Ελληνικά
Germany’s Secrets Of The Moon have been going on for 20 years, and this anniversary was denoted by their sixth album, “Sun”, which was the chance of chatting with the band’s core member (and only constant one since its creation) sG.
-Greetings and congratulations on your latest album, “Sun”. The album’s reception seems to be quite positive. How do you feel about the final result? Is there something you would change upon retrospection?
Thank you! I’d say it is our most complete album to date. I wouldn’t change a thing. Nor would I do on any of our previews albums.
-Tell us a bit about the compositional and recording processes, and how much time did it take in total for the album to be completed? Also, were all parts of it created during this process, or were there also some ideas from earlier periods?
Me and Ar wrote most of the songs alone at home. New fresh stuff only. We only had two basic rehearsals before the recordings to find an actual “start” of the record. Then we went into the studio, only the four of us. We arranged the songs all together, set up a rehearsal room in the studio as well, to work on the arrangements and then record them straight away. It was a very natural and flowing work. After two weeks we had most of the basics recorded and after a while we continued with the vocals in two different studios. Parts from both sessions can be heard on Sun. The final mix and mastering was carried over to Victor Bullok at his Wooodshed Studios where he worked his ass off, together with Ar.
-I have noticed that, apart from the 2-year space between “Carved In Stigmata Wounds” and “Antithesis”, all your albums seem to be separated by 3-year intervals. Do you consider this amount of time the optimal in order to create an album from scratch?
No. It’s way too much time between records but our private situations didn’t allow us to do more. Hopefully it won’t take that much time next round.
-The album’s concept is obviously the Sun, a subject which permeates all songs lyric-wise, though some in a more obscure degree than the others. An alchemical influence is almost apparent in your lyrics. From what philosophical and/or occult standpoint(s) do you examine it, and what, if any, is the goal towards which you strive with this scrutiny of the Sun?
It’s pretty simple actually. I experienced the mysteries of farewell, death, life and birth to an extent I haven’t ever done before. That’s why the album was such a relief to write and the record because I was unable to “speak” for a long period of time. It showed me how much I needed to make music to survive. The actual title Sun is taken from a line in the song Worship (the 5th song on Seven Bells) which says „Towards a new sun at the end of the world“. It was in my mind all the time when I composed the songs for Sun. It had a positive effect on me painting those inner pictures that should become my songs. The line itself was too long that’s why we ultimately decided to go for Sun only.
-What is the reason behind the French language in a lyrical segment of “No More Colours” ?
It was written and recorded by our former bassplayer before she commited suicide.
-As a band you have gone through a lot of member changes throughout the years, the only constant since the debut being sG. Is this instability a conscious choice, a result of behavioural collisions, or something else? Also, how do you think that this fluidity has affected the band’s procession through the years?
It’s all. There are so many reasons why previous members left the band. Seriously, it’s all you can imagine. From stubbornness, to burn-out, to addiction. I’m not a dictator. I simply want the little machine to keep on running. Of course it always had an effect. I sincerly hope that this time we will have a constant line-up.
-2015, the year in which “Sun” was released, marks the 20th anniversary since Secrets of the Moon’s creation. How do you look back upon these two decades, as far as both the band and the extreme metal scene is concerned?
It’s been a tough ride sometimes. If I look back I wonder where the time has gone and why I’m still keep on doing this. But it’s been good most of the times and we have done things other bands would have never been able to do. I’m proud of what we have achieved, I’m glad to have met so many great people just for the sake of undergorund music.
-You have distanced yourself from the black metal sound throughout the years. In fact, in your
Facebook page I see that you are self-described as an occult metal/rock band. Is this distancing due to the need for evolution/expanding your music style, or was it also a retaliation against the “true” black metal scene per se?
I have never distanced myself from Black Metal. I’m doing music for twenty years now. I’m older, my listening-habits are different. I don’t want to do the same music I did twenty years ago. Why? Because the juvenile fanatism is gone – it’s not within me anymore. It became a much more personal and profound thing to create music. There’s nothing like the will of “demonstration”. I don’t have to prove anyone. Black Metal was a way to express what is inside of me but there are so many more ways to go. Music is endless. And I rarely listen to new Black Metal bands that catch my interest.
-Relative to the previous question, what is your take or opinion concerning the contemporary German black metal scene?
Oh I’m not the right person to be asked on this one. All I can say that in terms of individual and unique expressions things got way better compared to the 90s which were poor, very poor. Nowadays bands like Ruins of Beverast, Necros Christos, Drowned, Ascension and a few others really stand out and that’s a good thing.
-I couldn’t fail to notice a certain influence from 90s atmospheric metal in the album’s sound, especially its melodies. Bands like Amorphis, Paradise Lost, and even the later works of In The Woods… popped into mind, in a quite pleasant and somewhat nostalgic way. Were these influences consciously implemented in your music?
I like some Paradise Lost albums (Icon, Draconian Times) but I never really listened to Amorphis (except for one album I don’t remember the name) or In the Woods. Although I started listening to metal in the early 90s, the 80s always grabbed my attention way more. I wanted to learn about the roots.
-What are your tour plans for 2016? Will there be a visit to the southern parts of Europe?
Shows are being booked right now. Southern parts of Europe are planned for october 2016. We’ll hopefully end up in Greece someday.
-Thank you for your time and answers, the last words are yours.
Thanks for that interesting chat. Enjoy the Sun!
