Urkraft

Posted on Jun 6, 2006

by Anders

Urkraft, the praised Danish death/thrash band is now ready with its second full lenght album "The Inhuman Aberration", which also marks their first release for Earache Records. A great abum that shows a band that has come along way since the demo-days and a mature band ready to conquer other territoires than the Danish. i hooked up with drummer Mikael Skou Jørgensen and got a good chat about this and that concerning the band and their new release!

Hi there, will you please start off by introducing yourself?

Hello, my name is Mikael Skou Jørgensen, and I'm the drummer in Urkraft. I'm 28 years old and live in Copenhagen. I have a Master of Arts degree with Danish literature as my major and history as my minor. I'm employed as an account manager in a smaller firm, because drumming and reading books doesn't pay the bills unfortunately.

A small introduction of the rest of the band, together with a bit about what they contribute to the band with, will be great as well!

Thomas S. Pedersen is our growler and rhythm guitarist. He's got some pretty clear visions to help us in our songwriting and also takes care of most of the more business oriented stuff. He and I started talking about forming a band a looong time ago.

Thomas Birk is a mean riffer and a visionary lead guitarist in my opinion. He and his guitar seem to be very close.

Jeppe Tander is and always was our bass player. He was mean, when Thomas and I first meet him, but he has been nice to us for a long time. He and I practised yesterday, and I gotta tell you his bass gear sounds brutal.

Jeppe Eg is our keyboarder and a very important part of our sound. He used to play with Manticora, but since he was already our drinking buddy, we managed to steal him when we decided to incorporate keyboards as a regular part of our sound some years ago.

You have musically come a long way since the demo-days, how do you see your development throughout the years?

As a bit slow somehow and fumbling maybe but also always very sincere and experimental in its own way. When it comes to our more recent development, I can only say that I'm very pleased and "The Inhuman Aberration" represents exactly where I wanna be musically right now.

You are also signed on Earache Records now, how do you feel about that and what do you expect of the cooperation?

Earache is a legendary and somewhat controversial label to some people. I have a lot of their releases in my collection, so personally I'm fairly proud to be on their roster. What I expect is better sales and promotion than for "Eternal Cosmic Slaughter" and some business know-how and help with touring. No miracles.

How's your deal with the label?

Obviously I can't reveal any details about the contract between us and them. But I can tell you that it's a multi album deal that we were happy to ink after the mandatory negotiations.

You are now about ready with your second full length album "The Inhuman Aberration", how do you in the band feel about the album?

We feel very good. Of course we're excited, but we are proud to release our bastard breed upon the world.

What do you expect from it?

More credibility, respect and maybe even popularity within the scene, some touring and finally the energy and inspiration to compose and record a third album.

How has it so far been received by the press?

I haven't seen that many reviews yet, but all has been above average apart from one. Our guy at Earache mailed me Kerrang!'s review today and that critic really liked it. That will keep me warm in the night, reviews like that.

When you started out to write the material for the new album, what were your initial ideas and do you feel you have accomplished them?

To be more aggressive, faster, more melodic and more "weird" than before. I KNOW we have accomplished that. Then it's up to people to decide if it's also BETTER. At least we think it is.

Who are the main songwriters in the band?

That will be Thomas and Thomas. Thomas Birk usually brings a lot of material to our rehearsals. Thomas and I makes him throw most of it away again and change the rest, haha, and then Thomas S. brings some riffs and some more abstract ideas into the melting pot, too. Then I talk a lot and sometimes have a good idea or two to add. Then we play and play, change it all again and again until we have a "song" that we like.

Where is the inspiration for the music found?

Well, mostly in other music, our own and others'. I don't get inspired from a lot of stuff that is not music and I don't think the other guys do either. It might not sound very spiritual or arty, but that’s how it is.

Which elements of a song do you find as the most important ones (e.g. groove, melodies, hooks etc…) and why?

All of them. We want that diversity and if just one of the elements you mention is of low quality or uninspired it will affect the whole song in a negative direction.

