Weltenbrand

Posted on Oct 18, 2006

by Anders

Weltenbrand, a band hailing from Liechtenstein. Delivering an atmospherically blend of gothic metal, darkwave and classical music. Enchanting spheres of folklore and melancholy, a great journey into forgotten realms. I hooked up with singer Dina-Falk-Zambelli, wife of composer Oliver Falk, and she eagerly answered all my curious questions.

Hi there, how are things in Liechtenstein as we speak?

Just fine thank you!! A lot of work but this is always a good sign...!
 
Will you please start off by introducing yourself and tell us how you ended up on the exact path of music you are walking on today?

I am Dina Falk-Zambelli female vocalist in the band Weltenbrand. The band Weltenbrand itself started up in the year 1995 founded by Oliver Falk (composer and synth).

Here a short cut of the bands rather long history:  

1994: Oliver Falk wrote several intros for other bands. These intros as time went by became more like songs so he thought about composing own songs for himself...
In 1995 he formed the band and the first album called "Das Rabenland" came out under the band name Weltenbrand. The style was very similar to Die verbannten Kinder Evas since Oliver liked that style of music a lot.
In 1997 followed "Das Nachtvolk". The album followed a tour with Die verbannten Kinder Evas. The style of the music changed pretty much to its own sound without preferred orientation.
1999: "Untergang Von Trisona" the favourite album of the critics so far. The highlight was that Live Kristine and Alexander Krull of Leave's Eyes joined in for a song.
2001: "In Gottes Oder Des Teufels Namen" the style changed unusually pop sounding because of a different production from Alexander Krull. Production wise this is unfortunately the less liked album of Oliver.
2006: After five years of turbulent changes the newest album "The End Of The Wizard" finally comes out.

Some serious lineup change went on. Bassplayer Christian Sele, drummer Mario Jahnke (Adrian Büchel shown in the booklet did not have the time to rehearse for this album but he will join Oliver and Dina on Erben Der Schöpfung) and female singer Dina Zambelli joined the band. Simone und Stefan Villamar left the band because of family reasons, lack of time and musical interests and interests in the band's career. (Curent members: Oliver Falk / synth and composing, Ritchie Wenaweser and Dina Zambelli (Falk by now) / Vocals, Daniela Nipp / Violin, Christian Sele / Bass and Mario Jahnke / Drums).  

After all this time the band finally seems to fit together. You can hear it!

Liechtenstein is not a country we hear much of when talking of metal and metal related genres, is there a scene in the country and how well do you do there?

The metalscene in Liechtenstein is rather small. There are Erben Der Schöpfung (Goth-metal-electro), Black Sonic Prophets (Melodic metal) and some bands just starting out. It is hard to get started in music business these days.  Weltenbrand is rather known in the countries around Liechtenstein. In Germany and Belgium there seems to be rather big fan communities.
 
You are now ready with your new album "The End Of The Wizard", how do you in the band feel about it?

The band is actually glad that it is finally done. This album took all in one almost five years. The recording process itself took over a year. We are just glad that it is out. The time spent on it though is worth it! There was a lot going on around and in the band and everything ended up to be a good thing in the end! We are ready and set now and willing to do anything!! :) This album was kind of chaotic to make, but the band with the new members had to get set first, as a team. The next album will go easier and faster!
 
How has it so far been received by the press and by your fans?

Most of the critics where very positive!! There where a few that unfortunately did not spend enough time listening to our CD or did not like our music personally. But this was such a small amount. And it's the name of the game to also receive negative response... The fans did react more than positive! Even to all the changes that went on in the band and with the sound. We are thankful for this big response and for the fans that stayed true over all these years! Of course also for the new ones!! :)

What do you expect of the album?

We don't expect anything of any album. First of all we just want to do music. Of course we want to get out there reach a lot of people but we are just a bunch of musicians who want to do what we love!
 
How is your new album compared to your previous releases?

The songs themselves are easier to listen to. Oliver wanted his music to become more listenable for other people out there than classic music listeners. If you are not used to classic music it is hard to concentrate on it and to understand it. On this record the melodies got easier but not to loose the dynamics in the music, there are drum and bass added. This adds more energy to the songs and makes it more stable because of the base and not at least danceable! Also the vocal lines have also become more dynamic and varied.

How do you feel you have developed through the years?

The biggest development was during the last five years. Oliver changed the way of the melodies. The sound changed due to the new band members. This was the huge step forward that Oliver had been looking for, for a very long time. The band has also gained experiences in all ways of a musician's life.
 
