1. Greetings to our western neighbours. Irrlycht. I searched for the meaning of your band´s name, however I found only definition of Irrlicht, which is somekind of mysticaly revealing lights on water surface for example . Is the band´s name inspired by this event, or it is just occurrence?

Wolfish greetings! The meaning of IRRLYCHT is similar to what you are describing. The English translation would be something like "ghost light", "light that appears in the woods", that you are following trying to escape, and that makes you get more and more lost in the forest. The bandname's writing with Y is just because it's closer to the ancient Germanic spelling.

2. Irrlycht is a quite young band, you started just 3 years ago. Except of Zimurgh everyone plays in at least one alternative black metal band. What made the crew of young people, having their own bands, to start up the flame of another band, in addition that it is so orthodox.

Well, here I have to explain that IRRLYCHT is the main band for all the members. As you can read in the band's biography, Nordger and me decided to found IRRLYCHT after our old band GEWEIH (Grim Pagan Metal) had split up in 2004. Nordger is active in some other bands (CHANT OF BLASPHEMY, live member of VARGSANG, MEGAERA). Moorgeist has his own project running for years, called WINTERTHRONE. Fafnir (drums), who has now quit the band, is the drummer of AASKEREIA. And I myself did vocals on the last CAEDES album.
So, as I said, for every member the main focus is on IRRLYCHT. And I think we did a quite good start with the self-titled MCD, which shows the mystical and orthodox power that lays within the realms of Heidelberg, our native town.

3. Three years are quite long period. Some bands are able to manage couple of albums, but Irrlycht did only one EP, though it is very good. What the band means for you? Is it just a Part-time hobby, or a tool to express your opinions and face the world, or it is something else?

We have no needs to produce one output every year, Black Metal is just flowing out of our veins without any meaning of time. Ouf course, it is a lot more than just a hobby, it's the expression of what is coming close to what I and the others are trying to do for years with other bands and projects.
IRRLYCHT is the ghostly appearance, the fear inducting manifestation of mysterious Black Metal art. We don't want to be compared to any other humanist "hobby-BM-band".
I think you can hear the difference.

4. Your debut is not full-lenght. It about half of hour long but there are only 4 songs (If we don´t count in the cover song). How long were you composing the songs and how long did you record the album?

The whole mini in the full line-up was written and recorded within 6 months. All the work concerning IRRLYCHT (except for the cover artwork) has been done by the band itself to 100%. That means song-writing, concept, recording etc.
The album has been recorded within 3 days in the rehearsal room, and mixed by Moorgeist in his "Sound Bridge" home studio.

5. Interesting. You arranged the release with Blackmoon rec. Was the cooperation settled before recording of the EP?

The guy behind Blackmoon Records is a good comrade for years, and has always shown interest in the pre-IRRLYCHT band GEWEIH in the past. So it somehow happened that he got the opportunity to release this debut-MCD.


6. Your label is a little mystery for me, from its web pages it looks more like a E-shop than a label. But not one of our distributors has your EP. Are you satisfied with the efforts of blackmoon rec.? Has they managed to spread your work and name as you , before the signing the deal, wanted?

Well, yes, Blackmoond Records is quite a small label, and he should do some more efforts concerning distribution in foreign countries, but I think this mistake is not done on purpose. Concerning distribution in Slovakia and other East-European countries, I think he would be thankful for any help. In Germany, the name of IRRLYCHT was spread quite fast, and now we're planning some live gigs in the next months.

7. Now to the album topic. I must again refer to fact, that you on the first listen sound too common and digested. Why I are you still using those over-used clichés?

Clichés are only clichés for people who are new into the matter of Black Metal, and who have that consume attitude. For me, it's just natural to express Black Metal with pain, spikes etc. like Black Metal has always been and how I have been used to it for the last 15 years.
It has the need to crawl out of us as an emotional expression and not as a reasonable commercial tool or something like that.
The production fits quite good to our music as it is clear but still raw and violent.

8. Well, but fortunately you are still able to transform classic ideas to something imaginative, filled with yours specific face. Work that is able to get hold of listeners interest.

Indeed.

9. In some moments we can see the more mature face of Irrlycht. In my review I refered to this more personal aspect of your compositions. I think that if you work up those personal aspects for debut you will raise Irrlycht to higher category. Do you interested in fan´s recognition? And do you plan to enrich your music somehow? Or you are playing just for yourselves without taking them into consideration?

Mainly, we are playing for ourselves. But of course, we appreciate a good feedback from people we are in touch with or even from so-called "fans" on our rare live appearances.
We are trying to perform our art of Black Metal as perfect as possible, as well on records than on stage, in the traditional Nordic and German way.


10. How much of material do you have prepared for the debut?

We're just starting to work on it with a new drummer Nordmann, recruited from our fellows IRMINGOT. We are planning the recording and the release with 7-8 songs for late 2008. Two split 7" are planned as well. But hopefully, next will be the LP version of the MCD on Blackmoon Records.

11. Bands of similar orthodox character are lately out of my line thought I got to the new album of your "neighbours" Kapein. In our country the interest for Orthodoxity is losing its status, (except for the bands like Inferno, Silva nigra). Bigger interest for real underground is still holding in Slovakia. What is the situation in Germany where is the lot of place for individual and progressive bands, but where are also many "true straightworward" bands?

As you know, Germany is a big country for Metal in general, and for Black Metal as well. Meanwhile, you have so many good and, of course, a lot of not so good BM bands popping up. But the underground scene is somehow still the same like years ago, even if it's a bit bigger nowadays. So, inside this old German Black Metal scene, there is, of course, still and interest in orthodox Black Metal. And even if not, that wouldn't matter to IRRLYCHT and what we are expressing...

12. Is there awarennes of our country in Germany? Talking about the musical field? Personally I will never forget on song "Píseň pro Satana" by czech band Root, which was covered by Kanwulf. Although the lyrics were quite garbled, it is really pleasant feeling to hear czech language from his mouth.

I enjoyed the blasphemous meetings at the Open Hell Fest a lot. It's sad that it doesn't exist anymore. Concerning bands from your country, bands like Dark Storm, Avenger, Trollech, can attract my interest, but I have to admit that I don't know too many other bands or even good bands. Perhaps you can recommend some good ones to me.

13. And what other bands are you listening to in Irrlycht?

Mostly good traditional Black, Death and Thrash Metal bands from all over the world. My personal favorites would be Deicide, Burzum, Summoning, Kreator, Stutthof, Deathspell Omega, Necromantia, Nokturnal Mortum, Satanic Warmaster, Graveland (old), Lunar Aurora, Moonblood, Aaskereia, Immolation, Asphyx and Inquisition.

14. At the conclusion what can listeners expect from Irrlycht, or from yours other bands at his year?

As already mentioned, there will be the second edition of the MCD, the vinyl version, and hopefully a split 7" with comrades from MEGAERA or PROSATANOS.

15. I am really glad that you had patience with my blatant questions. Thanks for the interview and I am looking forward for the next cooperation with you.

Wolfish thanks for your interest in IRRLYCHT. Expect some new blasphemies from us in 2008, good luck with your magazine.

EIN IRRLYCHT, ES QUÄLT SICH...