Old Temple Records Interview

Greetings! Please explain the aims with which you constructed your label? From what kind of source of inspiration you gave life to your label?

 

Hail! At the beginning I want to notice that my answers are translated by Daro from Soulless so that’s why they will be so short- I don’t want to torture him to much hehehehe I wanted to have my own label from a long time. It was my youthful dream. The final impulse that lead me to create me own label was man called Infamis from Beast of Prey prod. I thought ‘if he can do this I also can’. He helped me a lot and I am grateful for it (hail Infi!). I was also impressed by the way of releasing that Beast of Prey does- I mean non-standard boxes in limited edition etc… I just love Metal music and that why I am releasing it. I release bands I like and which are worth to release. I don’t care about trends. What are my aims? hmmmm – I think my aim is to promote and to help bands which I like and enjoy.

 

Can you present the bands that dwell under the wings of your label?With which bands you have a current signings at the moment?Do they have all something in common,or are they all different from each other?Can you present the bands on your rooster?           

 

The bands I’ve already released have one and the main atribute- I like them a lot. Old Temple is not only into one musical genre. I am listening to many types of music and this rules are also important when I release something.

 

Deception – antichristian death metal, quite technical and intense music

 

Putridity- brutal death in US style

 

Soulless- Pure &satanic death metal

 

Shining Of…- avangarde death metal with keyboards &saxophone – quite strange music for Pan Thy Monium fans.

 

Obscure – old school death metal with antichristian lyrics

 

Pandemic Genocide – satanic death in old vein

 

Vedonist – technical death/thrash

 

Brainwashed – thrash metal – something like in 80-90 times

 

Pogrom 1147– raw black metal- primitive music from 90years- for fans of Darkthrone – Gorgoroth

 

Flagellation – brutal death metal in US style

 

Faeces- technical gutterlike death metal

 

Dened – death/black in mid tempos

 

Bestiar – old school death metal with antichristian lyrics

 

Vinterriket – Uruk-Hai – Nak’Kiga- those 3 projects for fans of dark ambinetu but in metal way

 

Arminius – pure death metal – musically for fans of Deicide, lyrics – war &death etc.

 

Feythland – fast black/ death with keyboard – something like in Dimmu Borgir (but not indentical)

 

North – crushing pagan war metal – the legend of Polish black metal scene

 

Every band has signed the deal with us. Every aspect of release was told earlier to the every band we are fair to the bands. The good of the band is very important for us. If the band is satisfied we are also happy. That’s important for us. We don’t have something like the most important band or ‘number one’ in our catalogue. Every band is important for us on equal. Of course in the moment of premiere of each release that one is our prioritaire so we take care about it’s promotion, we buy advertisements.

 

What is the biggest point that you care about much when signing with a new band?To make the answer more extended and specific,can you mention about the other subjects as well regarding the qualities that you seek in a new band or your current bands?

 

The most important thing is that the band should be engaged in their ‘job’. You know If you want to achieve something when both of sides(band &label) have to give maximum work and energy. Unfortunately sometimes the cooperation like this is impossible. You know when we are signing the new contract the most important thing is that the band has to treat seriously. I don’t want to be boring and to tell you about details.

 

How can you define your relationships with your bands?Can we talk about a friendship here or do you just think about the business side of the stuff?        

 

I am always trying to live on partnership rules with my bands. You know what I mean, the bands are participating in creating cover arts &paintings and whole view of their release. The booklets always includes the information and photos which band is sending to me. We are often contacting by telephone and e-mails. That how it looks about contract signing.  Unfortunately personal contact is often impossible. I don’t have enough time to meet with people from my bands.  Of course sometimes there is a chance to drink some vodka on gigs. The bands now how to contact with me so there is no problem to talk about their things.

 

Besides the great extend of scene-knowledge,scene-conciousness,having a label also requires great amounts of dedication.What do you think when you can’t find the required dedication in the bands with whom you have a deal ,eventhough when you are much more interested in the related subjects like promotion,managements etc?Don’t you think that bands should also follow the movements of the label from a close perspective?          

