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After 9 years of absence Ancient Rites strikes back out of nowhere with “Laguz”. Unravelling stories about the past, ideas about the present and plans about the future, Gunther went on to this lengthy interview about everything, with his classic humour of course!
Hello Gunther, I hope you are doing great! Its an honour for me to do this interview since i’ve been following A.R. for quite a few years now and i was expecting this new release for a long time now. So what took you so long to come out with this album after all those years of silence? What happened after the release of Rubicon?
Greetings Geegor. Ola kala? Thanks for your kind words and support. The pleasure is completely mine. People started to believe the band had ceased to exist but this wasn’t the case. A number of internal and external factors caused this situation though which made it impossible for the band to re-appear sooner. There was not a deliberate strategy to keep the production of the album secret or anything. But I can imagine for many people the new album came unexpected. We felt there was no reason to talk about the new material before practical yet important matters, such as a record contract and a decent studio budget, were in our hands. Apart from that we kept working on the material over the years until we found it worth releasing without anyone hearing any of the pre-productions. As I said: many internal and external obstacles had to be taken : line up changes, financial obstacles, we lost our rehearsal room, private obligations of certain band members etc. Once all these factors were taken care of and our material finalised, we worked fast and efficient: we entered studio and within a couple of weeks the recordings, artwork, a clip, and the album was ready for release which came as a surprise to many who had mistaken our public silence for a final split. Another factor that contributed to the surprise is that we are a band who do not release albums as a routine, we do not have to answer to big managements or labels to release work within a certain time limit. We do not have to take in consideration trivial elements such as current trends or hypes to keep sales going. Our audience is built up throughout the years on a “Do it yourself” basis via underground contacts. In the old days through tape trading, self-financed releases, intense correspondence in letter form because keep in mind these were pre-internet times. Our following know more or less what to expect from Ancient Rites and are used to our way of working. But it’s true, they had to wait long this time. So did we…
What does the title “Laguz” mean and what is the story behind it?
It is an ancient rune which is associated with the element of water (the ocean) and therefore connected with life energy and its origins, travel (in spirit and in the flesh), dreams, occultism, initiation, evolutionary process. Its gender is female and its colour is dark green. Its planet The Moon (connected to the tides of the sea). It is a rune with a darker side, but after daring the sometimes treacherous and stormy waters, symbolically speaking, growth and reward awaits, as in life itself. When our ancestors read the runes, the „Laguz“ rune warned for hard times but through perseverance the storms could be taken, the reward awaits afterwards. This is where history, mythology, ancient religion and timeless philosophy meet. Laguz stands for many things fitting to the universe of ANCIENT RITES and the band situation. The band had to struggle for survival since the very beginning and these past years have been extra difficult for the band due to the several factors I mentioned before. But we took the storm and here we are, talking about a new album. I reflected Laguz on my personal/private situation as well: I have been fighting chronical health conditions these past years and things escalated. The medical treatments continue to this day to prevent the growing of malignant cancer that would end my life path a bit too soon. Sometimes when I was facing different operations or was in pain and exhausted I smiled to myself thinking „Laguz is striking but the storm shall be taken and the Rune rewards afterwards, I am travelling under the Sign of Laguz”. I am not a religious person but I related to the ancestral symbolism of the Rune. I took a personal liking to the symbol and its symbolism. It is important to keep a positive attitude during the darkest moments, no room for self-pity and to keep feeding the mind with passions, the healing of the body will go faster this way. Our albums are given a title/name with historical, traditional, mythological and philosophical meanings containing several layers. So, although they might be rooted in a certain tradition/history, they also can be projected on a larger scale outside that history/tradition as well when learning/exploring the different meanings and projected on philosophies in life. Apart from that “Laguz” stands for many things fitting to the universe of ANCIENT RITES. I felt it fitting as the concept combines so many elements typical for us. The meaning contains several layers and still it is all summed up in one short word. When digging deeper one finds the one short word has so many meanings and I find that an appealing idea…
In this release i think that you follow more “Rubicon’s” path. I think that the orchestra is making its presence more into this album. There are of course all the metal elements, fast tempos and lots of blasts, but it seems that you guys have spent a lot of time “preparing” the orchestral parts for this album. Is this true? Is this the direction you were after in this album?
Your analysis is correct. It wasn’t really planned beforehand though, it was a natural process. Whenever we entered studio with Ancient Rites we always wanted every detail to be right. Even during the demo days this was the case but on “Laguz” the fusion of our Metal sound and the classical orchestration and medieval parts, which in the earlier years were limited to intros and outros, became one whole. Also I think that on the new album every musical layer and each individual instrument can be heard in a more transparent way so that details don’t get lost. Since “Fatherland” we always work at the Spacelab studio’s in Germany. The producers are demanding classical musicians expecting the maximum of our and their own work.
Do you consider this an important album? I mean it seems that it took you almost 10 years to complete. Is it based on old ideas from the “Rubicon” era or is it ideas you started working on recently? Are you also trying to move to another path with this album?
