Fir Bolg Interview

1.Can you give us an update on what is going on with the musical project these days?

I decided to join officially two members into the band.
Abaddon was the second session drummer of Fir Bolg.
He played there live few years ago, and he recorded the drums on the album “Towards ancestral lands”.
Necrokiller play bass, and was also a live member during one time.
We began rehearsals three months ago, and actually hearing and testing for a live session singer.


2.How would you describe the musical sound of the new album and also how does it differ from past releases?

Powerful, aggressive, dark and resentful. A catchy path makes you travel thru the lands of ancient stones, where the cold winds bite your face with stormy leads guitars. Some tracks are added with epic and traditional acoustic passages, on which you can close your eyes to smell a taste of freshly moved earth.
The album is a logical result from the EP Paganism, with a better sound quality and technical instrumentation. However I didn’t use keyboards as the EP, which sounds more atmospheric than the album.



3.Can you tell us a little bit more about the song lyrics on the new album?

Every song tells about different things.
On Behind the great oppdidum, i approach the subject of life community inside a Gallic oppidum, where slaves are resold, as well as the sacred rites and sacrifices to the ancient gods.

Blood heritage is a he story of a warrior, walking to the path of his ancestors to purify himself.

One song tell about the mystic death creatures, Banshees. But this song was writing by an old friend and has a powerful hidden message inside; I invite you to read the texts on the booklet to discover it.

King of Wallachia is a song from the story of Vlad Tepes the impaler.

On Strong old megaliths I puts forward the elements, which surround us, and the knowledge of the druids. This song tells about the old necropolises where the Celts were buried.

Final battle on the frozen lake is inspired from the movie “king Arthur” When a group of warriors fight a horde of Saxons and the ice break under their steps.

The two last songs are inspired from the Irish mythological Lebor Gabàla Érenn.

Mag tuired is the name of a battle between the Fir Bolg and the Thuatha Dé Danann tribes.

Dun Aengus is a ringfort on a island of Ireland, built by the Fir Bolg in iron age.






4.I know that the band name came from Celtic Paganism, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in this subject?

Yes Fir Bolg is the name of an ancient tribe who reigned on Ireland before the age of Christianity.
I like to read some books and watch movies about Celtic and paganism, also Viking and medieval times. Those ancient times fascinate me, and when I have time, I travel to discover archaeological places.

5.For awhile the project was all solo but recently a drummer was  added, what was the decision behind hiring other members?
Yes, Abaddon is now the official drummer of the band.
Necrokiller was added too as bass player. The project is to make some future concerts for promote the new album.
They were always very involved in the band, even as session members. They so always respected the fact as myself was only at the control and took all decisions, without ever announcing me an annoyance to don’t be a real member, while I felt that they would have wanted it.
 There are also some very good friends of me, and I realized that their involved support and availability would be an advantage for the future of the band.

6.The new album came out on Schwarzdorn Production, can you tell us a little bit more about this label?

Schwarzdorn Production is a German label of Pagan, black and Death metal.
Patrick, the boss, work with bands from all Europe.
His international network distribution is made by Soulfood music.
Schwarzdorn released 1000 cd Album of Towards ancestral lands, he work in collaboration with graphic illustrators and The klangshmiede studio E.
We have both a good collaboration and the communication is made naturally. He’s a person invested in his work.


7.On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to the new album by fans of pagan and black metal?

Very good, the album was noted very well by the webzines, and I had many positive feedbacks by a lot of people. It’s an enormous reward for all the work, which I made, on this album.

8.What is going on with the other musical project these days?

We are composing some songs for preparing the second album of Assacrentis, in a vein more Black/ Death metal than the past.
We have actually 5 finished songs and works on more.

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

I have in mind, maybe to put epic folk interludes songs between aggressive tracks, and I shall like trying to integrate some ancient’s instruments I never used yet.

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

The Nordic Black metal and pagan Black metal of the 90’s has influenced me a lot.
Some bands like Emperor, Bathory, Sacramentum, Immortal, Vinterland, Enslaved, Satyricon Bran Barr, Kampfar, Dissection and many more… But I listen also Death metal ( Nile, Krisiun, Carcass, Suffocation…, Heavy metal ( Iron maiden, Manowar, Blind guardian…), Trash ( Slayer, Sepultura, Anihilator, Kreator…), and Also Medieval music like Stille volk, Corvus Corax and Dark ambient as Dargaard, Wardruna, Mortiis, or Empyrium.

Nowadays I listen a lot of music too, at this moment I like Belphegor, Negator, Setherial, Opeth, Primordial, between many more



11.Outside of music what are some of your interests?


I’m member of historical pageant association. We reconstitute a Gallic itinerant village on antique and gallo roman fests, few times by years. I also like role-playing and tray games, which I practise occasionally.

12.Any final words or thoughts before we wrap up this interview?

