Interview by HERR MORBID

 

Heil Darken!!! Compliments for your new Epic Opus called “Creed of Iron”! I would like to start this interview talking about the book that inspired you during the composition of this new album, titled “Creed of Iron” and written by Ron McVan...
For Graveland LP “Creed of Iron” I took inspirations from Wotansvolk book Creed of Iron written by Ron McVan. I found this book, and in general all Wotansvolk activity, very interesting and inspiring. According to my convictions, role of a warrior is the most important thing in each man’s life…his art of war and physical fitness connected with wisdom. Creed of iron is a cannon of rules, beliefs and ideas which, based on native pagan beliefs, traditions, culture and philosophy of a White Man, to achieve this perfection. I have always admired Wotansvolk beliefs and philosophy. I have always tried to instil these ideas in Poland where native religions of our forefathers also are coming back. I think that thanks to that neo-pagan movements in Poland did not take a form of hippies, New Age movements (as it happened in Western Europe) but walk the way of Creed of Iron. Maybe some people are surprised with what I am saying but it is a fact that my creativity and my though have an influence on the way of experiencing and creating neo-paganism in Poland. But Wotansvolk is not the only source of inspiration for my “Creed of Iron: LP. I take part in many warrior fight shows as Viking Festival on Wolin Island or Battle of Cedynia. My experience from the fights also had strong influence on this LP….spiritual experiences, some images, heat of the battle, brutal reality of fights…all these things are written in memory and have strong influence on my creativity…

The new album is a straight Epic Metal work remembering of the great Bathory’ s “Hammerheart” or “Blood on ice”. The only thing that resembles GRAVELAND’ s Black Metal releases is the raw vocal style. Why did you decide to record an album so Epic-oriented and will you follow this direction also in the future?
When one listens to ‘Immortal Pride’ he can very easily connect this music with Bathory. This LP let me bring closer to kind of music and style I have always wanted to play. But it also shows too many weak points in me as a musician. I had many ideas that I failed to realize. But still “Immortal Pride” started new era in Graveland activity. I used to say that "Immortal Pride" was a Graveland new face. It was a beginning of new Graveland style. From that moment I preferred to call my music pagan hammer metal. So when I recorded "Creed of Iron" I developed ideas started on "Immortal Pride". In the same style I recorded tracks for Graveland mini-CD “Raise your Sword!” that will be released by No Colours Rec. in a few days. So I am going to develop in the direction of epic pagan metal and this is what Graveland listeners can expect on new Graveland realizations.

This is the first album you recorded without the support of your blood-brother Capricornus. Why did he quit the drumming duties? Must we believe there are some ego-problems within GRAVELAND? Do you believe in friendship and brotherhood?
Both, Capricornus and I, have strong characters. In the past we needed cooperation to achieve our goals. But today we are strong enough to create to separate musical projects. We do not have to work together anymore. Capricornus in Thor’s Hammer does what he always wanted to do. Now he does not have to watch my opinions and my ideas concerning Graveland. And he is fine with such a situation. I also think that even though we are not working together, our creativity in separate musical projects has strong influence on both on us…positive influence…we play different kind of music, but our ideas and political convictions are similar. I think that Thor’s Hammer activity has very positive influence on Graveland. There is no competition between us, because there is no such need. Our creativity and our political convictions create specific atmosphere, strength, and perfection we are proud of. We are glad that our bands are not part of commercial music industry. We also do not care when we are accused of extreme right wing political convictions. We are not going to pretend that we do not think, what we, in fact, think. We play what we feel and we say what we think. When I decide to give alive performance of Graveland I am sure that Capricornus again will play with me.

Usually in your lyrics you talk about war and battles. But what do you really think about those things? Don’ t you think it’ s simple to talk of war when we are sitting on our bed listening to some vynil? There are a lot of bands that speak of war and destruction but in the end, it’ s only a fiction. Tell us your impressions.
You are right that in my lyrics I concentrate on descriptions of battlefields…on powers which push us into death’s arms in the name of values that make us supermen…war is a good topic to write about and play music. Through my music I try to bring closer to other people the meaning of Warrior in the past and now. I try to reinforce cult of warrior…proud hero with whom everyone would like to identify and follow his example… war examines the people and eliminate weak and ill individuals. Among chaos of war it is very easy to recognize human characters…cowards and traitors stay in opposition to people who are ready to give their lives away for honor, pride and nation…during war one can also learn about oneself, its abilities and limitations and tell true friends to false ones…war makes men warriors who with courage and strength prove their value and usefulness for nation…as CREED OF IRON makes us supermen!!! It is not just sitting in comfortable armchair and listening to music with lyrics about war and destruction….. As I said according to my convictions, role of a warrior is the most important thing in each man’s life…his art of war and physical fitness connected with wisdom. It is very important to train specific trait of character because the day of final test will come and we must be ready for this. I have always been interested in militarism, cult of warrior etc. Thanks to these interests I developed in myself some very important traits of character thanks to which I still play in Graveland…without them I would give up as many did…but no matter what I followed way showed by my destiny…

