Vargstuhr Interview

1.For those that have never heard of you before, can you tell us a little bit about the musical project?

It is an atmospheric black metal project linked with nature and environmentalism, and in which tracks are full of contrasts.





2.In April of 2015 you had released your first demo, how would you describe the musical sound that is presented on the recording?

First of all, the music evokes landscapes and, therefore also the sound plays a crucial role in the atmosphere. I opted for a raw, cold and sharp sound, because the scene takes place in an icy landscape where life has to struggle to survive.



3.Each track on the album has a concept involving wolves, can  you tell us a little bit more about your song lyrics?

First of all, it´s a conceptual album that tells a wolves pack story which fights to survive the hard Winter. The first song, “Howling 1: The Wolf Pack, Sköll´s sons”, is the main character´s presentation: the wolf pack and its social spirit. Musically, this song has a folk and pagan touch that realize the connection between nature and wolf.

“Howling 2: Running on the Snow”, it´s the presentation of the scene where the action take place: a frozen landscape covered by the snow.

“Howling 3: Howlings in the Night”, Here the wolves greet to Winternight with their howlings.

Howling 4: Winter Hunger, The wolves are possessed by hunger, and then they cross their huntzone border.

“Howling 5: The Hunt, in Search of the Prey”. Once there, they find prey traces and then the hunt starts: they follow the trace, encircle the prey, but it belongs to a sheperd.

“Howling 6: The Hunter Becomes the Hunted”. Turn the tables, and the hunter becomes the hunted. The sheperd follow the wolfpack with his shotgun.

“Howlings 7: Wolf blood”. The sheperd shoots and the bullet hurt the alpha wolf, which dies over the snow.

“Howling 8: Wolf Cup, a New Era”. A wolf cup born in the wolf pack.

“Howling 9: Wolf Lair” This track is instrumental, but it imagines how the wolf cup grows and plays.

“Howling 10: Running Between the Trees”. The Winter ends and it closes the circle.



If you want, you can read the lyrics in the next link: http://www.metal-archives.com/albums/Vargstuhr/Howlings/523176



4.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Vargstuhr'?

It is a mix between "Varg" (“wolf” in Swedish) and a variation of my real name.



5.With this project you record everything by yourself, how would you compare working solo to a full band?

I´ve weighed up the pros and cons. On the one hand, when you're alone only depend on yourself, so you can work at your own pace and do what you like, without give any explanation. But on the other hand, you can´t enjoy the variety of ideas as if you were in a band where several minds are synchronized, nor there is the coexistence of rehearsals, neither the possibility of gigs, so everything is more personal and introspective.



6.On the album you also bring in a good amount of folk instruments but also keep in the aggression, do you feel this makes your music stand out a bit more?

As I said, it is a project related to environmentalism, hence I confront the mechanical and technocrat future/present with a traditional past, whereon the human beings were more rooted in the nature (romantic idealization of the past), then, composing with a touch of folk music is relevant to achieve that goal.



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

I can not answer this question because I have left the distribution to the records companies which have released the album: Depressive illusion (CDr) and black death productions (cassette), but I have facebook and youtube pages and I can tell you that the followers´ nationalities are varied and balanced, in other words, the Spanish audience has lesser weight.



8.What is going on with your other musical projects these days?

Muert are composing their third LP and Schwarzwald are recording their first LP. But also, I 'm writing new stuff for the second album of Vargstuhr



9.Where do you see yourself heading into as a musician in the future?

I´m going to record the Vargstuhr´s second album, under the title of “Dystopia”. It will be, again, a program music and a conceptual album, but focusing in the impact of the human being over the nature, and in a dystopical and technocratic future society.



10.What are some of the bands or musical styles that have had an influence on your music and also what are your listening to nowadays?

Bands: Ulver (early), Agalloch, Wolves in the throne room, Enslaved, Taake, Satyricon (early), Shinning… Musical styles: atmospheric black metal, blackgaze, depressive black metal, avantgarde black metal…



11.Does Paganism pay any role in your music?

More precise than paganism, rather it is to speak over an anti-technical, ecological and unscientific view; in other words, a vision on which the nature were not an object that you could handle at will, nor broke up in simplifications which do not allow that it moves us.



12.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?

Thank you very much for your work and effort; and greetings to the readers of your webzine.

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