known out of Germany and of course inside it is also at best an underground hint. But this is nothing to regret. It is quite ok when more people listen to our music and may understand what we are standing for, what lyrical themes we try to spread. On the other side it won’t change a thing if less people listen to it. We will always be the same ones and do the same style of art.

9. Where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?

Another point that is hard to say. Daemonheim ever stood for its own style of unique interpretation of Black Metal. What kind of progression of our own style it will be on the next album is impossible to predict. The only thing I can say for sure is that the lyrics are in some kind back to the first album but also in a completely other way. The lore lyrics were just written for the last two albums and were just an excurse. It was never meant to go on with these themes because we are not such a type of band
(see question 11).

10. What are some of the bands or musical styles that have had an influence on your music and also what are you listening to nowadays?

There does not exist a special band that had a main influence on the style of Black Metal we play. You just need to hear into our music (also the older ones) and you will understand that point. We both like the bands of the 2nd wave of Black Metal in the mid of the 90s until nowadays but also all the other metal and non-metal styles. If music expresses feelings in a quite great way it is worth to be listened to!

11. How would you describe your views on paganism?

At first Daemonheim is NO pagan band. We don’t play Pagan/ Heathen- or any other style of this (Black) Metal. It is just Black Metal. We don’t have any pagan views. The last two albums might be deceptive in a way but they have nothing in common with paganism. I know that our last label and many mailorders sell our albums as Pagan or Heathen Metal. We have never been asked if this is the right description of our style. It is just wrong. To worship nature and a part of our homeland lore does not automatically make pagans out of us. Daemonheim is a nature-worshipping, misanthropic (and in the past also anti-christian) band at all. The next album will lead back to the main themes and show again what the main lyrical topics are. “Tidan” and
“Hexentanz” were (only) monuments to our homeland and just an excurse.

12. What are some of your non musical interests?

I don’t think that it is a place for our belongings beside Daemonheim. People that we are in acquaintance with know who we are. All others shouldn’t. It is maybe a part of mysticism of Daemonheim that we are trying to keep.

13. Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?

Thanks for the interview. On May 30th “Tidian” will be released by Naturmacht Productions. So listen to it and get your copy. Be part of our worship to German Harz!

(Questions were answered by b. of Daemonheim at end of April 2014)

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