Probably my answer sounds like a cliché but I regard every release, from the demo to our latest album, as important steps in our band history. I don’t regret any which does not mean I regard them as perfect or anything. But I’m not the type of musician to reject or look down on the past, they all represent a certain era. Of course the new album was important from the point of view that we realised that many people would consider “Laguz” as some sort of comeback record since so many years have passed by. We knew some people would look upon it with suspicion as trends come and go, also the scenes have changed. And haters probably were sharpening their blades hoping for a poor work. But we never based our work upon trends nor people’s opinions. A band shouldn’t take these factors in consideration. Like with each release we try to offer variety, explore boundaries without selling out or losing the essence of our sound. Each release is like a new path, no album is a repeat of the previous record. But we did not regard this record as a moving away from our sound. The songs on “Rubicon” have been written spread over these past nine years with intervals. Some ideas existed soon after “Rubicon”, others are recently written. Guitarist Domingo proposed to throw away the older tracks and to concentrate only on the recent ones and to write more material but drummer Walter and I were against the idea for several reasons: first we still liked the older material and second we would lose even more time before we could release another album if we had thrown away half of our songs. So many work which we still believed in would have been for nothing. I think the album is a correct witness of our work these past nine years and in my opinion the album offers variety this way. All musical elements have been intensified on “Laguz”. I think that is why you mention a change of direction? The Metal aspect and also the orchestral element have been pushed further. I think this orchestral grandeur, the classical influences and medieval elements contribute in a large way to the atmosphere of a song. As if they open the portals to the worlds of the past described in the lyrics even more. These classical/epic filmic elements enable the careful and truly interested listener/reader to understand the concepts/themes of the songs even better and to visualise the described images in their mind. Sometimes we are criticised for this classical aspect but I like our work to stand the test of time. Even on our debut demo we worked with a classical intro and filmic outro. The essence of our work is the same and undeniably Ancient Rites. If those criticising the later work would dissect the Metal elements they would realise they are as intense as since the early days but we have added a musical element that fits our universe. Perhaps they don’t understand the whole concept or do not care for the lyrics, otherwise they would understand these elements fit together without contradiction…Perhaps they dislike the “ancient” factor of our band name when it is actually translated into music. The universe and concept of Ancient Rites would allow us to record a complete classical record or a very raw, vile, under produced album without both albums contradicting each other so long as the essence of the concept remains intact. We like to explore musical boundaries within our own style and offer a difference, we don’t really work according to a certain “strategy” that is why every album sounds different and sometimes takes getting used to by the fans.
I always loved the lyrics and the stories behind them, especially in Fatherland and Dim Carcosa i spent a lots of time reading both of them and trying to create images in my head with your “soundtrack”. I think that you do this rather well, creating a soundtrack kind of essence and images in peoples minds about the songs.Where do you draw your influences and stories from?
That is nice to hear. Thank you. Actually you just summed up what I try to achieve with our work. Offer more than just music. So that the listener would “visualise” the forgotten worlds, characters or events that we try to re-vive through the lyrics and music. Each song is like a film that was never made in my head. Far from Hollywood but as close as possible to historical reality, in detail. From architecture to clothing, from culture to art, warfare to religions. All these aspects “materialise” inside my mind. A real history written by ghosts from the past, people of flesh and blood, with their good and bad aspects, their glory and downfall, their success or ordeals/failure…I draw my influences and stories from a never ending historical quest that started since my childhood. That same quest that brought me to the shores of Hellas for instance, many years before we were invited to your country for concerts. Even as a child I was longing to visit the ancient remains, behold the landscapes. Never expected I would eventually marry a Hellenic lady though haha! On our wedding day she wore a dress based on ancient Hellenic female fashion. That was a nice surprise, she shares a similar interest for tradition and history. Come to think of it I could have worn my 15th century Brabant (my province) armour! But then again girls get away easier with matters like that, they probably would have locked me up if I appeared on my wedding day like a crazy guy yielding swords lol 😉 Anyway, I take an interest in worldwide histories, with an extra focus on ancient European history. But my heart also bleeds when I see IS destroy ancient artifacts of an archaic culture that isn’t even mine. I also write about histories that aren’t directly linked to my own or European ancestry. Travels to historical locations, museum visits, exploring old libraries, collecting historical works etc always has been a strong passion of mine. Thousands of years of history and cultures combined with philosophy, literature to take inspiration from. So many stories left untold…I also like to pick up on less known histories and share those with the like-minded listener, offer a neutral view, like an observer looking into different aspects. And even project it on a personal world view. That is why I am such an independent thinker, I don’t only look at the “here and now”. The past flows into the present into the future and is connected. People have a tendency to single things out, look at present matters without looking into where certain things come from or why they are a certain way. Through observing and looking in the past one can learn a lot. I prefer to combine different elements in the lyrics so different layers can be detected: when writing for instance about “De Bokkerijders” (like on the song “Von Gott Entfernt”), an occult outlawed Guild of the 18th century Lowlands (to which family ancestors of mine belonged) I can combine local history, occultism and folklore. Anyway, history in general is a never ending passion which I express through different forms of art. From writing to drawing/painting to music. On “Laguz” I combine these passions by writing the lyrics, by recording a music album and writing the liner notes with historical background information.
Are we also going to see you live on festivals? Are you planning on touring extensively? Is the lineup the one that is the same in the album? Are there any changes?
We have been invited to play on fests in Germany, France, England, The Netherlands and Belgium so far. Confirmed dates are: – May 30th, Rondpunt 26, Genk (Belgium), Souls of Ancient Warriors Fest and – Aug 15th, Motocultor Festival, Saint Nolff (France) and another confirmed show is Eggbangers Ball 2015 in Leeuwarden, The Netherlands. On the 5th of April. Other propositions are reaching us. Personally I wouldn’t mind extensive touring but not everyone in the band is able to leave work for a longer period. So far the line-up is the same.
You personally were a part of a couple of other bands/projects. Dance Macabre, Iron Clad, Lion’s Pride etc. Are those band/projects still active?
