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 mans 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 Thors 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 Thors 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 deaths 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 mans 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 todays 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 Capricornuss
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 todays 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!!!