1. For those that have never heard of you before, can you tell us a little bit about the musical project?
I am a one man black metal band form North Dakota. I wouldn’t call my music traditional black metal and I myself have trouble categorizing my style. I would say this album is more focused on mood and groove than blast beats or atmosphere, although both of those appear as well.
2. Recently you have released your first album, how would you describe the musical sound that is presented on the recording?
Heavy and brooding at times. Melodic and melancholy at other times.
I have heard people say I sound like first wave and really early second wave black metal bands. I wouldn’t be so bold as to compare myself to legends and gods like Bathory, Venom, Black Sabbath, or early Mayhem, but those are some bands others have used to describe my sound. I am deeply honored by those comparisons.
3. What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects you explore with your music?
This album is all about nature, mythology, and what I view as the illusion of the human experience and my personal philosophies on humanity. Thus the title “All That Is of the Earth.”
4. What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Bukavac'?
Actually there is a story behind the name. I joined a website called My Online Band a few years ago. On that web site I found a black metal vocalist named Arsenic. We formed an online band called Astral War and he started posting our songs on YouTube. Of course the credited members where Arsenic and SixStrings (my profile name) and that was just fucking ridiculous. So I needed a new name. We looked up demons and other appropriate names but one fit perfectly. A Slavic demon with six legs, gnarled horns, who makes a lot of noise. He hides in the swamps and strangles people to death who pass by. Who wouldn’t love such a creature?
And so Bukavac was born. Some Astral War songs are still online. They are not very good because I had no idea how to mix or master my music then... I still don’t really but I feel I have greatly improved. Arsenic was actually a solid vocalist and we had some really good ideas but, I didn’t have the knowhow to make it sound good. That and my DAW at the time kept shitting the bed. So guitars would be in the left channel and not the right, and all other kinds of problems. It was fun but I would consider it a learning experience for both Arsenic and myself. Hopefully Arsenic is still making music.
5. On the album you recorded mostly everything by yourself, are you open to working with a full band or do you plan on keeping it a solo project?
I played and recorded everything but drums. I don’t know shit about drums and honestly have no desire to learn how to play them. So I use Beta Monkey drum loops.
Bukavac always has been and always will be a solo project. If I should work with others it would no longer be Bukavac. It would require a new band name. I Bukavac would just be a piece of the band rather than the entire band.
6. The album was released on Black Lion Productions, can you tell us a little bit more about how you had came in contact with this label?
My friend Karhmul from the band Abandoned by Light recommended them to me. Since signing with Black Lion I have been really happy. They have been more supportive and helpful than any other label I spoke with. That and the art work on the CDs and booklets look amazing. Black Lion does really good work.
7. On the album you had a quest appearance from a member of 'Abandoned by Light', can you tell us a little bit more about what he added to your musical style?
Karhmul is a great musician and an amazing artist. I was honored to have him appear on the album. He wrote the lyrics to “Into the Abyss Beyond” so the song doesn’t really fit the overall concept of the album but I really wanted to include it.
Karhmul is a much better vocalist than I am so it’s possible those are the best vocals on the album!
8. On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to your music by fans of black and death metal?
So far it’s been all positive. I am still amazed at how connected the world is now. I have heard from people in South America, the U.S., and I am signed to a label in Sweden. It means a lot to me to be accepted by Scandinavian black metal fans though. As a black metal artist and fan I know that it is the birth place of the genre and some of the greatest bands ever have come from that area.
9. Are you also involved with any other bands or musical projects?
Currently no. The Legion of Black Blood is releasing a split at the end of the month. There are two or three collaboration songs between Jord, Nocturnal Toxin and Carnage, Abandoned by Light, and myself.
10. Where do you see yourself heading into as a musician in the future?
I plan to stop masturbating before I play fast tremolo picking… its exhausting. Haha no.. I have no idea what to do next as a musician. I would love to take guitar, bass, or vocal lessons but I know I don’t have time. I have also thought about ancient history college classes to help me write lyrics. But again time, money, and life all get in the way.
11. 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?
I love all extreme metal music. Death metal, black metal, all that good shit. On this album I would say my influences are Behemoth, Watain, Marduk, Black Label Society, Danzig, Agalloch, High on Fire, Subrosa, The Well, Bloodbath, Coffinworm, Gorgoroth, Mastodon, Neurosis, and Kylessa.
12. What are some of your non musical interests?
Porn. Puppies. Puppy porn. Same as everyone else.
I enjoy art and alcohol… I don’t know. Other than music I just hang out with the wife. We don’t go out much. I am not big into sports or anything like that. I am pretty fucking boring.
13. Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?
Thank you so much for the opportunity to appear in your magazine. All of what I have experienced so far with my music is way more than anything I expected when I just began learning Cannibal Corpse songs on a hand me down acoustic guitar back in high school.
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