At the moment my focus is on Ancient Rites. With Iron Clad we recorded a full length album and a split album with Lion’s Pride. It was a band founded in the 80’s and since I appreciated their authentic vintage sound I was asked to join and through me they got record deals. The idea was to record their stuff, mostly as a tribute to the old scene and the band’s past. A bit of a nostalgia trip and to leave a “testimony” behind as the co-founding guitarist was moving to the USA. After his immigration to the States and the releases were received well in the Metal underground, we did receive concert offers to which the guitarist did not object but it meant finding a new guitarist, more rehearsals. And since I was not a founding member and neither would be the new guitarist, I thought it would be the most fair to not continue. After all, the general idea was to make a tribute to the past. As far as Lion’s Pride is concerned, the band was facing similar problems to Ancient Rites, perhaps even worse. The latest Lion’s Pride album (a double album containing old and new material including a dvd) finally was released recently. It took years for it to happen. Line-up changes, our rehearsal room burnt down, the band was banned from every stage in the country after national TV had made a program in which they had overdubbed my voice with an American voice, a person who was shouting death threats. They had photo shopped our album cover and pasted it on a picture of concentration camp corpses which they projected on a big screen. Underneath the screen politicians and journalists were discussing how to stop a band like ours. They had filmed the house of our label owner at night, placed some horror music on top of the footage which was a camera sneaking up to the house with a shaking hand. They described us as a band spreading hate and being opposed to any other culture apart from the Flemish one. The tone was set: banned everywhere in the country. Promoters who liked us didn’t even dare to book us. I did receive a phone from a journalist of the national TV apologising for his colleagues because he knew his colleagues had manipulated reality. Him and I had talked for hours so he knew that his colleagues had twisted the truth and on purpose damaged the band. I had refused to go on TV because I don’t trust the mainstream press so they invented their own story. Already before they had not broadcasted and cut recorded interviews of mine because they were disappointed I didn’t live up to their cliché view of me they wished to show to the public, they were hoping for an interview were I would come across like a Neanderthal completely dumb idiot. Since I didn’t offer the sensation they wanted they created their own, manipulated, untruthful program. Meanwhile the new Lion’s Pride album finally was ready to be released on the market. Then the record label received the news that the entire stock was confiscated in Poland at the printing factory. Rumour has it that the factory owed money and went bankrupt, thus the entire stock including our release was lost. So was the money of our record label. Recently the album was re-printed and re-released. I sometimes think how all of this is possible. I mean, for years Ancient Rites could not function decently because of so many obstacles, the same concerning this Lion’s Pride release, nothing worked out and then my graphic work came to a halt due to changes in the companies I worked for who no longer wanted to produce their own designs which I delivered. And other matters needing my attention. Now soon two graphic works of mine will be released on the market. Everything released simultaneously while during several years nothing seemed to work out because of factors I had no control over. Even privately I was facing one problem after the other: at my job, relationship, then health going rapidly backwards and the several surgeries. Laguz was playing its tricks I suppose, face the storms and emerge stronger afterwards. But the tunnel was long, dealing with situations on all fronts at the same time. And all the situations were caused by external factors not caused by own choices. And suddenly matters clear up and the storms are over. Just like that. Suddenly everything works out, also on all fronts, health under control and all. Life can be strange. The only thing one has control over is one’s mind and how to deal with the hardship/trouble…I play with the idea of forming a new band with the Iron Clad/Lion’s Pride drummer, starting from zero but for now Ancient Rites needs my full attention.
Some people have criticise you over the years about your lyrics and being a part of Lions Pride for being a “patriotic” band and considering it a “skin head” band, do you think that this somehow damaged Ancient Rites’s image and your “status” among the metal scene?
People think in “labels” while I don’t. I am not even concerned about “image” or of how people think of me or my work. Not because of arrogance but because if I would have taken people’s opinions in consideration, none of my bands would have existed. To put it simple, I like loud guitar orientated underground music. I like epic orchestral and dark music. And I play(ed) those different musical dialects of what I consider in my heart a similar language. Without ever thinking of $$$ or popularity. I grew up with Hard-rock, Punk-rock and Oi! in the 70’s as a kid. Because of NWOBHM I got into Metal in the late 70’s. In ’81 I discovered Black Metal when the style was born. But I never spat out one of the previous styles I grew up with whenever something new I liked came along. I don’t change my tastes like underwear. It’s difficult to explain or understand perhaps. Some people misunderstand this and take it as if I don’t know what I really like. It is very simple though: during all these decades in the underground I helped pioneering with my own bands for the styles I found interesting but never rejected earlier styles or threw my old loves away. When I like something, I keep liking it. Simple as that. No matter if it is no longer considered cool or not. When I formed my first Punk band in the late 70’s I was an outsider in that scene for doing my own thing. The lyrics I wrote were not about world peace or political, they had a misanthropic sarcastic tone, they were not at all what people expected of “Punk”. I looked upon the world and the “own” scene with suspicion as well. Highly individualistic and truly independent from fractions. Of course I got criticised. When I started my first Metal band in the early 80’s I was criticised because I wrote about dark topics and history, which at that time was not considered “cool”. Keep in mind this was years before Black Metal was picked up, even long before I founded Ancient Rites. When I founded Lion’s Pride I received even more critics because I wrote about my own ancestry and our style was a blend of Metal, Oi!, Punk-rock, Folk, Hardcore, Rock. All stuff I grew up with as a kid. It was a bit of a nostalgia trip, actually. A return to the straight forward music of my youth. Also Lion’s Pride was an independent band, an outsider