- Interview with Nargaroth
- Nargaroth was raised in 1989 by Kanwulf as a one man band (which it still is), at that time Kanwulf was still a teenager who played on an old distorted bass and screamed out his lyrics. Now, After release last Nargaroth album "Semper Fidelis" , a specially black metal, I want to make an interview with Holy Nargaroth for Iranian Nargaroth fans. (Deineath)
 

Misty-Graveyard : As the first question I would like to ask you, what was the reason that Nargaroth formed? What do you want to express by making music?
Ash (Kanwulf) : Today is the 30th April 2008. My musically walked ways started even in the GDR (German Democratic Republic), which “died” in the beginning of the 90’s last century. I had to go to take some piano lessons because of my mother’s orders. There I had begun to write poems. But somehow something was missing. I had the words, I had the voice and so I had those two dimensions. The piano I played didn’t fit well to the poems. Short after the break down of the socialistic system of the GDR I got an old country bass guitar, which I own and use until today on my albums. I started to learn how to use that thing and in my adolescence seeking for extremes I screamed to words I wrote as poems down once. As picture image me standing in the kitchen playing an old distorted Bass Guitar screaming the lyrics. So, with my friend R.S. we founded the band OKKULTIS in 1991/92, I was playing bass guitar and doing some vocals and R.S. was doing the drums, guitar and vocals. Later we renamed the band into EXHUMINENZ. With his suicide also EXHUMINENZ died and NARGAROTH rose from the flames inside me as the only force in my life, the only opportunity to communicate with myself. But back in 1991 I had no idea what -making music- will mean to me someday. I had to work a lot at my dad’s farm. But over the years I felt unable to have conversations with myself in a developing or constructive meaning. So my music I created became that opportunity to talk to myself, to come in relationship to myself. To understand what drives me on, what rules my desires and behaviours? But this fact I recognized very later, I think first in 1999/2000.
My lyrics are not typical Black Metal words. I write poems, I sing about a mans fall - after he rose up within his own vanity and covered with sins. I am Human-even I don’t like it. And all failures I did and do, I reflect in psychoanalysis and this way to become a better man than before I sing. In BM are many lost people and within my poems and lyrics they my find themselves again.
Black Metal is a war in your own head. In my hard years I was so deep into that BM spirit that I denied anything in the world. Even other people or the money the system. All I had to do to survive, so go to work for money, talk with others and so on, seemed to me as a opposite to BM life. So I denied the things to do. Sometimes I locked myself for weeks into my room and not stepping outside. I denied wearing some normal clothes because I considered them as false. There were many other things, crazy things at this time in my head and even in my actions - but believe me it was hell on earth. And that means for me the BM war. It’s the war in our heads. The controversies between BM ideals or rules and the necessary things we have to do to survive, starts a daily war. Its war against your life, against yourself. And this battles inside, the daily fight for life, is the content of my songs.

Misty-Graveyard : Perhaps everybody is curious to know about your friend who committed suicide. Would you tell us about him? I know until now he was the only man you believed in. Is it true that you put the music away for 5 years because of his death?
Ash (Kanwulf) : Oh…a hard question for me. But it shows me that you are interested into me and NARGAROTH. No one else ever dared to ask me about him this way. And because I feel so much for the Iranian Metal people I will answer you.
R.S. was the only person that I would call until today as my Friend. I got to know him around 1991 as he lived in a home for problem-children and -adolescent. This home was in an old German castle which stood in a small village in East Germany. I still remember the first time I met him. I visited another metal guy called Jack M., I seat on his bed and we were talking about ABHORER from Singapore and HADEZ from Peru, as suddenly the door opened and R.S. came in with wet (fresh washed) hair in his face and in a metal suite. . I saw him and thought ‘who the hell is that’? He was talking quite strange things without bigger sense, like “Fuck your grandmother” and “TV Corpse”. Damn…it’s like it was just last week and not 17 years ago! Well, I liked him instantly and we got along very well. We did all together, I teached him driving motorcycle and he teached me electricity things and somehow he belonged to my life and to my future. When I was thinking about my life, getting old and so on, he was there in my fantasies too. When we spoke often about if we will having children one day, we would put him into leather pants as soon as they can walk…But then…things went worse and I couldn’t reach him anymore. And the deeper he fell, the deeper I fell with him too. It would take right now too long to write down all of his fall, but then in September 1995 he was dead. A part of the story about his death I wrote in the booklet of the “Rasluka” series. Here you can read it:

