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 Azerath:
Heil, Wraith! How are the things going in New Jersey?
Wraith:
Greetings, I am doing well.
Azerath: Let’s start with
a
brief history of
‘Misanthropy Legion’,
your
releases and the ones you
have
planed?
Wraith:
When I knew I wanted to start playing Black
Metal I started writing material and organizing, this was about November
of 2005. Accordingly then I started looking for a drummer. I came in
contact with Itay from Necrofog who coincidentally lived only a short
distance away from my current residence and Misanthropy Legion was
formed. A friend of mine came in and did bass for a few weeks but then
ultimately I came in contact with Nile (Northern Myst) through Itay and
he was interested in doing bass, so he joined shortly after in early
2006. We did an EP that summer entitled “Forever Entombed” with all of
what was our current material at the time, unfortunately it never got
distributed, though. Following that we did a few shows, nothing
exceptional, just small local gigs. After our last show in September of
’06 we found ourselves unable to practice due to everyone’s schedules so
we essentially put the live performances on a hiatus and I continued to
write and record for what would become the next release, “Devoid of
Humanity.” Right now I have a handful of tracks recorded near completion
for a 3-way split with Necrofog and Ossein, and I also plan to do a
short self-produced demo for the summer.
Azerath:
According to your MySpace profile, you play everything on
"Devoid of
Humanity"
(2007 Demo), what about your live performances?
Wraith:
For the live performances our previous lineup
consisted of myself on vocals and guitar, Itay on the drums and Nile
doing the bass, as for our future live lineup that is still to be
decided.
Azerath:
How
do you see New Jersey’s black metal scene? I think that it will be
interesting to our readers to know something more about black metal
bands from there. And what is your opinion about USBM at all?
Wraith:
I don’t know everyone in the state, but
I know there are some pretty powerful Black Metal bands out of Jersey,
Krieg or Abazagorath amongst many. As far as the “scene” I rarely come
in contact with anyone outside of my circle of collaborators so I
couldn’t say. As for USBM? I have mixed opinions right now; I think
there is a lot of good and a whole lot of bad. Right now there are a
handful of US bands who are becoming/already are internationally
recognized but at the same time there is so much of a trend tendency it
makes it hard to tell who is really true and who is just putting on a
show. The one thing that I am often confused by is why it is so popular
now to be “depressed.” You have many USBM artists claiming to play
“suicidal” or “depressive” black metal, but, I think very rarely this
kind of music is sincere (“Depressive” is not even a real word). I think
the thing that makes this style work for the few artists who founded it
is the sincerity in their emotion of sorrow. When you have people simply
mimicking a sound or style you lose all of the emotion behind the music,
and as hard as it is for people to admit, it IS the emotion that makes
that style of Black Metal powerful.
Azerath: “Devoid of Humanity” which is available at the moment through
Thor’s Hammer Productions (France) is an Old School Black Metal in the
old vein of Burzum, Darkthrone etc, so which
bands
has influenced you most?
Wraith:
When I first started writing I was
really getting into Craft (Sweden), so I think they influenced me in a
significant way. When I first heard World of Plague from Total Soul
Rape, I’d say that was really the song that inspired me to go into Black
Metal. A lot of people have made the comparison between Misanthropy
Legion and Burzum, however this is not one of the projects I’ve ever
aimed to sound like. I suppose I could understand comparing the vocal
style, however, it is somewhat of a similar sound. I’ve always been a
fan of raw black-metal, and I try to listen to many varieties. If I
could name just 3 bands that I think have influenced the writing of my
music the most I would say old and new Immortal (especially the first
full-length), Sargeist, and Craft; they have all had strong impacts in
one way or another.
Azerath: What are your lyrics about and how do you describe the
Misanthropy Legion’s music?
Wraith:
The lyrics in the past
have been about a variety of things. The topics I’ve delved into have
generally been that of sexual depravity and necrophilia, murder,
torture, psychological despondency, hatred, and of course all of the
songs have a strong misanthropic tone. Lyrically speaking I have tried
to write and express my own personal opinions through extreme imagery
and situations, but to date I have never written lyrics that I am
completely happy with, but I suppose that is because none of the lyrics
are “happy” in nature. Musically I am not trying to do anything new or
extraordinary, far from it, I’d say Misanthropy Legion songs have a very
simple feel and approach, but that is what I like. I think extremity can
be derived from many styles of Black Metal, and the one that ended up
working for me is the one you hear listening to Misanthropy Legion.
 Azerath:
What
separates Misanthropy Legion from the rest BM bands?
Wraith:
I don’t want people to listen to
Misanthropy Legion just because they like the way the music sounds, I
don’t think that is an appropriate reason to listen to Black Metal, it
is stupidity more the less. Black Metal is something more than that, it
is a statement and a movement, and something that shouldn’t be regarded
lightly. I think the only people who will listen to this and get
something out of it are the people who hold the same ideals about their
lives and the lives of those around them, more the less other
misanthropes who truly believe and support what they are listening to. I
would say the thing that ultimately separates Misanthropy Legion from
the bulk of Black Metal bands is that I am not concerned at all with
gaining new fans or even having people like the music, for that matter.
I have a small audience I aim to appeal to and they know who they are,
they are the ones who understand what it is that they are supporting and
listening to, and I feel it is only this group that deserves to continue
the legacy of Black Metal.
Azerath:
Tell
me something about your side projects or bands you are playing in?
Wraith:
Currently I am only engaged in Misanthropy Legion,
though I was informally part of Northern Myst (on bass) for a month or
two but never actually ended up playing with them due to a variety of
complications. Recently I have stepped down from that position. As far
as Misanthropy Legion is concerned, however, I can say that it is soon
to undergo a powerful change which you will see within the coming
months.
Azerath: What are your interests? History, mythology, politics or whatever
else.
Wraith:
I have completely no interest in politics whatsoever, but
I suppose certain types of mythology and history are fascinating. For
the most part, outside of black metal very little interests me. I have
gained a small area of interest in certain types of Eastern Occultism,
but beyond that, there is nothing.
Azerath: Do you think that music could be used against all this jews which
controls our countries?
Wraith:
The music
can absolutely be used to spread awareness, but it is the people behind
it and the supporters who can make the difference. Organize a movement,
build strength, take action; that is the way to bring about change.
Azerath:
That's all, thank you for the interview.
Your
last words?
Wraith:
My
one message to listeners and artists alike; Black Metal is a way of
life, NOT a lifestyle! It is NOT something you can just pick up and
choose to follow; you either understand it or you do not, there is no
in-between. I firmly believe that those of us TRULY involved in Black
Metal are so for a reason greater than our control. This is something I
wish more people involved with this style of music would understand.
But
on a lighter note, thank you for your interest and support of
Misanthropy Legion and for the interview. Hopefully we shall keep in
touch!
Visit also:
http://www.thors-hammer-productions.fr.ms/
Взето
и обработено от
Azerath
на 16
Април 2006. Публикуването на каквито и да е части от интервюто е забранено!
(Azerath, 16
April
2007)
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