 

As I wrote earlier for full success we need the cooperation between band and label. You know, label can do a lot but with help of band can do much more. I not saying only about concerts but about many other aspects. Every time I am giving 100% of my power to promote the band I’ve just released. For me it’s normal, if I did not do that in this way it would be pointless. Of course I understand- some bands don’t care about being famous or even well-known but there is a minimum which is necessity. Nowadays I have bigger abilities than 2 years ago. I think this is a king of progress of my label. Of course we are still behind many labels on this market but I don’t care about this and I am happy about this what we did and what we have right now.

 

A classic one,what are your plans for your label’s future?

 

At first we’re going to release 3-way split: SOULLESS- PANDEMIC GENOCIDE- ARMINIUS. It will huge death metal attack! Every band present different view of death, but every is also smashing as well.The next one is (also 3-way split) dark ambient VINTERRIKET – URUK-HAI – NAK’KIGA. Those 3rd is the project from my hometown so that something special about this for me. Of course we have plans for next year and we will start more in black metal style, but it’s too early to talk about details.

 

What is the meaning of the name of your label?Or,in other words,what does it stand for?With what motivation have you chosed it?           

 

When I was choosing that name I known that it should be made of two words. It was because I did not wanted to add ‘records’ or ‘productions’ to our name etc… Under those name there is no special meaning, I only wanted to have an old sounding name because I am not to Young hehehe I think that I’ve done that.

 

For you what is the importance of the magazines,fanzines in the scene?Meantime,with frank words,what do you think about the Frost Magazine?

 

 All those things are closely connected. I can’t imagine metal scene without magzines, webzines which are the effect of technical progress in communication. Frost is young creation on the scene but as I guess it is existing very good and that important. I hope that everything will go in the right way.     

 

Webzines VS Printed Magazines?        

 

I love printed magazines, but sometimes I don’t have enough time to read them. I like them because of my youth past when there was no internet. In last years peaple say that webzines are equal on with shit, but it’s now always truth. In printed magazines and in webzines you can find those shitlike ones. You have to choose which are good and interesting and which are not.

 

Being a label owner,may i take your opinions about the this free-music thing?Mp3s,file-sharings etc?For you,what forces people to lead in such ways-expensive cds? or what?   

 

Well I support that way of promoting each material or a band, I mean when samples from songs are on the web page. But really this is the sickness of present times. You know it depends on choice of fan – original release or mp3. We can not fight with this when huge corporations are promoting their musical equipment which is able to play mp3 format (mp3 players etc…), we can only say how destructive it is for us. That’s schematic: young people download mp3 files and they don’t buy normal original releases and than labels can’t sell any of their products. The conclusion is they don’t have enough cash to produce new releases. Bands are angry that no-one want to release them. That’s easy as a ring.  People are downloading mp3 because that’s possible for free and they can find lots of music in easy way. Many cds are not available now or they prices are very high so those positions are downloaded. Sometimes there are many people who download as much as it’s possible and after some time they even don’t remember what did they downloaded or even they did not listen to this.

 

Now i want you to be honest,can you earn enough money from the label?

 

Hehehehehe, hey man we live in Poland and here is no possibility to earn on this ‘bussines’. It’s very boring and long topic: Poland, youth people, politics, poverty etc.

 

Can you tell the “normal jop day” of you?How is the daily ife with your label?What generally you do in a single “jop day”?   

 

I’m working in small family building company. Grudziadz – the city I am living in is quite small and what is more unemployment is very high. But it’s not so bad, we are going forward and that important. The label it’s a different thing, it takes all my free time. My normal day is: listening to promo materials, correspondence, parceling up the packages etc.

 

I think that`s all what I wanted to know for now. Thanks for your time and the answers! Finish this interview quoting the words of a man you admire the most, please!         

