INFESTUS - Chroniken des Ablebens
Interview with Lords of Metal (NL)

'Chroniken des Ablebens' has just been released, what are your hopes and expectations for the album?

The major reason for releasing this album was my basic need to express things inside of me that demand materialisation. So you can imagine that I really do not have any expectations that are of a higher priority than to express my states of mind through music. But I also expect the listener to be infected by the concept of this album; to share the pain and rage that lies within the music; to meet my very personal demons, as far as it is possible for them to empathize with these expressions.

It's your second album I noticed. But I haven't heard your first one, 'Worshiping Times Of Old'. What are the main similarities and differences between the two albums?

In fact there are practically no similarities between these two albums. "Worshiping Times of Old" was released after we had just been playing together for one year. So we were still in the state of finding our own way. It was also difficult since Harbarth (former guitarist) and I wrote the music and thus had to interact. This had the effect that our two moods, that are very different, were mixed together. This drawback got better on the split CD with LOST LIFE where I took over the main part of composing. When Harbarth left, I was able to fully concentrate on myself and the creation of this music, without having to compromise. So be sure that what you hear on "Chroniken des Ablebens" is a hundred percent delivered inner pain and rage, directly transcribed from my mind. And Dagon's vocals are just right for these expressions. The moods he conveys, changing from apathetic to ravaging and insane vocals, are great. Even a superficial listener is aware of the difference between these two albums. "Chroniken des Ablebens" is much darker and more negative and in a certain way also more aggressive and independent. Another difference is the fact that the new album is based on a concept. The songs are divided into chapters and represent a period of time that is meant to be the last seconds in the worthless life of a human being that only knew chaos, discord and hatred. In these last moments he lives through very deep emotional experiences, which he had made in life. He becomes aware of what role he played in life and finally is torn between the relentless will to leave this place and the fear to die. The chapter of dying is closed with the total surrender to death. So generally spoken we expand the last seconds of a life to the length of this CD.

You play a raw style of black metal but still there is melody and emotions to be found in your music. How do you keep the rawness and melodic parts balanced?

A new song is determined by my mental condition. I am the valve and tool of my subconsciousness. So the structure and the balance between raw and melodic parts are defined by what I need at a certain point of the song. Everything is dependent on my feelings, as it should always be in music. A certain amount of melody is very important in my opinion, because it is the way to creep into deeper regions of the mind. It gives you the ability to "infect" the listener with the illness that lives within the song. On the opposite it is also important to avoid putting too much melody into the songs, because this would over saturate it and as a consequence of that decrease the worth of every single melody.

You also incorporate a lot of acoustic parts into your music, making it very diverse in style. How important are dynamics for you, especially during the writing-process?

Dynamics are very important. After a while the human ear gets tired of listening to a sound that is always at the same level and speed. I don't like that either. Acoustic parts for instance change the sound and build up the atmosphere that I sometimes need in order to let the song evolve its attraction. So, due to these facts, I like using the acoustic guitar. Although I sometimes have to reduce writing acoustic riffs in order to avoid changing into an acoustic act, hehe. Of course there should also be certain diversity in the drums. It is not my style to always come up with a blast beat and play it for 5 minutes. It is important to carry the special feelings that are expressed throughout various riffs and melodies with the right rhythm.

The album was recorded in the famous Necromorbus Studios and sounds great to me. How did the recording go? Is the sound the way you wanted it to be?

Thanks for the compliment. In fact we recorded it all ourselves. The mixing was also done by me. I have already done that several times. So I have some experience in recording and mixing. But still, in the case of "Chroniken des Ablebens" it was different. There was a great variety of reasons that forced us to postpone the advancement of the album; things which usually do not go wrong; things, where you start thinking whether everything is alright or if there is something that does not want you to achieve your catharsis by finishing this album. All in all, the album could have been published a year ago. It was literally elfstruck. Although the mix was already satisfying, it still needed a good finish. So Void of DMP recommended Tore from Necromorbus Studios. He really gave the sound the finish that it needed. So he really did a great job!

What is your main inspiration, both lyrically and musically?

As already mentioned I write the music all alone. It is a basic need of my mind to express unbearable states; materializing raging demons in my head, metaphorically spoken. Every song is connected to a certain inner drawback that demands its own genesis. These expressions are melted together and brought to life in a ravaging songwriting that chants the hymn to your very personal revelation. Dagon and I share the creation of lyrics. INFESTUS lyrically represents every negative aspect in your life. So everything that makes your life miserable and drives you mad, every little "stab" that hits your mind, every sociopathic pattern that hunts you down is a possible context for the lyrics. Since "Chroniken des Ablebens" is a concept album everything, the music, the artwork and of course the lyrics interact strongly with each other. So in case of this release the lyrical content is limited to the subject. In general, the composure of INFESTUS' music and lyrics need definitely more time than usual since the act of changing these states of mind into music/lyrics is dependent on this very special condition that we need to reach in order to transport it throughout our abilities.

What is it that you want to express through the music of Infestus? Some kind of message or feeling perhaps?

INFESTUS became the personification of our thoughts, since we share many opinions considering various issues. Thus INFESTUS represents the separatists of the separatists. We see ourselves far away from what one would call "the scene". We do not accept all those alliances and fraternities that spread like a disease. Black Metal should remain what it is: Music for individualists. The individual that empathizes with our music is requested to separate and begin to think for itself. This music is meant to open doors for your consciousness and let you drown in every negative and eventually suppressed aspect or memory of your life. It represents the path to your other side; because only in the state of loneliness you will discover your true complete self with all its facets. Become aware of the fact that the most devastating battles are being fought in your own mind! But we certainly will not be able to evoke the same feelings in everyone who listens to this music. So in the end it depends on you what will happen…

Can we expect some live shows anytime soon in support of the album?

In the past we did several live gigs. But somewhere along the way we recognized that, due to our interpretation of Black Metal, this music is not really meant to be played live. So we quit playing live, now for three years already I think. I also cannot say if there will ever be another live gig. It is possible, but who knows....time will tell.

What are your plans and ambitions for both the distant and nearby future?

Right now I am working out the concept for the new album. Some songs are already composed. And they will definitely wipe you off this earth! Nothing more you have to expect! Due to the writing mode, I cannot say how long it will take. So the nearby and the distant plans unite in one issue: The next INFESTUS album.

I thank you for your time and wish you well. Is there anything you wish to say as a final statement?

Alles Leben nichtig!