1. Can you give us an update on what has been going on with the band since the recording of the new album?
Michael: We're preparing the new material for next releases. Thankfully there's a lot of drafts collected over the years.
2.You have a new album coming out in the middle of may, musically how does it differ from the stuff you have released in the past?
Michael: In my opinion, it is more mature, grounded work. It's probably more developed than what we did with previous records. We tried to make Hypocrisis as real as possible, without intensive use of surgical audio processing tools, to have that authentic feel, like in the old days.
3.In 2008 you released an album then waited until 2016 to release a single and the new full length came out 9 years later, can you tell us a little bit more about the long wait in between releases?
Michael: There were too many reasons for our long delays, mainly human factors. All the songs on "Hypocrisis" were written between 2009 and 2010, but the album's release was significantly delayed by several factors. Disappointment arose from not meeting the expectations of some former band members and others who attempted to join. Additionally, the increasingly complex compositions required more advanced arranging and performance skills than our first release. Furthermore, a lack of ability to produce recordings that met our standards played a significant role in this time gap, alongside numerous other day-to-day difficulties.
4.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores the new album and also how would you describe your progress as songwriters over the years?
Michael: I definitely do not consider myself a lyricist, but I have tried to convey in lyrics observations about the structure and interaction of society's structures, its evolutionary organization, moral principles, dogmas, and its unit—the individual person. Our environment is driven by resonant desires and necessities. It forms a certain apparatus of group consciousness, the building blocks of which are groups of people and individuals who play a direct role in it. It's hard to compare it with the previous album, but the new lyrics are more down-to-earth, in my opinion. Musically, there is undoubtedly progress. This work, in my opinion, is more competent, more stylistically homogeneous, and I think it will allow us to create something new, something of our own, without too many references to the works of other bands.
5.I know that the bands name means 'In The Fog' in German, how does this name fit in with the musical style that you play?
Michael: I'm not entirely sure. Of course, one could imagine that the band's name references the album's theme, where the individual wanders like in a fog, personifying society and being a part of it. That interpretation would be valid. However, that falls more into the realm of literary analysis. Musically, perhaps so. Our musical direction is quite abstract, much like silhouettes in the fog.
6.Can you tell us a little bit more about the artwork that is presented on the new album cover?
Michael: The cover literally represents the flow of a river full of ambitions and hopes through the ravaged land to the horizon at the foot of insurmountable mountain ranges, summarizing the themes of the album's lyrics.
7.What are some of the best shows that the band has played so far and also how would you describe your stage performance?
Michael: The best, of course, is the Highland Metal Festival hosted by Zhesht events. It was the only time I was completely satisfied with all the details. Due to the high professionalism of the audio team, the sound and audibility of the monitoring on stage were incredible. We were able to deliver our music 100%.
Alexandre: Performing with Im Nebel is like orchestrating chaos. Even though I performed with the band on stage only once, those many rehearsal sessions helped us refine the energy. While performing, I find the most intense moments are during songs like 'Where Horizon Starts,' where we create this dense wall of sound with heavy groove bass lines, raw guitar riffing, and almost avant-garde drumming patterns blasting against them. When everything locks into that precise channel between technical execution and emotional impact—that's when you feel it in your bones. Sometimes there was such intensity between bass and guitars—especially around those darkly complex, progressive death metal sections—it was almost like fighting while moving together.
8.Do you have any touring or show plans once the new album is released?
Michael: We have no plans for shows at the moment. This is due to the decreasing quality of the events, which worsens each year. After performing at a large regional event supporting our first release, we realized that a release has a longer historical impact, motivates new material, and is more significant than playing numerous shows where the band's music cannot be properly heard. Perhaps in the future, we will play a gig where we can deliver our music as it should sound.
9.The new album was released on 'Octopus Rising', can you tell us a little bit more about how you came in contact with this label?
Michael: We have emailed numerous active labels, and the team at Octopus Rising / Argonauta Records responded positively. We are happy to be working with them. This is indeed a huge milestone for us and a chance for our music to be heard by a wider audience.
10..On a worldwide level how has the reaction been to your music by fans of extreme metal?
Michael: We were fortunate that we did not receive a lot of negative feedback before. The reception was quite warm and positive. Supporters have been writing to us all these years, and that greatly assisted us in finally delivering a new record. We hope our new release will not disappoint their expectations.
11.Where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?
Michael: For future releases, we have already written different kinds of material. Some compositions are guitar-oriented, while others explore different stylistic ideas. It will definitely not be exactly the same compared to what we have done so far.
Alexandre: Im Nebel's got some more underground stuff cooking already—more dark experimentation with even more complex rhythm patterns and sound textures extracted from instruments. If we stay consistent with how our previous material evolved, then next time, expect something even more unconventional, something pushing beyond limits and into new dimensions.
12.What are some of the bands or musical styles that you are currently listening to nowadays?
Michael: Besides metal, I also listen to classical masterpieces, baroque music, and indigenous music.
13.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?
Alexandre: The path ahead is uncharted, but the journey continues into darker territories. You can expect more from us.
Michael: I really enjoyed our conversation and the opportunity to talk about our music. Thank you very much. Thanks to all our supporters—stay tuned, we have more to say in the near future.
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