 

Thanx for interview, I hope some people will read those words and will take interest in this what is important here in our country. It’s easy to come to us and contact with label, on our web site you will find necessary information. Send letters, send e-mails we are always answering!

 

 

Graveland Interview

Hei Rob & Graveland horde!IWhat have you been doing lately and what are the latest news from the Poland,at Graveland’s side?

In September 2004 I started work on newest Graveland album ‘Fire Chariot of Destruction’. This work took me a lot of time…much more I have expected. I was planning to record new Lord Wind album, but unfortunately I have not find time to do it. So the work on new Graveland album took me almost a year but I am very satisfied with the final result. I recorded this album in my home studio but I think I would not prepare better album in a professional recording studio. Well done work is not the only thing that motivates me to further work. Lately I have purchased some new equipment….guitar effect and percussion effect. Now I play on two guitars….one I tune in a standard way and second guitar I tune in my specific way. I played a little on this new equipment and I am very satisfied which means that soon I start work on next Graveland album…again one step ahead…

 

New Graveland masterpiece ‘Dawn of the Iron Blades’ has already been out ,and i have to admit that it is one the best Graveland albums i have ever listened. A real pagan black metal opus with the unique atmosphere,melodies. So,how ware the reactions to this album so far?

Since ‘Fire of Awakening’ I have tried to maintain harmonized epic Graveland style. I want listeners find on my albums not only spiritual values of pagan world, but also good sound and high technical skills. On ‘Dawn of Iron Blades’ I managed to obtain unique climate and atmosphere. I think Graveland has its own style and it is hard to name it. And I like this situation. How listeners react to this album? I think that not everyone is able to listen to this album, because Graveland is boycotted e.g. due to my anti-Semitic statements. So only those who are very well oriented in underground music, have an opportunity to get Graveland albums. But really good music always comes from underground. Ha…ha…most of the listeners are condemned to music from official distributions. And they think that sweet commercial bands as supreme art! Nothing like that! Power of metal comes from underground. Underground art is always free, not restricted by requirements of commercial market….underground art is uncompromising and courageous…

 

And,i always know that each Graveland opus has its own character with the greatest inspirations behind its curtains.What was the biggest inspiration for ‘Dawn of the Iron Blades’?With what kind of ‘determinations’ you entered to recording room this time?

Many years ago I started to refer to my own imagination of the culture and beliefs of the Northern people…and especially to German pagan roots. I replaced Odin with Wotan because in the German personification of his God I see the God of war and warriors.  Women warriors Valkieries are essential part of my world of warriors and heroes. The legions of Valkiries next to the Chariot of Wotan come to the battle helping White Beasts of Wotan to win. White Beats of Wotan are warriors who fight for fatherland and freedom of their Folk. Valkirian charges coming down the sky on their winged steeds is a really good inspiration for writing lyrics and playing music. In my music you can hear choirs with male voices (warriors) and female voices (Valkiries). These voices are always present in my Art and they create incredible mystical mood. Also other personalities are present in my world of pagan beliefs and imagination…let me mention The Rhine Maidens…Water nymphs raising the bodies of the warriors who died near to rivers and lakes…the Rhine Maidens listen to the Lady of a Lake…in my creativity I always refer to the world of spirits and ghosts…ghosts of ancestors…spirits of trees, earth, water, wind…the strength of ancient magic that created the whole world. In my lyrics you can read the histories of cult places of ancient pagan religions, ancient beliefs and traditions…pride and honor…values that lead warriors to eternity…Tyrants of Cruelty roam the world leading us to a higher values…sometimes they bring chaos and anxiety to your world of peace and blissful vegetation…all that matter so far is not important anymore…you leave your former life behind and you follow them through the fire and the ravages of war…ready to die in next battle…Tyrants of Cruelty know your soul…they know how to wake the war beast in you…war wolf who is not afraid to fight against all…In my pagan world there are too categories of enemies: one fight deceitfully with falsehood and betrayal…poisonous and false ideology is their weapon; the second category of my enemies – they come for Hades, the beasts of darkness and black skin barbarian tribes of night…as packs of hungry and greedy orks they invade your lands killing and destroying all you love…In my world the warrior does not protect the weak…because according to the Wotanists law, the weak should try to become stronger by themselves and then they should take care of themselves without any help. In my world the warrior fights to protect his family, his land and his Folk.

