1. Krigsgrav has been active since 2004, almost two decades, what led you to create the band? Why did you choose the name Krisgrav and what does it refer to?
J. Coleman (Guitars/Vocals): David Sikora (Drums/Bass/Clean Vocals) created Krigsgrav in 2004. He wanted to play music in a similar style to Gorgoroth and Carpathian Forest, etc. He was the sole creator at that time and used session vocalists to round out the lineup then. He liked the name Krigsgrav and thought it sounded good and fit what he was doing at the time.
2. Since its beginnings the sound of the band has always been in constant evolution, it is also true that due to the doom influences that began to have a greater role in your proposal, this has been a style that you have incorporated into your music, without However, each new album is a break with the previous one. How have you faced the process of writing and recording this “Fires in the Fall”? What brands of instruments have you used for the process? What news, in terms of evolution, has this new album compared to your previous “The Sundering”?
J. Coleman (Guitars/Vocals): We wrote Fires in the Fall right as we were finishing the recording process for The Sundering. We had so many ideas still going on musically from that albums inspiration, which we just kept writing. We took ideas, some fully formed and some not from these writing sessions and put together songs that we felt were going in the direction that we wanted for Fires in the Fall. The inspiration behind the writing process was to create something with a heavy atmosphere but also really tighten the song writing with FITF.
Recording wise, it was about the same as how we recorded The Sundering. We all have small home studios where we have enough knowledge to record out own instruments, so we recorded the album this way, which is convenient, but I think for the next album we may go to a proper studio..
I can only really speak for what brand of instruments I used on the album. I recorded my guitars with my Ibanez Iron Label Baritone guitar. It has active EMG 81/85 pick-ups, which I’ve always loved.
In terms of sound evolution compared to The Sundering, I think the songs have a similar tone, but we wanted to make a more dynamic album, at least in our opinion, something that was more atmospheric but used more dynamics and really focused on the details of the song writing so we got the best results for each track.
3. I previously commented that your sound is rich in different nuances, that more visceral and direct part of black is complemented by elements and styles such as post-metal, death and especially doom, managing to convey different emotions and feelings with them Coming to compare yourselves with your countrymen Agalloch, how would you describe the sound of the album for those who haven't heard it yet? What bands and styles have influenced you when defining the sound of this “Fires in the Fall”?
J. Coleman (Guitars/Vocals): I think our sound is melodic black metal with doom and death metal elements. The bands that have, and generally always influence how I write for a new Krigsgrav album are usually the same: Type O Negative, Dissection, Dawn, My Dying Bride, Paradise Lost, Metallica, Primordial…I listen to new music all the time, but when I try to create for Krigsgrav I have a nexus of bands that I draw on inspiration from and it’s usually those same bands. I think, for me, it’s important to have this “anchor” for inspiration for Krigsgrav, so the sound doesn’t go too left field. It’s important to experiment and explore new sounds, but it’s also very important to me to keep our core elements together when doing so.
4. In your lyrics you address topics related to nature or philosophy, but death and religion are also present, although all this under a prism of decadence and unease. Why do you consider these topics interesting to deal with in your lyrics? Does the music fit the lyrics or vice versa?
J. Coleman (Guitars/Vocals): Lyrically I try to write about things I know or can speak on. So, I try to write about real world things I see or have dealt with or have some relatability with. I see issues with how we as humans treat the world like a plaything, how misinformation turns logic into bullshit conspiracies and how religion is used to control thought and influence negatively, so I write about that. I have interest in these topics because I have a desire for a better world, a most kind and just one that makes more sense, not just for me but for my children or others, but, it seems that is futile, but we shall see. The music is always written first, so the lyrics I suppose are meant to fit the music, but it all works together because it is all an honest expression of what we make.
5. The cover and the concept of the album was thought by you and designed by Cameron Hinojosa. What does this cover represent and how is it related to the concept of the album?
J. Coleman (Guitars/Vocals): The concept was to have a dramatic figure, standing amongst a ritual/summoning area, looking towards the tree line. The colors are supposed to convey the feeling of Autumn/Fall, but in a cold, almost menacing yet familiar way. The overall idea was to create a cover that first off, looked really awesome, but also made you want to hear the album, to create interest and intrigue because you had to hear what it sounded like…so that’s what we were going for and I think Cameron killed it.
