NORTH REIGNS SUPREME MAGAZINE.
1.Well, it’s going o.k. I would say...a couple of
weeks ago we finnished promotional three weeks tour with ANCIENT, we did across
Europe, and at the moment we are focused on rehearsing new songs for the
upcoming album as well the live set, ‘coz we’re gonna perform on open air A
DRAGON’S BLAZE FEST. this summer. Besides all those band matters I’m.
fine...I’ve just finnished my exams at the Gdansk University so I can
concentrate on music only...
2.First off, thank You for your great opinion about
„PANDEMONIC INCANTATIONS”, it’s highly appreciated. Well, to be honest it was
the longest and the most fruitful studio session we’ve had so far...the biggest
budget was spent as well so it’s obvious that we are very satisfied from its result.
I think that people also enjoy the sound, which this time is much more heavier
and tight, not to mention that we became more proffessional in each detail. All
these elements had its influence on the final album’s sound and that’s
satisfactory, I have to admit. The studio session last for two weeks...I don’t
really understand what you mean by „image” of the album, sorry, I can’t answer
this question.
3.Well, actually it took us over one year I
guess...after releasing GROM album we were pretty stagnated and I simply ran
out of ideas etc. It’s sad but it sems like after each album some time has to
pass before I regenerate my vital powres and become creative again. But as I
told you before, It took us about one year which was more than enough to
finnish all the songs...besides, we never do any bonus songs we don’t include
on the album, you know, worst ones or something...let’s say I have a picture of
the whole album in my head, and I’d like to release my concept through let’s
say 8 songs, therefore I will do them, and all of them will be included on the
album. I never do bad riffs, if there are riffs which do not apply to
BEHEMOTH’s concept, I simply drop them...And after eight or nine months which
have passed, I can proudly admit that I’m. fully satisfied from the
compositions, this means we are more and more professional, we do not produce
riffs and songs, we are not a music factory, we are creators of art and this
means we put all our hearts into the songs and want them to be great as much
possible...I hope we partly succeded.
4.Hm, I wouldn’t say we were or are influenced by
DAMNATION in any way...well, maybe if you mean the structures, I mean the
complex of the structures, than yes. We just became more detailed, and maybe
that’s a reason of your conclusions, and the fact that INFERNO (former
DAMNATION drummer) and I had its part on some DAMNATION albums may have some
influence on you as well. But, I wouldn’t say our music is similar to
DAMNATION, no way.
They are more chaotic, more death metallish, more
detailed and more technical...well, we are also technical but again, we do
everything in a different way...
5.I’ve always stood strongly behind everything which
is true and honest in its form, no matter what it’s been...it relates to people
I meet, music I listen to, everything...Death metal and Black metal are so
close to each other that sometimes it’s difficult to notice the
difference...let’s take bands like DEICIDE or MORBID ANGEL which are considered
as death metal, but if you step back in time you will notice that MORBID ANGEL
was described as a speed black metal band, the same goes to DEICIDE...their
attitude, message etc. is more black metallish than 95% of todays so called
„black metal” bands...that’s my opinion. BEHEMOTH still proudly carry the
banner of BLACK METAL and this is what I will stick to eternally....it’s
something on which my spiritual and musical education has grown. I started a
black metal band in the beginning of 90’s which means that BEHEMOTH is one of
the very first bands that came with the second wave of black metal
plague...along with EMPEROR, SATYRICON, IMMORTAL etc. This counts for me and it
makes me feel pround about our tradition and origins...We are proud sons of
METAL spirit but we go deeper down within ourselves, to find the darkest
aspects of human nature...just to become divine in a way, and this, what I call
spirituality in metal music reveals an immortal being...which used to be
called by many as BLACK METAL.
6.BEHEMOTH have always had a massege to
people...sometimes it was done on purpose, sometimes not, just automatically we
had something to reveal, to show up to people. You see, the thing with my
lyrics is that I always write it for my personal use and I don’t wanna talk
about them too much ‘coz it’d destroy the listener’s vision of our music. It’s
up to you what they mean to You, the imagination seems to play the most
important role therefore make up your mind and create your own world, built on
my words, with accompaniment of our music. Yeah, you’re right, antichristianity
seems to be the integral part of BEHEMOTH’s concept. It seems like it’ll
never change, no matter what subjects we’ll speak about in our songs...it’s
something which is deep within ourselves and quite impossible to ignore, if you
know what I mean. Antichristianity means a Rebel, and quoting famous writer’s
Albert Camus words, „when man revolts, it means he truely thinks, he’s
conscious of its role in the Universe”...these words are essential and I think
I will stick to such an attitude as long I’m conscious... he,he...Of course,
there is an incredibly strong releation between our music and lyrics...try to
read them and I guess you’ll easly see what I mean...Music has to apply the
words and vice versa...this must be the unity, you know, this is what BEHEMOTH
is all about...There is no border between lyrics and music, „image” and
reality, reality and fanthasy...we are one and the same thing, the divine
being.