 

Now that alive than ever before is the Graveland to spread its pest to make ecclesiastic lies decay.What are your general opinions about nowadays ecclesiastical world -be it about any religion-?For you,Is ecclesiastic decaying day by day or is it becoming stronger?Especially after some recent conflicts,wars?

Christianity is one of the biggest plague of ancient and contemporary world. Religions have been at the bottom of all the biggest wars and slaughters in the human history.  Christianity, Islam, Hebraism…they are all the same. They have the same roots…they are connected in a triangle of hatred and death…our world suffers for hundreds of years because of “redemptive” activity of this triangle of hatred. Vile and the suffering of the ‘unfaithful’ are their sustenance. They create chaos…suffering instead of love and war instead of peace. In the place of freedom they offer false ideology that enslaves people. I have always referred to ancient pagan beliefs of our forefathers. My ancestors worshiped Gods of our lands long before the triangle of hatred invaded us. Our ancestors had their own traditions and this pagan culture that let hem live in harmony with the Nature. Christianity invading Northern lands brought falsehood and betrayal…hatred and war. Later Christianity divided into Catholics, Protestants and Orthodox Church. These faction have been fighting against one another stopping the evolution and developments of a White Man….their religious wars plunged Europe into chaos and darkness…today Christianity tries to whitewash its past and put on a cover of mercy and peace. But this is only an illusion. Our world will be ravaged by religious wars again….Christians claim that they brought the enlightenment and technical and civilization progress….they claim that native pagan beliefs are the source of ignorance and backwardness in all aspects of our life. It is one of the biggest lie!!! Look at Japan. Japan is one of the biggest world superpower and Japanese still have their own pagan religion Shinto….other religions tried to invade and dominate Japan but fortunately they failed. Many Japanese people are Buddhists but Buddhism is not a part of a triangle of hatred. Today I see “redemptive” influence of Christianity in Africa…as Africa in thrown into chaos, poverty and hundreds of local slaughters….oh, I see redemptive influence of Christianity. Some African researchers accuse Christianity of causing the explosion of AIDS epidemic in Africa….they prove that AIDS has appeared in Africa many years ago but native traditions and customs stopped the explosion of AIDS epidemic. But under of influence of Christian missions, lifestyle of Africans has changed…new beliefs and customs replaced old customs bringing chaos…lack of proper values caused escalation of rapes, violence, sexual dissipation that caused AIDS epidemic….

 

Lets take Iraq war for example,did that feed the  hearts of Christians ,and make them to elect Bush again?Is Christianity or any other ecclesiastical wing becoming stronger?

 It is not easy for me to answer this question because  in Poland only few Muslims,  we do not have big Muslim society so we do now have problems with them. But I have the same attitude to Christianity and Islam…they are the same for me. Religious conflict is the worst thing you can be drawn into. So we should be very careful not to let anyone draw us into any religious conflict. Because these who try to engage us in this conflict, have their own interest…money and power. They do not care about us. Today mass media alert us to Islam danger, Pope tries to fuel pro-Christian moods saying that Christianity is the only power that can stop Islam!!! Many people could make huge money on this war selling weapon to both sides as it was during IWW and IIWW. I do not believe in any information mass media provide. As the result the society is stupefied by the primitive propaganda and the government has no problems with manipulating the society. In Poland when the Pope died the governments announced national mourning…and then I felt as I lived in Iran…religious fanaticism, superstition and ignorance emerged with such a strength that I was terrified as I realized that I live in such a country… An escalation of Islam terrorism and fight of people who die in suicide missions for ideas they believe….if I did not the history of armed conflicts in the Middle East….if I did not know the politics of USA, Israel and some European countries…I would blame these Islam terrorists of bringing violence and danger…but in my opinion Islam terrorists are the product of the politics of Western countries towards Middle East countries…the Middle East countries plunge into decay because of sickness called Israel…USA and Europe desire Middle East natural resources…democracy, freedom and Western high level of civilization are only the cover of the true aim that is the seizing of the natural resources Western countries cannot exist. On such ground we can expect growing number of terrorists which Bin Laden gives meaning of their lives and meaning of dying in fight for the right thing…

