1.Can you give us an update on what has been going on with the band since the recording of the new album?
2.You have a new album coming out in the beginning of 2025, musically how does it differ from the stuff you have released in the past?
3.This is also going to be your first album since 2010, can you tell us a little bit more about what has been going on during that time frame?
Well, first we looked for a way back to the roots of music. We wanted to know: How would music sound if we created it independently of the influences of the outside world? If we drew only from ourselves? After we had asked ourselves this question, we realized that we needed a longer break to be able to start new without being influenced. The idea: 10 years break!
A decade. An eternity to find our way back to the origin of desire. Of course, we knew that this undertaking was almost impossible and even doomed to failure. But we still wanted to dare it. On the one hand to surprise ourselves; but perhaps also because the subconscious brought about this unconventional path. Who knows?
So we started the new recordings refreshed and unspoiled. Yes, a youthful enthusiasm drove us again and again and so a new work emerged as if by itself, from the reborn "inside". The hunt for the perfect recording, support from AI, verse/chorus/bridge structures. None of that should distract us. Our attention was solely focused on the music. Unadulterated. Made by hand. Yes, we were willing to risk that.
I think that is also the major difference to the "Expedition Autarktis" recording. On it, everything sounded louder, harder, more powerful but also more modern.
On "Neu Asen Land" we deliberately avoided aggressive mastering. The entire recording, from mixing to mastering, remained in our hands.
4.Over the years you have covered a lot about Norse Paganism lyrically, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in this path?
Nordic mythology has been with us from the beginning. We tried to transform into the modern age with "Expedition Autarktis" by mixing aspects of mythology with new ideas. For example, we used aerial photographs of the Arctic regions to form reality and fiction into a new type of Nordic mythology. The end of the world Ragnarøk, for example, became "Experiment Apocalypse" in this concept in order to establish a connection to current research at Cern. At that time, the idea still prevailed that the production of antimatter there would lead to the destruction of the world, i.e. Ragnarøk. In addition, psychological and religious aspects were also used to establish a new perspective. On the new album, we have found a different way for this transformation process. We would like to explain the idea in more detail on a subsequent MCD.
5.What are some of the other lyrical topics and subjects the band has explored over the years with your music?
I would say that at the beginning we started with pure observations of nature and tell stories that took place in this nature that was sacred to us. Later there was a psychological and geographical shift. We moved our stories to arctic regions. Here the psychological aspect could be worked out more clearly. It became more pointed, more dramatic. A fight for survival, you could say. In my opinion, this culminated in the album "Expedition Autarktis". We knew from the start that it would be rejected. Interestingly, we did receive support, but from regions that we hadn't actually thought of. More and more people from non-German-speaking countries got in touch with us. We received orders from countries all over the world. We also received positive inquiries and reviews from other musical genres such as the prog area.
6.I know that the band name means 'Mountain Throne' in German, how does this name fir in with the musical style that you play?
The name symbolizes the admiration of nature and the importance it holds in our thinking. I love the mountains. I love the view from the summit. On the way there you are cleansed. And come down as a new person.
7.Can you tell us a little bit more about the artwork that is presented on the new album cover?
The cover shows a metal sculpture. This is based on the shape of a Viking ship. This gives the Nordic theme an abstract and modern outline. Real elements of the Arctic landscape were also added. The theme of the texts is thus visually abstracted and presented. This enabled us to link the polar voyages of discovery of modern times with the Viking Sagas, i.e. the past and present with mythology and reality.
8.Has the band done any live shows or open to the idea?
There have been no live shows in the past.
Nor are any planned.
9.The new album is going to be released on 'Trollzorn Records'. how would you compare working with this label to other labels that you have worked with in the past?
The album is actually being released by us. Trollzorn has been very supportive here as we are looking for ways to distribute the recordings. So there is no contract, just a very friendly relationship. This has also been the case with other labels in the past.
10.On a worldwide level how has the reaction been to your music by fans of black metal?
As always, they were negative. It usually takes a decade for the latest album to be accepted. I can still remember that "Leben und Lebenswille" was described as too complex and cumbersome for this style of music. Looking back, that's very surprising. Of course, that only applies to our last releases. When we first started out as musicians, it was completely different. We were practically idolized.
11.Where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?
We have a short sequel planned where the concept of New Asen Land will be explained. Beyond that, there are no further plans.
12.What are some of the band or musical styles the band members are currently listening to nowadays?
I can only speak for myself. I hardly listen to any music anymore. My music is the wind in my ears or the rustling of the treetops. Only now and then do I allow myself to be surprised and listen to the radio. There are great stations that broadcast live concerts. I fondly remember concerts by Anna Calvi, Harlem Lake and the conductor Kent Nagano. I literally couldn't stay in my chair any longer and I went crazy with excitement. But we are talking about rare events here.
13.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?
I would especially like to thank you for the exciting interview and wish the Occult Zine a good time.