Koge Interview

1. For those that have never heard of you before, can you tell us a little bit about the musical project?

I started Koge in early 2015 to perform Black Metal without any frills, simply concentrated on the essence
of the specific mood and atmosphere of the single tracks. It is deeply inspired by some classic bands from
Norway which coined my taste in Black Metal heavily. The lyrics that also exist for instrumental songs
are always of three lines and so demand the essence of my particular thought and not to get off the point.


2. How would you describe the musical sound that is presented on the recordings?

Koge is mainly focussed on raw Black Metal but adding some ambient pieces to the whole spectrum.
It reflects my primal emotion linked to Black Metal and is therefore using primitive song patterns,
a dark and tragic keynote and atmospheric/meditative ambient elements. Listening to Black Metal
I always feel it to be a dark journey inwards and hope to hand a key to the listener with Koge.


3. You released 4 demos all in one day, do you put a great amount of time and effort into writing and creating music?

The material for Koge was written within ten months and is - like my other musical works - of an very impulsive nature. If there is an idea then I totally submit to it and bring it to manifestation until it is complete (as far this is possible). But in general, when in a creative phase, I do not think in terms of time or effort but simply open to the stream breaking out. Since I am working alone I have no limits when or how long to work. So it can happen that I am working on a daily basis for some weeks and collect material accordingly.


4. What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects you explore with this project?

The lyrics deal with transitoriness, thoughts on death and mortality, but also reflections on mythic topics
that reach into occult symbolism partly. Since I do not quote ideas I rather express an image from my
mind to find out its meaning for me by putting it into the lyrical scheme.


5. What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Koge'?

The name Koge comes from the Middle High German word for pestilence/plague. The word sounds
old and snaggy, quite sinister in my ears. I used that word already in the year 2000 for an ambient demo
I recorded for myself. So there is a reference as well to a chapter of my own music, too.


6. With this project you record everything by yourself and also have done the same with other projects you have been involved with, do you feel this gives you room to be a lot more creative?

Yes. When I started making music, especially Black Metal, there was no one actually sharing my interest, not even listening to it. So I arranged myself with working alone - and developed my own style of writing/recording - in short -running my own projects without the help of others. I also played together with other musicians, but the right feeling only comes up when I am alone. I guess my music never sought the masses but is individual and for a listener alone with himself - so shall be its creation.


7. Currently you are unsigned, are you looking for a label or have received any interest?

In the first place I am thrilled by the independent way of releasing my music. I wanted to avoid producing
tons of MCs/CDs/etc. which are rarely selling from my side these days. Probably after some further demo
material I will focus physical releases as well but need to hear some improvement in writing and production
for that particular step.


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

So far it has been overwhelmingly good although the most feedback I received came from friends
and closer contacts. I always welcome listeners writing their impressions and hope some more will do.


9. What is going on with some of the other bands or musical projects these days that you are a part of?

The only active project is Regnum while the rest is closing the final chapter after and after. I have some releases of my side-projects left to come but mainly focus on Regnum and Koge these days. Regnum will come up in 2017 with a compilation tape of unreleased songs (to close a tape-series of
the re-issued demos) and finally with the vinyl versions of the first two CDs after more than 10 years. I am
preparing a new album for Regnum as well (the working here is a little slower currently).


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

Intensifying my path whatever expression I find and where ever it may lead. May it be silence one day.


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?

The obvious influence on Koge is mainly Black Metal of the nineties and related ambient works. "Landscapes" of Ildjarn is one of my all time favourites. I listen to a broad spectrum of music
ranging from Black Metal over classic to noise/industrial, progressive rock and early synthesizer music. Nowadays I am deeply into the musical works of Hermann Nitsch, Arnold Schönberg, A.N. Skrjabin - mainly unconventional classical music with lots of other composers. I am impressed by those who submit to
the thought a holistic work - combing the effect on all senses.


12. Does Satanism or Occultism play any role in your music?

Occultism plays a role for me as a person and is therefore bringing up thoughts and a mental attitude that inevitably have an effect on my music and the states which my music supports within me. I avoid putting quotes or certain terms into my lyrics that are simply taken from other writers. But I implement my personal experiences and thoughts by a reflection or description of the primal effect or state I found before. I feel a deep reference to the Golden Dawn and the old Fraternitas Saturni, Rune-meditation and other different
sources that I got into during all the years of exploring my mind and its relation to all its exceeding vastness.


13. Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?

My deepest thanks to the Occult Black Metal Zine for your time to explore Koge's first output and primal ideas. For anyone interested in Koge please visit https://koge.bandcamp.com or for more information on my complete musical work visit http://moriturus.de.to please. For questions and info also write at fb.moriturus@gmx.de.

Koge/Demo IV/2016 Review

  This  is  the  final  review  of  a  demo  from  Germany's  Koge  which  continues  the  mystical  and  lunar  tradition  of  black  metal  and  was  also  self  released  in  2016.

  A  very  mid  tempo  guitar  sound  starts  off  the  demo  and  a  few  seconds  later  atmospheric  keyboards  are  added  onto  the  recording  along  with  some  grim  yet  depressive  black  metal  screams  and  when  the  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  can  be  heard  which  also  gives  the  music  more  of  a  raw  feeling.

