1.For those that have never heard of you before, can you tell us a little bit about the band?
Bjorn Raudrskeggi: We were formed in February 2009, and in the beginning we played raw black metal. Over time, our music has come to acquire a distinctive sound. With the arrival of new members and the departure of older we seem to take on a new and necessary and saying goodbye to an outworn old. In 2009, we recorded a demo, which included 2 songs. Since 2011, we start concert activity, looking for our own image. In the same year, we tried to record our album, but on a number of the many reasons this was not possible, and we started recording only in 2015.
2.How would you describe the musical sound that is presented on the recording?
Tar Kyriathan: Quiet strange quieston, honestly =). It is always easier to listen than to read the description - you can do it by buying the disc, and on our bandcamp, where the album is presented for free listening. We didn’t try to look about any band, if you mean this; we have been experimenting with the sound - because the material is far from 100-percent black metal. Some changes took place directly in the recording process, so that the work was very much lively. However, we are not fully satisfied with the sound - there is lack of experience, because for us it is the first studio recording. In the future, we will know how to do it right and how not to do, and will continue to search for our perfect sound.
3.You refer to your musical style as 'Ingrian Black Metal', can you tell us a little bit more about this term?
Bjorn Raudrskeggi: It’s like designating the place of our creativity. Ingermanland (Ingria) – it’s our native land, native land of FV, our living area. We are very interested in the history of our region, and here is where to dive into the depth of centuries. Ingermanland is more poetical and ancient name of our region, than Saint-Petersburg and especially than Leningrad. Also, Ingrian territory is considered not only the city but the whole vast area. So we can say that it’s a country in the country.
And information about the history of Ingermanland I think you can find free in the Internet...
4.The band has been around since 2009 and waited until 2015 to release an album, can you tell us a little bit more about the long wait?
Tar Kyriathan: At first, the material accumulated, changed, some songs were rejected later. In 2009, demo-version of “Broken, torn…” was recorded, but, however, it has little in common with the current sound of the band. In general, the early period of creativity was very leisurely; though I 'm playing Fimbulvinter since autumn 2014, I had the opportunity to observe the guys since the debut performance in May 2011. What I did see - it's not too serious attitude to the band almost of all musicians (except, of course, Bjorn), they have played more for themselves than for any perspective, and attempts to make a good record were very apathetic. In fact, a new period of band’s history I can call autumn 2014, when me and bassist Alex Tombstone joined FV – I don’t mean that we had done something specific, just the “new blood” is always a plus for the band during the period of stagnation. Since then, the attitude to the music became serious, some opportunities and perspectives has appeared. And with the new forces, fully completing the material , we sat down in the studio and finally recorded the debut album - someone was waiting for him for a long time.
5.Both the song lyrics and the band name deal with Norse Paganism, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in this topic?
Bjorn Raudrskeggi: As the project was founded by me, and I write almost all lyrics, so this question is more addressed to me =). I’m interested in Scandinavian paganism, mythology and traditions for the very long time, so of course it had an impact on creativity. The band's name was chosen from the Elder Edda , and, in my opinion, it very well describes the band’s way. Norse paganism is very close to me, but it is not fundamental to the band’s lyrics. Rather, they are about North, cold, primordial forces of nature and misanthropy.
6.What are some of the best shows that the band has played so far and also how would you describe your stage performance?
Tar Kyriathan: There were many good performances - hard to pick out something specific.
I guess I would call the concert together with the Finns Rienaus and Hell Spirit in January 2015 – the conditions were such as a full house of people on our performance (which is, unfortunately, a rarity for black metal concerts in St. Petersburg), we were able to tune the good sound, and in total it gave a great show =).
As for the scenic image - as you may have seen, at this time we don’t use corpsepaint, because we believe it is not necessary, but in the future something maybe will change. And what about the clothes - we use both classical machine-gun belts , and heavy boots , and a small amount of our own unique attributes made with using bones.
7.Do you have nay touring or show plans for the future?
Tar Kyriathan: For today, 3 concerts are in plans - together with Nargaroth in February in St. Petersburg, in Arkhangelsk’s Old School Metal Massacre also in the end of February, and together with the Finns Sacrilegious Impalement in Moscow in April. If something theme will add, we’ll be glad – we rarely pass up opportunities to perform. And what about tours – yes, we want to, but now we can’t afford it.
8.On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to your music by fans of black and pagan metal?
Tar Kyriathan: To some extent we can say that , yes. We were 2 times played on Internet radio in the Netherlands and 1 time in Poland , often on our facebook- page, I received good feedback on our music from people from other countries ... And the very fact that we are giving this interview for the American webzine =). So we quietly move into right direction.
9.Are any of the band members also involved with any other bands or musical projects these days?
Bjorn Raudrskeggi: Yes, our guitarist Patrik is also a bassist of the folk-formation Der Galgen - fairly well-known in narrow circles.
10.Where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?
Bjorn Raudrskeggi: We would like of course to get a wider stage, and we are working in this way.
Tar Kyriathan: At the level of international fame =). Honestly, if more people will know about us, it will be better for the band. We do not consider ourselves to be a so-called true black metal band, and we do not want to be in underground forever and to splash bile to all who rises above. So we will try to promote our creativity as much as possible.
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?
Bjorn Raudrskeggi: Of course, black, pagan and viking metal of early period. Such as BATHORY, BURZUM, IMMORTAL, GRAVELAND etc, fathers of genres =). Currently, I also listen to black metal, but the newer bands, because I’m interested in evolution of this genre and sub-genres now. But, unfortunately, I found too few deserving bands with interesting material and submission. Also, I listen to ambient, folk, and all that pleases the hearing =).
Tar Kyriathan: At one time it was BURZUM and early SATYRICON - the first things I heard of black metal. Than, a very long time I have to hear to the holes PAYSAGE D'HIVER – and I still believe that this project is the best of all that was ever written in the style of atmospheric black metal, despite the bad quality of the recording. Well, another of the most respected bands I will call THYRFING. And now I'm listening to a lot of things, not to bothering about the style - including a good dance music, and melodic death metal and metalcore; expect, everything what I like.
12. What are some of your non musical interests?
Bjorn Raudrskeggi: I do wood carving. Also, I like wandering the forests, fishing, the Kola North, Karelia and everything which is connected with it, and of course reading books =). And in winter, snowboarding catches my soul =).
Tar Kyriathan: Travelling, history, reading books… All interests can be combined into trips to Leningrad area - there is something to see, for example some fortresses are left from ancient times.
13.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?
Bjorn Raudrskeggi: Exercise and believe in yourself , listen to Fimbulvinter, to your mother and radio! North Spirit gives us the freedom!!!
Tar Kyriathan: I would like to wish for the readers - listen to good music, grow spiritually, travel, and receive new experience.