7.Right, there is new line up and it consits of three
members...INFERNO and MEFISTO are devils indeed...he, he...they are truely
devoted to the band and they are also highly skilled musicans what should be
rather audiable on the last record. There is really nothing much I can
say...you know, each of them is an extreme individual therefore it’d be rather
difficult to give a short describtion of their characters...Anyway, I’m.
pleased with their work for the band and I deeply hope both will develope their
skills and become more and more proffessional with each move of the band...
8.There has nothing changed in my opinion generally. I
feel myself being very strong and independent individual who do not give a shit
about scums therefore I’ve never bothered about sucha crap, you know. I’m.
aware of the fact there are still some assholes who desperatelly try to disturb
us and interfere in our life but this is the way things are so...I mean, it’s
always like this when somebody reaches some more people’s attention and gain
respect from the crowd. Usually there are always people who feel jelous, scared
or something else I don’t know... But sure thing is that’s quite common
behaviour for weak and narrow minded scums...this is the way they show their
fear towards you, being so strong and mighty, they show their lack of
intelligence but nobody demands more from them.
Hah, to sum it up, I should say that we need such
„people” as well as those who apploud you and support you...why, just becouse I
feel I’m on the right track than, and I will stick to my ideals for eternity!
9.Well, in a way it still is but you know...there have
some years passed since we wrote that material and were so close to nature and
things like that. I still have an enormous respect to nature and tradition but
I don’t write about those subjects anymore...or maybe not so directly. Today I
concentrate more on my deep inner self, my todays lyrics are more introspective
which means they deal for 100% with me, they are real as hell...I remember that
at the time we recorded our demo tapes and first albums I was very fascinated
by my sea areas and woods and all the tremendous surroundings here in
Pomerania...but you know, I can’t continue with the same topicks for the whole
life. There are far more topicks which influence me and interest me at the same
level so I’m. gonna change something, all the time. Well, I would say that
stagnation is a perfect word to describe such an attitude, a regress one...When
people stick to one topick all the time and become very stagnated in result of
that. I want to say that I don’t change my views, I just try to express the
same thoughts and emotions through different forms of art, means of language,
varied topicks etc. Hopre you can understand what I mean...
10.Yeah, that’s correct...I believe our new songs are
much more progressed and eventhough there are some symphonic passages and
experiments we managed to keep a tight and brutality of the sound. It’s still
very agressive and intense album. I think we’ll follow this way in the future
as well...for me it’s important to keep variation within the music, ‘coz it’d
sound really boring if we didn’t put all those „details” and „effects” into our
songs. I have to admit that I’m. not a classic music freak or something however
there are a few compsers I truely admire, like Gustav Holtz or Wagner...but you
know,black metal scene thesedays tend to become very much influenced by
classical music, it’s pity that majority of those bands don’t manage to create
something interesting...most of them build guiter riffs on synth basis which
makes music much softer and less metallish. BEHEMOTH will stay as a great
monolith within the genre, a pure metal band with real guitar playing, but
still open for experiments...that’s how I see the things.
11.Yes, but I tell again, variation- that’s what
BEHEMOTH will stand for all the time, to break all limitations, all
boundaries....both lyrical and musical. I see no barieers, I just release my
artistic spirit the best way I can. Using different elemnts of art. But it’s
all been said so far. „PANDEMONIC INCATATIONS” means a new beginning for us, it
might sound like a paradox, but I used to call this album as a second debut for
BEHEMOTH. We have new plans, new approach, new goals, there is also new deal to
be sign in near future...you see, all is new therefore the band itself changes
as well...well, not really changes but improve, I would say that the form has
changed a bit but the substance staid the same...That’s true that „PANDEMONIC
INCANTATIONS” is more diabolic and deals directly with our views uopn the
world, and it’s closer to human’s nature but that’s the way I develope so there
is nothing really controversial behind it, believe me, it’s a natural
development.
