First of all our whole collective would like to thank you for your interest in our band.
1.Can you give us an update on what has been going on with the band since the recording of the new album?
In the time that we should be taking a break, we decided to take own steps in promoting the new album in any way we can. For now we keep all communication channels open and keep ourselves busy.
Last few rehearsals we were working on new stuff for 2015. For now we are busy with assisting our label with all the needed preparations for the release of “Power Through Unity”.
2.You have a new album coming out early this year, can you tell us a little bit more about the musical direction that you have taken with the new recording and also how does it differ from your previous demo?
We wanted to take the demo a few steps further towards a more defined sound that is dominated by low depressive tones, yet still very pronounced. Our EP “Holodomor” is more in the direction of “early” work of THE COMMITTEE stretching back to 2007. The full album tends to be more uniform with the lyrics and the story of the whole album. There's more black metal influences that dominate the palette. This was not intentional, but came as a result of combination of different factors to create a unity of music and feeling. We all have different musical influences which we try to combine and experiment with. What came out of our collaboration seems to be black metal for the most part.
3.I have read that this band started out as a solo project, what was the decision behind forming a full line up?
It happened by accident. Our drummer heard the raw unfinished pieces one day and took interest in the whole project. He found it to be worthy of his time and saw a future in it. After that moment it only took a short time before our guitarist and bass player joined the ranks. You can say that they were a bit intrigued by the strange concept. Now however, they play very specific roles inside the band. Our full album could not have been written without them. I could never achieve this kind of music on my own. The different input from our members is what makes our music come to life.
4.The lyrics cover Occultism, History and Conspiracy Theories, can you tell us a little bit more about your interests in these topics?
Strangely enough it's not only my interest. All of the 4 members take interest in these topics.
Because I don't follow the modern media, I like reading and researching strange bizarre things and events. Being blessed with the opportunity to see life in the West and in the East, I can assure you that we are never told the whole story about what happens around us. Only the top of the ice berg is visible. I don't like the word: conspiracy theory. I think in “pragmatic” terms. If we can put our moral judgement and emotions aside, we can see that the whole time there are conflicts of interest happening parallel to life's events. I feel that nothing is happening by accident. I like to educate myself to read between the lines and to see who benefits from those big nasty events that could have been “conspired” against us all. People are not stupid. They know that those empty and loud words like “freedom” and “democracy” are not fooling anyone anymore. I'm very happy to see that our fans understand us.
I like history too. And I'm simply amazed by how many times it repeats itself. The new album for example is an “alternative” view of history where opposing sides reconcile their difference because they see who benefits from their mutual slaughter.
5.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'The Committee'?
The Committee is a group of people who handle their affairs as one unit. Without a hunger for fame and yearning for good life. Only the music and the message is important. The Committee is us and it's our fans. It's amorphous, liquid and adaptive. It has no central structure and no rigid rules and systems. It is something that every one of our fans can see in themselves. I see the name not as an institution, but as one unit.
6.The band members all come from different countries, how do you get together to create and write music together?
We all live in one country for the moment. 2 of our members have roots in different countries. And other 2 are actually born in different countries. This is not as uncommon as it might seem. Underground black metal scene is quite diverse and many nationalities are ever present during shows and festivals. It was almost unavoidable to end up with the team we have now.
7.You have a show scheduled for a festival in Germany this year, is this going to be your first show or has the band done any live shows in the past?
The German show on the UNDER THE BLACK SUN festival is our first ever live performance. This show is arranged by FOLTER RECORDS. We are simply amazed by this fact. Right now negotiations are conducted in order to organise a release show in Belgium to announce our new album. We are very honoured to play in the country that we visit many times every year to see our favourite bands. For the gig in Germany I am learning to speak German for easier communication with our fans.
8.On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to your music by fans of black metal?
Simply put; We were blown away by the amount of positive feedback! We were not prepared for this at all. It toppled on us like an wave. Up to this day I cannot thank our fans enough for spreading the word of THE COMMITTEE. We keep our channels of communication open at all times and the news and feedback is pouring in every day. We put our fans above everything and their words have kept us going to do even more. It was due to their request, that we decided to play live.
9.Where do you see the band heading into music wise during the future?
For now we are brainstorming for the new full length album due in 2015 and will be concentrating more on live shows. We have planned 2 full albums ahead and will be delivering on our promise. It's hard to say how we will be accepted as a live band, but our predictions are positive. My goal is to have this conversation again after a few years and evaluate how everything has evolved. For now we will be working hard to spread our music and surprise our fans with new concepts and future releases.
10.What are some bands or musical styles that have had an influence on your music and also what are you listening to nowadays?
The strangest thing is that ALL of our 4 members have their own genres that they like. It ranges from Old Skool Black and Death metal to heavy metal and even old skool 70's rock. We like to get back to the roots of metal sometimes and hear the pioneers from the past.
Right now I'm quite obsessed by Winterfylleth, Mgla, Urgehal and Tsjuder. However I like to sneak a few albums of Black Sabbath and W.A.S.P to the rehearsals once in a while.
11.Do you have any non musical interests?
Yes off course. For now my interests are: learning new languages, traveling, nature exploration, applied psychology and sociology, reading, writing and fine cuisine. Our members off course have their separate passions that they pursue daily.
12.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?
Once again I would like to thank you for this interview and especially want to thank the German ( and world wide ) metal fans who believe in us and support us. It’s been a very interesting development.
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