1.For those that have never heard of you before, can you tell us a little bit about the band?
Elurra was founded 2013 by some friends in Duisburg/Germany. With our roots in the punk and hardcore scene, we still feel connected to many of these scenes ethics like the ideals of do it yourself and left wing politics in general.
For us it is important to combine music and ritual. Stage performance is always a ritual in which we want to create a audio-visual and olfactory gloomy atmosphere with having candles, fire, burning some woods or self created resin mixes.
2.Recently you have released a new album, how does it differ musically from the stuff you have released in the past?
Basicly new on the actual release "von Feuer und Erde" is that it is recorded, mixed and mastered by ourselves. We decided to do so because we like the diy way of making and sharing music and want to have full control over the sound of the record. We tried do make it sound more like we sound on stage, which differs a little of the more “clear” sound of the previous record.
3.You consider yourself as being 'red and anarchist black metal', can you tell us a little bit more about your involvement with this movement and left wing politics?
It is not easy to explain this in short term but we try.
We feel connected to the ideals of RABM, anarchism, communism, of a solidare and caring society, and for some of our bandmembers also satanism. This stands for individuality, free thinking, letting others live their self-determined life. As band and personally, we are against authorial, fascistic, religious ideology and do not agree with the concepts of borders, nations, masters, gods or anything else to keep us in line.
We also support leftist places and like playing there. And the band also organize the Haglaz antifascist black metal fest every year in AZ Mülheim in Germany.
For us it is important to make a clear statement against NSBM and other fascist cowards who dream of a strong “Führer” because they are afraid of freedom and living their own life. They need someone to tell them what to do and think and where their place in society is. Their dream of a society in uniforms with strict rules and their fear of heterogeneity is against everything our understanding of black metal stands for.
Fascism is on a rise all over the world again and people try to escape the impositions of capitalism by crawling into the deceptive security of the warm and stinking lap of nation and race, for us it is important to organize against that madness, and as a black metal band for us it is obvious to support the idea of RABM.
We decided not to announce political messages on stage or explicit in the lyrics, so it is important for us to discus these themes with other (in interviews e.g.). Also we want to create a show that may enables possibilities for personal reflection and enlightenment.
4.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects you have explored over the years with your music?
Although we consider ourselves as political persons and support left ideas, our lyrics are only in so far political, as my personal attitude of course influences everything I say, sing or write.
The lyrics deal with a mix of personal feelings/stories, dreams and occult/esoteric topics.
They are written to fit the music, to fit the setting on stage to negotiate the walls of reality and hopefully let us and maybe the people at the show pass it for some time, let us have a look at a different junction of cosmic spheres, and maybe give us the power to change the state of the fucked up world we live in.
5.You also mention some left hand path interests on your facebook page, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in the dark arts?
I will only speak for myself, some band-member do not care about satanism or occultism, but I consider myself as a satanist and use rituals and magic to alter myself and the reality for personal reasons. To do so, I have to silence my inner voice of logic and rationalism, and a good place for me to to so is the stage or the rehearsal room with noise, smoke and fire.
As I told before we also use some kind of ritual on stage to alter reality on a level of society. It is probably not as effective as good old class war, but I think it is worth a try.
6.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Elurra'?
Elurra is the Basque word for snow. I like the basque country, I like the soundig of the word, I like snow. Thats it.
7.Can you tell us a little bit more about the cover artwork that is presented on the new album cover?
The picture ist a photo by Richard Peter taken in 1965 and shows the during ww2 destroyed "Frauenkirche" in "Dresden". The “Frauenkirche” is very symbolically. Today’s fascists wants to create a victim myth about the “innocent” city Dresden during war. They also tries in this topic to qualify the horrible crime of nazi regime. This is not to tolerate and amongst other things we use the “Frauenkirche” to remember the brutal consequences of fascist ideologies that has never to be possible again. Additionally we want´s to discuss the “Deutschtum” as a precursor of fascism.
8.What are some of the best shows that the band has played so far and also how would you describe your stage performance?
best show on a Bauwagenplatz in Badel, where was a very nice show over New Year's Eve with and many punk and crusty people.
Stage performance is always a ritual in which we want to create a audio-visual and olfactory gloomy atmosphere with having candles, fire, burning some woods or self created resin mixes.
9.Do you have any touring or show plans for the new album?
Right now we have a record release show and we will play at the "Haglaz" Festival in the AZ Mülheim. Due to some personal reasons, we will concentrate on producing new songs for a new release instead of much touring for the next time.
10.Currently you are unsigned, are you looking for a label or have received any interest?
If a label would sign us we would discuss it certainly. To be signed on a label also means to have it more comfortable with spreading music or playing shows. You also might get supported in producing upcoming music. But as mentioned we also like the idea of diy and never really tried to find some label or something like that
11.On a worldwide level how has the reaction been to your music by fans of black metal?
Some people love us because of our attitude, they are happy about the new record.
Some people hate us because of our attitude, they are angry about our “black metal for good people”
To get more reactions for the music, I think we have to send more promos for reviews to some zines and blogs like we did to you. But promotion is not what we really care about or are good at, so I think we will not get to know much about the metal worlds reaction.
12.Where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?
We are working on new songs and this may improve our musical diversity. At the moment we try to write a more mid tempo song, which avoids blast beats and is inspired by some doom/sludge. On long term it will probably stay black metal.
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?
We got influenced mainly by true Norwegian black metal just like million bands before and after us.
Beside black metal one of the band listens to some wired kind of techno, one listens to the punk his other band plays, one has two death metal records and I found love for some black ambient. (Watch out for Elurra side project!)
14.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?
It is important to intense political discussions in Metal and to get rid off the fascist scum out of the scene. So thank you for your support, the nice review of our new record and letting us share our wired thoughts!
Rotfront and hail satan!
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