Pagan Megalith Interview

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

Tuhlv: Pagan Megalith was formed in the end of 2004, after going deeper in music and history of the Early Norwegian Black Metal scene. That genre seemed to be full of secrets and beyond our world. Listening to that was not enough, so it was a natural step forward to create an atmosphere on our own.
By watching back, our first release "From Hell to the Highest Peaks", a demo from 2006 had been born this way, using the simpliest forms. In 2007 we began doing concerts as well.
As a next chapter, the first LP entitled "Ólomharangok / Leadenbells" was written in 2008. At that point the previously used English language of lyrics has been switched to Hungarian. The message behind the band evolved, rooted deeply against existence.
The band planned to record its second album in 2010. After composing and rehearsals, right before entering the studio we decided to split up due to personal reasons.
After years of silence, when previous conditions shattered the group has returned in 2016, at first to finally make that yet unfinished album called "Viharjárás / Stormburst". After recordings it became available in digital form via Spiritside Productions. Besides this, Neverheard Distro from Hungary released it on Cassette on the final day of February 2017.


2. In October the band had released a new album, how would you describe the musical sound that is presented on the recording and also how does it differ from the stuff you have released in the past?

Ae: The lyrical concepts on our new album became even more straightforward then it was on the debut record. On the other hand the soundscape is much more raw as this time we did everything by ourselves thus the result is exactly what we wanted to hear.

Tuhlv: There was only a very little time between the writing and recording of our previous material in 2008. But at this time that preparation period has been extended because of the hiatus we had. We’ve given the chance to revise our thoughts once again with an elder approach. It means after our reunion I gathered my inspirations by taking walks in the mountains or among graves and I re-wrote some of the lyrics at night in an old empty attic in candlelight. I recognized that the right time and place is fundamental.


3. What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores with the newer music?

Tuhlv: The topics mentioned on "Viharjárás / Stormburst" may seem various, still Negation and Death Worship is a constant personal point of view. For example, the song "Mennykövek" is about superstitious beliefs, "Rex Saturnalis" and "A siralmas énekből" touches historical themes. Some like "Magvaszakadtak" or "Alakmás" are based on imaginations while some others are written from real experiences.


4. The band was broken up for a few years, what was the cause of the split and also the decision to reform?

Ae: By 2011 the band didn’t want to coexist alongside with personal factors given that time.
As of 2016 all of these elements disappeared and made that possible to tell the words of Viharjárás that were untold before. Recording and releasing was an obvious point to continue from.


5. I know that the band name comes from a Gorgoroth song, how does this name fit in with the musical style you play?

Ae: The early works of Gorgoroth has always been a big impact on my musical taste. This fact in line with the primal intent - to use the legacy and aesthetics of the Second Wave of Black Metal - justifies the name of the band.


6. Currently there are only 2 member in the band, are you open to expanding your line up again or do you prefer to remain a duo?

Ae: Since the re-union we have this line-up. We can perfectly work together in this form and for live appearances we are assisted by Vick, a session member on drums. I don't think any additional individual would be needed to the creative core of the band.

Tuhlv: If we may wish to use other tones in our instrumentation in the future, that would take place by guest musicians. But indeed, we do not want to expand our current line-up permanently. In long term, the opposite is what we crave for. It is beyond words how the absence of ourselves is awaited.


7. What are some of the best shows that the band has played over the years and also how would you describe your stage performance?

Ae: Back in 2008-2009 the band organized it's own underground events under the name ’Allies of Pagans’. There were four events in total and my personal view is that these nights had that vibe we wanted to achieve.

Tuhlv: We enter the stage to invocate and spread Nothingness in present time. I admit in can cause controversies that we state Pagan Megalith calls for No One, and still performing concerts. But the might of Anti-Life Propaganda what we stand for must prevail. We are only the ones who BY and THROUGH all this manifests, not FOR.


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

Tuhlv: So far, during the past ten years we had a lot of shows with various projects. And although we occasionally do concerts with Pagan Megalith it can happen if conditions are suitable. It may cause that we keep our stage presence at a minimum level.
Nowadays, instead of touring, we rather search for other forms of art that allows us to stay away from direct human presence. Here I think of visual creations for example, I mean videos - in which we can contain ideological essence in a similarly intense way.


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

Ae: We create this music to channel our inner thoughts and beliefs into something tangible and not to entertain people. I do read the feedbacks for our music but I am impacted by my own criticism.


10. Are any of the band members currently involved with any other bands or musical projects these days?

Tuhlv: I do, but it is not intended to highlight our own selves with this interview. To keep it short, among others I was and/or will be in Svoid, Karst, Voltak and Gravel Shores.

Ae: I don't have any other active bands right now.


11. Where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?

Ae: Backwards in time.

Tuhlv: Yes, but I feel it is yet early to speak about plans. By finishing our second album, it revealed for us where we do not wish to stay or proceed. Many years ago I have chosen Black Metal because of the atmosphere it had, the influences it contained as a heritage. I do not mean earlier ’metal music’ but fragments linked to far more ancient times. Think of it as if we stare to a map too close, so we should do a step back to see the whole…


12. 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?

Tuhlv: On our latest album "Viharjárás" our musical influences are quite obvious. Musically we followed the heritage of traditional Nordic, raw Black Metal.
Approaching this genre as a form of living, as a primary input for a very long time, a point must came when I felt I am utterly filled with it. I both instinctively and consciously keep on searching my sources.
Last year among many others I’ve been frequently listening to Aurora Aksnes’ debut album "All My Demons Greeting Me as a Friend". What is inside it, in different levels, is hard to find words.

Ae: Since the earliest days of mankind music had its own magical role in people's life. Let that be a tribal chanting or a highly rated classical works of art. Everything that involves this magic is appealing to me, no matter the time of the recording or the style.


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

Ae: Embrace Death as an opportunity!

Tuhlv: 'What else could be our life than an incessant row of overtures to that unknown melody of which first solemn tune is sounded by Death?'

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