6. As with the previous album, you have worked with Wolfthrone Studios for the mixing and mastering of the album. Have you found the right place to get the sound you want for your music?
J. Coleman (Guitars/Vocals): I think so! Owe is a great guy to work with. He understands what we are going for and he has created something we can be really proud of with The Sundering and Fires in the Fall. He also plays this style of music, so he knows what to look for and how to get it.
7. You come from Keller, a town that borders on fifty thousand inhabitants. Was it very difficult to find the right people when it came to forming the band and expressing yourself as such? Is there an extreme music scene in your city?
J. Coleman (Guitars/Vocals): David could probably speak to this, as he is from this area. I lived in the Dallas area growing up, which is huge. That being said it was still a bit difficult to find the right people to work with. There are many musicians and a lot of people that like metal, but it’s finding the right people who you can create something special with that makes all the difference, and that is difficult. I think with Krigsgrav we’ve been really fortunate to have people we can call friends in the band, but also bring something special musically, which is a wonderful thing.
The Dallas/Ft. Worth area has a very vast extreme metal scene, lots of death metal mainly, but it certainly has a bit of everything. I think the world is starting to figure that out. Bands like Power Trip, Frozen Soul, Devourment, are obviously bigger bands from this area, but there are still bands like us and so many others doing our thing, and always will.
8. Once again, the record label Wise Blood Records has dealt with the edition in physical format of the album. At what point did you make the decision to work with them to carry out the editions? Has the cassette already established itself as a medium? Just as important as cds and vinyl when it comes to marketing music?
J. Coleman (Guitars/Vocals): Sean has been amazing as a partner. He was super supportive of The Sundering and it just made sense to work with him again for Fires in the Fall. He has a genuine love of the artists he works with and he really busts his ass to get things done the right way and Wise Blood is for the artist first, which is fantastic.
The cassette versions seem to sell really well, which is always kind of interesting, as I thought they phased out in the 90’s but there are people who still love then, which rules. I think whatever form you consume your music in is most important, so I can’t say one format is better than the other, I’m just happy people like to have physical copies of the album.
9. Have you already started to present the new songs live? How is the public's reaction to them being? Who would you like to be able to share a mini tour with?
J. Coleman (Guitars/Vocals): We haven’t played the songs from Fires live yet, but we’re working on that. Nothing is set in stone yet, so not much to say on that front yet. I’de share a mini tour with Necrofier. They’re Texas based and good dudes who make good black metal, so seems like a fit to me! I will also accept a tour with Iron Maiden.
10. How were your beginnings in music: first concerts you attended, first albums you bought? What happened in your lives that pushed you to want to be musicians?
J. Coleman (Guitars/Vocals): I’ve always had a love of guitar based music. I grew up on southern rock/rock/blues and from there my interest in metal grew pretty early. The first concert I went to was Metallica, May 9 1997. It was the show the filmed for the Cunning Stunts DVD. It was awesome, Corrosion of Conformity opened and it was and still is one of the loudest shows I’ve ever been to. The first album I bought myself was Nirvana’s Nevermind on tape, because it was super popular at the time…and I didn’t really like it. Then I heard Metallica’s Master of Puppets and that changed my life. That is what pushed me into being a musician and following this path for the rest of my life. I always say I never had a choice and that this music found me, it was ‘my thing’ the moment I heard it.
11. What album represents for you the essence of black metal? What last albums have you bought?
J. Coleman (Guitars/Vocals): For me, I would say Dissection’s The Somberlain. From the Necrolord painted cover, to the riffs and lyrics on songs like Black Horizons, The Somberlain, Frozen, Mistress of the Bleeding Sorrow…the atmosphere of the acoustic interludes…this for me is what perfection in black metal sounds like. It’s just such a classic, with Dawn’s Slaughersun right behind it for the very same reasons. So good.
The last few albums I’ve gotten are Bizarrekult’s Den Tapte Krigen, Outlaws Reaching Beyond Assiah and Necrofier’s Burning Shadows in the Southern Night.
12. Thank you very much for taking the time to answer these questions for Black Metal Spirit, if you want to add something for Krigsgrav fans this is the place. I hope the questions are to your liking.
J. Coleman (Guitars/Vocals): Thank you for the interview, the questions were great. I would just say to Krigsgrav fans, thank you so much for the support, we very much appreciate it, you are the best!
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