12.It’s getting worst with each day now as SOLISTITUM
has some problems with prioritating his bands...it’s sad but he pays more
attention to bands that don’t bring any fuckin’ profits but he’s just in good
relation with them...this means we are no longer on SOLISTITIUM. I tell you
like this, when we recorded GROM he got an established and world widely known
band, it was important to put some more money into promotion and distribution
of this album but it failed...all in all we were no that dissapointed but of
coures, he couild do much more. But with this album Carsten promised us some
real advertisment in major magazines, in result we got some in fanzines and
shit like this...there was not real support from the label again and that’s
fuckin’ irritating as we are so satisfied from that album and you know, the
responce has been so great. We have a chance to reach much more people with
this album ‘coz we’ve become more proffessional in each fuckin’ detail but it
seems like the company doesn’t develope at all and this provides a fuckin’
stagnation...it pity but Carsten lost his chance, now we’re gonna leave him
with all those worthless bands, let him cope with unproffesionalism...I don’t
fuckin’ care anymore. We’ve received so far some really good offers from
avarage and bigger labels and now we’re considerning them but it’s most
probably we’ll sign AVANTGARDE from Italy, They provides us very comfortable
deal with big tour (supporting a big band) and world promotional compaign...we
deeply hope they will be professional enough and will take care about all our
business.
13.As I told you before, the change is necessary but
I’m. not really sure if it’s better to sign a really big company which places
you on the last position in its catalogue...bullshit. there is no sense in
being treted as a low quality band, a worse one...just becouse there are bigger
names to be treated with a demanded respect and support from the label. Just
let’s take NUCLEAR BLAST for instance...yeah, that’s a fact they are signing so
many Black metal bands thesedays but does it mean that quality counts...I don’t
say those bands are bad or something. In fact I really like DIMMU BORGIR, HADES
or GORGOROTH. On the other hand they get wide promotion and chance to grow
fuckin’ big...but, do You remember all those death metal bands who used to
be big back in the beginning of 90’s...at that time they also got a great
chance but when death metal was finnished, 95% of them suddenly dissapeared and
never restored their „great” position. Hm, that makes me think a lot and not to
take a bad offer. You see, BEHEMOTH has always been a quality band but we’ve
always kept the same level, which means who consequently follow our path and
getting bigger, but slowly...you know, we’re working pretty hard, and never
gain as much as we deserve but it only make us do things better...to be
determinated. Therefore we’re looking for not that big company, but a company
which has got a potential to promote BEHEMOTH and support us as much it’s
possible. We want to be a priority of the label, to feel comfortable and not to
care about the future when black metal will start to descend...there are some
labels that have shown their serious interest and they all seem to be more less
established in the underground but as I told you before, as for today we pretty
convinced to what AVANTGARDE is able to offer...but, time shall tell...
14.Well, looking through social prisma we are not
normal human beings...and that’s quite understandable but I don’t see things
like a normal human being.
Let’s start like this...I believe everyone has got the
same potential to create valuable things, to make his life beautiful and
phenomenal, but most of the society don’t want to reveal their vital powers,
there are not interested in making things grow in their life...they prefere to
stagnate, limit themselves and not to think. They are more into following
others, more intelligent or alert individuals and that’s make them feel
comfortable in life. I know my values, I have principles in life...I’m an
artist, someone who thinks differently, acts differently...that’s what makes me
feel so damn pround of being above the avaragism of today’s crowd.
Crowd means uncreativity, lack of individualism and
psychology of the crowd,...
this is something I can’t relate to...I feel being so
powerful, greater in each fuckin’ detail...hah, it’s really difficult to say
it, but...I’ve never considered myself as someone better than others but you
know, when you do so many things in life that meets with people’s admiration,
you change quite drastically, it might be positive or negative sense but I
deeply believe it only helps me being harder and more self confident. That’s
really usefull in life...
15.O, most of those idiots mix ideologies and terms. They
usually relete their so called „pagan” origins to fascism and stuff like that. For
me it’s extremely stupid of course and maybe that’s a reason of being isolated
from the stupidity, you know...I just can’t tolerate all those damn kids who
think of themselves being so clever and shit, but you know, they speak about
the past, about the history but there is an extreme lack of knowledge what I
can see. Hah, you know, I’ve been into history since I attened a secondary
school and now it’s the third year I learn history on Gdansk University...well,
this means I know „a bit” about the past, he, he...so, who the fact they are to
confront me?
16.It’s all the same I would say...there is nothing
like private life and life in the band, if you mean this. Even when I’m. at the
University I look differently, I act differently and think in the same way, so,
it’s all related to BEHEMOTH, to music, to religion...in one word to my life
style. Nothing can be a pose, I am who I am and the why everything around is so
serious, well, maybe sometimes it’s no the easiest way to live but...I’m
inspired by life in general and it’s difficult to point just one, the most
important elemnt that gives me the biggest inspiration. Almost everything I
face each day can influence me in a way, no matter what’s that,
really...everything from read book to person I meet in the street...yeah, I
know, sounds prosaic but it’s true.