“As I received the message of death on the evening of September 9, 1995 and consequently in a rush of pain newly "remodeled" my residence, I didn't suspect how extensively this event would influence me. I repressed and tried to forget what happened, yet directly from the dark empire of repression came a substance so manipulatively affecting my spirit that I dare say my social or coexistentual incapacity can be traced directly back to a powerlessness born on a mild September evening. A few hours before the tragedy R. came to me asking if he could leave a few pieces of his HiFi equipment with me because a court official was to visit him and he wasn't prepared to give it up. Shortly after he made his way I was already curious as to which pieces lay in the cellar, but I didn't want to go behind my friends back and go through the property he had trusted with me. Later, it must have been a few weeks after his suicide, Charoon was with me and we spoke, like so often, about the event. Then I remembered the cartons still waiting in the cellar. We decided to carry them up and open them, but even on the way up out of the cellar I realized that something was wrong. Because as Charoon easily balanced a carton with one hand, my carton's weight was giving me considerable problems. As we opened them we found in one carton some t-shirts and longsleeves from R. and in the other his entire music collection, from CDs to cassettes to video tapes. I must not mention what this moment and its corresponding realization destroyed in me. To this day I ask myself if I could had prevented this tragedy had I thrown away my decency on the day R. brought me the cartons and simply opened them.”

The very next day he hung himself some friends of him telling me what happened. I needed a very long time the get out of that hole, to find a way to breathe again. And NARGAROTH was the ship out of this abyss.
Today, 12 years after his suicide I see things differently. In some ways he left me and I or our brotherhood was not enough worth for him to stay with me here. And sometimes I realize anger at him – and today, its ok for me that I also feel this anger. But every time I visit him at the graveyard, stand before his Grave, I must admit, I become very sad. I kneel down and am not ashamed of my tears. After that I go home, take my guitar and create new songs.

Misty-Graveyard : What was the reason(s) of making the albums Black Metal Ist Krieg and Fuck Off Nowadays Black Metal? I believe that you are the only person in BM who chose to bring true BM in his life, and even to avoid the normal lifestyle and standards of life. When everybody was talking about nature, Satanism, paganism, and… you were talking differently, and did things like the mentioned albums that no one really did and thought like that.
Ash (Kanwulf) : What were the reasons to make those albums? Love and passion my friend! Love and passion! Being unique and have the courage to go your own path and ignore other peoples yelling.

Misty-Graveyard : Which Nargaroth’s album is your best favorite? What do you think about Nargaroth songs at all?
Ash (Kanwulf) : I have 3 favorite NARGAROTH albums. The first is “Geliebte des Regens” (Beloved of the Rain. This release was until then my most intensive album, whose poems have haunted me for years in the general context of my confrontation of myself and my sins. This self-reflexive confrontation manifested itself in extensive pondering and the search for answers in long, undisturbed thought processes in the tranquil hours of the night. For this, I required songs, which, due to their unchanging monotony, have a hypnotic character for me, so that I am not torn from my daydreams by many changes of melodies and tempi. And according to these requirements I composed the songs. What others perceive as monotonous and dreary was and is for me the necessary basis for the battles in my mind which last for hours. This album is the soundtrack for my penance and salvation.
The second is “Prosatanica Shooting Angels”, because of the circumstances I created it within an 12 hour recording session. It was quite strange how I did all. I had a big fight with my ex-girlfriend I lived together. I went mad into my studio and got under the influence of some light drugs and some Tequila. And this is why that album is important for me. Usually I am very strict how all has to sound, and all must be in the way I want it and there are no degrees of freedom for all things that got used. But this time I was very relaxed and took the things the way they came. No torturing deeper intention haunted me.
And my over all favorite album right now is my new album “Semper Fidelis” (Always Faithful). This album was recorded in a rehearsal style. Back then in 2001, I simply put one or two microphones above the drum kit, and, in addition, I took my old guitar amplifier from 1992 – one of those you get together with your guitar on purchase. In spite of having caught fire in the course of its life because it was forgotten by me when standing on the stove, and in spite of my frequently attacking it with the neck of my guitar or throwing it through the apartment out of anger at its poor sound. After all those years, it appears to me to be the only alternative to the either frequently over-produced or effectboard-internal and synthetic sounds of many guitars, which can be heard everywhere on current releases. Repulsive. May I be called an everlasting nostalgic or grumbler, but by the sound of these guitars, the reverberating or echoing vocals, I am reminded of that to which I pledge allegiance in my heart even today. I am remembering… and it depresses me that everything is so long ago. Often, I feel driven and travel around restlessly, but every time I hear the intro, I have the impression to be at home ~ the sin forgiven. So, although I was and am capable of it, I here refused to give in to the mainstream technical playing and created again what I had learned to love about the Black Metal of the early nineties. Simple structures, a ghost of monotony and melody. I will never create something which I do not love. And the kind of Black Metal I play hardly exists today, for one is talking more and more about the new Black Metal, which is characterised by speed and a high technical level, which is not my taste in Black Metal. Therefore, I also conceive of myself with my way of playing BM as an artefact, a relict, who is trapped in his lasting nostalgia. And since I am no longer a part of the scene and don’t care about the opinion of others, I am an Artefucked! As described in the first song. The most intensive experience about it all was the enterprise of the box limited to 99 copies. This for the most part brought me nearer to the listeners and them nearer to me, than it has ever happened in Black Metal before. Semper Fi Motherfuckers!
In generally I like all my songs! I still like every single album from me. I don’t make just music. My songs are the soundtrack for my penance and salvation. They are my way to communicate with myself. To walk a path that makes me become a better man I was in the past. So every album in the past has its right to be and his function for me.

