Here is a new interview with the Polish/Norwegian black/Schizophrenic band Illness who talk about their news release "Trvmna" and the bands past and future. Anyone who is into blackend metal with some added violent and crazed parts defintly will want to check out Illness today.
Regards
Patrick
fiendformetal@live.com
Interview with Gulnar vocalist,guitarist for Illness done by Patrick
1. Hails Gulnar please introduce yourself to the readers?When did you first meet Carrion who handles the bass and keyboards for Illness?
Hail. I am Gulnar leader of Polish / Norwegian Black Schizophrenic Metal horde ILLNESS. I also have few side projects and one of them is A.H.P, which with I lately released debut album. I was also a member or session member of few other black metal bands as well as dark ambient projects in the past.
I met Carrion in 1996 at our friends place. We start to talk about creating a band around 1999. It took us 2 years before we actually did it.
2. Illness was formed in 2001 what gave you the idea to start this band? How did you choose the name Illness for the name of the band?
The idea was to to create sick black metal, different from the others. Like I said earlier, we have talked about making a band/project together since 1999. Back then I was a member of Black/Pagan project Nawiia. We recorded debut album and I left from the band. Carrion took my place. After a while he quit too, and we have decided that this is the right time to make our plans real. I came up with the name. We were looking for something sick, so Illness was obvious choice, beside there was no other band with this name back then.
3. Illness recently released their newest cd "Trvmna" how long did it take the band to write and record the songs on this release? Do you both work on the music or does one member usually write everything?
Trvmna was released almost a year ago. We wrote this material in 2012/13.
Recording session took place in Monroe Sound Studio in september 2013 and we were producing it till april of 2014. We've been as usual working together on music for this album.
I made all guitar songs, Carrion handle keyboard ones.
4.Gulnar what are some topics that you write about for the music and does it take long to write the lyrics for the songs?
It depends : if this is lyrics for Illness I mainly write about mental disorder, fear, alcohol/drugs, death, depression….If its for A.H.P. I am trying to concentrate on scorn and hatred towards humanity. It usually take me few hours to write one lyric cause I am also trying to fit them into song while writing.
5. Illness was first started in 2001 how would you say the music has changed over the years?Who are some of the bands biggest influences?
First of all when we were making music for our debut album (which was lost during recording) it was keyboards that was the main instrument. I was adding guitar lines to it later on. In 2003 we quit rehearsing and we divided our music on guitar one and keyboard one. We added insane fast computer drums and furious vocals and this way
we have created BLACK SCHIZOPHRENIC METAL. Since then we were naturally progressing… we have add some thrash elements and live drums to go even further.
On new album which we will record this autumn, we have again mix guitars with keyboards but we did it in the same vein as we did in “Zaraza” (track that appeared on Arkona/Illness split).
ILLNESS’ biggest influences are early BM bands like Mysticum, Thorns, Mayhem, Tsatthoggua…. Industrial bands like Profanum, GGFH, Current 93…. Classic Music like Chopin, Debussy, Grieg… as well as whole bunch of movie soundtracks…
6.Besides the newest cd "Trvmna" are any of the past releases still available and other then cd's does the band have any other merchandise available for the readers?
Some of them are still available. Check out ILLNESS’ :
store http://illnesshorde.com/shop.html
bandcamp http://illness666.bandcamp.com/
discogs https://www.discogs.com/label/642849-Paranoic-Abyss-Productions
All info about ILLNESS www.illnesshorde.com
Trvmna was released almost a year ago. We wrote this material in 2012/13.
Recording session took place in Monroe Sound Studio in september 2013 and we were producing it till april of 2014. We've been as usual working together on music for this album.
I made all guitar songs, Carrion handle keyboard ones.
4.Gulnar what are some topics that you write about for the music and does it take long to write the lyrics for the songs?
It depends : if this is lyrics for Illness I mainly write about mental disorder, fear, alcohol/drugs, death, depression….If its for A.H.P. I am trying to concentrate on scorn and hatred towards humanity. It usually take me few hours to write one lyric cause I am also trying to fit them into song while writing.
5. Illness was first started in 2001 how would you say the music has changed over the years?Who are some of the bands biggest influences?
First of all when we were making music for our debut album (which was lost during recording) it was keyboards that was the main instrument. I was adding guitar lines to it later on. In 2003 we quit rehearsing and we divided our music on guitar one and keyboard one. We added insane fast computer drums and furious vocals and this way
we have created BLACK SCHIZOPHRENIC METAL. Since then we were naturally progressing… we have add some thrash elements and live drums to go even further.