 

Many blames Graveland for being right-wing supporter or labeling you as anti-semitist.It has been like this for several years and i know you also fed up with these…So,what can you say about this kind of rumors?

My political convictions reflect events taking place in our world. I do not blame Jews for being Jews but for their deeds. I am not going to hide my political convictions in order to increase selling of my albums. If I see that something is going wrong, I criticize this situation and I do not care if I criticize a Jew or a Christian. Many people do not like my style of being because my statements and evaluation of some situations shatter their peace and their well-ordered life mostly based on spending time in blissful sleeping…they do not accept me because I tell them to think. I devaluate their consumerist problems and shallow cultural experiences and I direct attention to crucial problems of our world. But these people do not want to see the real problems of our world. They prefer to live in their blissful ignorance. They prefer to be lied to. this is sick…but our society is sick! I am labelled a  Nazi, anti-Semite, racist…this way very can very easily identify me as a problem, troubles, intolerance, hatred…but I am not their problem…these who lie to them – these are their problem. My words and my artistic work do not cause world conflicts …my words do not cause death of thousands of people…Rules of contemporary Western countries are based on warped and faded values…all made is the name of money that is the highest value…freedom and democracy are not important…the society plunged in ignorance is used to produce and consume…the real happiness of the society is not important. A man exists to produce and to consume. Contemporary culture, art and religion show the society the pleasure and appropriateness of consumerism. Race mixing is very important factor in this play. Racially mixed society is more stupid and easier to manipulate. There is no place for revolt and individual thinking. People deprived of their roots and history, separated from their native traditions and beliefs become vain and idle. So I just fight for my individual freedom and I work unwaveringly toward my goal…nothing can stop me…that is the way I am.

 

Moreover,may i take your fine ideas about todays modern black metal scene which dwells far away from the ideological,heathenistic approach?Hell of bands whose only aims are  nothing but more money and more female flesh!

It is very old problem…there have always been artists creating for Art and artists creating for money and fame. And they have always been in conflict, hating and criticizing one another. But as everybody knows there is an audience needing higher values and deep spiritual experiences and there is also a primitive audience needing just fun and entertainment…they need fun and fulfillment of empty fancies and vanity. Unfortunately this primitive audience is a majority…they reproduce faster giving life to another empty and primitive individuals. Pop music is based on sex and makes the biggest money. Pop BM makes the same but with different image…. But in fact there in no difference between them.

 

What kind of books have you been reading lately?Besides the classics,Are you into modern literature as well?

I do not have really too much time to read. But when I read I prefer classic literature. I am not into modern literature at all. I do not have time for it.  But I watch many movies. I love old Japanese epic samurai movies. I also watch Japanese horror movies and Chinese and Korean movies. American movies fill me with disgust.

 

What kind of utopias you have in your mind about the earths future?It may on Europe’s or US’ …Will be the nations blended or will the deeper differences occur between people in the future?

I am sure we will have to deal with new world wide conflicts…wars for natural resources. Society consist mostly of primitive people…when they have no fuel to drive their cars they would do anything to get it…they will agree for any war. All today fucking chit-chats about freedom, brotherhood, help for Africa, democracy, equality – all will be erased in one day…for fuel…all these mass media heroes, defenders of human rights and refugees will support war…and this is the falsehood of contemporary world. War in Iraq let us see true faces of some people…we should remember them and do not support them in the elections! Unfortunately many economists and market analysts say that humanity will wage war for fuel and natural resources soon. We have so many vehicles that need huge amount of fuel in the world. More and more people have cars…China market is growing in  unimaginable speed…they pr duce and consume….more and more…USA and Europe made first steps to assure some fuel resources invading Iraq and Afghanistan. But I am not sure if this plan succeed.