Misty-Graveyard : What do you think an artist’s mission is?
Ash (Kanwulf) : I can’t say what others think about their missions, but when I take a look around through all the back-stages I have been over the years, I fear, that for many metal “artists” the only mission they see or are looking for, is to fuck groupies. I despite this behavior absolutely!
When it come to the question what I think what my mission is, I answer that at live concerts I want to remember and on my albums I want to share my soul that other people can find themselves in it again and maybe find a way of salvation.
At live concerts on stage, I talk with the audience about Black Metal and the history. Think about that DEAD from MAYHEM is dead since 17 years. 17 years!!! Can you believe that? 60% of all BM listeners today are not 17 years old. As he decided to kill himself, they weren’t born yet. Today every idiot can look for things in the internet – but mainly people are only interested into rumors and free download. But BM has it own history, his own story. And for me the music and the history are linked together! For me it’s also important to say that MAYHEM and BURZUM belongs together! Both bands were important for our art! There is no need anymore, that young 15 years old newcomers want to depart it. That departs the strength of our art too. I know it man!! I was there in these fucking times, as we were more interested into fighting each other that to work together! I was startrecking through this twilight zone for over 10 years! And I was a part of the destruction with my hate. But what was the outcoming? Nothing! We didn’t helped the art BM in no way with that. And when you take a look what BM has become today you see, we had no success to keep the true and essential flame of BM burning. I can’t change that anymore. I can’t change that BM is available on fucking MySpace. MySpace is a narcissistic whorehouse, which I despise deeply and in which I will never partake nor did ever partake! Black Metal should not be there…but…Well I can’t change all this, but what I can do is to remember. To remember what it was and that maybe the new listener will learn from our mistakes. And I can do it because I am one of the old, even when some shitheads still want to doubt that.
On my albums I create songs about my sins, failures, lies, my love, my hate, my tears and my conclusions about myself. I am a personal artist; in fact I am not a BM musician. Musicians are in BM like sand at the sea. I am an artist. I waste myself on every single release that maybe another person can find himself in my lyrics or in the mood of my melodies. They become for the moment of the song me. They feel like I do, cry like I do, hate like I do – suffer like I do and maybe fight for their own salvation – like I do, to become a better being than “yesterday”. Nargaroth consists of a human being. Whether I like it or not. From the beginning, it was clear and known that NARGAROTH is dealing with the – or my – fallible humanity. Anybody who did not realize this since Rasluka Part II and the poems contained therein has no business in the circle of my critics! And whatever is created by human beings is also subjected to their weaknesses and tainted by the dangers of human features. Constructive and destructive ones. I have always held the opinion that Black Metal has the potential of giving room for and allowing to express those human shallows but also developments. And I still think so. And NARGAROTH is an example for this.

Misty-Graveyard : Some people say that Nargaroth performs many concerts, while he calls himself a “misanthrope” or “psychopath”. What do you response to people who believe a psychopath cannot perform gigs or be between people a lot?
Ash (Kanwulf) : Well maybe you should be tough enough to ask things from your own opinion and don’t hide behind other peoples thoughts! So, what’s your opinion? Why the fuck you bother me with a senseless question on the level of “what other people say”? That’s typical western Black Metal scene quality. Do you think I care about other people’s thoughts and attitudes against me? Take a fucking look at my page! 17 concerts within 10 years stage presence. Makes 1,7 concerts each year.
In reality, sometimes I did 5 in a year and then I made not a single concert within 2 years. Does it sound much? And sweetheart, to make concerts has nothing to do with being “between People a lot”! Maybe you should inform yourself better, before asking me small minded questions.
 

