Vesania
Vesania
Hey there, how are things in Poland at the moment?
Pretty fine, thanks. Actually, I don't have an idea what is going on around, I'm just taking care of my bands stuff at the moment. All is well, at least with it.
Will you please start off by introducing yourself and tell us why you are deeply rooted in the metal scene?
We're living for this music since we were teenagers, listening to all the bands, going to their shows… I can see no other way for us. The story of Vesania particularly, started in 1997. We were three people then: me (Orion), Daray and Heinrich. On our way, we were joined by Hatrah (keyboards) and Annahvahr (2nd guitar). For the first 4 - 5 years we've been just practicing, playing some single shows. We recorded just one piece of studio material in that period, later named "Moonastray" and released by the small label, Odium Records. An important change took place in 2000 – Siegmar replaced Hatrah, as a new keymaster. With this line-up, we did the first album, "Firefrost Arcanum". It was recorded in the end of 2002, but released in 2003. By the label we were signed with, Empire Records. They promoted us really well here, so we did some festivals like Metalmania and a tour with Vader and Decapitated. During a year we've been chosen as "the newcomer year 2003" by two of the most important Polish metal magazines. In a meantime, two of us joined two other Polish bands – Behemoth and Vader.
2005 was another breakthrough: we signed the management deal with Massive Management and album deal with Napalm Records. Our 2nd album, "God The Lux" is already out, and we're doing quite fine with it. We're living for this music since we were teenagers, listening to all the bands, going to their shows… I can see no other way for us now.
You are now ready with your new attack on humanity "God The Lux", how has the album so far been received?
Very well, so far. Here in Poland, it was out in April. We're always the reason for extreme opinions, and that happened this time as well. It looks like we're that kind of a band, which you either love or hate. People are talking a lot about Vesania here, I am really glad about the reactions. I'm getting tons of emails from the fans congratulating the album, reading many amazing reviews. As for the European release, it's a bit too early to say. But everything is going in a proper direction.
How do you feel about the album?
I'm really satisfied with it. It was worth hard working. I wouldn't do music that I don't like.
Did the album turn out as you had planned?
We're always making the plan and the entire concept very precisely. We're taking care about the whole idea of the album – its sound, graphic designs, lyrics. The more work you put into – the better it turns out. The lazier you are, the less you can expect from everything you do. "God The Lux" is exactly as we planned it. I'd say it’s a good modern black metal album, considering the entire idea.
What do you expect from the album?
We're still pretty unknown band outside of Poland. That's what we need now, to show this name to the people, to let them know, that we exist. This is the main thing at the moment considering our cooperation with Napalm Records, and that's what we expect from this album. It's supposed to be the tool, which makes it possible.
What do you want to accomplish with the album?
The mission is not so uncommon. We're just a band, attempting to get out from the very underground. "God The Lux" is our first very conscious act of creation, and in my opinion, we're rather starting something with it, than accomplishing something.
How was the writing process for "God The Lux"?
We were working for like a year or so, but in a different way than before. After two of us joined Behemoth and Vader, we had to change the system of working. We used to meet each other for rehearsing once or twice a week, now we had to spend some more time together, play everyday, and then do longer breaks. We did this album within few such periods. I always work with the drummer first; we do the basis of the songs. Then we arrange it with the two other guys, making some little changes. It was really smooth this time, we knew what could we expect from each other.
Have you discovered some new sources of inspiration lately, since the new album turned out, quite different than "Firefrost Arcanum"?
With inspirations it's always like this: they're coming from all around. While we were making the music for "Firefrost Arcanum", we were much closer to earlier Scandinavian black metal. Since that time, we've got through a lot of shit in our lives, a lot of music in general, many new inspiring thoughts. Nothing particular, nothing seriously different than before, but anyways. A lot of fresh themes and ideas. In my opinion, we're always influenced by everything that makes us think.
How do you feel about "Firefrost Arcanum" today?
Before we recorded it, we had been preparing it for ages. The problem was that not even one of us is from a rich family. We had to collect the money for the recording session, and were aware, that we had just one chance. The next wouldn't come within the next few years. So we had to do this album well enough, to find a label immediately. We spent few months at the studio (with breaks caused by some technical problems and unlucky coincidents). We had to sacrifice a lot to accomplish this recording session, and everything seemed to be against us. But in the end, we sent the first copy to the label that we wanted to work with, and the answer was "yes". Anyway, this album was so hard to do, that I have to be satisfied with it. And finally I am. It's a good debut album, though made by inexperienced people. I even like to listen to it sometimes. It's a living music, a very spontaneous "stream of consciousness", full of hatred and uncontrolled chaos.
How well did "Firefrost Arcanum" do and how was it received?
Well enough to make us a well-known band here in Poland and achieve a title of: "the newcomer year 2003" in the Polish Metal Hammer and Thrash’em All magazine. The reaction was really massive and positive. We had a lot of people on the concerts, getting positive opinions and reviews. Quite a big amount of fans showed us their appreciation, and we do appreciate it.
The symphonic elements on "Firefrost Arcanum" are very Emperor inspired, as well as some of the music. On your new album, the symphonic elements are colder and more of an industrial character and the music is more your "own". Why did it turn out like that?
