1
–
Greetings! First of all, I would like to congratulate Primordial for such a
superb album. As a fan since the 90’s, it feels great to know that you’re still
a high motivated band capable of unleashing such passionate songs. Anyway, there
was a period in which you didn’t feel like that… How difficult was to surpass
the problems fame brings and the momentary delirium of seeing the band about to
perish due to a broader fame after many years working together as a tribe of
blood brothers? Death is never a beautiful experience when faith
trembles…
-
Sounds simple but life is life. It happens, you have lows and you
have highs. Some of us cope with being in a band better than others. There is
always temptations, sometimes it’s like living in an alternate reality and can
be easy to lose your grip. We had some dark moments last year and I don’t think
the darkness will ever completely leave but maybe you need that sometimes to
gain some insight and perspective.
2
–
Being stated by others as a Pagan/Folk band, you’re way unique than many out
there which were framed on that heathen (somewhat influenced by power-metal)
canvas long after you appeared. As that tag is a broad definition for a lot of
bands, what Primordial considers being and represents albeit there is clearly
inspiration from the Irish folk roots?
-
To be
honest it’s just lazy journalism. People make assumptions based on hearsay. Its
obvious we have some references here and there on some of the older albums to
‘paganism’ or a pagan viewpoint or elements of folklore in a couple of songs
which I use as metaphors for modern life but nothing more. We have some
influence from irish traditional music but Primordial is not a folk or pagan
metal band, it’s about the here and now, we use real history to make modern
reference points. There’s no fantasy or escapism. Of course we have fans within
that scene and we do have this Heathen feeling which is important but there’s a
lot of grey to the black and white shades.
3 -
Do you feel a bit left aside, regarding promotion, by the labels you
were signed to or the Metal press as almost two decades after appearing on the
scene you had a better chance, through Metal Blade, to be acknowledged as one of
the best Metal bands out there? After all, you never changed your sound or had
less quality, just improved it, a pity that it had to be a certain trend to
bring you even higher…
-
Possibly. I always thought we deserved more than we received but what
goes around comes around and maybe it was better to grow slowly rather than get
instant success and slowly ascend like some of our peers. It’s not just the
pagan metal scene carrying us it’s also mainstream metal fans as well. It’s
better not to live with regret and just keep looking forwards.
4
– The
writing for a new album is always a stressful yet highly motivating force for a
band. Hearing “Redemption…”, it feels as, even if it’s called the “death” album,
there is still the cries of revolt that inflames the spirit. Does Primordial
consider it their own redemption for letting the common mistakes of being human
disturb the band? Do you, as the lyricist, consider this your own requiem or, if
there is no “light” in this planet, the world’s one?
-
Difficult to say really, I suppose in many ways last years events do
place this redemptive frame around the album but this makes sense in many ways.
We all search for some form of redemption from our natural impulses to do what
society has told us is wrong or unjust. This is the search for redemption and
also for revelation to make sense of it all in a ‘spiritual’ context.
5 –
A man’s knowledge about the world around him makes him a better judge
of himself although it may not bring a happy ending… A great
Portuguese poet and writer from the beginning of the XX century, Mário de Sá
Carneiro, also dealt with questions related to mortality, committing suicide at
26 years of age. One of his books, A Loucura – The madness – narrates his fears
of aging... So, since Primordial’s inception how much of the world’s events and
history’s lessons, have inspired you to write the lyrics? How much was dragged
of you just to disperse thoughts and emotions… even fears, to help you carry
on?
-
I
think it’s essential in every way. It my catharsis and also my own personal and
very public diary, it helps me cope somehow with these emotions as as hopefully
it does for the listener. All I can write about is from my own perspective, how
I engage with the world around me.
6 –
Although the cover seems minimal, in my opinion the symbol in it
describes perfectly what one may expect when hearing the album: the dread that
pounds at light. Who drew it and what it represents exactly?
-
It’s
part of a six part series, a memento mori series from the 17th
century as I understand it. I’ve always been drawn to these medieval post
reformation images and woodcuts dealing with death. Originally I wanted it as a
tattoo but it began to make more sense as the album cover. The hand in the
middle we added, this represents puritanism and temptation.
7 –
You have a DVD out, “All Empires Fall”. It may be hard as you are in
the “inside” but do you think the effort put in its production captures very
well what the band wishes to transmit in a live format? What has been the media
and fans’ reaction to it?
-
Personally I think it’s one of the best metal dvd shows ever released
and I mean that sincerely. The
camera angles and style it’s shot in is without doubt something new and
innovative and it can hold up to repeated viewing. So far everyone seems to have
appreciated it.
8
–
There may be a bitter end but your music is far from that! Anyway, I thank you
for your kind answers and wish you all the best. Hope to see you soon in
Portugal! Keep the spirit inflamed!!!
-
As
always. Joy and strength. Bloodied yet unbowed to the bitter end.
interview published in portuguese in "Versus Magazine"
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