Misty-Graveyard : What do you think about Persia and Persians? (You know how does media change people’s mind towards Iran and Iranians.)
Ash (Kanwulf) : It was hard to build an independent attitude towards your country and your people. Although I am a traveler through the whole world with my backpack, I had no well educated knowledge about you. As I was in November 2007 in Canada again, I met and lived with 3 persons from Iran; Armaghan, Esmail and Mohammad. It really impressed me and opened my eyes for the life of you people in Iran or Persia and that the Country (Government) is not the mirror to understand or to judge the people living in it. I liked the way of your thinking and I was glad, that your Black Metal feelings are not so poisoned and destroyed like the western Black Metal mentality. That’s why I was so disappointed by your question number 6, because that’s really small-minded-western style.

Misty-Graveyard : What do you think about Persian Black Metal? Or better to ask do you know any of those bands?
Ash (Kanwulf) : I know from listening: Aras (all stuff), 1000 Funerals “Portrait of a Dream”, Avinar “…and my lost wisdom” & “Tribute to 7 years of Mourn” and Daamon “Gates of Confusion”.

Misty-Graveyard : Are you aware of the Persian band “Aras” who dedicated an album based on the cover songs of Nargaroth? Have you heard that? If so, what is your opinion about that?
Ash (Kanwulf) : Yes, I am in contact with him. I know and really like his songs and NARGAROTH cover versions. And maybe we will meet us this year. The rest is private.

Misty-Graveyard : As one of the pioneer of BM, what are your ideas/opinions towards LOVE? I have the feeling of talking about love, its darkness, or value in 2003 album.
Ash (Kanwulf) : Love? We all know about love. We need Love to create hate. And the energy source of every hate in us – is and must be a kind of love. Already in my album “Black Metal ist Krieg” from 2001 I deal with that Black Metal untypical topic. The song “Seven Tears are flowing to the River” is a love poem! And in my Album “Geliebte des Regens” (Beloved of the Rain) I deal again with that topic.
Even if some BM people think love has nothing to do in BM, they should never forget, that the love, the passion, the obsession for art BM is needed to keep this flame burning! And by the way, no one is 24 hours an evil badass!
 

Misty-Graveyard : - Let’s talk about Norwegian and Scotland’s BM. I believe most of the old warriors of BM are more like losers nowadays, however they were respectable once. Many people believe that BM comes from there, and should not be continued/ performed/ and produced in any other country. What do you have for these kinds of thoughts?
Ash (Kanwulf) : When Black Metal can express every kind of emotions (I believe that), why shouldn’t also other cultures create it? Are others not able to feel hate, despair, love, pain, sadness and suicide thoughts? I think they can! In Black Metal we have a unique art which touches people’s heart worldwide. The have the same feelings, but maybe another style to express it. I think every country or ethnic group creates Black Metal different in style. Sometimes I can tell you from listening to a song from which country or continent its coming from.
And I personally give a shit about “the old warriors of BM”. Because what have these old and “evil” bands brought us today besides torturing memories and longing for the old days? What? Nothing! DARKTHRONE bothers with their neo-punk style albums, SATYRICON bothers with their extravagant progressive “metal” style, GORGOROTH are a business machine, BURZUM brought us the shitty politics debate in BM which kills the scene and the art BM every fucking day (especially in Germany it’s a mess what happened because of the political influence in BM), IMMORTAL creates one boring Album after another and cheats us with faked breaking ups and re-unions. And with NARGAROTH I do what I want and I do all the time the opposite of the fans expectations – and I love this! But it stresses the scene too.
Regarding the past of Nargaroth and the things I did during that time, I have long since come to think that listening to Nargaroth and being committed to it requires a kind of bravery or courage. To many, listening to Nargaroth also means occupying oneself with my acts and thoughts. And this, in turn, inevitably means facing ones own, less glorious aspects and shallows, one’s own humaneness, afflicted with the good and the balefulness. For in an occupation with me, in the reading of my thoughts as well as the things I’ve done, fantasised and also refuted again, good and bad ones, one inevitably meets a mirror and sees a part of oneself. And I think this is why some of the anti-Nargaroth propagandists become my “enemies”. Because through me, they feel that disdained and oh so human aspect in themselves but can hardly abide or accept it. One often resembles that which one most disapproves of. The own unattractive parts are projected unto the Other or recognized in It and can thus be fought in It. This way, one doesn’t have to confront oneself. The ones who admit Nargaroth and me in themselves dare something. The others don’t.
 