We wanted it to be like you said. Emperor was one of the most important bands for us, so it was impossible to avoid some Emperor-inspired elements on the first album. The character of the sound itself is a bit like "Anthems To The Welkin At Dusk" I think, you can easily hear the inspirations. With the second album, we wanted to do much more conscious music, to mark our own style. It is colder and more mechanical indeed; the songs are shorter and composed in a bit more classical way. It's not anymore the stream of consciousness, it’s planned and precise. And the sound is much clearer and that is why it seems to be more industrial. This time, we’ve managed to achieve exactly what we wanted to.
How would you describe your development from the start of the band, until now?
We evolved, but not really definitely. We're still a black metal band, this is the path we've chosen and we're going to follow. We're becoming better and better musicians, more and more aware of what we want to do in our lives. We started as very young people, realizing our passion, looking for the way. Now we’re much older, but it looks like we're still fascinated by same things. Or at least part of them remains unchanged. We're developing constantly, doing just better music, preparing it in order to play it live, we have now much more distance to think before we start something. But the feeling, the groove, passion and fascination, is still the same. We expect this special and unique anxiety from our music, and it's still there.
Will you explain the lyrical contents on "God The Lux", which themes are you using and which topics do you touch?
"God The Lux" literarily, is English and Latin mixed, "god-light". In the matter of meanings, it is simply saying the story of god and light. It analyzes this dependence, and tries to find the most important parts of the structure of human within and between these forces. There's a lot about glimpses and dazzles of light, labyrinths and all that lead human being on its way to understanding. The god I'm talking about is not a Christian god, it's "god" in general. By enclosing "lux" in title, it’s suggested not to forget about the luciferian interpretation. There are masks and stories of disguise, that's what I always include our lyrics. All that I write is not to be understood strictly. That is the reason for all the strange titles and phrases, and "statements" below each song. Just try to go through it with music. It will make you think, and that's what I expect from what I write.
How did you end up with the album title "God The Lux", what does it symbolize and what are your thoughts behind it?
It sounds like it was "god deluxe". The title should sound good, shouldn't it? As I said before, it’s supposed to give the name of the structure, construction that I'm talking about in lyrics. It just symbolizes this reference, the place of the human being in between. It’s the name for kind of a quest, the trial of understanding.
How did you end up with the band name Vesania and what does that symbolize?
We chose the name years ago. It's a Latin word, describing everything, that is connected with madness, insanity, mental disease. It's pretty much what people are thinking about such people as we are, isn't it? So it's like a philosophy of the scapegoat. If someone calls you evil satanist or madman, turn to him and claim: "I am fucking evil as hell".
How do you look upon the black metal scene nowadays, both in Poland and the scene more generally?
It's different now, times are changing, and people are changing. The time of burning churches is not present anymore. People, who were the founders of black metal, are now rather musicians, than ideologists. So the term "black metal" is now more proper to the music itself, than to the whole ideology. The scene is sometimes doing a bit better, sometimes a bit worse, but still, there's a lot of good bands, recording great albums. I'm somewhere in the middle of it, liking some of the very modern stuff and being a fan of some old school bands. It seems like the black metal scene is not going to be like it used to be before anymore. The direction of the development says to use all the new-age equipments, to sound good, to be a good live band. I'm not the one to judge, if it is good or not. Poland is a good example of this, Polish bands explore both directions. But we do not really have at least one, really strong, absolutely "black metal" band. Neither old school, nor modern.
What does Vesania offer to the black metal scene?
Our place is still unsure. We're nothing completely new or totally original, but still we have our very own atmosphere and kind of unique style. We're this kind of a band, which pays a lot of attention to every single form of expression, and this is what is distinguishing about us. Getting into Vesania, you allow yourself to explore the whole concept, the entire very detailed idea of philosophy. It's a kind of a unusual thing, very characteristic for this band.
How would you describe your music to someone, who never had heard about Vesania?
I'd say it's full of anxiety and rage. Pompous, powerful modern black metal. Insanity put to sounds, thoughts and vision.
You are now signed on Napalm Records, what do you expect from the label and are you happy to be there?
First of all, we've signed a management deal with Massive Management; the company that have worked with Vader for years. The deal with Napalm Records was a result of our cooperation and was a decision that we made together. We got a few offers, but we chose Napalm. It's an experienced company, not too huge for us. They've always been professional and hard working people. We really like and appreciate this cooperation model, where there is action-like reaction, continuous ideas and conversations. And, what is more, they offered the best promotion plan for us. And that was what we needed the most at the moment. That is what we expect at the moment, being a not really known band outside of Poland. We're satisfied with this deal and looking forwards to our future step.
Are you going to tour in support of the new album? Do you have any dates settled as it is now?
We're starting the tours in the middle of January 2006. Poland first, then Western Europe, coming back through Scandinavia, to the Baltic countries and Russia. It's going to be like 60-70 shows in a row, so a huge thing, especially for us.
How do you look upon the future of black metal and Vesania's part of the scene?
It's hard to say, to estimate the direction of this music in general. All we can do is work hard. All we can hope for is that each of our following steps are going to be better than the previous one.
Will you share your 3 all time favourite albums with the metal heads?
First of all: Emperor - Anthems To The Welkin At Dusk. No matter what was before in black metal, I totally admire this album, and I'm constantly fascinated by it. It's still an inspiration for me.
The second album is Lisa Gerard - Mirror Pool, first solo album from her. Calmness and equilibrium in every single sound.
The third choice is somewhere in the middle of the 2 above, Devil Doll -Dies Irae.
Thanks a lot for answering my questions, if you have anything to add, feel free to do it now!
Thank you for this interview. I just want to invite you all to our shows, we're playing some tours in Jan '06 as I said before. Hope to see you there.
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