interview by: ~Vargscarr~

Krieg. Chaotic waves of sonic pain spew forth from my speakers as I write these questions; and I recall the first time I heard the band. I'd read an interview with Krieg's sole constant member (others generally being session musicians these days), vocalist/guitarist Lord Imperial in Wormgear Zine and realised this was a band I needed to check out. The first Krieg track I heard was "End of Time"; and I can honestly say that it gave me the same kick in the stomach as the first time I heard Burzum's "Feeble Screams from Forests Unknown." This is raw, primitive Black Metal; with a distinct Abruptum/ Burzum/ Darkthrone feel to it; and yet musically cannot be compared to any of those bands. Guitar is improvised - and consists of speed-picking in the main - which is recorded in a single take; and then drums, vocals, and occasionally appropriate clips and synth work are added to create nothing less than tortured aural despair. This is music created by someone who truly understands the nature of Black Metal and lives his life by it; rather than a human musician writing Black Metal style music. The distinction is important; and is undoubtedly noticeable in the final result. Having a finger in numerous Black Metal pies, Lord Imperial has played live with Judas Iscariot on guitar; and performs vocals for Weltmacht.

Maelstrom: Krieg stands for the uncompromising doctrine of suicide, war and depopulation of the planet. Is this an accurate assessment of your opinion regarding humankind? If not or if there's anything you'd like to add please elaborate...

Imperial: I've never been quiet as far as my opinions and world views go; I believe in a world free of humanity and social morality where the beast in man could be allowed to thrive and be set upon the weaker species. This ideal goes greatly with the new lyric concepts of Weltmacht's second album, which is in the recording process currently.

Maelstrom: Many people in the Black Metal scene share a similar standpoint; but few express it with such clarity; and of course for many it's just an image thing and goes hand in hand with playing music in this genre (rather like the swastika is becoming: meaningless and without the ideology to back it up). However, I've been impressed with the way you've outlined your philosophy in the past. How would you say this stance came about - have you always felt this way?

Imperial: I can't say that I've felt very differently since Krieg's inception. We've never been about the usual Satanic black metal subjects, but rather a despondent vision of morbid nihilism. I've had too much interest in the subjects I've outlined with Krieg to grow tired of them.

Maelstrom: If you were given carte blanche to re-shape the world as you see fit; what would you change? Would you choose to keep anyone alive, given that you would have no fear of undesirable repercussions such as the prison sentences which keep people who share this mentality from slaying any who cross our paths from day-to-day?

Imperial: More so I would bring back the old systems that allowed man to be a lawless wanderer, shaping his own world to fit his own desires. Man prospered and became more intertwined with his beast form during nomadic times. Freedom from want, freedom from need. And if that didn't work then unleash the missiles...

Maelstrom: Would you say anything in this world is valuable, or worthy of our respect and pride?

Imperial: Nothing in the modern world is worth saving. Our history and ancient cultures/traditions from which we all come from. Every race should be proud of its heritage and maintain this pride in their daily functional lives. The old ways, before the plagues of modern life and religion, were best suited for man's needs. A world turned to ash so that it may be reborn like the Phoenix is the only way for us to reach the true potential that we are born with. Cleanse the races and creeds and allow the weak to be devoured by the wolves instead of giving them a crutch to lean on.

Maelstrom: You've said in response to the classic "are you a Satanist?" question that you borrow from many dark philosophies and religions while subscribing to none. Do you consider yourself a spiritual person or have any beliefs or theories about that which is beyond conventional reality?

Imperial: I am constantly in thought regarding my place and position in the world. Trying to figure out my individual purpose is an all encompassing ordeal and when combined with rational logic can weaken a person's "spiritual" side. I like the idea of an all enveloping void of knowledge and experiences which we leave when we die, the ultimate library of thought. That's a good way to look at spirituality.