in all the scenes with a mixed crowd of different types of subcultures. To me it didn’t matter how one looked like if one appreciated our work. In the old B.M. scene controversial individuals of all walks of life populated the scene. Those who lived the early scene will remember it was a rather controversial scene. People weren’t easily shocked. After all it wasn’t a Woodstock type scene lol! It was when the mainstream picked up on the scenes that rules and expectations of the moral majority became an issue. Because of Ancient Rites I had a call of the secret police on my back who looked into secret cults because the press had written sensational articles on the band to sell copy. And because of our fan base. When Lion’s Pride became known another call of the secret police (this time the state security of political matters) were tapping my phones, shadowing me (as they later plainly told me during a questioning). They contacted me in the open after they discovered I take no part in criminal activities. And the press had written the type of articles or made the TV programs I mentioned before. Things were always blown up out of proportion by outsiders. So things started to lead an own life. No matter what I do it will always be considered controversial because I don’t follow the masses and am an independent thinker speaking my mind, doing my own thing free from any organisation. And to be honest even within the scenes I am an outsider because I don’t live up to the expected rules. I’m not a 15 year old. Even when I was 15 I wasn’t dictated by scene dogmas. But the press like to exaggerate or create juicy stories but none read any of my lyrics. Gossip sells. They prefer clichés. And since I don’t provide any, they invent them. That is how the press works. Don’t believe everything you see on the news. During the ex-Yugoslavian war on TV they only showed the killings by the Serbs in the West. When I travelled to Greece I saw on TV the killings of Serbs by the other sides. Images not shown on our TV news. When I read what the official press was writing or showing on TV about my bands I experienced first-hand that the media can’t be trusted. It even went to a point it became ridiculous. A big newspaper wrote we wanted the Amazon forest destroyed. I had simply said “we write about history not about the modern world and environment”. Another paper wrote we were suffering from “mysterious diseases” probably caused by our flirting with the Occult. What really happened was that our guitarist wasn’t present at the interview because he had a fever. Just a few examples of the kind of stuff that was written about us. Also the fact I wrote about my own Flemish ancestry did not go down well in Belgium. The Belgian state was created in 1830 and the Flemish language/culture was oppressed by the newly created Belgian state, Flemish language was forbidden at universities in Flanders etc. So cultivating the Flemish identity was not regarded as something positive here by the authorities and considered “hostile to the state”. But never I stated to be against the other communities in this country. Focussed on history as I am I find it normal I write about times pre-dating the 19th century, times earlier than when Belgium was created. And yes, with a feeling of ancestral cultural pride. What is wrong with that? I never said my culture was above any other. Don’t I praise the ancient Hellenic civilisation? Ancient Rome? But I refuse to spit on my forefathers. As the cherry on the cake, I dared to criticise the rise of Islamic fundamentalism through mass migration, predicting the trouble with this phenomenon already decades ago. That was another big scandal for which the press and politically correct masses crucified me. It was all fine as long as I questioned Christian fundamentalism but I wasn’t allowed to question any other form. Now we have volunteers born here fighting Jihads on the other side of the world but also forcing their views upon our society and caught planning bomb attacks over here. I am not paranoid. I just base my thoughts on daily life experiences and changes I notice. I remember life how it was before these imported inquisitions gained power. Nowadays pork meat is forbidden in certain schools over here, at sports clubs or at work in order to not “offend” other religions. A Metal pub was closed down in my region after a signing petition of converted Islamic fundamentalists since the pub was located in an area where many fundamentalists moved to. The music was an insult. What is this? A New Inquisition. Supported by our authorities in the name of “tolerance”? We got rid of our own medieval inquisitions for them to be replaced by self-declared holy warriors who want to change my way of life on my own old soil? Only this is the 21th century. I love tradition but I don’t embrace madness nor do I feel sympathy for guys chopping people’s heads off in the streets of London, bombing the streets of Spain etc. I refuse to drop my pants for new forces who come and tell an “ancient” how to think, what to eat, what to listen, what to wear, who to prey to etc in my own old land. If that is a criminal thought, fine, then I must be very evil . That doesn’t mean I hate people who are not a part of my ancestry. But do not demand from me to change who I am in the name of…what? Woodstock La La La land delusions who think this world is a hippie festival and everyone comes with good intentions? During my travels in Asia and Africa I was warned by the people themselves who had to live under fundamentalist laws (or who were afraid of the rise of fundamentalism) who said the trouble would come to Europe as well and that the pampering attitude of our masses, media and authorities would help these fundamentalist powers to gain influence, impose their views. I believed them and saw the signs myself. Unfortunately I was right but was not allowed to this opinion over here. Again boycotts. I’m just an observer. No matter where a person stands, left or right, top of bottom (lol!) I will not blindly swallow what the media forces down my throat, or what politicians want me to believe or say. Lion’s Pride was getting a big name here so we had to be silenced through boycotts. Was it worth it? Yes and no. Yes because I honestly have a heart for ancient Europe and our cultures/ancestry. Of course I’d like to see the survival of our legacy. No it wasn’t completely worth it because we were mostly boycotted by the so called “own” people who hate their own shadow and ancestry, who did not want to hear what I really was saying instead of the clichés they had convinced themselves of and who rather sided with those hating our culture. These “own” people were not worth the trouble. I never claimed superiority. But I refuse to be enslaved. That’s why I have double feelings about if it was worth it or not. But do I care? No. Only a pity gutter press tactics were used, judge me for what I say or do, not what others say about me. When the writers/cartoonists of Charlie Hebdo were murdered in Paris by Islamic terrorist it felt like a direct attack. After all they were doing exactly what