 

What do you think about ‘fanaticism’ in Black metal?Isnt it fuel for the heathen individuals  while creating the unholy arts?

When you are young you always have radical ideas…you see only black and white…and nothing else. Everything is easy. If something is not with you, it means it is against you… but it is very important time when people grow up. Most of them betray their radical ideas and become the part of a system. Some people are faithful to their youthful ideas and let them triumph in a creative self-development. Our creativity help young people to find the aim of their lives…find the way to perfection that makes them stronger. This is our success…great success…. fanaticism is not important here at all. Because these fanatics mostly are the most stupid and they first change their ideas and religious beliefs. Fanaticism is another façade that covers weak people…so why should we care about them….???

 

This is a quatation from one the your interviews ; ‘Once in the supermarket, I saw a notebook. And imagine what was on the cover of this notebook…the picture of a strong standing black male and white female sitting on the floor staring at him with admiration…she was looking at him as he was a divine… imagine what young girls think when they sit at school and see such picture?!’’ How can you expand your quoted definition ?

Black sexually very attractive male and white greedy for sexual experiences female – this model is emphasized in mass media – advertising, music, movies, books, magazines, newspapers… even on the covers on notebooks for kids!!! It is an obvious action of propaganda spread in Western countries. The effects of this mass propaganda are terrible for a White society. Women are easy to manipulate…some well -thought-out- methods of social engineering let them astray…White women get married to no-White men…and it is the beginning of their problems…Some White women are so stupid that they think that hanging about with Black men makes them trendy and emancipated. They think so because they were told that hanging about with Blacks is cool. These masters of propaganda who spread such shitty lifestyle do not care about the happiness of these women. They aspire to destroy the culture of a White Man…to deprive us of the strength that comes from the purity of our blood. MTV and VIVA are the hotbed of moral corruption…I just hope that one day they will vanish into thin air in the atomic cloud…to the joy of spirits of our forefathers…

 

What are your opinions about ‘censorships’?Be it in music or in any other walks of live?Therefore,Isn’t it necessary to put some limitations while trying to improve the human race,may be we should mention about self-disiplin here…

Censorship is a wide topic and we could talk about it for many hours….censorship has its good and bad sides…it depends on our ideas. World without censorship could not properly function…it would disappear in the abyss of chaos. But sometimes censorship is too strong and it is not good because it limits rebellious aims of some people…and world needs rebellious ideas to function properly. Censors must be very wise people to tell false and destructive ideas to good ideas…some rebellious ideas are very good for the society as a whole and although some radical acts cause development and the progress of civilization. But when censors are the puppets in the government hands or they are religious fanatics, we can forget about the progress of civilization. Censors always want more and more  entitlements and powers. We, as a society, should control censorship. Otherwise censorship deprives us of our freedom. Equilibrium is very important. Some time ago I started to censor my art by myself. It is a kind of auto-censorship. I want to avoid confrontation and repressions from the government and police from my country. I am trying not to give them any pretext to attack me and my creativity. And for some years I have not had any problems with the police and secret services. I am faithful to some cannons and ideas but the police cannot find a way to attack me. Besides in today’s Europe people think a little bit different. I think that people are tried of the problems of immigrants and non-White people and Africa. Europeans seem to be bored with mass media propaganda of holocaust and homosexuals. I think that good times for Graveland are coming…..

 

Thanks Rob, for your time on this. Last words of wisdom are yours…

Thank you Fortinbras for an interesting interview. It was a pleasure to answer it. I wonder how my answers affecting people in your country. I hope my words inspire them and make them think. Be brave and courageous! Make you forefathers proud of you! May pride and honor guide you! Life is not an idle existence….life is an eternal fight for survival!