“Today Honor and Pride unite people all over the world in common fight for future, for world in which our children be able to live and develop”... It seems to be a very optimist way of thinking. Don’ t you think it can be considered as a contradiction for the Black Metal fans? Black Metal is an “anti-human” genre, voted to death, sorrow and total pessimism, don’ t you agree?
In general BM is kind of music created by Satanists…so it will always be a satanic music. I have never been into Satanism…I was rather fascinated by Darkness…later I discovered world of native pagan beliefs of our ancestors and it made me fight for future for our children…You are right saying that BM is voted to death, sorrow and total pessimism…it is this way because Satanism is a destructive religion. Finally Satanism destroys its followers. I used to know many people who were Satanists and tried to be as evil as possible and now they are out of the game forever. For young people Satanism can be very important because it offers them what they are looking for. Satanism is evil, it offers revolt and resistance against norms and values. Young people like it. But later they mature and they need something more. But Satanism cannot offer them anything else. They cannot develop. So they are looking for something else, for ideas to help them to create. This is a transition to mature creative life. When people stop being interested in Satanism they start a “good” life as serious members of society or they look for something important that will make their lives worth living. Many people say that Satanism is a part of Christianity. To some degree it is true but in fact Christians called Satanism many pagan cults, ideas etc. when they christianized pagan lands hundreds of years ago. So Satanism is based on pagan ideas changed by Christian church for its own purposes. People who were interested in Satanism later start to be keen on neo-paganism and find there many, so far hidden values. All pagan creative ideas were hidden by church. Church used only destructive and dark ideas and called it Satanism.

Do you really believe that it will be possible to return to a Pagan society and lifestyle? Have you ever thought that the actual society is too ignorant and material to listen to the words of a small group of people? To this purpose, what do you do in practice to make your dreams come true?
Paganism is a nature of a White Man, it is a part of his consciousness and identity. It gives him motivation for work. Christianity wanted us to became slaves of antihuman “worthies”, they wanted us to be humble and poor creatures waiting for the “Savior”. And Christianity does this all the time. They want to make White man weak and deprived of his natural strength. Christianity enslaves us with humanitarian, moral bans and instructions, making us believe in a better world…after death!!! Paganism or rather ethnic, native beliefs and religions are the part of our nature, heritage of our race. We should be proud of it and use it to become wiser and stronger as our ancestors want us to be. Paganism is coming back, slowly and only among small groups, but it does and once started it cannot be stopped. I see this looking at new people who start to identify with it. Soon, we, generation of people who became the main power of returning paganism, will have our own children. And our descendants will become the main core of rebirth of ancient beliefs and power of a White Man. Christian churches will not disappear at one. But slowly solitude will destroy it. People will leave everything that is false. And they will follow those who are strong. And one day great leader will come and order to destroy all Christian temples…You are right that the actual society is ignorant and material but it does not mean that we have no chance to save White Man. We cannot surrender because this way we would become part of this lazy, ignorant, materialistic, blind, enslaved society!!! There is no come back to pagan lifestyle that was present before Christianity came. We live in different times and we live in a different way. I have never wanted people gave up all technical improvements, wear ancient clothes (that are part of Graveland image, for example), make them eat only what they hunt etc…that would be stupid. I just want people to open their eyes and heart and find their roots…roots of a White Man!

GRAVELAND has been identified as a Nazi-oriented band. Tell us the truth!!! On the new album you hail a lot of bands, more or less all related to NS ideologies. According to you, are there some common ideas between NS and Paganism?
Very good you have asked such question because I try in each interview I answer to explain this matter because it is very important issue. Very often Graveland and Polish underground (some bands) are called Nazi. I am not Nazi and I have never been. It is a big misunderstanding. I think it is more lack of more proper term for this ideology. My interviews and opinions are too extreme for many people and my ideas can be called Nazism. I think that N.S. movement is one of the ways to save our world. Paganism and Nazism have many common ideas. Graveland has always had problems because of our extreme ideas but I have never been afraid of showing what I think. Now N.S. movement takes inspirations from pagan belief and mythologies because faith is a great weapon against all enemies of White Race. Maybe the term “Nazism” is not proper one and due to it there are so many misunderstandings. Maybe it should be called “White Man ideology” or something like that. And if we use this term I will never deny that I support and spread White Man ideology (of course brain washed scoundrels cannot understand that swastika, runes etc are not Nazi symbols but one of the most important symbols for a White race in general). There is no come back to NS that failed and no one wants that. Our times need new ideas...to ancient power of a White Man return. Our times are quite good for post NS ideas. There is a strong need of idea to wake White people up. Today White man is asleep.. hypnotized by false image of reality created by mass media propaganda institutions. White Man is deprived of strong will and character and of creativity. He wastes his time on unimportant things. Young people think that everything is great and that they can develop but it is an illusion. They think that they are free and that they think but in fact they do only things permitted by institutions and people who rule this world. Today one of them most important things is to teach White Man to be resistant and aware of propaganda systems. White nations must see their own culture, traditions, history and beliefs in proper light and love it, respect it and do everything to preserve it. Pagan beliefs give us our true heritage...return to roots of our culture where everything is so simple and clear and serves to one thing: preservation and development of the folk. Neo-pagans believe that connection between beliefs of our ancestors and post NS ideology will create a new power. We must bear our children in respect to our past, ancient beliefs and traditions. And when the day of weakness of today’s systems comes, our children will lead White nations to Victory!!! It is not Nazism but fight for identity and consciousness of a White Man!!!