Where do you find inspiration when you write the music?

In nature, life, other people, our own emotions and feelings.
 
Do you have to be in a certain mood to make your music, considering how atmospherically and emotional it is?

Oliver has to be in his own mood for writing such music. There are times, especially when he is paragliding, he can't possibly write music because he is in a total different mood than the music demands. He has to be in a special mood for this, and it's not a too happy mood, as you can hear. :)
 
What do you wish to tell and make people feel when they hear your music?

We want to open a door to a different world for the listener. A world where there is enough time for magic and mysticism! I think it is very important to have a place to flee sometimes, if this world gets too real and cruel. Dreams and emotions have almost no place here. So we create a world where there is time to dream!
 
What does the title of your new album "The End Of The Wizard" symbolize and mean to you?

"The End Of The Wizard" is actually taken of the title song on this record. This story is about a woodcutter who makes a contract with the devil. The devil gives him a hazel twig (also shown on the cover art work) witch he can do magic in the wood with. But when the devil wants his part of the contract fulfilled the woodcutter tried to flee. And that was the last time he has been seen alive and it was the end of the magic and the end of the "Wizard".  

The title itself does not have any special meaning or message. It just seemed to be a good fitting title for this record.
 
How is the artwork connected to the title and what do you want people to make out of it?

The hazel twigs and leaves on the cover artwork are from the story. The stickman upside down in the middle of it, symbolizes the downfall of human beings against the nature. This has to do with most of the sagas. Nature is just stronger than we are!
 
Your lyrics are built upon the legends of Liechtenstein, not something I think many are familiar with, can you tell a bit about a couple of the legends you have touched?

Most of the legends have to do with witches, ghosts, dead folks and natural catastrophes. Sagas and legends in these parts of the world are very dark and mystic, stories with a moral point in them or to give you a cold chill. One of my favorite ones on this record is the story behind 'Gipsy Magic'. This is about a farmer that had no luck on his farm. Nothing grew and his cows did not produce milk. A day there dropped gypsies by. Among them was a gipsy woman who explained the farmer that he had to dig where she showed him and he will find the reason of his pity. The farmer dug under his barn and found a tuft of different hair and in it a bone of an innocent child. The gipsy woman told him that she had to bring these things back to wherever it came from. The farmer followed her and found out that these things came from a woman who had laid a bad spell on his farm. This story gives me a cold shiver every time I hear it!

If someone wants to dig deeper into the legends of Liechtenstein, do you have some good sources for that?

www.liechtenstein.li and "Liechtensteiner Sagenbuch" by Otto Seger
 
How much does your country mean to you and how aware are you of your legacy?

Five of the band members grew up in Liechtenstein. They love to be here. They feel connected to the country. This is also why the band used the sagas of Liechtenstein for the lyrics. They wanted to represent their country. Of Oliver, I know that he is pretty patriotic! I grew up in Switzerland and moved to Liechtenstein since I am married with Oliver. Liechtenstein is not a big difference from Switzerland. We all love the nature here! The state of Liechtenstein itself is something special (of course just how any other state has its specialty!!). There is not much, more beautiful than the castle of the principality by night.

How is it to be on Napalm Records and how do you feel about the cooperation?

It is very good to work with the people of Napalm. Of course they have a lot of bands and have a lot of work to do, but this also leaves us some room to take care of some promotion work ourselves. But Napalm does a great job on this! The promotion overseas has been very good so far!! And I have some very nice people sending me interviews. Since I am new to all of this, they have helped me a lot. And they have great patience with me screwing up... haha! No, I give my best! ;)
 
How do you look upon the future of the band?

First of all we want to go out there and play live gigs! This is what it is all about! But right now we are looking for a booking agency. We seem to have found a great manager and we have good talks about the upcoming things! We are also already working on new songs for the next album. In the same time Oliver is building his own studio to record and produce his band himself. And anything else is going great so far! We look forward to what the future might bring!

What albums have you been listening a lot to lately?

Kalmah - The Black Waltz and Swamplord
Hans Zimmer - The Last Samurai
Ensiferum - Iron
Sethian - Into The Silence
And I still haven't found the record from Phanatos!!! If anybody knows, please tell me where to get it!!!!

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

Thank you for the interview and the interest in our band and music! Thanks to all our fans out there and all those who believed in us!!
 
Stay dark!

Weltenbrand website