All Interviews
Falkenbach
Posted on Mar 28, 2006
by Anders
Vratyas Vrakyas has been making viking-influenced metal for quite a while now and has a solid fanbase supporting Falkenbach. Late last year the band's newest effort "Heralding - The Fireblade" was released, a new recording consisting of old material. The un-recorded material that has been referred to as the "Fireblade" album, which now has been manifested into a great piece of music. I got hold of Vratyas Vrakyas who answered my bunch of questions and has made it possible for us all to get a bit further into the mysterious world of Falkenbach.
Hi there, how are things in Germany as we speak?
At the moment things are ok, no more and no less.
Will you please start off by introducing yourself and tell us how you ended up on the path of Viking metal?
Falkenbach started in '89 with the tape "Havamal". Meanwhile 4 official albums and 8 tapes were released.
Late last year you released your 4th full length album "Heralding – The Fireblade", how do you feel about the album today, now when you have gotten a bit of a distance to it?
I still really enjoy listening to it, it's for sure the album that appeared to be nearly exactly what it was meant to be. Usually the result you get when you record at a studio differs from what you expected, but this album nearly 100% became what it was meant to be.
How was the album received by the press and your fans?
I've to concede I nearly never read reviews and stuff, so I cannot tell you too much about it. As far as I can say regarding the feedback I received from the listeners by mail etc., most people seemed to like it.
What did you initially expect of the album, and has the expectations so far been fulfilled?
I hope some people will find something special in it, some sort of impulse for their life in one or another way. Everyone has to find his/her own way into the songs and its lyrics.
What are your thoughts behind the album title "Heralding – The Fireblade"?
The album originally was recorded more than 10 years ago, but unfortunately the recording process was stopped in about the middle. When ever people asked me in interviews about the unreleased songs, I spoke about the "Fireblade" album, as this back then was some sort of working title for it. Now, as the album was re-recorded, I wanted the people to know what kind of album they could expect, and that's why I kept the "Fireblade" in the title. "Heralding" because this album was some sort of heralding for Falkenbach back then.
What have you lyrically touched on "Heralding – The Fireblade"?
Falkenbach songs are always about northern and western Germanic traditions, cultures, mythologies etc. Asatru and Vikings are a single aspect of it for example. I do not use to explain lyrics in every details, as I think everyone has to find an own way into them, otherwise there is no sort of searching, no own finding, no own thoughts.
Where do you find inspiration for your lyrics?
I don't know. I do not need a special mood, no places etc. Where inspiration comes from must be one of the oldest philosophical questions of mankind, and I am probably not the one to answer it.
Your music often has a feel of nature over it, does the nature and mother earth mean a lot to you?
Of course it does, but it's not as important for Falkenbach as people use to think. It's more something personal and might influence the lyrics in some way.
When do you know you have hit the right arrangement, and will accomplish the atmosphere you want in a song?
Very hard to say… you just feel it when a song is "right". You can also feel when something is missing or "wrong". But I cannot say how it feels…
How do you work when you write music, do you write the music and then the lyric or the other way around?
Usually it's the music coming first, and the lyrics afterwards. But the main topic I usually have in mind already.
How important are the lyrics for you, compared to the music?
Both are one, the melodies support the words.
When you look back at the material you so far have released, can you pick out 3 – 5 songs that mean a lot to you and tell us why?
Honestly, all the songs mean the same to me, having the same value. There are no songs I prefer, no songs I do not like. They are all in one row.
If you should describe the arch-type Falkenbach song, how would the description be, and which tracks do you consider as arch-type Falkenbach, if you should pull out a couple of songs?
I think that's not possible. Some might say the clean vocals are some sort of trademark for Falkenbach, but on the other hand there are screams as well. Some might come up with the epic tracks, including flutes, choirs and so on, other with the more rough tracks. I really cannot say, I guess that's something everyone has to find out for him/herself.
The artwork surrounding your releases has always been great and very saying, fitting the music very well together with inducing a lot of atmosphere, how important is it for you that music and artwork work together into a higher wholesome?
It used to take quite some time to find the right picture for an album. As I do not work with an artist, I took drawings that are more than 100 years old. There're not too many pictures that are able to show the important aspects of an album, that's why this time a photo had to be done for it.
Do you make or pick out the artwork yourself or how do you come across it?
The artwork this time was done by Philip Breuer and me, the other ones on former album by me only.
The later years have shown a greater interest in Viking/pagan metal, do you have any idea of why?
No, I don't. I am not in touch with too many bands or people from the "scene" and I also do not read loads of magazines.
You have been a part of the scene for a long time now, has the greater interest affected you/Falkenbach?
I don’t think so. Falkenbach still is what it has been, regarding the music, regarding the lyrics, and regarding myself.
Are you yourself spiritual in any way?
Well, I guess people who know me would say so, yes.
"Heralding – The Fireblade" has been done for a while, have you started to work on new material, how much do you have done, and when can we expect to hear more from Falkenbach?
So far, no songs were finished for a new album. I don't know, maybe a new album will follow soon, maybe it will take years, maybe this album was the last Falkenbach album. It's something I never can say, really not. There is no chance for me to plan music, time will tell.
Do you care to share your 5 all time favourite albums with the readers of Nocturnal Horde?
It might sound arrogant, but those 5 albums would be filled with Falkenbach songs. You see, I am sure people will look on such behaviour with suspicion, but in my opinion a musician should stand behind his works 100%, no less, and trust me, that's what I do. There is no music I prefer over Falkenbach. Of course there's music I listen to that's totally different from Falkenbach, like Wagner, Groothe, Grieg etc. for example. Those master-works cannot be compared to a Falkenbach album, this would be megalomaniacal.
