1: The recording process itself spanned quite a long period. We actually started recording the guitars back in October 2024, while the bass, drums, and vocals were tracked in August 2025. We wrapped up the mixing and mastering early this year.
So we deliberately took more time with this project to avoid mistakes we had made on previous recordings. We constantly tweaked things and experimented.
To get back to your actual question: since finishing the recordings, we’ve used the time to manufacture physical CDs and produce new T-shirts and merchandise. After all, we have a brand-new logo and hadn't released anything in a long while. A release show has been scheduled for October 29, and in the meantime, we’ve already written new songs that sound somewhat different from the previous ones.
2.In October you have a new album coming out, musically how does it differ from the stuff you have released in the past?
2: First of all, I’d like to say that we try to ensure no new album or EP sounds exactly like the previous one. We want to evolve and feel like we’ve reached a new level or created something new. Of course, it still needs to sound like Frostland; our style should remain recognizable.
At its core, I’d say we tried to introduce more variety into the songwriting. We examined every section and considered what different things each instrument could do at that point. The drums, in particular, have a huge impact on how a section sounds; we constantly looked at how a guitar riff’s effect changed when the drum patterns shifted or varied. On top of that, many guitar parts have become more complex, and we’ve incorporated more dissonant guitar riffs.
3.This is going to be your first album in 6 years, can you tell us a little bit more about the long wait in between releases?
3: Strictly speaking, it is our first album in eight years. Our last release, "Winterkult," came out in 2018. It wasn't exactly planned that way. At the time, we assumed we’d have a new album out within three years at most, but life doesn't always go according to plan. Some of us had children, others moved further away, and then there was the coronavirus pandemic. We never stopped making music together, though it has to be said that progress was very slow for a few years. However, we never doubted that a new album would happen. There was never any question of there not being another one.
Things have moved very quickly over the last two years, I’d say. We’re currently very well synchronized which is why we already have more material ready.
4.The lyrics on the new album are inspired by the writings of H.P Lovecraft, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in his work?
4: Since I write the lyrics for Frostland, I’m well-suited to this. I’m a huge H.P. Lovecraft fan and have read almost everything he’s written. Over time, I adopted his writing style because I found his vocabulary so aesthetic. I also felt his themes were a perfect fit for black metal. Consequently, his vocabulary permeates all our lyrics.
However, I should point out that only one song on our new album refers directly to a specific H.P. Lovecraft short story: "Hypnos.". It’s a classic Lovecraftian dream story in which the protagonist transcends nightmarish boundaries within his dreams. Incidentally, our previous album also featured a Lovecraftian dream story. The song "Jenseits der Mauer des Schlafes" ("Beyond the Wall of Sleep"). I try to keep this tradition alive, though there is never more than one song per album based on a Lovecraft short story. The remaining lyrics on the new album deal with the cosmos in all its madness and depth. A subject that, fittingly, aligns perfectly with Lovecraft’s work.
5.What are some of the other lyrical topics and subjects the band has explored over the years with your music?
5: The central theme of our last album (*Winterkult*) was winter in all its facets and splendor. Our EP *Visionenfluch*, on the other hand, was dedicated more to philosophical and moral themes. However, those lyrics were written by our former vocalist. At the time, I was just the guitarist.
It is important to us to keep exploring new themes without losing our essence. Besides, I would get bored writing about the same topics all the time.
6.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Frostland'?
6: From the very beginning, we focused on winter themes and nature; there was a certain appeal to that. However, when we chose the name in 2006, we were influenced by a 1999 bootleg album by the band Emperor titled *Live in Frostland*. Personally, I really liked the artwork on that bootleg, and the word "Frostland" embodied much of what we wanted our music to represent.
7.Can you tell us a little bit more about the artwork that is presented on the new album cover?
7: We wanted artwork that precisely reflects the themes of our lyrics. Something that captures the depth, chaos, and madness of the cosmos and fits the title *Im Zentrum der Leere* (At the Center of the Void), while also looking graceful.
Incidentally, the artwork is by the brilliant Mexican artist Pall Maldavian, who also created the cover art for our previous album, *Winterkult*. We love her style, and she has a real knack for understanding our vision.
8.Out of all the shows and tours the band has done so far, which one stands out the most?
8: Between 2015 and 2018, we played a relatively high number of shows by our standards. All in all, it was an intense and interesting period. Naturally, every show was special and interesting in its own way, but if I had to single a few out, I’d mention our performance at "Rhein in Blood." That was a legendary concert series in Cologne running for over a decade that showcased black, death, thrash, and grindcore metal. It took place every two months and was always well-attended, featuring a mix of regional acts and bands from around the world.
We also played the Frostfeuernächte Festival near Berlin, which was pretty great, too. Another very special gig took place in a somewhat large rehearsal space in Bochum; there were maybe only 12 people there, but the atmosphere was incredible.
Finally, the Rotten Stones Festival in Luxembourg held in an amphitheater right in the middle of the woods offered a truly impressive setting for a live performance.
9.Do you have any touring or show plans once the new album is released?
9: For now, the only confirmed date is the release show on October 29th at Valhalla in Cologne a venue we have a deep connection to, by the way. We’ve played there a few times, and my drummer and I practically spent our youth there listening to metal.
Nothing else is firmly planned at the moment, but there will certainly be more shows for the album. We’ll see what comes up. So, if anyone is interested in booking us, feel free to get in touch.
10.On a worldwide level how has the reaction been to your music by fans of black metal?
10: We aren’t exactly a huge band, even though we’ve been making music for 20 years. Yet. Over the years, people from all over the world have taken an interest in our music. Some more than others. We’ve had some wonderful encounters and conversations with fans. For instance, we once played a show at the Helvete in Oberhausen. Before the gig, we were standing outside the venue having a beer when two guys walked up to us and said, "You’re the Frostland guys, aren't you? We traveled a long way just to see you." It turned out they were train drivers who used to talk about our music while at work. It was really special for us that people would travel such a distance to see us, especially since we view ourselves as a relatively small band.
11.Where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?
11: As we’ve said before, we’ll always sound a little different without losing our core identity. Our latest ideas are a bit more complex, but also darker. We’ll let you be surprised. In any case, it definitely won’t take eight years until the next album.
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?
12: That’s actually a tricky question. Let me put it this way. Our drummer and I have known each other since we were very young and listened to metal together from an early age.
So our tastes in black metal are quite similar. Our guitarist, who joined later, listened to or preferred some completely different bands. Of course, we ended up influencing each other, but there were definitely differences. I believe it was precisely those differences that helped us grow. Our bassist and vocalist, on the other hand, comes more from a melodic death metal background and preferred a whole different set of bands. We’ve always discussed the styles or elements of various bands to see what we liked and what we could incorporate. So, I don’t want to single out just one or two bands; that would give a distorted picture. We’ve been influenced by countless bands and still are today.
13.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?
13: I’d like to thank you for the opportunity to do this interview. It’s really interesting to consciously reflect on these questions myself.
Thanks, too, for your passion for this music. Something we share with you and your readers.
If you’re interested, please feel free to check out our album *Im Zentrum der Leere* starting October 30th. We always really appreciate feedback.
https://www.facebook.com/frostlandblackmetal
https://frostland.bandcamp.com/album/winterkult
https://frostland-official.de/releases.html
https://www.metal-archives.com/bands/Frostland/3540273705
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