ARGAR

Argar have done a superb work with their last album see review section for details, this is an interview to a very conscious band, proud to be part of the elite underground scene, a place for those who prefer to remain away from the rumors, that so many times are only rumors....

Ildanachh: Could you do a short biographical introduction of the band and say something about your actual plans?

Black’et: Argar was formed as a band in 1996. In 1997 we recorded our first demo "In the Gate of Eternal Solitude" (which is sung in Castilian). Then we signed on for Arise Rec. (Ripp-offs) and released our first album "The Flame of Dark Creation" with a terribly awful layout. Our latest work is "Cwm Annwn" (2000), released through Millenium Metal (ex-Solistitum). We're really satisfied with this material. We’re currently working in our third album, hopefully it’ll be released next year.

I: "Cwmn Annwn" is a sharp horrific sword in the body of god  what were you main sources of black energy, hate, depression, visions of any kind?

B: Black Metal is based on the hatred towards humanity, depression towards life and visions of forests. The music and the lyrics have nothing to do with Satanism.

I: Sometimes an Emperor influence is audible in your music, do you like that band, do you feel inspired from them and what do you think of their carrier?

Gangreal: We’ve been compared with Emperor thousands of times but I don’t think we’re so similar musically, we like their first albums, but now they’re crap. They’ve lost all the black magic they had once.

I: Your singer have a very hostile voice, very cruel and sometimes he use a sort of very effective inhuman howl, it seems very into the music...

B: We’re all very into the music, and I think this is reflected on the cds.

I: Your sound is raw, cold but with a great atmosphere, the keyboards use is very intelligent and moody, do you consider that the right direction for the Argar’s music or are you searching for something different in the future? 

G: The resulting songs are not premeditated, improvisation plays a really important role. We search the dark side of music that can be only found with the dark feeling we have inside of ourselves.

I: I really like you artwork, very underground, sombre and almost hallucinated and in particular the cd-cover, is that a necromantic rite vision or what, is there something special behind it?

G: After the bad experience with our first album’s artwork, we wanted to do what it should have been done then. The same way as with music, the art of pictures has a hidden feeling that involves us. That’s black magic...

I: Today the over-ground scene is focusing too much on the music, too many times it’s only a bunch of riffs and melodies mixed together and the ideological factor is set apart, all the primordial energy is gone, isn’t that involvement important for an extreme black metal songwriter?

B: The mistake of most of black metal bands and lots of musicians is that they keep on trying to do something different to impress the listener and reaffirm their ego... Black metal is not evolution. It’s the most antisocial path that exists. That’s why black metal must be primitive and simple, but also with these notes that make you submerge in a world of darkness

I: Sometimes to be part of the dark side is not at all be Satanist in the common knowledge of that word, do you feel yourself a band connected with Satanism or you vision is much focused on energies instead of archetypes?

B: Satanism is as stupid as Christianity. The crosses on the cd represent Evil, we are more into death’s agony, souls’ eternal suffering, shadows of the night... Believing in Satanism is supporting Christianity.

I: You keyboards have totally involved me in obscure visions, is there an occult inspiration in their black energy, do you practice such matters or feel a certain type of communication with this world or it’s all an imagination wandering? 

B: Our keyboard player, Nocturnorz, is influenced by the Hammer and Bela Lugosi films soundtracks, so...

I: It’s not a secret that is unusual to listen to talk about a Spanish symphonic black metal band, but after all the quality rules, but I wish to know where do you live and if you feel yourself involved in this environment when you compose?

 G: I donk think we are a Symphonic black metal band, yes it’s true we have some melodic parts but the old black metal feeling dominates. The inspiration is personal of each one and we search it in different ways each of us.

I: So many words has been spoken about the Norwegian scene, fatherland of symphonic black metal, which are the most important albums of that heritage and in general what are the music that you use to listen to?

B: There’re good and bad black metal bands everywhere. Early 90’s norwegian bands have changed a lot, the only one that hasn’t lost the essence is Darkthrone. What we listen most now is Warloghe, Vlad Tepes, Clandestine Blaze, Mutiilation, Godless North, Frozen Shadows... G: The best albums of that time are for me "A blaze..." (Darkthrone), "Pure Holocaust" (Immortal), "Det som engang var", "Aske" (Burzum), "Dark medieval times" (Satyricon), "Frost" (Enslaved)... it would be a very extense list... there were lots of good bands, although some of them are not so famous.

I: Your label is Millenium Records (ex-Solistitum), a very respectable one for me, how is going your collaboration and is there any past release of that label that you really like?

G: We have a good relationship actually. Millenium has supported great Spanish bands such as Akerbeltz and Beheaded Lamb. We also like Frozen Shadows and Azaghal a lot. Solistitium was on of the most important labels of that time, they released great bands: Helheim, Isvind, Behemoth...

I: Have you ever listened to American Black Metal bands, aren’t they in general too much abstract from the ancestral essence of black metal (black metal is for me very linked to the ancient European heritage) or for you they’re okay, have they got the right to call them black metal?

B: As I said, there’re good and bad bands, for example Judas Iscariot is american, Godless North as well, Demoncy... these bands are authentic Black Metal. There’re some European bands, from Norway also, which are pathetic musically.

I: Is live music a right place where to promote you music and if yes are you working in this direction?  

B: We’re not going to play live anymore, we aren’t motivated at all, Black Metal is too obscure to represent it live, darkness is of everyone’s inside and persons are different, furthermore, you go to a concert to amuse yourself and amusement has nothing to do with Black Metal.

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