  All of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  when  guitar  leads  are  utilized  they  are  done  in a   very  melodic  and  atmospheric  style  and  the  songs  also  bring  in  a  great  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  and  there  are  2  ambient  instrumental  in  between  the  heavier  tracks.

  Koge  creates  a  recording  that  mixes  in  some  of  the  more  raw  side  of  his  black  metal  style  with  some  ambient  elements,  the  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  cover  death,  philosophy  and  mysticism  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Koge  and  if  you  are  a fan  of  ambient  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  demo.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Drought"  and "Sigh".  8  out  of  10.

https://koge.bandcamp.com

Koge/Demo III/2016 Review

  This  is  the  third  review  of  a  demo  from  Koge  that is  also  in  the  mystical  and  lunar  style  of  black  metal  and  was  self  released  in  2016.

  A  very  mid  tempo  guitar  sound  along  with  some  atmospheric  keyboards  starts  off  the  demo  and  you  can  also  hear  all  of  the  musical  instruments  that  are  present  on the  recording  while t he  vocals  are  grim  black metal  screams  and  melodies  can  also  be  heard  in  the  riffing  at  times  and  after  awhile  the  music  slows  down.

  A  lot  of  90's  and  early  200's  influences  can  be  heard  in  the  songs  and  keyboards  are  also  utilized  more  often  this  time  around  and  the  music  also  adds  in  a  depressive  touch  at  times  and  the  songs  stick  to  either  a  slow  or  mid  paced  musical  direction  and  the  demo  also  closes  with  aj  ambient  instrumental  that  is  long  and  epic  in length.

  Koge  creates  a  recording  that  is  more  in  the  slow  and  mid  tempo  style  of  black  metal  this  time  around  while  also  expanding  on  the  ambient  elements,  the  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw while  the  lyrics  cover  death,  philosophy  and  mysticism  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  demo  from  Koge  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  ambient  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Culling"  and  "As  The  Funeral  Torches  Gleamed".  8  out  of  10.

Bandcamp 

Koge/Demo II/2016 Review

  This is  a  review  of  the  second  demo  from  Germany's  Koge  which  continues  the  lunar  and  mystical  style  of  black  metal  from  the  previous  release.

  A  very  fast  and  raw  black  metal  sound  starts  off  the  demo  along  with  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  and  you  can  also  hear  a  lot  of  90's  second  wave  influences  in t he  songs  while  the  vocals  are  all  grim  screams  and  the  solos  and  leads  also  bring  in  a  very  melodic  yet  old  school  style.

  Throughout  the  recording  there  is  a  great  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  and  after  awhile  the  screams  also  start  getting  more  depressive  and  as  the  demo  progresses  an  ambient  style  instrumental  is  added  onto  the  recording  before  going  back  to  a  heavy  and  raw  style  on  the  remaining  tracks  while  one  song  mixes  the  keyboard  in  with  the  heavier  parts  before  closing  the  demo  with  an  ambient  style  outro.

  Koge  creates  a  recording t hat  shows  him  adding  in  more  of  a  raw  second  wave  style  black  metal  and  playing  a  little  bit  faster  while  still  having  some  ambient  elements  that  where  present  on  the  previous  recording,  the  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the lyrics  cover  philosophy,  death  and  mysticism themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding   recording  from  Koge  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  the  more  raw  and  ambient  styles  of  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  demo.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "North"  and  "Ghost  Lights".  8  out  of  10. 

Bandcamp

Koge/Demo I/2016 Review

  Koge  are  a  solo  project  from  Germany  that  plays  a  lunar  and  mystical  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  self  released  2016  Demo  I  which  will  be  the  first  one  reviewed  in  a  4  part  installment.

  Dark  sounding  keyboards  start  off  the  demo  and  bring  in  the  atmosphere  of  a  classic  horror  movie  and  after  the  intro  the  music  starts  going  into  a  heavier  direction along  with  some  grim black  metal  screams  also  making  their  presence  known  a  few  seconds  later  and  you  can  also  hear  all  of  the  musical  instruments  that  are  present  on  the  recording.

  Most  of  the  music  sticks  to  a  mid  paced  direction  and  you  can  also  hear  a  little  bit  of  influences  from  the  early  2000's  era  of  North  American  style  black  metal  while  being  on  the  more  underground  side  and  when  guitar  solos  are  utilized  they  are  done  in  a  very  dark,  depressive  and  melodic  fashion  and  keyboards  along  with  ambient  elements  can  also  be  heard  in  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times  and  the  riffs  also  bring  in  a  small  amount  of  melody  and  the  ep  closes  with  an  ambient  instrumental.

  Koge  plays  a  style  of  black  metal  that  is  very  raw  and  mid  tempo  while  also  mixing  in  a  touch  of  ambient,  the  production  sounds  very  raw  and  old  school  while  the  lyrics  cover  philosopy,  death  and  mysticism  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Koge  are  a  very  great  sounding  mid  tempo  black  metal  solo  project  with  touches  of  ambient  and  if  you  are  a  very  of  those  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  solo  work. RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Dwell"  and "Moonmagic".  8  out  of  10.

Bandcamp