Thanks a ton for answering my questions, if you have anything to add, feel free to add it now!
Thanx for your support! Check www.Falkenbach.de for further details.
At the moment things are ok, no more and no less.
Will you please start off by introducing yourself and tell us how you ended up on the path of Viking metal?
Falkenbach started in '89 with the tape "Havamal". Meanwhile 4 official albums and 8 tapes were released.
Late last year you released your 4th full length album "Heralding – The Fireblade", how do you feel about the album today, now when you have gotten a bit of a distance to it?
I still really enjoy listening to it, it's for sure the album that appeared to be nearly exactly what it was meant to be. Usually the result you get when you record at a studio differs from what you expected, but this album nearly 100% became what it was meant to be.
How was the album received by the press and your fans?
I've to concede I nearly never read reviews and stuff, so I cannot tell you too much about it. As far as I can say regarding the feedback I received from the listeners by mail etc., most people seemed to like it.
What did you initially expect of the album, and has the expectations so far been fulfilled?
I hope some people will find something special in it, some sort of impulse for their life in one or another way. Everyone has to find his/her own way into the songs and its lyrics.
What are your thoughts behind the album title "Heralding – The Fireblade"?
The album originally was recorded more than 10 years ago, but unfortunately the recording process was stopped in about the middle. When ever people asked me in interviews about the unreleased songs, I spoke about the "Fireblade" album, as this back then was some sort of working title for it. Now, as the album was re-recorded, I wanted the people to know what kind of album they could expect, and that's why I kept the "Fireblade" in the title. "Heralding" because this album was some sort of heralding for Falkenbach back then.
What have you lyrically touched on "Heralding – The Fireblade"?
Falkenbach songs are always about northern and western Germanic traditions, cultures, mythologies etc. Asatru and Vikings are a single aspect of it for example. I do not use to explain lyrics in every details, as I think everyone has to find an own way into them, otherwise there is no sort of searching, no own finding, no own thoughts.
Where do you find inspiration for your lyrics?
I don't know. I do not need a special mood, no places etc. Where inspiration comes from must be one of the oldest philosophical questions of mankind, and I am probably not the one to answer it.
Your music often has a feel of nature over it, does the nature and mother earth mean a lot to you?
Of course it does, but it's not as important for Falkenbach as people use to think. It's more something personal and might influence the lyrics in some way.
When do you know you have hit the right arrangement, and will accomplish the atmosphere you want in a song?
Very hard to say… you just feel it when a song is "right". You can also feel when something is missing or "wrong". But I cannot say how it feels…
How do you work when you write music, do you write the music and then the lyric or the other way around?
Usually it's the music coming first, and the lyrics afterwards. But the main topic I usually have in mind already.
How important are the lyrics for you, compared to the music?
Both are one, the melodies support the words.
When you look back at the material you so far have released, can you pick out 3 – 5 songs that mean a lot to you and tell us why?
Honestly, all the songs mean the same to me, having the same value. There are no songs I prefer, no songs I do not like. They are all in one row.
If you should describe the arch-type Falkenbach song, how would the description be, and which tracks do you consider as arch-type Falkenbach, if you should pull out a couple of songs?
I think that's not possible. Some might say the clean vocals are some sort of trademark for Falkenbach, but on the other hand there are screams as well. Some might come up with the epic tracks, including flutes, choirs and so on, other with the more rough tracks. I really cannot say, I guess that's something everyone has to find out for him/herself.
The artwork surrounding your releases has always been great and very saying, fitting the music very well together with inducing a lot of atmosphere, how important is it for you that music and artwork work together into a higher wholesome?
It used to take quite some time to find the right picture for an album. As I do not work with an artist, I took drawings that are more than 100 years old. There're not too many pictures that are able to show the important aspects of an album, that's why this time a photo had to be done for it.
Do you make or pick out the artwork yourself or how do you come across it?
The artwork this time was done by Philip Breuer and me, the other ones on former album by me only.
The later years have shown a greater interest in Viking/pagan metal, do you have any idea of why?
No, I don't. I am not in touch with too many bands or people from the "scene" and I also do not read loads of magazines.
You have been a part of the scene for a long time now, has the greater interest affected you/Falkenbach?
I don’t think so. Falkenbach still is what it has been, regarding the music, regarding the lyrics, and regarding myself.
Are you yourself spiritual in any way?
Well, I guess people who know me would say so, yes.
"Heralding – The Fireblade" has been done for a while, have you started to work on new material, how much do you have done, and when can we expect to hear more from Falkenbach?
So far, no songs were finished for a new album. I don't know, maybe a new album will follow soon, maybe it will take years, maybe this album was the last Falkenbach album. It's something I never can say, really not. There is no chance for me to plan music, time will tell.
Do you care to share your 5 all time favourite albums with the readers of Nocturnal Horde?
It might sound arrogant, but those 5 albums would be filled with Falkenbach songs. You see, I am sure people will look on such behaviour with suspicion, but in my opinion a musician should stand behind his works 100%, no less, and trust me, that's what I do. There is no music I prefer over Falkenbach. Of course there's music I listen to that's totally different from Falkenbach, like Wagner, Groothe, Grieg etc. for example. Those master-works cannot be compared to a Falkenbach album, this would be megalomaniacal.
Thanks a ton for answering my questions, if you have anything to add, feel free to add it now!
Thanx for your support! Check www.Falkenbach.de for further details.
Back
All content Copyright 1999-2006 Nocturnalhorde.com. Powered By...
