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?
As we recorded “Breath” in a diy-manner over many months part by part at home and in the studio of our drummer Kris, we mainly concentrated on the whole process around the album in the last few years. Since 2022 we’re playing as a four-piece and had the opportunity to gain some live experience, too.
2.In October you had released a new album, musically how does it differ from the stuff you have released in the past?
It’s more versatile and progressive over all. “Breath” is the first release in which our guitar player Manuel also takes on the role of the lead-singer. In the course of this, the whole vocal-arrangement has become different and open to more various singing-techniques.
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?
For our bass player Steffen and me it was the first time of writing song-lyrics. It was a challenging experience, but also very exciting and relieving. The topics vary depending on the song. The opening track “Old dreams of the west” deals with deadlocked life situations and about overthinking your own attitudes to get out of that. ”The long goodbye” is a story about progressing dementia. As a third example I take “Embers touching blackest soil”, that is a confrontation with abstract fears. It’s always worth to look behind your own inner walls, but to keep in mind, that some demons can’t be imprisoned. We all have to find a way of dealing with them.
4.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Außerwelt'?
From the beginning we wanted to have a bandname, that somehow fits the floating and not clearly tangible character of the music. Besides that, the eponymous album from the french band Year of no light was an inspiration. That album has a wall of sound, that is massive and fragile at the same time.
5.Can you tell us a little bit more about the artwork that is presented on the new album cover?
It is an acrylic painting by Carmen Alba and then layoutet by Dana Wolter for the complete artwork-design. We are very fortunate to have highly creative and talented individuals close to us, so we don’t need and want to hire external artists until today. Carmen has drawn or painted all artworks since “Transitions” in 2017. You can find her works over here: https://www.instagram.com/luna_art_design/. Dana is a professional graphic designer and prefers to work more behind the scenes. In our opinion, the overall result is fantastic!
6.What are some of the best shows that the band has played over the years and also how would you describe your stage performance?
The lineup has changed several times in the past and since three and a half years, we’re a four piece, that matches very well. In 2022 we played two shows, together with Wiegedood - both of them were a perfect opportunity to get used to those changes. One year after, we got the opportunity to play at “Dong Open Air”-Festival. A big festival-stage with more than thousand people in front - Until now, it has been a unique experience. Our stage performance is quite natural. We try to concentrate on our songs without only shoegazing all the time, haha! Between some songs the talk to the audience, but on the stage the music always comes first.
7.Do you have any touring or show plans for the new album?
We are playing a few shows around Germany these weeks and are planning to do more next year. We are a small band and everyone of us has different obligations in all daily life, so touring is difficult to arrange.
8.Currently the band is signed to 'Moment Of Collapse Records', how did you get in contact with this label?
The initial contact came through some members of Red Apollo (a Post Metal Band from Dortmund, that has split up a few years ago). We are very happy with the support from Basti and Jens, that mainly run Moment Of Collapse Records. The label is mostly oriented towards post rock, screamo and other atmospheric, heavy music, that is often connected with the hardcore-scene. It’s great to be in company of those open minded music-enthusiasts.
9.On a worldwide level how has the reaction been to your music by fans of post black metal?
It’s hard to say, what happens on a world wide level in this case. Definitely there are some people outside of Europe, that listen to our music, but we don’t know very much about it in detail.
10.Where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?
The musical fundament of “Breath” is our starting point for future plans. We want to play atmospheric metal with just the right amount of progressiveness and lyrics around topics that move ourselves and the society around us. On the one hand there is always the opportunity, it gets a bit more complex or that we will expand the role of clear singing. On the other hand, we won’t abandon the heavy and dark side of our music - so it always will be a question of inspiration and balance.
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?
It would take a long time to write about this, when you ask all the four of us, haha! When it comes to metal, we all tend to like more modern directions of the different subgenres - bands that have a broad musical horizon and don’t try to put artificial boundaries into music. But like always, there can be some exciting traditional bands, too - regardless of music genre. For my part in the early days I was more inspired by typical post black metal-bands like Alcest, Agrypnie or Lantlôs (The latter have also developed musically in a very free-spirited and different way). Concrete inspirations for “Breath” are difficult to summarize. In my opinion you can find elements of Opeth, Heretoir, Earth, Constellatia or Panopticon - and a wide range of bands, that you find around progressive metal, post metal- and hardcore. As we are listening to a lot of other music beyond metal too, the influences are many, even if they aren’t obvious.
12.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?
Thank you for the interview and taking your time for listening to “Breath”!
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