I did and used the same art form as a tool to express their thoughts. This made them colleagues of mine. I also published graphical jokes I made about religious fanatics and the conflicts between Jewish, Christian and Islamic fundamentalists. Including jokes about Islamic terrorists. As an observer I like to “paint” situations which are both absurd, tragic and funny. I have a dark type of humour. As I said earlier, the very same national press and masses who always condemned me for pointing out the dangers and who fabricated gutter press reportages and articles on us now were in large numbers expressing their indignation, shock and surprise. Holding up papers with the slogan “Je suis Charlie/I am Charlie”, wearing the buttons. Bullshit. Only few individuals like Charlie dared to be Charlie and paid the heaviest price for it. Also I paid a price for expressing my thoughts but my voice was neutralised by spreading lies and manipulated tricks of journalism not even by the fundamentalists themselves but by the “own” people from the West, who now call themselves a part of Charlie. Hypocrites. The day the writers and cartoonists were killed I immediately re-posted on my Facebook an older cartoon I made about Islamic terrorists. You can say what difference does it make. Not much but still there are thousands of people on my page and it was a way of showing I am not intimidated or will not shut up. I’m not saying “I’m Charlie” but if I had been living in France there would have been a chance I might have ended up working with or for them because we operated on the same fields of humour using the same form of art. Soon after the murders a shop in Brussels received death threats because they were selling the Charlie Hebdo paper. Certain areas in Brussels and other bigger cities over here are a centre of fundamentalism. Many Jihadist volunteers born in immigrant families were recruited over here to go fight in Syria while our society were still paying their unemployment wages. Some of these volunteers returned and now target our society. There was a battle recently between police and terrorists in this country because they were about to commit terrorist acts dressed in police uniforms. I can understand people holding on to traditions and roots. But how arrogant to enforce their views through violence upon other cultures they moved in with while biting the hand that feeds them. If you want an Islamic State fine, form one in your ancestral homeland with people who share your views. Things got out of hand. I blame our own politicians, media, authorities and blind masses. Naïve sheep. Now it’s too late. Europe as we knew it is falling, that is a feeling I have. And there are plenty of collaborators. I am interested in other cultures even interested in different forms of theology although I’m not a religious person. I have had interesting theological conversations with Catholic priests, Orthodox priests, imams, Buddhist monks, Protestants, neo-druids etc and I enjoyed the interaction, intrigued as I always am to widen my horizons and explore esoteric fields of mysticism. Even entered their temples as a visitor. There are interesting stories to hear, ancient traditions to learn about. But that doesn’t mean I become a part of their cults, I am an observer who listens/sees. I participated in ancestral Heathen celebrations to which I relate as it is a part of my own ancestry. I have an open mind. What I want to say is: don’t force your views upon me, I will not do that either. I stop being open minded towards people who want to “break” my mind open by force haha. It has the opposite effect on me. I have a simple golden rule: if I receive respect I return the favour, we don’t have to think the same. But I will follow my own individual path in everything, always, away from the world or popular beliefs. I cannot say “yes” when I think “no” just to be on the safe side. People sometimes find it confusing to place me because of that. Often I don’t live up to their expectations because too often people want you to think exactly the way they do, personally I don’t expect that from others. Life is short. And it seems too much asked from most. I received critics from all sides but hey that’s the price one has to pay when walking the lone path of the independent individual. I find it rather exaggerated that press and authorities made so many efforts to compromise my bands or to follow my track as if I’m a criminal while after all I’m just an underground musician doing his own thing. An individual without real power, I’m not even interested in power. Nothing to prove to anyone but myself. I don’t even have a criminal record and yet being followed by two different state security cells? They don’t give our music a chance on TV or radio here but they always find me when it’s for negative matters. Did you know I was called up once to play in a crime series on national TV? To play some sort of evil hooligan/biker or whatever! Me who doesn’t have a motorcycle and who doesn’t know shit about football. I ride horses and I did a bit of sword fighting haha. Don’t they know by now I live in the wrong century? 😉 Three weeks ago the national press called me up to go on national TV in a program comparing IS terrorists and Radical Youth. I’m not a youth anymore (lol!) and I am not a terrorist. What kind of nonsense was that again. Of course I refused to participate. Actually it’s all rather ridiculous. To be honest I don’t even like discussions, debates bla bla. I’m not a preacher, politician or whatever. After all what is truth? It depends on one’s personal experiences, background, environment and differs from person to person depending on one’s personal ties, interests and thoughts. I don’t even like to talk about these matters because I’m fully aware most people will not understand my point of views anyway, I’m not interested in discussing about what is “right” or “wrong”, the truth is in the eye of the beholder anyway and different for everyone. But I can only follow my own heart. Even answering your question probably will get me into more trouble again. Well, I’m used to it and don’t expect to be understood by many people anyway. But I answered as I have nothing to hide and in my daily life I have a simple code: people kind to me I will treat kindly. Those hating me I simply ignore. Life is too short to care. Only recently I buried another youth friend I grew up with as a kid. Why waste time on people who mean you harm? Concentrate on the ones who appreciate you instead. Life can be simple, my friend. If you don’t pay too much attention to those who try to make it complicated 😉 My enemies should concentrate on people they love and things they like instead of wasting time on someone they hate, like me. It’s not worth it…and healthier 😉
I also heard about the recent health problems that you were facing. I hope that you’re more healthy than ever and that everything about it is over now. Was that also a reason why A.R. spent 9 years in silence? Does this bad time you were having battling the disease made you realise things about your self that you never thought off?