Maelstrom: In the past you have been involved with Black Metal organisations (such as Akhenaten's NTF); and have mentioned a desire to bring worthy bands together. Is this purely for the sake of strengthening the underground to promote the music and ideology of Black Metal; or would you like a psuedo-terrorist organisation to eventually emerge in the vein of the Norwegian Black Circle?

Imperial: This is something I have no interest in anymore for several reasons. Every band has its own diverse way of looking at their philosophy and purpose and that diversity would be impossible to combine into one working organic movement. The time for such trivial nonsense is far over. Also, I don't work well with others; I get very bored very quickly of other people's nonsense.

Maelstrom: Do you have any desire to initiate any direct anti-human action in the fullness of time? Do you seek to achieve anything practical to further your ambitions through your music?

Imperial: My fights are for myself. I am practicing anti-humanity through my daily lifestyle and need nothing from the music of Krieg in that respect. I've always been anti-social and that would have remained regardless of my involvement with music.

Maelstrom: What are your views on the September 11th terrorist attack on the World Trade Center? I particularly wanted to ask you this, since you're based not so far from New York; and are both an American and a misanthrope...

Imperial: How our government did not see it coming is beyond me. America's involvement with foreign nations, especially the more barbaric Arab nations, has always been revoltingly bad for ourselves and counter productive, as over 6000 people now know. The ensuing war is entertaining since practically every citizen in this country feels we are invulnerable. The enemy is all around us, we've let them in and given them homes, jobs and funding. The enemy pumped my fucking gas this evening and he'll wash the dishes when I go to get breakfast before my classes tomorrow. It is time for every American to re-evaluate their world views and begin training for the coming battles within their own country.

Maelstrom: Now, Black Metal...The USBM scene always, bizarrely, seems the most patriotic: often very supportive of its home-grown bands and very disdainful of the various bands/scenes in the rest of the world in a way no other country's scene seems to be. This may well be because a lot of its best bands have been largely ignored in the past because of a lack of distribution and publicity; but what strikes me is the way the US seems to ready to forget that this music started in Europe - specifically Scandinavia; whether you're talking about the first wave or the second. I agree that most of the original greats have strayed too far from their roots to be of much consequence to us now; but music is ageless and remorseless. Terms like "Norgay" are often bandied about as if it was the source of all that is False BM and had given us nothing. Over here no one really gives a fuck where a band comes from; since there are so many posers and over-produced, piss-weak false bands emerging globally that we take what we can get, wherever it comes from. You acknowledge Antaeus as a great European band, but there are many more (Horna, Tsjuder, Anaal Nathrakh, Nargaroth, Nokturnal Mortum - almost anything released by Drakkar) - I'd say at least the same ratio of quality music against false crap that you have over there in the US. And I'm sure as Hell not being patriotic - it's an embarrassing fact that you can count the number of decent English Black Metal bands on the fingers of one badly mutilated hand...Would you say the US wants to establish itself as the new Norway; and wants a reputation as the country which produces the best Black Metal? If so, why - is there an element of jealousy that Europe is seen as the continent which dominates this genre?

Imperial: It's of no concern to me anymore, I support whom I support but you will not hear me claim the greatness of USBM any longer. There is a great deal of embarrassing bands and people in this country, as in any scene, and I'm too burned out on them to see very much greatness in "my" scene. I support bands which carry the torch of black metal to this day. The scenes in Finland, Austrailia and Canada are excellent these days, producing some of the finest crops of new blood the world could wish for. And I could not go without mentioning the fine works of Antaeus, Judas Iscariot, Nargaroth, Svartsyn, Pest (Fin) and Triumphator as far as the European front goes.

Maelstrom: I agree that the US is a largely untapped source of great bands, but would you say that any of the bands it has given the global scene are the equals of the original European greats?