Some bands near to GRAVELAND are involved in the “Pagan Front”. Is GRAVELAND part of this clan? In which way do you support the ideas of “Pagan Front”?
I am trying not to get involved into such projects because organizations as “Pagan Front” are very easy aim for FBI, ZOG and other police organizations to invigilate.

 

I want to make a jump into your past... Your first demo was titled “In the glare of burning churches”. Have you ever been involved in things as Black Metal Mafia? Have you ever been in trouble with justice?
You should not ask such questions…church burning…BM mafia… But it is true that we had (and still have) problems with the police. Fortunately I did not have big problems with the police. I have never been arrested but it does not mean that everything is ok. Situation is very dangerous. Our problems with the police started in 1995. In general years 1995-1997 were very dark. Because of our ideas we had problems with the police and State Security Bureau. It was time of our problems with Karcharoth. I also had problems with the financial police. They were interested in my Isengard Production. All this was very depressing and dangerous. We had to be very careful because spices were everywhere. Generally 1995 was not a good year. During meeting of The Temple of Fullmoon in Szklarska Poreba the police arrested some of us. We lost many very important materials as magazines, zines etc. Huge source of information for the police. Because of this incident TTF was dissolved. I am not sure if today situation is better and easier. We still have to be very careful. State Security Bureau gets money from European Union to look for nazi organizations in Poland. So they are doing their best to find nazi even among people who have nothing to do with it and sometimes are even anti -German. No one who tries to do something to save native Polish pagan traditions and culture is safe. I have very radical ideas but I am not a nazi and I have never been (Capricornus and Karcharoth are responsible for calling Graveland a nazi band) but the police want to catch me. Officially they cannot do anything to me because they know that Graveland is not a nazi band but they must do something because there are people who want to shout our mouths down . Some of my friends from Polish underground were visited at six in the morning by anti terrorist group. They were looking for nazi stuff. Of course they did not find anything. It is obvious that what the police does is a real persecution. There are full of lies articles in local newspapers according to which Wroclaw is the biggest center of nazism in Poland and Graveland next to Honor and Konkwista 88, is the biggest nazi band. So we must be very careful in everything we are doing and saying…we cannot make any mistake…

Some people accuse you to be a poser for the epic clothes you wear on some of your album covers. What do you say to these cunts? Tell us the torture you would like to inflict to your worst enemy...
Graveland has always had many enemies…Left wing scoundrels have always attacked my ideas and values I respect. They accused me of many different things…but they never showed their true motives. From the very beginning of rebirth of paganism in Poland, Wilczan of Perunwit and I bravely started restoring ancient traditions and believes…we celebrated pagan feasts on Sleza Mountain. We did not care that fucking left wing magazines defamed. I thought that thinking intelligent people will tell truth from the falsehood. At that time we learnt that Nergal of Behemoth was traitor and coward. He used support of scoundrels that hated us and this way Behemoth became BM star among scum similar to him. At that time it was very popular to be anti-Graveland so according to their primitive thinking anti-fascist!!! But although many such attacks (mainly from Poland) I stayed faithful to my ideas and values…faithful to my convictions…my music, all my creativity became effective weapon against my sworn enemies. I do not care about people who do not like my image… and I do not care about real reasons of their behavior…they are the ones who lose so I do not care about them…

Have you ever thought to play live with GRAVELAND?
Yes, I am still thinking about that. But right now I do not have time to prepare for live performance.

Do you still follow the Black Metal scene? Tell us if you noticed some interesting underground bands...
BM and its ideology had huge influence for older Graveland realizations. Covering my creativity with darkness and mist of mystery is a cult thing for this kind of music. Also Karcharoth and Capricornus’s attitude toward Satanism had an influence on what we were playing at that time. Together we strived for uncompromising revolt against all common moral norms and authority. We fought against Christianity with special virulence. At that time BM was a cult….BM united young people, showed the ways to walk against all we hated. But together with gaining new experiences and knowledge, knowing ancient religions and beliefs, I was building my identity….new values replaced the old ones….today Graveland is a different band that it used to be in the past. Of course I do not have negative attitude towards the beginnings of my band. I think that thanks to those experiences I am who I am now. In ancient beliefs I found strength and wisdom that let me fight against falsehood and depravity….Gods of War take care of me…Today BM is not cult anymore…there are too many commercial bands that play only to make money on BM. They had nothing to do with ideas created by Burzum/Mayhem. I do not want to have anything to do with today’s BM scene.

Thanks for this interview! Last words are for you... Send an epic Hail to all the mighty Pagan legions out there!
Thank you for this interview and support. Restore native beliefs of your lands. Domination is our destiny!!! Be strong and fight!!! Never surrender!!! Gods are with us!!!