1. Hails,
Blackk !!! How are things in Iowa ?
Greetings! Things are going well thanks . Just trying to keep the scene going
here.
2. Can you give us a brief history of Mortuay Oath.
Well basically I had the idea for my own solo project a few years before I
actually started it. In Angelkill we were going through a chance in members and
this was in '96 and so we were'nt rehearsing as much so I had some spare time
to work with my own personal material that just did'nt seem to be quite of the
Angelkill style so I put all these songs together and rercorded everything
myself and brought in Angelkill guitarist, Jeff Olson to add some leads and
before the album was even completely finished I had a label deal with majestic
union records from Germany. And so them was released the debut "Once Upon
a Dreary..." it was more successful than I originally thought it would so
I just kept doing Mortuary Oath.
3. What bands have been influential in your music ?
Countless actually. King Diamond, Mercyful Fate, Candlemass, old Alice Cooper,
lots of classical music of all kinds, and many many more.
4. What are your thoughts on "Whispers from her Grave" ? What do you
feel it has done for your band ?
I'm very happy with this second release. The production as well as the song
writing is more well defined to the direction I want Mortuary Oath to be going.
Certainly worth checking out if youre into old dark metal in vein of Mercyful
Fate.
5. How are the divulgation and reception of your CD ?
Very great response. Quite a few labels have shown interest in pressing this
one and many have given it great reviews so far so that's cool. I really
apreciate the support!
6. Are you satisfied with the final result (production and mix) of
"Whispers from her Grave" ? And with the studio recordings ?
Well I really spent quite a bit of time with this one... Probably over a year. My
problem is that I'm my own worst critic. When I listen to it, it is never good
enought. I will never get the mix exactly perfect. At times the mixing process
drives me nearly insane until I reach the point to where I have to let go and
say enough is enough and call it finished. I am always striving to do better so
I guess that's the good thing that comes out of my madness.
7. What
elements are going to be different for this release as compared to the previous
album ?
I think it's just more tighter and with the all digital production it really
shows. And like I said, now that I know how I want the musical style to be with
Mortuary Oath the song structures and melodies are much stronger.
8. Tell us about some of the lyrics of "Whispers from her
Grave" and what some of the topics you deal with are.
Well the song "Whispers..." is about a guy who's wife dies and he is
so in love with her he just won't accept that she's forever gone so he sells
his soul to bring her back and start hearing whispers from her grave and gos
mad and digs her up etc etc... I was inspired though a death of a loved one of
mine and I found myself nearly becoming this character. Some of the other songs
are of other hauntings/ ghosts sightings and such.
9. What
are the lyrical themes in particular, are they different fom those covered on
previous albums ?
Well somewhat the same but what's interesting is that I'll grab
"Scenes" or phrases from old Angelkill songs and throw them in there
as if there was some connection to an Angelkill song. Usually no one would know
unless they were a die hard Angelkill fan.
10. What inspires you musically and lyically ? What about in you life ?
Everything can inspire me... Other music I hear, walking through the town
cemetery, looking at art or just driving in my car... Maybe an old Vincent
Price horror movie. Who knows where some of those twisted ideas come from
?
11. What
do you want to express or pass in you songs ? |
|
13. What
did interest you first, metal or occultism ?
Metal of course! I'm interested in occultism but really don't have time for it
I guess because I have always formed my own ideas and theories and have my own
religion which never really fit much with any other so of course I would put
the music before everything.
14. About tour stuff, have you planned some tour to support "Whispers from
her Grave" ?
No... it would be great to actually have Mortuary Oath as a working band but so
far it is my solo band being just me. Purhaps someday I will fom it into a band
but I want to just do it myself for now.
15. To someone who had never heard Mortuary Oath, how would you describe the music
?
Dak metal with melodies with a variety of vocal styles... usually I just
describe it as being in the vein of Mercyful Fate... has that older metal style
I guess.
16. Could you tell us a person of the past whom you personally respect, and why
?
King Diamond and or maybe even Motorhead. These people have always done their
own thing regardless to changes to the music industry. They always remained
true to what they have always done. I really respect that.
17. Talking about sales, how was "Once Upon a Dreary" done to you ?
Released by Majestic Union Recods which is really a small label with little
money but it was important for me that who ever releases my work completely
believes in it and is going to do everything for it and that's what they did. They
really got the CD out there.
18. What do you think about the humanity middle ages and the humanity of today
?
Weel back then you didn't live long with all the disease. I think we've become
more civalized through technology and laws and government but when you think
about it really close... no... we're still as barbaric as we ever were...
nothing has changed.. only the weapons... ah but would'nt it be interesting to
go back to that time ?!
19. I'll tell you words/names and you'll give me your thoughts about
it... ok?
misanthropy - ...society hates more and more... nothing can stop it.
Vietnan War - ...what a waste ! Shows how incredibly foolish our
government is to stick it's nose wherre it does'nt belong !!
Dante Alighieri - sorry... don't know who this is.
Arthur Schopenhauer - I don't who who he is either.
life after death (?) - well I believe we don't die. What we call death is the
next stage of life like a catapiller is then becomes a butterfly.
Ludwig van Beethoven - he was a genius ! Can you imagine being a deaf musician
back then and still having the drive and passion to still compose !?
world TV - I don't watch.
Unabomber - reminds people that there are a lot of fucked up people out there
!
mythologies - I use to be really interested in them but not much any
more.
20. What's your thoughts about capitalism in black/death metal scene?
Well, to each their own I guess but I've always been more interrested in the
music and care little about their beliefs or what religion they are into. That
part of it means nothing to me as it does'nt affect my ideas beliefs.
21. Is there a philosophy behind Mortuary Oath ?
No, actually the name came to me in a dream... years ago I had this dream that
I got a job at a funeral parlor/ mortuary as a janator. Well my first night at
this job in my dream... the funeral director told me... "Now before you
can start, you know exactly waht that is... keep your hands oof the deceased
!" Meaning don't mollest the dead.
22. Explain the differences and similarities between Mortuary Oath and your
other band, Angelkill.
Angelkill is much heavier... Mortuary Oath has more melodies. Both lyrically I
would say a very similare through.
23. Can you tell us some of your best books and authors ?
Actually I don't get much time to read fiction. I read a lot of studio
recording text books and articles on recording gear as I own a studio
(remasters) and try to be as educated as possible.
24. What merchandise do you have available ?
I have a distro list, "The Blackk List" which contains all of the
Angelkill and Mortuary Oath releases as well as several other underground metal
releases. Write or mail me and I'll send you a copy of the list.
25. Those were my questions; is there anything you would like to add, perhaps a
final message of Mortuary Oath ?
Many thanks for the killer interview and support ! I hope all of your readers
will get in touch !!