Imperial: In the old days Profanatica, VON, Order from Chaos and a few others were able to match the greatness of European black metal. Right now Black Witchery, Open Grave, Demoncy and many others are aspiring to might in the world scene and having excellent rates of success with their strong music and personalities. But few could ever match the strength of bands like Darkthrone, Beherit, Burzum or Archgoat; these bands hold special meaning for me.

Maelstrom: For the great uninformed in Europe, can you name some of the best American bands we should check out?

Imperial: Black Witchery, Kult ov Azazel, Thornspawn, Noctuary, Open grave, Cult of Daath, Sarcophagus, Perverseraph, Absu (of course) and many others. It's very much trial and error as far as individual taste in concerned. Maelstrom: What are you listening to at the moment? Imperial: As I finish this interview I have listened to Selbstmord Some Day... CD and am listening to Pest's Black Imperial Hornsign demo. I will probably finish it up with something non metal as various ambient styled projects are keeping my interests easier than most new metal.

Maelstrom: Krieg's most recent releases have been less ambient than the older material; and yet you've hinted that you may return to that older style in the future. Do you have any interest in creating purely Black Ambient music at all?

Imperial: I will be recording a black ambient album titled World Funeral upon my return from Germany this December. Very similar to the later Havohej works. Also I am in the process of recording an album under the Nest moniker titled The Black House which is very similar to the ambient tracks on the new Krieg full length Destruction Ritual on Red Stream Records. This is such an easy medium to work with as far as constructing textures and despondent musical form as opposed to the more organic guitar/drum driven black metal. Both have their positives and I will not give up guitar oriented black metal with Krieg but will juggle the two styles in each session I work on.

Maelstrom: What can you tell us about the next Krieg full-length? Do you have any other forthcoming releases in the works?

Imperial: It's bass less, very abrasive and fucking fast. It's the polar opposite of The Church MCD in sound and I have re-recorded those tracks with new sections and sounds to give them a more "perfect vision." This is very important work for me and I spent literally years on this recording. It will be out on Red Stream Records this winter. Also in the works is a vinyl only full length titled Nemesis, which has more of a feel that the older Forgotten Woods/Burzum material held. This is to be released on Realms of Darkness Records. Also out soon are splits with Nachtmystium (on Vinland Winds) Lust (Profanation) and Open grave (on some label I'm not in contact with, God Vomit from OG is handling this end of the work) and the aforementioned World Funeral recording.

Maelstrom: You've said in the Rise of the Imperial Hordes booklet that you hate this recording. I think I read you were also unhappy with the way the material on the Kult of Azazel split was released. Which Krieg release would you say turned out the best, looking back on all you've recorded, or are you dissatisfied with them all?

Imperial: The new album is great in my eyes and I also very much enjoy the work on the SpikeKult four way split CD. But of course I am dissatisfied with parts of everything, I am overly critical of my work.

Maelstrom: I've read that most of the clips used in Rise of the Imperial Hordes are from the "Highlander" TV series; but what is that excellent clip at the beginning of "Coronation" from?

Imperial: "Transformers the Movie," this came about during a rehearsal session myself and Soth (my old comrade in arms) were having and this movie came on TV during the drunken aftermath. It just stuck with us and fits the song well.

Maelstrom: Are there any future plans for more Krieg live shows? How about other live performances with other bands (like Judas Iscariot or perhaps a Weltmacht gig)?

Imperial: We're touring Germany this December with Godless North, Inquisition and Secrets of the Moon and also playing this year's Sacrifice of the Nazarene Child fest in Texas. Expect Weltmacht to play somewhere in Europe next summer.

Maelstrom: Do you draw inspiration from any sources other than your own hatred and the bands that inspire you?

Imperial: Just living every day gives me new ideas and aesthetic values to add to Krieg. I take everything in, every injury and experience, and turn them into audial ideas which are realized through Krieg.

Maelstrom: Thank you for answering these questions - the last words are yours...

Imperial: The path to enlightenment lies only in your own self destruction....

visit Krieg on the web at http://www.angelfire.com/nj3/krieg/

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