Publico aqui la entrevista concedida por el grupo sueco The Ascendant. Grupo de relativa nueva formación aunque parandonos un poco a ojear el curriculum de sus intregantes, vemos que de experiencia van sobrados. Nos ha contestado Daniel, guitarrista del grupo, solo pedir que le den pronto continuidad al Ep ya que los dos tema que lo conforman nos han dejado con muchas ganas de nuevo material. Enjoy.
Hello good evening, how are you?, Thank you very much for agreeing to answer these questions.
Daniel:! I am fine, thanks. And thank you for your interest in the ASCENDANT – we appreciate it.
1. Could you tell us a little as has been the process of composing this work?. I think since the group's formation in 2007 or so and you had the material more or less ready, why not until last year you released?
Daniel : We recorded most of "The Spiritual Death EP" at the same time that the band was formed, in spring 2007. However, plenty of mundane things came in between and we didn't finalize a mix that we were satisfied with until 2010. After that, the actual production of it took some time, and it was finally released this spring. We would have preferred to have this EP released many years ago obviously, and to have something else out already by now, but sometimes things just doesn't work out the way they were intended.
2. What issues have motivated you when composing? What concepts and hide behind your lyrics?
Daniel : Musically, we were quite influenced by the "new wave" of black metal bands that emerged in the mid-early 00's. Not primarily speaking of the so called "orthodox" bands, as we felt that was getting a bit old, but rather the more avant-garde projects. We wanted to do something a bit more exciting, quite far from the average lo-fi project that seemed to burst out from every other teenage bedroom at the time. Also, we felt that we wanted to go beyond what we had done with our former band, EXCESSUM, and try something a bit different - something less ordinary in a sense. I am well aware that the end-result isn't that groundbreaking, nor is it “new” at all. I rather realized in the process that black metal wasn't going to be reborn this time either. It rarely is. When it comes to the lyrics, the EP conceptually deals with the transmutation of man's very essence and the emancipation from the chains of this cosmic embodiment. We are very much concerned with the quest for spiritual attainment, although I am not sure how well the lyrics of the EP capture our present stance.
3. I guess I'll be working on new material, what can you tell us about him? What can the listener expect from him?
Daniel : We are still a bit on a break from the band, but I hope to revive it all next year and record something new. We are currently all involved with many other bands and projects, so there is not much time to work on the ASCENDANT at the moment. The geographical factor is also a main concern actually, if we were to live closer I am sure things would happen more spontaneously. As of now we live on opposite sides of Sweden.
Daniel:I can't remember exactly, nor am I not sure exactly what you are after with this question. But I do remember that we borrowed a very fine and expensive Gibson Les Paul from Per of GRIFTEGÅRD / YEAR of the GOAT in order to lay down the guitar tracks. I guess that had its impact on how it turned out, it was a splendid instrument really. We currently don't have the possibility to play live, for a few reasons. First of all we don't have a proper line-up, it's basically just the two of us, and secondly, we don't have enough material to fill a set-list. But maybe in the future!
5. How were your beginnings in music? Groups and disks What are your inspiration and what would you recommend us?
Daniel:If you mean from the very start, I got into hard rock and heavy metal from KISS, and later on also METALLICA and MEGADETH. The most important band for me, when it comes to black or death metal, is indeed DISSECTION. Their "Storm of the Light's Bane" (1995) is undoubtedly the album that was the most formative for me in my teens. I also want to mention SACRAMENTUM's "Far Away From the Sun" (1996) in this context, as it deserves a lot more attention. However, what I would recommend is to also start listening to music that is not at all related to metal. It is very liberating.
6. Bearing components and ex Ofermod Marduk, do you think these bands have left their influence on the sound of the band.?
Daniel: Not really, since we composed and recorded these songs for the ASCENDANT long before Lars was involved with OFERMOD, and when he had just joined MARDUK. Lars contributions to MARDUK now may however bear witness to the connection with the ASCENDANT, but if there will be any further similarities remains to see with our next offerings. I doubt it though, since I consider the ASCENDANT to do something very different from MARDUK. It is not a conflict of interest of any sort, except maybe when it comes to how to spend the time.
7. How difficult is the coexistence within the group? Who is the leader of the now compose, or all aportáis ideas and you respect?
Daniel: I would perhaps not call me the leader as such, but I am running most of the administration and such related to the band. However, it is me and Lars that take all the executive decisions together. We formed the band as well as composed and recorded all the material together - our vocalist K.W. is more of a session member. I guess the epithet "band" is a bit misleading in our case though, since we don't really function as one.
8. What would be for you the five basic disk in black metal.
Daniel : I would recommend the following five for anyone who is seriously looking into the genre. For me they all capture the very essence of black metal, in their own unique and various ways. I consider most of the early Norwegian stuff to be quite redundant, they just happened to be good with journalists, hence it being almost completely left out from this list.
MAYHEM "De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas" 1994
DISSECTION "Storm of the Light's Bane" 1995
FUNERAL MIST "Salvation" 2003
WATAIN "Casus Luciferi" 2003
DEATHSPELL OMEGA "Si Monvmentvm Reqvires, Circvmspice” 2004
9. Thank you very much for your time, if you want to add something for people who like The Ascendant this is it, thanks. I hope the questions are to your liking.
Daniel : Thank you! I encourage everyone to download (or stream) our EP and have a listen. If it's of your liking, please consider ordering the 7" or MCD from Daemon Worship Productions (www.daemonworship.org/). The MCD-version should be available when this is published, and the 7” will soon be sold out. /Daniel
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