1. Hello Nachtgarm! I know you're very busy right now, because you enjoy the concerts together with Septic Flesh, so please tell us at the start how are you doing and where exactly are you now?
Hi! At the moment I’m in my beautiful hometown Hamburg in Germany recovering from the last shows and prepare myself for the upcoming shows.
2. This interview will focus more on your personality as a musician. Let's start from the very beginning. What led you to become a musician in youth? Can you play on some instrument, or are you only singing?
That is a very long story full of coincidences, but to make it short: At the age of 10 I heard the mighty PANTERA for the first time with their “Cowboys from Hell” album and from that day on I was addicted to Metal and discovered more and more bands.
3. When I think of my young years when I started with metal, I had my favorites and I wanted to follow their path upon any terms. Have you a vision or idol from youth, whose way you would like to go? Well, only if you don’t have the feeling that you're on top, haha.
I think one should never start thinking “I’m on top”, because then you won’t have any motivation left to achieve even higher goals and you will get lazy. Consequently, the music and your fans will suffer from that. Of course, I always had idols and I still have them. E.g. Phil Anselmo, George Fisher, Dani Filth, Tomi Koivusaari just to name a few. They are all great singers and performers and I grew up listening to their music and of course I’m still a fan of their music and their performances. Besides that I always tried to walk my own path which was and still is inspired by those great performers.
4. Now you play in more bands at once. In the past I kept my eye on you in Negator; was Negator your first full time band? How would you evaluate your position role in the band?
Negator was not my first full-time band. I think my first “professional” band was SANGUINEUS in which I was active from 1997 – 2003. In NEGATOR I act as full member with all rights and duties like everyone else in the band. Only if all members are equal, a band works the way it should. Of course every band member has his duties, but at the bottom line we act as one.
5. Do you write lyrics? I’m interested in a question of language right now. You are from Germany and Negator have texts in English so why not in German? I’m talking about this with reference to your “colleagues” Farsot from Germany; they composed in German in the past, but on the last album turned into English. But, honestly, I’m really pleased by German language in black metal and I think it fits to the music very well…
Actually writing lyrics is one of my essential duties and I wrote all lyrics for NEGATOR’s last record. Of course we have German lyrics in NEGATOR; a lot of them, for an international Band. “Eisen wider Siechtum”, “Katharsis”, and “Panzer Metal”, just to name a few.
6. In recording "Panzer Metal" I found all the aggression and great power, which used to have Endstille on the records in the past. Latest albums are not so great, unfortunately... Is there any relationship between Negator and Endstille? You are like two black sheep in one herd, is there any friendship between the bands? I think it’s not about rivalry, or…?
Endstille are good friends of us. They live just 1 ½ hours away from us and we meet from time to time. Sometimes we play shows together and when it comes to extreme German Black Metal, there are only Endstille and Negator, so of course we are comrades in battle!
7. In the past you were featured in several other bands across the metal spectrum, are you able to say which kind of metal is closest to your heart now?
Metal in common is closest to my heart. I would always prefer Black Metal, but in the end it is all Metal and that is what counts.
8. After you found out that E.M. Caligula left Dark Funeral, did you thought that you could fill his place (honestly)?
Of course! Otherwise I wouldn’t have applied for the job.
9. How did it finally happen? The band proclaimed the selection procedure for the position of new vocalist. We argue in the redaction if you signed up yourself, or if Dark Funeral contacted you? All this with respect to you and past DF singers. Everyone has a very similar vocal, so I was wondering if the band didn’t choose you itself, in order to preserve the original value of the DF…
The whole story can be read on our homepage, on Facebook and everywhere else in the www, but to make it short: I applied for the job, got the invitation for a live audition and got the job. Of course it was an important point how the new guy sounds. You cannot replace “the voice” of the band and look for something completely different; instead you want to change your style. The voice is a very important attribute of a band, especially when it comes to a band like DARK FUNERAL. And yes, the Band itself chose me.
10. Do you know if the band had any other vocalists in their examination?
Actually they had over a thousand applications from all over the world and few well-known names where in it, but they invited only two out of all the applicants.
11. I have to ask you how do you feel now in Dark Funeral? I think E.M. Caligula is one of the best extreme metal vocalists. How hard for you was to replace his position? How do you manage the automatic claims which put on you the band and the fans (because DF is a really big name on the scene)?
I would like to use the words I’ve said on my announcement to answer this questions:
“To me, Dark Funeral is the epitome of Black Metal. To be a member of this institution now, is not only a big honor for me, but is also complementing my work as a lead singer as well as my action at the front of the stage throughout the years. Consequently, I am very glad that Dark Funeral put their unholy faith in me and my abilities.
As the successor of Emperor Magus Caligula I am quite aware of the high expectations being directed to my person. However, I can assure every one of you out there, that with every breath I take I will live up to these expectations. Hands down. […]“
12. According to the video footage of DF concerts, you managed the songs really good. Which song you personally like the most and which is harder or didn’t fit you?
My personal favorites are “The Secrets Of The Black Arts”, “Shadows Over Transylvania” and “The Arrival Of Satan’s Empire”. “666 Voices Inside” is a really hard song to sing due to its long lyrics and even longer screams with hardly any breathing time in it at all, but I always see it as a challenge and giving up is no option!
13. Dark Funeral is a band that in addition to the music also builds on the sophisticated design, painting and Satanist black metal essences. Do you associate with this ideology?
Absolutely!
14. If you look back onto your short activity in Dark Funeral, is there anything really important, whether pleasant or unpleasant that gave you this group?
As I’ve mentioned already, unpleasant things are challenges which I always accept. Everything else is just fully enjoyable!
15. DF concerts are in progress at several different places over the world in relatively large numbers. I think you were not accustomed to such a big amount of concerts, am I right? Are you enjoying it or sometimes finding yourself loosing the strength?
I was on smaller tours before, but never for 4 weeks in South America for example. Being on the road is always hard due to the lack of sleep, the long travelling distances, the stress, etc… But I live for that! And if I ever have a weak moment, the band stands as one behind me to strengthen me up again.
16. New band member means always fresh new blood. Are you talking inside Dark Funeral about the new album? If so could you tell us about it something, please?
Of course we speak about the new record and we have a lot of great ideas for it, but I won’t tell anything yet, except: Be prepared for it!
17. With your arrival to the group, I noticed bigger interest about the band from the side of the fans, don’t you plan to release some concert DVD? Perhaps a sequel of “Attera Orbis Terrarum”?
At the moment no definite plans are made for that, but there is a long road ahead. So let’s see what happens on our way to hell!
18. What do you plan after your contracted shows will end? I ask because I'm looking forward to see Dark Funeral in the Czech Republic! Hopefully soon… Do you plan some more extensive tour across the Europe?
We will never stop touring! Why should we? That’s why we’re doing what we’re doing: To be on the road and to unleash hell for our fans all over the world. In between the touring we are writing new songs.
19. In conclusion I'd like to especially thank you for your time and wish you many personal accomplishments, whether they relate to music or not. I think I talked enough, but if something's on your mind and I did not ask, it’s yours… Take care!
Thanks for the interview and to all our fans out there: You summoned us… now let us burn this planet. And to all our haters and disbelievers: FUCK YOU! We’ll set you and the world aflame!
