Last Updated on 08:29 PM by Giorgos Tsekas
Wolfhowl stand well in the Greek underground black metal scene and their latest EP “The Purity of Mother Nature” is a solid, well thought offering that should bring the band even more attention and positive feedback. Faethon, the only member of the group, shared some of his time to answer a few questions.
Greetings Faethon, how are you these days?
Greetings. I’m quite fine, thank you.
Is there any specific reason you picked “Wolfhowl” as the band’s name other than the beauty of the word? Who created the logo?
The wolf is my favourite animal and its howl always passionated me. Christophe Szpajdel, the master of the kind, created the logo of the band.
Your latest release “The Purity of Mother Nature” was released this year, how do you feel about it compared to your debut in 2012?
Lots of things have changed. The debut work was something raw and pure but to be honest I think and I feel that I have made a progress through the years and that the new EP is at the same direction compared to the first one, but has a lot of differences when it comes to composition,skills,production etc.
About the front cover and out of curiosity, which location is depicted? Is it your own photograph and editing?
It’s very funny because most of people ask me if the location is somewhere in Scotland or somewhere in northern Europe. Well, the front cover’s photo was taken by me, here in my homeland, Kefalonia. It’s a lagoon, located in the capital of the island, where I live.
Wolfhowl are a pure Greek black metal band. Are you satisfied with the scene and is there anything you’d like to be different?
Thanks for the kind words. Black Metal scene in Greece is very powerful. There are a lot of bands come out through the years, I have contact with some of them. The main problem is that there is a rivalry between most of the bands, which is a thing I will never understand. If you check Norwegian or any other scene, there is not such a thing over there. Anyway…
How did the collaboration with Nipenthis occur in 2013 and how close are you to the rest of the scene and the underground bands?
I’m a very good friend with Revan for many years, we wanted to release something together, so the split-album came over, back then. As I told you before, I have contact with some greek black metal bands, I have made a lot of trades through the years, but the fact that I live in an island keeps me away from the underground scene a bit, if you can understand what I mean.
There are lyrics in Greek on the last track of “The Purity of Mother Nature”. Have you considered making a release with Greek lyrics only and how did you decide to use that passage by Giannis Ritsos there? If you like, share some information about the track’s meaning.
No, I haven’t considered to make a release only with greek lyrics, but thinking of that, I can’t say that it would be a bad idea. Giannis Ritsos is my favourite poet and “Moonlight Sonata” is my favourite poem from him, the part of the poem I “used” is connected to “Κάθαρσις (Catharsis)” lyrics and overal meaning. The lyrics of the track is about someone who is searching for cleansing of his soul, so does the person at Ritsos’ poem, if you notice. A desparate person searching for an exit, for purification.
Could the next release of the band be a full length album or is it too soon to think about it?
I hope so, I want to release a full length album of course but there are some problems doing that. You see, Wolfhowl is an one-man-band, so I have no other person to share the cost of recordings,production etc. Although, I’ll try to release a full album.
Nature is an obvious influence on your music. Is there anything other non-musical, like your personal life etc..that affects the material you write?
Correct, nature is a big influence on Wolfhowl’s music. Furthermore, personal feelings that I have through the time inspires me to compose music.
Is there any chance of Wolfhowl doing live shows?
I can’t say that there’s no chance, maybe in the future with the help of some musicians/friends.
How easy is it to compose the tracks all by yourself and what’s the recording process that suits you?
It’s a very lonely road, doing everything by yourself and it takes time. That’s why the band is active for 7 years and there are only 2 Eps and a split-album released. I am responsible for everything and when I do something, I want to do it well.I have no preference to a specific recording process, each time I choose the way I do it.
Your latest EP has a very clean sound, did you produce it yourself? What do you think of the notion that black metal sounds better when lo-fi and filthy?
Indeed, the EP has a clean sound and a very good production if you ask me and that was the sound I had in my mind when I composed the tracks. The production was made at the studio where I record, not by me, I just gave the directions. I’m very satisfied with the final result. Everyone can have his opinion, I can’t blame someone who thinks that black metal sound must be filthy and raw, I like a lot of bands playing this way. Personally I prefer the music to be old school with a good production (not “plastic”).
Please share the five black metal (or not) albums that you personally consider the most important, the ones that urged you to create music as well.
Lots of albums come into my mind but if I have to choose five of them, I guess these would be: “Motorhead – Bastards”, “Bathory – Blood Fire Death”, “Darkthrone – Under A Funeral Moon”, “Burzum – Filosofem” and “Dissection – Storm Of The Light’s Bane”.
How do you see the future of Wolfhowl, musically and in terms of popularity.
I’m very happy that a lot of people like my music and support Wolfhowl and I hope that they enjoyed the new EP. I have no intention to be famous and popular, so popularity is something I don’t care. Wolfhowl will continue to exist, releasing pure music from the heart.
Thank you for your time, the last comments are yours!
A big thank you to all those who support me and Wolfhowl through these years.
“Beware in the night…when the wolf begins to howl…”. Thank you too, that was a great interview!