Page 28 - Issue12
P. 28
marduk
You all just released a video for “Frontschwein”. I watched it and it’s very
intense. It has a lot of imagery. Was that the original vision for the video?
It’s an intense song from an intense band! I think it’s a good reflection of
the concept of the song, the concept of the band, and what it’s all about. I
think it’s a great picture to open up the mind.
How does it reflect over the 13 tracks of the album?
It’s not a concept album, but it’s themed around World War II. Being a
“Frontshwein” is something that is more or less resembled in all the songs
and the topics related to them.
I read that Mortuus also runs a design company, Holy Poison Designs.
Did he have any influence on the cover art?
When it comes to the concept or theme around the album, it’s made up of
ideas between Mortuus and myself. Mortuus is the guy responsible for all
the layouts and graphics.
I read that you have no set pattern to songwriting. You pretty much get
together and throw around ideas until you put it together. Knowing this
about your process, what were some of the themes or topics that inspired
you the most to create Frontschwein ?
Some songs were created by having an idea for lyrics and some are based
on having a riff. We already had the feeling that it was going to be an album
themed around World War II. We have done that before, and we thought
it was natural to go back and do it again at this time. We had a lot of ideas
for which lyrics were based around. We let the inspiration flow to get the
lyrics and music to match and become a strong unit. I find it important that
the music be reflected in the lyrics, and the other way around. It’s just about
going in there and having everything boiling and seeing where it goes.
Did you do a lot of research on that topic?
I always read a lot. For example, when it comes to World War II, I think I
have in my library probably around 500 books. I already had the vision and
most of the information already.
You are World War II historian!
Not a historian, but I have a big interest. I know people who know more
than I do, but I’ve always had a great interest in it. I’ve always read a lot of
books and have collected books related to it. It has become quite huge over
the years.
What was the last book you read?
I don’t know. I’m always reading three or four at the same time. I think
the last one I read was Hitler's Last General : The Case Against Wilhelm
Mohnke. Like I said though, I’m always reading constantly. There are
always like three or four books lying around.
I read that you believe that it takes one third music, one third lyrics,
and one third graphics to make it work, in terms of songwriting. Is this
still your philosophy, or have you inserted other components into your
formula?
Yeah, that’s the way I see it. I see too many bands that just write music
and then at the end they just try to get some lyrics on it, which sometimes
makes for really bad or uninspired lyrics. For me, everything needs to be
equally in power.
You all just released a video for “Frontschwein”. I watched it and it’s very
intense. It has a lot of imagery. Was that the original vision for the video?
It’s an intense song from an intense band! I think it’s a good reflection of
the concept of the song, the concept of the band, and what it’s all about. I
think it’s a great picture to open up the mind.
How does it reflect over the 13 tracks of the album?
It’s not a concept album, but it’s themed around World War II. Being a
“Frontshwein” is something that is more or less resembled in all the songs
and the topics related to them.
I read that Mortuus also runs a design company, Holy Poison Designs.
Did he have any influence on the cover art?
When it comes to the concept or theme around the album, it’s made up of
ideas between Mortuus and myself. Mortuus is the guy responsible for all
the layouts and graphics.
I read that you have no set pattern to songwriting. You pretty much get
together and throw around ideas until you put it together. Knowing this
about your process, what were some of the themes or topics that inspired
you the most to create Frontschwein ?
Some songs were created by having an idea for lyrics and some are based
on having a riff. We already had the feeling that it was going to be an album
themed around World War II. We have done that before, and we thought
it was natural to go back and do it again at this time. We had a lot of ideas
for which lyrics were based around. We let the inspiration flow to get the
lyrics and music to match and become a strong unit. I find it important that
the music be reflected in the lyrics, and the other way around. It’s just about
going in there and having everything boiling and seeing where it goes.
Did you do a lot of research on that topic?
I always read a lot. For example, when it comes to World War II, I think I
have in my library probably around 500 books. I already had the vision and
most of the information already.
You are World War II historian!
Not a historian, but I have a big interest. I know people who know more
than I do, but I’ve always had a great interest in it. I’ve always read a lot of
books and have collected books related to it. It has become quite huge over
the years.
What was the last book you read?
I don’t know. I’m always reading three or four at the same time. I think
the last one I read was Hitler's Last General : The Case Against Wilhelm
Mohnke. Like I said though, I’m always reading constantly. There are
always like three or four books lying around.
I read that you believe that it takes one third music, one third lyrics,
and one third graphics to make it work, in terms of songwriting. Is this
still your philosophy, or have you inserted other components into your
formula?
Yeah, that’s the way I see it. I see too many bands that just write music
and then at the end they just try to get some lyrics on it, which sometimes
makes for really bad or uninspired lyrics. For me, everything needs to be
equally in power.