On new album which we will record this autumn, we have again mix guitars with keyboards but we did it in the same vein as we did in “Zaraza” (track that appeared on Arkona/Illness split).
ILLNESS’ biggest influences are early BM bands like Mysticum, Thorns, Mayhem, Tsatthoggua…. Industrial bands like Profanum, GGFH, Current 93…. Classic Music like Chopin, Debussy, Grieg… as well as whole bunch of movie soundtracks…
6.Besides the newest cd "Trvmna" are any of the past releases still available and other then cd's does the band have any other merchandise available for the readers?
Some of them are still available. Check out ILLNESS’ :
store http://illnesshorde.com/shop.html
bandcamp http://illness666.bandcamp.com/
discogs https://www.discogs.com/label/642849-Paranoic-Abyss-Productions
All info about ILLNESS www.illnesshorde.com
7.Gulnar you handle the vocals for the band when did you first become interested in screaming/singing?Do you do anything special to keep your throat and voice healthy when recording new music? Who are some of your favorite vocalists?
I was into singing since I was a kid. I started as a vocalist in a first band when I was 15. I drink a lot of beer and smoke a lot to keep my vocal in good shape hahaha. Seriously I 've start to train my vocal again a little bit lately cause I had a break for last 11 years. There is/was plenty of good vocalists out there. Grishnackh of Burzum, Gaamalzagoth of Moonblood, Northwind of Tsatthoggua, Legion/Mortuus of Marduk just to name few.
8.Other then the vocals you handle the guitars for the band when did you start playing the guitars? Are you self taught or did you take lessons when first starting out?
I have started when I was 15 and I've learned everything by myself
9.Who are some of your influences and favorite guitarists? Besides the vocals and guitars do you currently play any other instruments?
I don’t have a favorite one. Basically I am not so much into skilled guitarists. I prefer those for whom atmosphere is the most important not those who want to show you how well they can play, if you know what I mean.
Bass if I have to, haha. I am planning to start to learn to play on drums cause so far I only know how to program them. The same goes with keyboards…
10. Gulnar other then playing in Illness you also are in the one man band A.H.P what gave you the idea to start this band?
In 2011 I was cooperating with some ambient project where I’ve met Outro. He was also a vocalist in brazilian project called Abismo. Outro asked if we could create raw BM project together. I was into that but I also wanted to mixed it with ambient. Outro didn't like it that much so he left after when we recorded demo. I was planning to start new ambient project before, that but I guess Outro helped me in a way...
11.As mentioned you are the sole member for A.H.P have you thought of looking for new members or do you prefer to work alone?If you had the opportunity to work with any musicians{past or present} who would you like to work with?
I am looking for members interested in playing live with A.H.P. Like I said earlier I wasn't planning that A.H.P. will become my solo project. It was more accidental cause of lack of proper vocalist. I wasn't thinking about anybody in particular who I would like to cooperate with as A.H.P.
When it come to ILLNESS I am looking for a skilled drummer who can handle live parts on new Illness album.
12.What releases and merchandise is available from A.H.P ? Where can the readers buy it from?
I still have few copies of A.H.P. demo on tape and cdr pro format and of course A.H.P. debut album “Against Human Plague” cd format. You can also buy it in Via Nocturna’s webstore ofcourse http://www.vianocturna.com/releases/a-h-p-against-human-plague/
. Hopefully some t shirts will be available in september. Any questions about merch should be sended to ahphorde@gmail.com
13.How do you feel Illness's music is different from A.H.P ?
ILLNESS is Black Schizophrenic Metal and A.H.P. is Black Scar Ambient, they are both Black Metal but they are completely different. Starting from lyrics (as I mentioned above) ending on music. A.H.P. is more simple, spontaneous and straight forward. On top of that, mixed with ambient. ILLNESS is more sick, more complex, more planned, based on different background. Everything has to be perfect here… You will understand it completely when you will finish to listen to ILLNESS' new album
14.Thank you Gulnar for taking the time to fill this interview out.Do you have any final words for the readers?
Thanks Patrick for the chance to present Illness and A.H.P. at your blogspot.
Support my bands and projects by listening and buying my records
Visit www.illnesshorde.com and www.vianocturna.com