Can you pull out 3 bands and 3 songs that have meant a lot for your way to think music and the sound of Urkraft?

No, I can't do that. No particular songs, anyway. It's just impossible. But I will name some bands. Please mind that I'm only answering on behalf of myself: At The Gates, Bolt Thrower, Decapitated, Morbid Angel and Strapping Young Lad.

Which topics have you touched lyrically this time around?

In short the lyrics are about man's struggle against nature; his own, Earth and the universe.

Who's the man behind the lyrics?

Mostly me. Thomas Birk wrote the lyrics for three songs on this album.

Where is the inspiration for the lyrics found?

Here I can only speak for myself as well, but mostly in different kinds of literature, fictional and non-fictional, and in the concentrated writing process. Inspiration is only found in real life and alcohol abuse to a much lesser degree. Not very arty either, huh, but it's my experience in general that you have to work for it. Nothing good comes to you easy.

How important are the lyrics compared to the music, and do you have a message with the lyrics?

The music is the most important, but still it wouldn't be cool to have strong music with weak lyrics. You want the whole package, right? The lyrics mean a lot to me, and that's why I’m responsible for them. The guys know I take this job seriously and trust me with it. Musically Thomas S. and I always spend some time adjusting the lyrics to his ideas for the vocals and we discuss and try different approaches before we make our final decisions. The message is death and emptiness.

"The Inhuman Aberration", what are your thoughts behind the title and what does it symbolize?

It sums up what this type of music and our album is all about, a sort of a statement perhaps? It's also the title of one of the songs and the mental condition of the person behind the voice that speaks through Thomas' growling.

If you feel like it, you are very welcome to pull out your 3 favorite songs from "The Inhuman Aberration" out and tell us the idea for the track, what the lyric is about and what you want to "give" to the listener with it!

These "favorites" might be different tomorrow and actually were yesterday, but what the hell...?

'This Great Summer' is a thrashy and straight-forward piece that has a really dramatic midpiece and chorus. The lyrics are about the Sun and the Earth "conspiring" to end it all unknowing of the raving but helpless man in between them.

'The Only Gods' is a very dark track in six-eights, which gives it a nice flow. The lyrics treat "love" as an aberration that makes you vulnerable. Very original, right, haha.

'Open The Gate' is fast and furious and demands some technical stamina to play properly. Thomas S. insisted that we made the midpiece with guitar solo and grinding drums but without rhythm guitar and with piano to support it instead. I remember when we made it, and I thought he had lost it. Now I love it.

That's the ones I chose today. I hope we give the listeners a good musical experience with all three tracks. If some of them give a shit about the lyrics that's nice, but no criteria for rockin' out, if you know what I mean.

Are you planning on going on tour in support of the new album or just some single shows here and there, and isn't it about time you visit Aalborg again?

No, we really hope to get on a decent European tour this time, but there's nothing specific planned at the moment, I'm afraid. As for Danish shows they will probably be here and there in the weekends. We hope to see you in Aalborg, but nothing's booked.

What is your overall mission with Urkraft?

To play some decent and meaningful extreme metal. We do it for the fun and the good times as well as for ambition and glory.

How do you look upon the future of the band?

The visible next steps ahead are to support "The Inhuman Aberration" by playing live and then compose, record and release a new, third album. And then what? Who knows these things?
 
Will you share your 5 all time favorite albums with the readers of Nocturnal Horde?

This changes a lot, too, you know! But sure, I'll have a go at it in alphabetical order. Can I bend the rules and name 6?

Anathema - The Silent Enigma
At The Gates - Slaughter Of The Soul
Entombed - Clandestine
Decapitated - Organic Hallucinosis
Strapping Young Lad - Alien
Suffocation - Pierced From Within

Thanks a ton for answering my questions, if you have anything to add, feel free to add it now!

Thank you for the interview, I hope to be beating the last life out of my drum heads for you all very soon...

Urkraft website

Review of "The Inhuman Aberration"

Buy the album at

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