Be prepared to see Fir Bolg on stage on 2014. We will rise the Celtic barbaric spirits with our black flame.
If someones want to help Fir Bolg. Help us to book some dates anywhere in Europe.

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Fir Bolg/Towards Ancestral Lands/Schwarzdorn Productions/2013 CD Review

  Fir  Bolg  are  a  1  man  band  from  France  that  plays  a  pagan  form  of  black  metal  along  with  some  folk  music  and  death  metal  elements  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2013  album  "Towards  Ancestral  Lands"  which  was  released  by  Schwarzdorn  Productions.

  "Intro"  starts  off  with  album  with  folk  instruments  and  heavy  and  melodic  guitar  riffs  and  drums  while  also  serving  as  a  perfect  introduction  to t he  album.

  "Behind  The  Great  Oppidum"  which  is  the  first  real  song  on  the  album  opens  up  with  heavy  and  melodic  sounding  black  metal  guitar  riffs  along  with  some  drums  and  a  few  seconds  alter  grim  high  pitched  screams  start  coming  into  the  song  while  also  remaining  in  a  mid  paced  direction  before  getting  fast  and  raw  in  some  sections  along  with  some  blast  beats  as  well  as  a  brief  use  of  death  metal  growls  and  halfway  through  the  song  the  bass  guitars  getting  more  powerful  along  with  a  small  amount  of  acoustic  guitars  before  going  back  to  the  fast  and  mid  paced  parts.

  'Blood  Heritage"  opens  up  with  some  sword  fights  before  adding  in  drums  nordic  style  black  metal  guitar  riffs  and  grim  screams  along  with  some  melody,  blast  beats  and  thrash  influences  and  after  awhile  a  small  amount  of  growls  are  added  into  the  song  and  you  can  also  hear  the  bass  guitars  in  certain  sections  of  the  song.

  "Banshee's"  starts  up  with  folk  music  style  acoustic  guitars  and  you  can  also  hear t he  bass  as  well  and  a  few  seconds  alter  grim  black  metal  screams  along  with  some  drums,  and  heavy  and  melodic  guitar  riffing  and  a  few  seconds  later  blast  beats  are  added  into  the  song  and  after  awhile  the  music  alternated  between  both  metal  and  folk  parts.

  "King  Of  Wallachia"  begins  with  some  old  school  black  metal  guitar  riffs,  drums  and  grim  screams   and  sticks  mostly  to  a  mid  paced  direction  while  also  speeding  up  in  certain  sections  and  adding  in  some  blast  beats  and  powerful  sounding  bass  guitars  and  after  awhile  the  music  gets  more  melodic  along  with  a  brief  sue  of  guitar  solos  and  leads.    

  "Strong  Old  Megaliths"  kicks  off  with  nature  sounds  before  adding  in  some  heavy  and  melodic  guitar  riffs  along  with  drums,  bass  guitars  and  grim  screams  and  a  few  seconds  alter  pagan  style  shouts  start  coming  in  and  out  of  the  song  and  halfway  through  the  song t here  is  a  brief  use  of  blast  beats  and  growls  being  utilized.

  "Final  Battle  On  The  Frozen  Lake"  hits  off  with  heavy  and  melodic  guitar  riffs  along  with  some  drums  and  a  second  alter  the  music  goes  into  a  raw  and  fast  direction  along  with  some  black  metal  screams,  blast  beats  and  a  small  amount  of  growls  which  also  leads  up  to  a  brief  use  of  melodic  guitar  solos  and  leads  and  you  can  hear  the  bass  guitars  in  the  background  as  well  as  alternating  between  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.

  "Mag  Tuired"  makes  its  way  into  the  album  with   heavy  and  melodic  guitar  riffs  along  with  some  drums  and  death  metal  growls  which  also  lead  up  to  some  black  metal  screams  and  a  minute  later  there  is  a  brief  use  of  fast  guitar  riffing  and  blast  beats  and  towards  the  end  you  can  actually  hear  the  bass  guitars  for  a  few  seconds.

  "Dun  Aengus"  which  is  also the  last  song  on  the  album  starts  up  with  some  clean  acoustic  and  bass playing  and  a  few  seconds  alter  drums,  heavy  guitars  and  black  metal  screams  start  to  kick  in  along  with  some  melodic  guitar  riffing  before  going  into  a  faster  direction  and  adding  in  some  blast  beats  before  returning  to  both  the  clean  and  mid  paced  sections  as  well  as  alternating  between  the  different  parts.

  Song  lyrics  cover  Celtic  Paganism  and  European  History,  while  the  production  has  a  very  strong,  powerful,  heavy  and  professional  sound  where  you  can  hear  all  of  the  musical  instruments  that  are  present  on  this  recording  along  with  some  of  the  songs  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length.

  In  my  opinion  Fir  Bolg  are  a  very  great  sounding  European  style  pagan/black  metal  project  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Behind  The  Great  Oppidum"  "King  Of  Wallachia"  and  "Dun  Aengus".  RECOMMENDED  BUY.

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