1.Can you give us an update on what has been going on with the band since the recording and release of the new album?
Hreidmarr: Soon after the release of previous album “Sur les falaises de marbre” (2015), the band was nearly dead, nobody seemed to care about doing gigs, start working on something new, or just keeping the band together. I did all my best trying to get it back on track, but in vain. It seemed to me a total waste, back then, so I decided to recruit a whole new line-up, and go on. I proposed to my friend Arnhwald to join in, and then he introduced me to Katia, Grégoire, and Alexander, who completed the line-up. We quickly started working on new material, and so the story goes...
2.Towards the end of February you had released a new album, musically how does it differ from the stuff you have released in the past?
Arnhwald : we’ve tried to keep the spirit of the band alive and to express it in a more aggressive way, getting rid of a couple of things we were not fond of, and developing other ones that had to be deepened. I’d say we laid the stress on expressivity, with intelligible vocals put in front of the mix, and on the musicianship of the band, with a live recording of the instruments, in three days, to capture the energy and the authenticity of the performance.
3.The band has been around since 2011 but so far have only released 3 albums, can you tell us a little bit more about the gap in between releases?
Hreidmarr: I joined the band right after the release of the first one (which was an EP, not an album), and after the departure of former vocalist and founder Valnoir. The context surrounding the band has always been complicated, to make it simple. Back in those days, drummer and bass player were Winterhalter and Indria from Alcest, so we had to deal with several difficulties, including geographic distance and their very busy schedule. Between “Sur les falaises de marbre” and “Ultime Éclat”, the band kinda started over again, as already said, so it took quite a while, alongside the fact we’re quite perfectionists, and I honestly cannot figure out how to put out an album worthy of that name in less than two years.
4.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects that the band explores with the new album and also how would you describe your progress as songwriters over the years?
Arnhwald : I would not say there are “themes”, but it’s more a matter of visions and atmospheres. As a songwriter – as a reader too – my inspiration is linked to post-romanticism and dark surrealism. In this album, I think every song expresses its own landscape, on which a couple of themes are developed. Over the years I think my use of the words improved, I’m better at writing sentences which have true visual impact. I’m also better at working with people – I co-wrote a song for “Ultime Eclat”, as a lyricist, and it is a good thing, because it forces you to be even more demanding with yourself. It’s also easier today for us to master our references : I kind of came to dislike when literary or artistic blinks are too obvious, we’re not here to play teachers.
5.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Glaciation'?
Hreidmarr: I cannot tell since I wasn’t there when the name was chosen. But to me and nowadays, it means the glaciation of the whole world, of its inner soul, of its past and values. Its entry into an icy-age of post-civilization and post-humanity. It’s a 2000 years battle that ends in grotesque, aseptization, inversion, weakness and void.
Arnhwald: for me it describes a state, when your heart and soul are frozen to the point you NEED to create something mean and terrible to give it an intelligible form, be it sharp and cold as an ice blade.
6.Can you tell us a little bit more about the artwork that is presented on the new album cover?
Arnhwald : it’s a painting by the polish artist Dawid Figielek. When I saw this work, I immediately fell in love with what it expressed. It’s really linked to the atmosphere of the album, this intrication of epicness, desperate solitude in heroism, power of nature and smell of death. It was just perfect.
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?
Hreidmarr: I believe the band played only one gig back in the first EP days. Now that we have a solid line-up, we definitely think about playing live shows in a more or less near future. I cannot tell how it will be precisely, but if it happens, intense and bullshitless, for sure.
8.Do you have any touring or show plans for the new album?
Hreidmarr: Not yet. The fact is we do not want to spend our whole life on the road, so in the situation where we play live, we’re gonna choose carefully the shows and whom who play with. We’re not gonna accept everything, as we don’t need to.
9.On the new album you also have a few guests, can you tell us a little bit more about who they are and also their contributions to the recording?
Hreidmarr: We have I. Luciferia from the band Ende who contributed to the songwriting of “Le rivage” and “Et puis le soufre”, Ulderic Haus (who’s also responsible for one-half of the lyrics on “Sur les falaises de marbre”) who wrote lyrics for “Et puis le soufre” and co-wrote with Arnhwald the ones for “Ce qu’il y a de chaos”, Cécile from the band Au Champ des Morts, who performed choirs on “Acta est Fabula” and “Ce qu’il y a de chaos”, and The Lady CP6159, who co-wrote lyrics with Arnhwald for “Vers le zéro absolu” and performed additional choirs on “Le rivage”.
10.On a worldwide level how has the reaction been to your music by fans of black metal?
Hreidmarr: The reactions to “Sur les falaises de marbre” were quite good in France and worldwide, from both medias and fans, given the fact that it was a debut album from an almost unknown band.
11.What is going on with some of the other bands or musical projects these days that some of the band members are a part of?
Arnhwald : We are all involved in different projects. For me, they are quite natural, I need to express my creativity through different modes, with different people. And I am 100% dedicated to all my projects. Currently I’m into writing for the next Deathcode Society album. It’s an ambitious piece of work that needs time and focus.
Hreidmarr: Besides Glaciation, I also sing in Baise Ma Hache, together with Thorwald, and in BÂ’A, both black-metal bands from France. We have a new BMH release to be out next month, which is a quite distinct project in the band’s discography, as it’s a collaboration with Paul Waggener (Operation Werewolf - USA). Next “regular” album is on the way. Regarding BÂ’A, the debut album will be available next April on Osmose.
12.Where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?
Arnhwald : I don’t know. Music dictates where it wants to go. We just have to stay still and try to listen/understand the direction it wants us to take. Anyway it will still be intense and dark.
13.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?
Arnhwald : Glaciation plays the kind of metal we would like to listen to. So it probably sums up our influences as listeners and musicians. Rock n’ roll, Metal, be it extreme or not, symphonic music, medieval tunes, etc. But I would say that, apart from these obvious influences, it is more about a state of mind, a fascination for the void, the cold, the depths, that really drives me when writing that music.
Hreidmarr: Mood of the moment: Young and In the Way, Mora Prokaza, Boyd Rice, Whiskey Ritual, Townes Van Zandt, Plasmatics, Vortex Of End, Hank William III.
14.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?
Hreidmarr: Many thanx for supporting us!
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