Thank you, very kind. I am fighting chronicle health problems since I was 20. This wasn’t the reason why A.R. hasn’t been productive these past years. I remember playing the USA shortly after an operation and that I had to go to an American clinic after the show to attend the still open wound. In Holland I was on stage with tubes connected in my body between my kidneys and bladder after another operation. I don’t let these problems ruin any concerts. Until now I never had to cancel a concert because of my struggles. But the past years things escalated rather extreme. Constantly in and out of hospital. Internal infections undermining my organs on several fronts. And often at the same time. Several operations. I don’t fear death. The way one goes can be more troubling. I have seen many people die, including close ones. Some died in agony of cancer. Howling like animals because of the pain, like my poor grandmother or an uncle. Or my grandfather, slowly suffocating, trying to breathe in vain, throwing everything on the ground, kicking furniture while dying. Of course it is not comparable but I myself have been in humiliating situations at night in hospital left in pain and hooked on machines while being unable to move, without help. My mind sharp and clear and analysing the situation. But my body unable to help itself. And no outside help. The nurse who obviously was unfit for the job had said ignore the situation and sleep. Hours last very long at night when in constant pain, the tubes connected to my body were leaking with painful bursts dirtying my bed so there I was, laying in the wet and without pain killers. And in solitude. Not that I would have liked any witnesses. It was like getting a physical and psychological taste of how terminal or some of the more unfortunate old people close to death are ending up in a humiliating, helpless state. My mind was reflecting on that. Again a learning experience. But I always fought on. Focused on the light at the end of the tunnel or hoping there was one. I hope for myself that my last moments on earth won’t be like some of the experiences I had, but one has no control over that. I’m not sharing this to get any pity, I’m not into that. But I observe, learn and reflect and share my inner thoughts when asked upon like during this interview. I don’t try to hold up any image and tell life as it is, stripped bare, confronting at times. I remember that when I was operated recently the surgeons were amused because I wished them luck, a good sharp knife and a clean steady hand when I was on the operation table. And jokingly asked them not to put their cigarette ashes in my body when I was laying there cut open. Normally it is the other way around that they need to comfort the patient. First I pretended I would escape naked from the operation table. Humour helps in difficult situations. Soon after my operation doctors were surprised I was on my feet again though. You see, I had seen an 18th century ruin next to the hospital. I had sneaked out in the dark at night, nurses expected me to be asleep in bed. With baxters through my veins and the medication bags hung on a metal pole on wheels, which I had to drag behind me, I rolled outside to investigate the historical building. I came back to my room and the nurses wondered how I could be so dusty. “Oh I had a big smoke, it’s only ashes” I said. We had a good laugh. They didn’t know where I really went through! Bottom line is to not be undermined by difficult situations. Adventure and magic can be found in daily life when one wants to find it. There I was in hospital but I caught glimpses of a beautiful old mansion and went into it when I was supposed to be in bed. It made me recover faster than normal because my mind was fed! Strong mind. Will power. Humour. It helps during the storms of life. And it puts everything in perspective. The adrenaline combined with a positive mind can do miracles. Life Experiences like this were also a motivation to write lyrics such as “Mind Unconquered” on the new album. Who knows the lyrics can be an inspiration to people who are going through ordeals, when they know the words are coming from someone who is not singing about it only in theory but who has to put it to practise. It is a positive message of cultivating inner strength and to make the best out of life as one possibly can.
Back to the album, the artwork is also really beautiful. I know that one of your hobbies includes sketching. Did you enjoy working on this album’s artwork yourself? Did this made you represent your work even better, visually to the fans?
Thank you. On “Laguz” I could combine different passions of mine: writing (lyrics and the liner notes with historical background information), music (recording an album) and painting/drawing (creating some of the illustrations for the cd booklet). It was harder work on several fronts but rewarding artistically. In a few months a short graphic novel of mine will be published in a compilation album in support of the Child Cancer Fund. It is a story based on folklore figures of the medieval Flemish city of Ghent. The setting are the monuments and castles which I drew in a realistic style whereas the figures themselves are drawn in a humoristic style. The story tells about local legends and history and one sees historical characters connected to the city pass by in the novel. It has a dark touch too but not to the extreme as it is for a wider audience. People of Ghent who saw an excerpt loved it because they recognised so many things which they consider a part of their personal heritage. That is a compliment of course. Also another graphic novel will be released very soon. It got picked up by a German publisher and will be internationally released. It is a full length realistic style graphic novel I made in the 1980’s. People on my FB were asking if I could publish a graphic novel for them to read. I asked what they would like to see by my hand. The answers were: “historical, adventurous, mysterious, dark and with your black humour”. I realised I had made one exactly like that back in the 80’s which was released limited on the local Flemish market in Dutch and in black and white. So I started cleaning up these 30 year old pages digitally. Then I translated the work into English so my foreign contacts would be able to read it as well. And thirdly I started colouring the graphic novel. It is a dark thriller, film noir style. Set in two time periods: ancient times and the 1980’s. The ancient times I coloured in grey tones and black and white to achieve an old feel. For the 1980’s part of the story I used full colour. The graphic novel is called “Devil’s Charm – The Ancient Curse”. The ingredients are history, unsolved murders, a supposed cursed ancient artefact, heathen and occult secret organisations, there’s a slight supernatural touch and dark humour. The main characters are opposites: a police inspector called “Van Roy” (I used the family name of my deceased grandmother, to honour her but also because it is a name easily pronounced worldwide) who tries to solve the murders and a treasure hunter who is nicknamed “Crazy Sid”. They become allies against their will. The search leads to ancient sacred woods, forgotten medieval graveyards, cult caves, the old Para troop historical fortress where I did my military service and…directly into to the 80’s Metal scene. Because centre of the murders and mayhem is a first generation occult Metal band. The band deals with boycotts, banned concerts, police investigations, gutter press and band members dying. Someone who read the book in the 80’s once told me “Do you realise you almost told your future real life story with Ancient Rites? All these things started happening to you after you finished the book. You jinxed yourself!” It is a funny thought. Indeed one year after completing the story I founded Ancient Rites.
