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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?
Simon: We worked on the album for about two years. In the end, four songs and a total length of 42 minutes were left for ‘Phantast’. We wrote some other songs, but in the end, they didn't make it onto the LP. Sometimes it's more important to decide what not to publish. Even though a lot of work went into it. So, the album was ready and then recorded in the studio. If you think that after that the work is done, you are very wrong. Now that we had the material, we also had to convince a suitable label. We decided that we would keep it open which label the LP should be released on. So, we spoke to a few record companies that we thought would be suitable. In the end we decided on Vendetta Records, also because we think we are in the right place musically. We also like the DIY approach that the label takes. Parallel to the label search, we worked on the artwork and layout for Phantast together with Timon Kokott, who also designed the artwork for the Schein LP and the EP Schattenfall. And finally, we are preparing for the live shows. It's one thing to press an album on vinyl or a CD, it's another thing to prepare it so that we can perform our music live. So you notice there was a lot of work after producing the album. And I have only mentioned a few key points.
2.Recently you have released a new album, musically how does it differ
from the stuff you have released in the past?
Milan: With the current album we wanted to weave a little more unbridledness and rawness into our sound. We wanted it to feel more alive, wild and untamed, without completely displacing our original influences. I think that's the main difference. But we also made it a point to give ourselves more time in certain passages and to add a little more monotony here and there in order to support the rather oppressive basic mood.
3.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores
with the newer music and also how would you describe your progress as
songwriters over the years?
Simon: On both the Schein LP and the Phantast LP we dealt with man's alienation from nature. On Schein we wrote our own little story of a protagonist born in nature. Topics such as socialization and the inevitability of death were decisive. On the Phantast LP we took a more meta perspective with the help of C. Morgenstern's poems. Through the fantasy world created by Morgenstern, we were able to see the world from a more neutral and nature-connected perspective and point out grievances. For the first time we also dealt with the topic of religion and were able to put it in context with nature. In addition, for the first time we have more cosmic themes and have worked with inner and outer worlds as well as extraordinary perspectives. In the song "Fleisch und Knochen" (Flesh and Bones), for example, we travel through the human body and show parallels to the nature that surrounds us. In doing so, we repeatedly emphasize that we are nothing other than a part of it and that we are not above things.
4.You have also mentioned an interest in the writings of Jean-Jacques
Rousseau and Christian Morgenstern, can you tell us a little bit more
about your interest in their work?
Simon: What particularly fascinated me about Rousseau was his thesis that in a state of nature all people are equal and happy and content. They are driven by self-preservation or self-love and empathy. Conflicts are only triggered by property; this causes inequality, mistrust and is ultimately the reason for war. He means that humans are naturally good and can live in harmony with it. Socialization ultimately leads to scandal. According to Rousseau, humans are not designed to live in large societies. If we project this onto large metropolises today, this is often confirmed. The biggest problems of our civilization always arise most severely where many people live in one place.
For me, Morgenstern complements Rousseau's thesis in some kind of way. In his collection of poems “In Phantas Schloss,” one of his early works that he dedicated postmortem to Nietzsche, he takes refuge in a fantasy world that he creates to be able to say or write stuff, that he would not have been able to publish without consequences in reality back in the days. He escapes into a mountain world far above the world or society. From there he condemns society, puts nature above religion and punishes it as a man-made problem. I also like his natural-romantic approach.
5.I know that the bands name is old German for 'Earth', how does this
name fit in with the musical style that you play?
Milan: I think we've always had a tendency to reflect a certain personal connection to nature as part of our music. We also value discovering cultural and regional influences in music. In a review of the first album someone once wrote that you could feel the atmosphere of Münsterland in our music. We were happy about that.
From a purely musical and stylistic point of view, this doesn't always happen too consciously when writing individual songs. It's more the overall feeling that an album gets in the end via its concept and sound.
6.Can you tell us a little bit more about the artwork that is presented
on the new album cover?
Simon: As I mentioned, Timon Kokott painted the artwork for Phantast. As with 'Schein' and 'Schattenfall', the idea of the artwork matured in my head. For Phantast, the world described in Morgenstern's work should be summarized in one image. We also wanted to illustrate the diverse perspectives that are part of the album's content. Hence this "all-round perspective of the artwork. In the centre of the picture, we have depicted the scene from the poem "Das Kreuz" ("Schattenkreuz" on the album). Here the shadow of the protagonist becomes a cross (inverted in the perspective of the Artwork) that is only created by the glow of the stars and the moon. What is meant to be said can be interpreted for itself.
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?
Milan: An absolute highlight for us was certainly a performance at the Dark Troll festival, which we look back on fondly and which we enjoyed very much. The atmosphere was great and the sound was fantastic. The festival itself has a beautiful, natural location and an always great crowd. But we also particularly remember the performances in Münster, especially because it always feels a little like home and you see a lot of familiar faces.
8.Do you have any touting or show plans for the new album?
Milan: Next up is our tour with the band “Naxen”, which starts on October 19th. It includes shows in Germany, but also in the Netherlands, Austria, Hungary and the Czech Republic. We're really looking forward to that.Afterwards we will definitely try to get around further and tackle additional activities.
9.On a worldwide level how has the reaction been to your music by fans
of atmospheric black metal?
Milan: Overall very positive, at first we were quite surprised. When the first album was released there was already a lot of feedback and many people reflected our vision, or parts of it. It's a great feeling when your own musical expression, which has a lot to do with your personal emotionality, is accepted and understood.
The current album has also been received very positively so far and we have a lot of fun hearing what others hear and feel in the music. There was already a review in which the somewhat more aggressive stylistic change compared to the first album was criticized, as the more leisurely character in terms of atmosphere was missed. However, we expected from the beginning that not everyone would be happy with that.
10.Where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?
Milan: This is fundamentally difficult for us to say, as it always depends heavily on our personal development. We try to implement what we feel at a certain time. But what you can say is that we basically want to maintain and develop the black metal core in our music without drifting too significantly into any new direction or watering down the style extensively. We will also continue to keep an eye on the atmospheric impact.
11.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?
Milan: I can definitely say that over the years I have been heavily influenced by bands like Drudkh, Wolves In The Throne Room, the former Falls of Rauros, Panopticon, MGLA, Agalloch, Winterfylleth, Bathory and Gorgoroth. I could list many more, but I think this mostly was the overall basis that influenced my later musical development. From a vocalist's perspective, I can also highlight Helrunar, whose singer knows very well how to use the characteristics of the German language for the voice in black metal. Their earlier works in particular have always fascinated me. To what extent and to what extent individual of the artists mentioned are actually reflected in our music is up to the listeners.
12.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or
thoughts?
Thank you for inviting us to the interview. We had fun answering your questions.
As already mentioned, we are on tour in October. We would be happy to welcome a lot of you out there to one of our shows.
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