For those that have never heard of you before, can you tell us a little bit about the band?
Johannes: We are five guys hailing from the south of germany – more precise: the Heidelberg area – making music together for about two years now.
Timotheus: That is also how long most of us have known each other, our musical and personal relationship really started with forming the band. We gathered to start something different, more dark and more "serious" than the muscial endeavours we had been part of in the past and under really vague common interests and goals something concrete was quickly established: our first album, to which not much can be added at this point when it comes to communicating what the band is.
In June you had released the album, how would you describe the musical sound that is presented on the recording?
Johannes: Hmmm … to be honest, I think this question is better answered by others. I for myself am not a friend of musical pigeonholing or stereotypes but I think most people need to compare the sound of one band to another. In our band description we use the topics black, doom and death.That sums it up, I think, but the relation of this three genres varies from song to song. I would consider it to be heavy, athmospheric and aggressive, more doomed black metal than blackened doom metal. But that’s just my opinion.
What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores with the music?
Timotheus: The countless adventures of the Stagwounder. Bizarre situations that might make the Lord vomit.
What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Stagwounder'?
Johannes: When it first came into my head, I thought it sounds pretty nasty and fitting for our sound. Wounding – not neccessary killing –a majestic animal, that’s pretty evil I guess. But there’s also a metaphorical level: The stag appears in almost every culture, it’s one of the oldest figures you find in art and myths. It was seen as a synonyme for a god-like animal in earlier days: the king of the forest and so on. The celts had cernunnos, it stands for vitality and fertility. Even in early christian days there were legends of stags appearing to people as a divine symbol for nature.
Timotheus: For us personally -- and analogous to many cultural connotations -- the stag stands for the purity and sanctity of nature and life in general. "Stagwounder" is as much an outward allegation as an inner confession programmatically speaking, but as a name for a work of art it is just that, a name to an illustration, to describe what can be seen and of course heard.
Do you have any touring or show plans for the future?
Johannes: Definitely yes. In Germany it’s hard for a band like us. We are ready for take off, playing shows and tours but when you’re out there on your own, complete d.i.y. without al label or a booker in the back, this means a lot of hard work.
Currently you are unsigned, are you looking for a label or have received any interest?
Johannes: By now we are working on new songs and we want to start to record them soon – at first on our own, later on we will see. We are proud that we have come to this point by ourselves, but if a label is interested is what we’re doing ... why not? As long as we are still able to do our thing in the way we want to, none of us would be unhappy about having some support.
On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to your music by fans of black and doom metal?
Johannes: It was interesting for us to see how quickly we got feedback. Only one day after the release of Invisible Radiance we had requests from Brazil, a guy in Portugal wrote some really nice words about the record and few days later we were played in an US-radio-podcast. That was pretty awesome because we didn’t ask anyone to do so. We really like the spirit of the worldwide underground metal community and highly appreciate any feedback, whether it’s positive or not.
Where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?
Johannes: As said before – we are working on new songs which will lead us (and you) on a loooong journey downwards into abysses far more lightless than the ones we have travelled so far. So be forewarned, it’s gonna be some heavy stuff comin‘ around. And some polka.
Timotheus: Since the relationship of the band has been a very new one making the first record, the next release is probably going to display a musical maturation in some aspects. It also looks like it is going to be a little bit faster and more melodic, you could say more "technical" or "diverse". As for the Doom- and Black- Label it might be a further digression but for sure it will be more and less Stagwounder.
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?
Timotheus: Invisible Radiance has been influenced by both classical and "post" Black-, Doom-, Deathmetal and Rock; regarding the guitars only it sometimes seems to me like a minimalistic mixture of Satyricon, Shining, Ulcerate and I (the Band) next to the homemade wrath and sentimentality.
As with every band that consists of more than one person, our musical interests aren‘t uniform, but amongst other bands we have lately listened to Schammasch (the new album is curiously awaited) and Ahab (the new album is very much enjoyed) in our rehearsal room.
11.What are some of your non musical interests?
Timotheus: Looking at the sky; what is left in the refrigerator.
12.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?
Johannes: To quote that Goethe-guy: More light! And antlers up to all the people out there supporting underground music.
And thank you
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