Any stories that you would like to share with us from the album? Regarding, artwork, lyrics, music, and even the recordings?
The album will take the interested listener on different travels to forgotten times and worlds. It also contains philosophical topics, without preaching, but that could offer inspiration to those who need it. International but also lesser known local history is touched upon. The Rise and Fall of Ancient Carthago while also reflecting on their dark religion. The tragic story of Emperor Julian who tried to restore Ancient Heathendom in a Christianised Rome. He almost succeeded but died in battle while rumour has it he was killed by one of his own men bribed by the clergy. History named him „The Apostate“ which is a negative label for someone who has deserted his goals and beliefs. But history paints him from a Christian point of view, with the song I try to restore his reputation because it took courage to fight for a lost cause, chasing the ghost of the old Rome and Hellenistic philosophies. „Von Gott Enfernt“ is about the „Bokkenrijders“ cultus that shook the 18th century lowlands. It was a peculiar, bizarre and mysterious phenomenon. Hundreds belonged to this Horde and most eventually got caught, tortured and publicly executed. Many questions remain unanswered. Why was a well-respected military surgeon like Doctor Kirchhoffs leading one of the fractions, how come they used military tactics and ranks? Women were a part of it too. They were a strange mix of soldiers, artists, butchers. The blasphemous rites in chapels at night were an unseen phenomenon back then. Some historians believe it was not about the loot which was often poor but to destabilise society, like forerunners of the enlightenment. I used Flemish/Dutch and German languages in the song to achieve authenticity, witnesses testified that the Bokkerijders used a mix of Flemish/Dutch, German and sometimes French when communicating between each other, revealing their international character. Also I used authentic Bokkerijder oaths in the song. I have been investigating old documents of the era, read publications concerning the trials, executions and court reports. Old books with eye witness accounts. You see, I can trace back my family roots to medieval times. Interesting is that some of my direct family ancestors belonged to this infamous Bokkenrijders cultus. They were like a Black Guild. In military fashion they robbed churches and the aristocracy, they swore loyalty towards each other and the Devil, practiced anti-christian rituals to mock the clergy. One forefather of mine called Johan Theys was suspected of belonging to the first generation of the Horde, he got caught after a church robbery but he escaped from the prison tower. His name appeared in the old files, also in the diary of a local priest who wrote about his escape and who suspects him to have formed a new Horde in another town. Interesting dark family history. Another ancestor was caught and got hanged on the local gallows’ field. Local legend tells he still haunts the fields. What historians writing about the matter don’t know and what the 18th century authorities didn’t know and are questioning in their documents I can shed a light on. They spoke of the Theys family as members of the Horde and a new family appearing on the suspect lists named Boon not knowing where they came from. Fact is that in those villages our Theys Clan was nicknamed Boon. It was the same family using different names. Over there we are still called this way. It was the ultimate proof to me they were talking about my direct ancestors apart from the locations were our family always have been living. I was introduced to this phenomenon at the age of five. I was wondering why the captain of the Horde described and pictured in a novel my family were reading to me was called Theys. A track like „Mind Unconquered“ talks about the power of the will and mind. It has a positive message based on my personal experiences, to persevere in difficult times and to fight on without self pity, no matter how hard life can be at times. „Umbra Sumus“ reflects on mortality and how we all join the Danse Macabre in the end. „Leg V Alaudae“ tells about the Rise and Fall of the sole official Roman legion consisting of…Gauls. Their path was a dramatic one with no survivors. The entire legion was wiped out while facing alone a massive enemy force. After first having build up a strong reputation starting with Caesar’s campaigns, they vanished into oblivion never to be re-formed again when they all went down in Dacia. History seldom tells their peculiar story, I felt it was time to share their interesting and tragic tale. When it comes to Ancient Rites I feel that the artwork, music, lyrics, liner notes all must contribute to each other, they all are important aspects of the “whole”. Each piece of the puzzle helps to create the universe of Ancient Rites.
How does the band work in terms of writing material? Do you write down the lyrics and then the music comes in on your text or is there some music that you decide how to create a story behind it based on the melodies? Do you all guys write riffs and melodies or is it mostly done by Erik and Domingo?
That process varies. Walter and Domingo write together. Erik comes up riffs. The track “Fatum” producer Oliver Phillips and I made without the rest of the band as it has a complete classical character. The whole band contributes to the realisation of the album. The actual pre-production demo recordings are made by our guitarists including keyboards and orchestration. Guitarist Domingo started out as a keyboard player in our band years ago which is very useful when it comes to the orchestration on the pre-productions. When we take our demos to the studio to finally record the album every layer and note of the music and vocals are thoroughly checked by our producers who, as I mentioned before, are schooled in classical music. Every detail is dissected. Then everything is re-recorded, altered where needed. At the final stage I receive the basic files and alter and change my lyrics for a last time where needed in order to make the entire puzzle fit perfectly together. Sometimes the lyrics I wrote or concept I have in mind inspires the others to write the music in a certain style or vibe. The “Carthago” concept existed before the music for instance, hence the Eastern vibe and mysterious character of the music. On other occasions I let the music inspire my lyrics and I work around the vibe of the song. The music is complex, so are the lyrics and thus the whole creation is a rather complex process. We all focus on the own work during the final recordings and only when the recordings, producing and mastering is finished we have a complete and detailed view of the whole. In the end the pieces of the complex puzzle fit together.
