Bland Vargar Interview

1.Can you tell us a little bit about the band for those that have never heard of you before?

Well, not much to say: Bland Vargar started out in Bologna, Italy, in autumn 2010 from the ashes of another project who has never seen the light. We are: Varg D. (bass/vocals), Varg C (guitar), Varg A (guitar), Varg L (drums).

Until now we released only a DIY Ep "Notturno 11" in 2012 and we're waiting that the French label "Le Crèpuscule Du Soir" will reissue it in 2013 plus an unreleased track as bonus.

2. How would you describe your musical sound?
Epic raw black metal with some ambient and folk elements.

3. What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores with the music?
Our lyrics are a Varg D. creation: it focuses on wolves, nature and winter as a metaphor of all surround us. It's a tale of wolves which actually reflects on human behaviours and the obscurity of personal issues and inner struggles. There's a thin connection between almost all Bland Vargar lyrics.
4. What is the meaning and inspiration behind the bands name?


Bland Vargar means "among wolves" in Swedish. The name takes up the concept of the lyrics (see the answer #3).

5. What are some of the best shows that the band has played so far and how would you describe your stage performance?


We played our first gig in December 2012 in Bologna with the mighty old school black/thrash sensation Bunker 66 and with our friends and great band Barbarian. After that just a bunch of shows during 2013 in north Italy, hoping to increase our number of concerts in the next future.
During our live performances the main feeling we try to convey is the same feeling of darkness which is inside our music.
We don't like to play long shows, so, since the length of our songs is between 11 and 16 minutes, we usually play 2 songs with an Intro.

6. Do you have any touring or show plans for the future?


We started during May 2013 the recordings of our first full length called "Perpetual Return" which will be finished before the end of 2013. We would like to support the release of the album with an European Tour, probably Spring 2014. That's our plan, but, you know, plans are made to be changed...


7.According to the fb page, you are singed to Iconoclast Records, can you tell us a little bit more about the label?


Actually we have not signed to Iconoclast Records. The connection is that two members of the band (me and Varg D.) run this label. Iconoclast Records focuses its sound into extreme and dark music, no matter if it's black, death or doom metal, or folk. Is no concidence if Bland Vargar music perfectly fits this idea.
At the moment we released LP's for bands such as Undead Creep, Eibon, Embers, Aesahaettr, Sangre De Muerdago, Usurpress, Black September, Bhopal...By the way we still don't know if BV next releases will be on Iconoclast.
For who is more interested in the label check our website www.iconoclastrecords.org

8.On all the websites I have seen so far, the band is against Nazi's, Racism and Facsism, can you tell us a little bit more about those views?


I'll be brief. We have specified it since we do not want have anything to do with NSBM, nazi and fascist bands/idiots/whatever. Black metal is sadly infested with these ideologies.


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

I don't know. We're a new and obscure band. Pretty sure we're not so well known worldwide: we never played gigs out of Italy and we only released an EP at the moment. But I can say that "Notturno 11" until now has always received nice reviews and the band has received always positive feedbacks. We are very pleased with this and we would like to thanks everybody who have spent nice words to us. This is a great incentive to go ahead with Bland Vargar.

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


Hard to say...we don't want to look too far. First of all we don't want to put ourselves any kind of lmit in our music, moreover, our lives influence so much our music that is impossible to predict which direction will take our next releases since we don't know what will happen to our future. Meanwhile, for those who are curious to know which way will take Bland Vargar, I suggest to buy a copy of our next full length "Perpetual Return". Recordings will be completed during the following months, and I hope the record will see the light in the beginning of 2014.

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


Bland Vargar loves Ulver, Dissection, Bathory, Darkthrone 90's period, Satyricon early stuff, Angantyr, Xasthur, early Katatonia, etc...but we take inspiration also from other musical styles such as folk, 70's and psychedelic music. It's no coincidence that we play live a Pink Floyd song as intro of our set. They influenced me so much! I personally listen to a lot of old music, mostly between 60's and 70's but I grew up with punk, crust, doom and death metal. Some of my favourite bands of all time besides the above mentioned are Black Sabbath, Discharge, Motorhead, Entombed, Hawkwind and many others. I spend most of my time listening to music and I prefer to avoid a kilometric list of bands that I listen to.

12.Does Paganism or Occultism play any role in your music?


No. I prefer to believe in myrself insted of any god or magician.

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


Mountains, sea, THC..

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


Thanks  for the chance to talk a bit about Bland Vargar! For those are interested in the band here's some links:
http://blandvargar.bandcamp.com
http://www.facebook.com/blandvargar

Don't miss "Notturno 11" reissue out soon on Le Crèpuscule Du Soir and stay tuned for our next release!

Cheers

Varg C.