Rahvira Interview

 

1.Can you give us an update on what is going on with the band these days? 

At this stage, Rahvira is moving at its own natural pace — without haste and without external pressure. The band has always followed inner necessity rather than obligation or expectations. These days, our main focus is the new album, which we are planning to release in April. In parallel, we are also working on our live activities. For us, this is not merely a musical project; it is our stance toward history, memory, and the heavy themes accumulated within us. The new album is a direct continuation of these reflections. 

2.In April you released a new album, musically how does this differ from the stuff you have released in the past? 

The new album is more condensed and deliberate than our previous releases. While some of our earlier material was created more intuitively and under the influence of the moment, this time we approached both the structure and the sound with greater awareness. The music has become heavier and darker, yet at the same time more disciplined. We have sought to preserve the coldness and atmosphere that define Rahvira, without falling into self-repetition. This is not a turn in direction, but a natural continuation — a deeper section of the same path. 

3.In the earlier days the band released a great amount of material but waited 10 years to put out a new album, can you tell us a little bit more about the long wait?

That pause was neither planned nor calculated. Life simply found its way into the band. During those years, many things changed — both on a personal level and in terms of worldview. Rahvira has always been an honest project, and we did not want to release an album merely because time had passed or because something was “expected” of us. The music never stopped, but it needed time to mature. That long silence ultimately became a phase in which the band quietly accumulated what it can now finally express through music. 

4.A lot of the lyrics cover the history of your home country, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in this topic? 

Armenian history is not merely the past or a theme for art to me. It is a living memory that continues to this day. Our history is filled with struggle and loss, but also with resistance and dignity, and all of this has naturally found its way into Rahvira’s lyrics. This does not stem from an ideological position, but from an inner need — not to forget and to speak about what is so often pushed into silence. Music has become my way of giving voice to that memory. 

5.I know that the band name means 'Pioneer' in Armenian, how does this name fit in with the musical style that yuo play?

In my subjective assessment, Armenian metal today remains largely disconnected from the global metal scene and has not yet secured a clearly defined, independent place within it. By “Armenian metal,” I do not mean only bands originating from Armenia, but metal that is Armenian in language, mindset, and musical mentality.

Yes, there are metal bands in Armenia that have released albums, but in many cases it is difficult to truly call them Armenian. Most sing in English, their lyrical themes are detached from Armenian reality, and their musical approaches often rely on standard genre templates or are limited to heavy arrangements of folk melodies in a superficial way.

Analyzing all of this, Rahvira’s creative core was built from the very beginning on exclusively Armenian-language lyrics, themes rooted in Armenian reality, and music that carries folk elements not as decoration, but as an organic and deeply integrated part of the composition.

This is precisely where the band’s name finds its meaning. Rahvira — “Pioneer” — represents a forward-moving warrior, walking a path that has not yet been fully opened within Armenian metal. Our music is an attempt to carve that path, rather than follow an already established one.

6.Can you tell us a little bit more about the artwork that is presented on the new album cover? 

The album cover depicts the state in which the Armenian people were left after the Armenian Genocide. The entire atmosphere of the artwork is built around dark red and black tones, symbolizing coagulated blood, loss, and unresolved pain. The mountains visible in the distance embody the Armenian Highlands as a homeland that has been lost, yet remains eternally alive in memory.

The wandering ghost depicted on the left represents the Armenian past as a constant presence — one that does not fall silent and bears witness to the genocide that took place. It stands not as an individual figure, but as a collective memory, moving through this silenced, blood-soaked land. In this sense, the album cover is not merely a visual accompaniment to the music, but the same story told through a different language.

7.Currently there are only 2 members in the band but have had other members in the past, are you open to expanding the line up again or do you prefer to remain a duo? 

For more than ten years, Rahvira functioned as a duo. During that period, the recording of the albums, the entire creative process, and the core activities of the band were carried out by two people. This format was a conscious and effective choice for us, ensuring ideological and musical cohesion.

At the present stage, as we are entering a more active live phase, the lineup has been expanded with an additional member. This musician had previously already been actively involved in our live performances and has been a close friend of the band members for many years. His inclusion is a natural continuation of our path, built on mutual trust, a shared mindset, and the same attitude toward music and ideology.

8.Has the band done any live shows or open to the idea?

Rahvira has performed live in the past, but it has never sought to build an active or continuous live presence. For us, the stage has always been a responsibility, not merely a place to perform. For this reason, over time we chose not to rush and to step onto the stage only when we can ensure the proper sound, atmosphere, and ideological integrity.

At this point, the band is open to the idea of live performances, but only under the right conditions. If Rahvira ever returns to the stage, it will not be to simply assert presence, but to convey the same weight and meaning that exist within our music.

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

The international response has been extremely interesting and, in some cases, even deeper than expected. Many listeners recognized from the start that Rahvira is not an ordinary black metal project. Attention has been paid not only to the music’s dark atmosphere, but also to the language, the themes, and the overall ideological weight. Armenian may be unfamiliar to many, yet it has become precisely the element that distinguishes Rahvira and gives it identity. Of course, this is not music meant for mass consumption, but those listeners willing to engage deeply usually form a very strong connection with it. That connection is more important to us than numbers or broad reach. 

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

In the future, Rahvira will not change its foundation or ideological core. We do not plan sudden genre shifts or abrupt changes in direction. Instead, our goal is to delve deeper into the path we have already chosen. The music may become denser, heavier, or more minimal, but in terms of substance, it will remain rooted in the realms of history, memory, and inner struggle. For us, it is important to develop not quickly, but correctly. If each new step is more deliberate and more honest, then that in itself is a form of progress.  

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?

Rahvira has been influenced by various black metal projects such as Marduk, Mayhem, Dark Funeral, Graveworm, Tiamat, Satyricon, Darkthrone, and Burzum — but not in the sense of directly copying any band. The greater influence comes from the aspect of the genre where atmosphere, concept, and inner weight matter more than technical display. Beyond metal, Armenian folk music has always been important to us, with its moods and melodic thinking naturally blending into our work.

These days, I do not limit myself to metal alone. I listen to various genres, particularly music that carries depth, silence, and inner tension. All of this, directly or indirectly, shapes the next steps for Rahvira.

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

Rahvira was never created for broad acceptance or easy listening. This is music for those willing to truly hear, reflect, and feel. If through our songs someone begins to engage with their history, their roots, or simply pauses to think, that is already enough. We are grateful to all who listen to us not as background music, but as a message. The rest will be revealed in time.

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