Misty-Graveyard : - I am wondering to know what you think about current BM music. There are bands which are not really worthy, and somehow they are destroying this art. And to make the matter worse, there are bands, only for making money and being famous.
Ash (Kanwulf) : I don’t think about nowadays bands.

Misty-Graveyard : You have said several times that Nargaroth does not play Black Metal. What would you call your style? Do you believe in style, or you think BM and all kinds of art in general mean to explore emotions, beliefs, and thoughts?
Ash (Kanwulf) : NARGAROTH is the soundtrack for my penance and salvation. And I agree totally with you last sentence, that BM and all kinds of art in general mean to explore emotions, beliefs, and thoughts. That’s what I say for 10 years.

Misty-Graveyard : Do you still have contact with Akhenaten? (Your friendship in BM is like myth)
Ash (Kanwulf) : Yes. We are still in contact. But he want his life private and out of any BM scene. And I respect the wish of my friend!

Misty-Graveyard : If you’d have the opportunity to kill someone, who would that person be? (This is your choice to either answer this question or to leave it blank)
Ash (Kanwulf) : All nowadays MAYHEM members, all nowadays GORGOROTH members, all nowadays IMMORTAL, SATYRICON & DIMMU BORGIR members, Nergal, Nagash, Fenriz, Nocturo Oculto, Vikernes and myself. Well, at least all Black Metal musicians from the old days for that, what they have done and what we have become. Well I hope you can see the cynics in my answer!

Misty-Graveyard : At Nargaroth’s official website, I have seen your pictures in Vietnam. I know you are passionate towards the war between US and Vietnam, and USMC. Would you like to share your passion and the reason you were there?
Ash (Kanwulf) : No.

Misty-Graveyard : - How are your feelings against animals? Any interest?
Ash (Kanwulf) : My favorite profession whish was to become a Ranger in Canada, Alaska or somewhere in the wide opens in Africa or in the Jungle of South America.

Misty-Graveyard : It might be interesting for guitarists to know about the musical equipments you use. Guitar, effect, amp, and… how do you records your works? In a professional studio? Or home-made studio? Are you satisfied with the sound quality of your works?
Ash (Kanwulf) : I use old, mainly self-made instruments. I don’t use professional stuff. I still use an old broken no-name amplifier, the same I described in the questions about my favorite albums as I explained my passion for the “Semper Fidelis” album. I record my music at home. I totally disagree with digital recordings with a computer! I still record my songs on an old 8 track tape machine. I am a nostalgic and I always will be. Take a look, or better an ear, to nowadays recordings in BM. It sounds soulless and without energy. I believe it’s because everyone can do it with a boring drum computer and a fucking computer music-mix-program. This artificial computer simulated “world” can never keep the spirit of Black Metal. Because Black Metal is not artificial and digital – it’s real and analog!

Misty-Graveyard : - Thanks for your time Ash. I always looked forward to speak to you, and well, now it was my pleasure to have contact, and interview with an emotional, true, and real person. I think your art left and still leave important influences on BM. Last words are yours. Respect & Danke
Ash (Kanwulf) : I know how hard it is to be in BM in your country. Never give up and use the energy the government uses against you, to create the deepest and most passionate songs you can. That will make your songs unique and your spirit true.
Personally these days I just hope that when I am gone one day, the people will remember me and listen to my songs. And when they finally feel themselves while listen my music, then I was worth to be. Black Metal is the art and weapon in my hand that never falls asleep and with which I fight against my failures and sins, and finally my way as man through life!

NARGAROTH is the ship I built and with which I travelled the sea, wind and spray in the face, the sky and the stars above me. It is the ship I steered through the cliffs and storms of my life and which I averted from the shallows of my insanity, hoping to find my peace on new coasts. It is the ship with which I put to sea and with which I will sink.

 

- Your Commenting
- Special thanks to Lord Aras.
- For all Iranian Nargaroth fans .
- Interview between Deineath ( Misty-Graveyard.com ) with Ash (Kanwulf)  At May, 2008 .
- Post by Melancholy at 12/Jun/2008

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