1. The band was formed around 2005, what led you to create the band? Why did you choose the name Slidhr and what does it refer to?
1. I had been playing in a couple of other active black metal bands back then for some time and I decided to do something on my own that didn't involve anyone else. I was sick of playing live and rehearsing with other people.
The name Slidhr comes from a river of blades in Hel in Germanic mythology. It was actually suggested to me by an old bandmate. Finding the appropriate name for a band is usually pretty difficult.
2. This is the band's third album, with a period of about five years between the second and third, what led you to spend so much time between both releases? The belonging of the members of Slidhr to other renowned bands such as Verminous Serpent, Almyrkvi or Nocte Obducta can play against greater continuity for Slidhr? By the way, how did the incorporation of Stefan Dietz on bass come about?
2. It sounds like a long time but in reality it often just takes that long to make an album. We didn't record it all at once, there were some breaks between sessions. The members playing in various other bands didn't really have an impact on this album, though. Nobody was really doing anything because of the Covid nonsense so we actually probably had more time than ever.
Stefan and I were friends before playing music together so when Gardar left the band to concentrate on his own projects, Stefan offered his assistance. He's a great musician so it was very cool to have him involved.
3. How has the composition and recording process of this new album been? How have you worked on the new songs and what brands of instruments have you used?
3. I always start writing the music on guitar and make demos with a drum programme, then our drummer Bjarni rewrites the drum patterns. Usually the vocal patterns are the last thing for me (but not always). It was recorded over a couple of years, starting with the drums in Iceland, then the guitars were recorded at my home studio in Ireland. Stefan recorded his bass parts in Germany. Finally my vocals were recorded at a pretty big studio in Dublin. I mixed and mastered the whole thing at my place. Recording is a bit of a hobby for me, but I have been doing it for a long time.
I used various different guitars on the recording. The main guitars on this one were a Fender Stratocaster (with some upgrades) and a Jackson Dinky that I have heavily customized.
4. You have always rejected new sounds in your interpretation of black metal, staying firm in a dark and deep sound with a classic aftertaste; How do you understand what a black metal band should sound like today? How would you describe the sound of the album for those who have not heard it yet? What bands and styles have an influence for you when composing music for Slider?
4. I have been listening to this music from such a young age that lots of early influences still come out in my own song writing and overall sound. When it comes to fast and brutal Black Metal I would say that Zyklon B's 'Blood Must be Shed' is a big influence. Isengard is a huge favourite also, but other stuff like early Samael was also very influential for me, with 'Ceremony of Opposites' being a particular favourite. The best Black Metal was always unique and had its own spirit, that's hugely important.
Generally, I don't have much interest in modern Black Metal. There are of course some excellent bands around these days but 95% is rubbish. That makes it difficult to find the really good music.
5. Unlike other bands and what has been common in black music, your theme revolves around the forces of nature and the problems of society. How do you integrate this theme into your music and why do you decide to deal with it? Who writes the texts? Do the lyrics adapt to the music or vice versa?
5. I wouldn't really say the lyrics deal with social issues but we definitely speak of the forces of nature, the dark aspects that really put humans in their place. Many of the lyrics deal with personal power, inner strength and resistance. In a world of tyrants it is important to fight and take no shit. I feel that most Black Metal bands are just acting, they don't really mean what they say. At least you know my words are honest.
I write the lyrics and that usually happens after the music. Sometimes I will have some lyrics written earlier but usually I like to work with the music.
6. You are working again with Debemur Morti Productions for the release of this new album, a record label that had already been in charge of the release of your first album. When was the decision made to work with them again?
6. We needed a label that we could trust to do what a label should do. We have worked with them in the past but I have also worked with them over the years with other bands. We have worked with various other labels over the years and Debemur Morti is definitely one of the best.
7. Who was in charge of bringing out that powerful and dark sound that the album gives off, have you taken care of the entire recording and mixing process or have you worked with a studio?
7. I pretty much spoke about this earlier but I do the mixing and mastering myself. I studied sound engineering in the mid-nineties but back then it was almost all analog and very little use of computers. These days there is no reason to physically cut tape by hand and own huge amounts of expensive equipment so it's a lot easier to do at home or at the rehearsal space.
8. The cover is also dark and deep with strong contrast and certain ambiguities. Who was in charge of the design of the cover, what does it represent and how does it relate to the content of the album?
8. I painted the cover myself. I've worked as a tattoo artist for many years and visual art was one of my first interests as a child so I like to do the artwork too. The story behind the cover directly relates to the common theme through the lyrics. The rays of light/truth will split the crown of the tyrant. The light of the otherworld will shine into this world.
9. Although the three members of the band reside in three different countries, in the past you have not given up offering concerts, an aspect that we see will continue with the new album. How do you propose the viability of being able to offer a concert? concert and how important is it for you to be able to participate in a festival, for example?
9. Since 2015 most of the band resided in Iceland, I was the only member not living there. So the band could basically rehearse like any other band but I would travel over there whenever we had something coming up. Sometimes if we hadn't played together for a long time we would practice in whatever city we were playing in before the gig. It really wasn't very difficult. These days, however, it's a little more complicated since we are now living in 3 different countries. We will just meet up whenever we need to, though. It's not really a huge problem. We all know our instruments very well so it doesn't take long to get in shape.
Playing live can be a great experience or it can be a fucking nightmare. It really depends on many factors. When everything aligns it can be really special. We haven't played live in a few years, though. Maybe we'll arrange something but it's definitely not a priority.
10. Old Ireland is still as wet and cold as ever, what is the black metal scene like in a city like Dublin? After all these years that you have been active, what do you think has changed in the black metal scene in your country?
10. There has never really been a Black Metal scene in Ireland. Over the years there has only been a small amount of decent bands that I can think of. These days I'm not really interested in what's happening but I haven't really seen anything special. In my opinion Malthusian are one of the best underground bands we've had.
11. 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?
11. When I was a very small child my uncle bought Iron Maiden's 'Number of the Beast' and I would stare at the album cover for ages. The artwork captivated me. That started me on the path of the devil's music. Then when I was 10 years old I got really into Guns n Roses, then Metallica etc. I started playing guitar when I was 11 years old and have been pretty much obsessed ever since.
12. What album represents for you the essence of black metal? What latest albums have you bought?
12. For me Black Metal must possess the adversarial spirit. Of course the word 'black' refers to the devil's music, but so many musicians who profess to be 'evil' and 'Satanic' are full of shit. They are actors. Slidhr is definitely not a Satanic band but we possess the adversarial spirit.
I can't remember exactly what the last albums I bought are but I recently got a new vinyl player and have started buying some stuff that was missing from my collection. I recently picked up some Roky Erickson and some old Scorpions albums. Buying vinyl can easily get out of control...
13. Thank you very much for taking the time to answer these questions for Black Metal Spirit, if you want to add something for Slidhr fans, this is the place. I hope the questions are to your liking.
13. Thank you for the interest. Always go your own path.
Joseph Deegan
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Nadsvest, Necrobode – Ustolicenje smrti : O triunfo da morte 16,99 €
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