1. Can you give us an update on what is going on with the band these days?
Hi there. We are currently a little busy, as our fourth album “Aus schwärzester Nacht” is about to hit the stores. It’s the first album with our new singer Martin LeMar, so we are pretty excited about how this one will be received.
It’s a very special album for us and feels even like a little “combeback” after about a year of struggling. Now the mixed and mastered tracks are all at the CD manufacturer and we are eager to hit the road for our tour of club shows in April.
2. How would you describe the musical sound of the new album and how it
differs from previous releases?
It’s alive. It’s fiery, passionate and energetic. The most important difference is of course our new singer Martin, who has a bit of a different voice than our old singer had. With Martin we are able to do things that we couldn’t do before.
But apart from his really powerful voice, we also tried to make it a really rocking and fierce album with songs that we will love to play live. We still have the same concept of archaic folk and strange instruments meeting full-on amplified, heavy rock but also tried out some new elements and ideas. This time, we left some edges a bit rougher, while on the previous records, we smoothened out all the cracks. I have the impression that it has come out as an album that lives, breathes and goes wild.
3. What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores
with the new release?
There isn’t one topic that spans over the whole record, but several ideas. From a retrospective I would say that this album isn’t as introverted as our last record “Ardeo” was. It has some bold and strong messages and a good spirit. We still got some of that in-deep and personal stuff going on but also a lot of reassuring and vivid songs.
I got the impression that this is our “album with attitude”. Last year, when our old singer Hotti had left the band we needed this defiant “never say die” outlook more than ever. Now perhaps the songs can do the same trick for others.
4. What is the meaning and inspiration behind the bands name?
“Nachtgeschrei” translates to something like “screams in the night” or something similar. We found this name strangely fitting and appealing and are stuck with it forever since…
5. What are some of the best shows that the band has played so far and
how would you describe your stage performance?
Apart from huge festival stages I’d certainly say the tour with Subway to Sally in 2011. These guys are really big over here, so it was a most amazing experience to accompany a band that is as exciting, professional and yet nice and down to earth.
6. Do you have any touring plans for the new release?
We are doing a little club tour to present the album in April. In summer, we are booked for some pretty cool festivals, ranging all the way from folk to gothic via strange hippie events. We are pretty excited about getting on the road again and to meet all the wonderful bands and people at concerts and festivals.
7. On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to your music by fans
of metal, rock and folk music?
With every album, we got a little more feedback from all over the world. Apart from our releases in Germany our first Album was released in Russia and Taiwan as well and we still get very positive feedback from over there. On the whole we are very surprised that we receive such positive resonance from all over the world especially as we have German lyrics exclusively.
8. What is going on with the other musical projects these days?
When we started Nachtgeschrei, we had a pure folk side project. But that has been put on ice for quite some time, so we are currently only focusing on Nachtgeschrei. Our drummer Stefan sometimes helps out with other bands and projects, though.
9. What direction do you see your music heading into on future releases?
Vegatarian progressive grindcore perhaps? No, frankly I don’t know. Live’s a journey, and I’m curious to find out where this road will take us. Does that answer your question?
10. What are some bands or musical styles that have influenced your
newer music and also what are you listening to nowadays?
All musicians take a lot of pride in saying “wow, I’m sooo unique.” Especially rock bands fall in this category.
But I really feel that, since this is our fourth album, we pretty much have found our way, our music and our sound. We know better how we work as a band and how to make the different pieces fit together. I’m sure there will be some influences of other groups in our music, but to be honest, I don’t realize that anymore. Sometimes you say like “that idea reminds me off…” or “this is our *insertbandname* riff” but then someone else adds vocals, or folk instruments or whatever and suddenly it sounds all new.
11. Does Paganism play any role in your music?
Depends on your definition of paganism, I would say. Pagan is to me neither a style of music nor a label for “cool” but a set of mind and a way of seeing the world. Nature, man and how everything is related. Recognising the divine in the living things around you.
While we had some explicit pagan themes in the past, we now address this topic more subtle. I tried to smuggle in a few ideas, but we are not a pagan-themepark-act. If you find the idea appealing, here you go. If you don’t feel that way, you can still enjoy the whole package. So no “Odin”-chants or no rants against Christianity, I’m afraid.
12. Outside of music what are some of your interests?
I’m a little of an outdoorsy person, so I enjoy activities in the nature like hiking, riding or skiing. I recently picked up traditional archery.
Apart from that, I just try to do what feels right for me. No agenda here.
13. Any final words or thoughts before we wrap up this interview?
If a thing’s worth doing, it’s worth doing it good. If a thing’s worth doing it good, it’s definitely worth fighting for.
Thanks for the interview, has been a pleasure. Keep on rocking and check out our new album “Aus schwärzester Nacht” - out March 22nd.
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