Any plans for the future? Near or far? Anything else you would like to share with us as well?
Today I received the news that “Laguz” will officially be released in the U.S.A./Canada on March 31st. And that I must prepare for interviews. Well I haven’t been doing anything else during my free hours these past weeks haha! All good of course. Concerts are planned. Then there’s the release of my graphic work. Also just finished an album cover for a Metal band. Busy times. So as one can see the different forms of art I practise and my interests are influencing each other on all fronts and in daily life too. Apart from the graphical work and writing I love travelling, literature , music, horseback riding. I belong to two authentic medieval Guilds of my hometown that were founded here during the middle-ages. Before entering one has to pass rituals and votes. One can only join upon invitation. The Saint George Guild is an official royal Guild who during medieval times and the Renaissance had the military task to defend our hometown, consisting of militia members living inside the city walls. We still practise the medieval dances during gala balls and we still practise our weapon, the crossbow. During those turbulent middle-ages our Guild was involved in several wars between cities or abroad, including the crusades,. The participation was based upon treaties and pacts between the old cities and the ruling nobles. When I visit certain other cities I wisely keep my mouth shut when the tour guide mentions how a certain Guild of a certain Flemish city called Diest besieged their city haha! The other fraternity I belong to is the medieval Chamber of Rhetorica called “De Lelie”. They were a medieval Guild of painters, writers, sculptors, actors, representing the artists of the city. They still practise medieval dances at gala balls as well. The known Guild Beer was always prepared in our city for the Guilds each year, each Guild their own Guild beer. During the French occupation the Guilds were forbidden but survived underground. After Napoleon’s fall they emerged again. So they are a direct continuation of century old traditions connected to the town’s history. For our yearly feasts at the city hall or medieval Guild Hall, the medieval chalice, flags and other artefacts are taken out of the museum and used and/or on display, so are the old membership boards containing the members’ names. During the year these boards are in the city hall, next to it the weapon of the Guild. I think like to be a part of cultural groups that date back so long and who keep the old traditions alive. I also belonged to two 15th century re-enactment groups, one depicting the history of Diest, the other one of Flemish Brabant. Armour, clothing, colours, artefacts used, all had to be historically correct. I was invited to join a Roman and Viking group as well and German/British WW2 paratroopers whom I all think are splendid re-enactment groups but I prefer to re-enact history were direct ancestors could have been involved with. In that light the British SAS could be an option as direct relatives served in the unit during WW2 and I did my military service in that very same 1st battalion that later was stationed in Diest. My father was regiment Sergeant major in the battalion. But re-enacting a unit I really served in is somewhat strange. For the Roman period interesting to me would be a cavalry or auxiliary unit of the Tungri, Germani Cishrenani volunteers in the Roman army as they are direct ancestors of my region. The Cohort I Tungrorum milliaria or the Cohort II Tungrorum milliaria equitata c.l., would be brilliant. Also interesting would be depicting the Franks. But these organisations do not exist. I also lack time to do everything I’d like to do. My cousin and I are playing with the idea of founding a Bokkenrijders group, since direct family ancestors were involved in this 18th century phenomenon like I explained earlier. However for now we are quite busy with our Alaudae/Laguz Bond, a cultural/historical hiking group with whom we organise trips into nature or cultural historically related events/travels. It is an 18 + group for practical reasons and because of the nature of our trips into forests etc it is a bit difficult to include small children. Members of both sexes are a part of this bond. We do have members from all over the country and also several people of The Netherlands. Further one German, one Sicilian woman and a Hellenic one, my wife hehe. A heart for history, nature and culture of course is a bonus. Our sign is the Laguz symbol on a drakkar (symbolizing travel in mind and body) on green trekking shirts (green foresting shirts are practical in nature and besides green is the colour of Laguz, the whole concept is thought through). We chose the Laguz as concept symbol instead of a national one because we are an international group. There are no membership fees, all members can freely choose between the events we organize. Some participate in the events connected to nature (some are foresters or know a lot about plants/nature, others are former Scouting/Pioneer leaders), others are more into the historical/cultural events (some are into archaeology etc). Many participate in all activities. We organize several events or trips each year which the members can pick from or are free to join. We even organize feasts on historical or strange locations. Atmosphere is important. To “live” the experience. There are no ‘musts’. This is one of the reasons the Bond is attractive, also the fact we focus on different interests. Usually groups focus on a certain type of activity or hobby while we combine things and are a totally independent group. But as you must have noticed the concept around this bond I founded are topics that appear on our latest album, the name Lark/Alaudae and the symbolism of Laguz. Things are connected in my life in different forms. I wish I had more lives, time is always too short in a human life…
I thank you very much for your time! You have made another great album and i hope to see you guys live at some point! I hope you will continue to write music and that we will sooner or later see another release from you! Your kingdom will come!
Thank you for kind words and this interesting conversation Geegor. I wonder if they had the patience to read all this haha. My best regards to you and the readers of Metal Invader.