17.Hm, it can’t be answered in just a few
sentences...does it sound pathethic if I say you need the whole life to be
sure...to know what’s its essence. To be honest I’ve never thought so serious
about death etc. I’ve never had any suicidal thoughts, I’ve always been person
who loves his life and never gives up. I try to focus on presence and not to
loose time, do as much as possible, to release myself in many ways...I take
life as it is. Carpe diem, you know, he, he...but it doesn’t mean I’m. not
aware of the fact that death is the most certain thing in this life...anyway, I
dare to say that eventhough I die sooner or later as a human, I will live
eternally by the gods side. And this will be the result of art I am the creator
of...
18.I’m. not sure yet as our german label seems not to
care about informing us about the details of this matter...it’s been selling
really well from what I’ve been told but I won’t risk with quesing any numbers.
In Poland it’s been very well so far as well, we’ve reached the top of polish
metal bands and I gues we are now the best selling band in the country among
the extreme ones, along with mighty VADER although VADER leaves everybody
behind anyway, he, he...
19.I can tell you what’s the message behind the whole
album...it was not done on purpose my for my personal use, and I will just
explain my own point of view not being sure if it’s good for the listener. I
prefere when people make up their minds and try to create their own
interpretations but anyway...”PANDEMONIC INCANTATIONS” speaks about the truth,
deep inner thoughts and feeling I bear inside of myself. As I said before,
there are far less describtions of what surround us...lyrics are more
introspective what makes them real and less fictious. Of course I use lotsa
metaphores, comparisons etc. to make the whole concept look very poetical. I
used to express myself, my eartly feelings through astral world therefore these
lyrics can not be described as 100% earthly or astral, if you know what I
mean...I speak about my personal and only views on religion, I speak about the
relation to god, biblical world of angels and daemons...but all those stories
you can easly relate to my eartly relations. Let’s take an example...when I
speak about my disgust to God and when I sing „ I am the beast, wheras thy love
as a cockroach under my iron boot”...I mean a disgust to everyone who tries to
insist on me, tries to force me to do his will or believe his words...I speak
about my deep inner strenght and hate towards foes and opponents of „free
will”...
You can say there is so called dualism hidden in the
meaning of my poems but that’s how it really is. I hardly ever say things
directly, I’d better try to hide them behind some metaphores etc. This appeals
more to my taste and I prefere things stay in such a way. Sorry, but it’d take
far too much time to explain all(?!) topicks and „problems” hidden behind my
songs...You’d better read and interprete them by yourself, it’ll be much more
usefull for You...
20.Great questions but almost impossible to answer,
he, he...just too many excellent titles to mention...but, let’s give a try.
Three best(or among the best ones) would surely be:
1.MAYHEM”De mysteriis dom sathanas”
2.MERCYFUL FATE „Don’t break the oath”
3. maybe something from EMPEROR...let’s say it’s
„Anthems...” but equally it could be mini album or the debut one, I don’t
know...all is so great.
Death metal ones...:
1.MORBID ANGEL”Covenant” but the same as above I have
to point out also „Blessed are the sick”, „Domination” or „Altars of
madness”...
2.DEICIDE”Deicide”
3.VADER”De profundis”
21.I’ve explained this problem somewrhere above so I
won’t draw in this anymore.
22.As for the first part your question...it’s hard to
say ‘coz everything depends on the fact if you’ll go on tour in the end of the
year. If so, than we are gonna enter the studio in the first months of next
year, maybe in march or something. If we don’t go anywhere and change our live
dates for the next year, we’ll most probably be recording our „ARS SATANICA”
opus in January maybe...
hm, I don’t really understand the second question,
sorry.
23.There was very similar question somwehere before so
I won’t explain the same topick once again...No, I don’t get any benefit from
goverment nor from society, why should I?
24.Yeah, thank you for the interview...Honestly I have
to add this one was one of the most interesting ones I’ve received lately. Long
and detailed...hope the answers were at least satisfying as well? Hm, I wanted
to thank you and also some other guys in Finland for the support, I especially
mean Northwind from „I returned to the Darkness’mag” who did a great job for
BEHEMOTH a few times so far, the same goes to KILL YOURSELF MAG. And a few more
whose names I can’t recall at the moment, but all of them were very supportive
throughout all the years...THE BEAST WILL GRATIFY YOUR EFFORTS! I also would
like to encourage everybody to face the new BEHEMOTH opus „PANDEMONIC
INCANTATIONS” and judge by himself...I believe it’s truely worth of your money...remember
that BEHEMOTH stands for QUALITY so you can never expect any crap recording
from us, that’s fuckin’ sure!!! For the end I only hope there is one day to
come in the future, we will come to invade your lands...