melodylane

MELODY LANE: First of all, also if it can sound a bit expected…Can you tell us where do the name Burning Darkness comes from?
German: The name comes from the Orcish language. We were named Ghazurz Burzum which translates to Burning Darkness. It was one of the founders of the band who wanted to name the band. Some of us wanted a more international name so we just translated the name to english instead. Burning Darkness it became.
Per: That and having part of our band name be the same as another, legendary act, felt weird.

MELODY LANE: The line-up of the band is confirmed, is it the same from the beginning of the band…or have you had changes in the last years? Can you tell us anything about the roots of Burning Darkness ? And where the band was born?
German: We had a lot of line-up changes. The band was born in Stockholm. I do not recall when. But I was playing with a band and that band just dissolved and I got the practice place. It was 1999. So long ago.

MELODY LANE: Can you list us 5 songs, from Burning Darkness’ discography (including new material), that can define the sound of the band … 5 songs that can help our readers to know Burning Darkness at the best.
German: Let Me Burn, The Beyond, Halls of the Blind, Chiropteran Demon, Dödens Makt.
Daniel: Let Me Burn, Halls of the Blind, Draugr, Dödens Makt är Stor

MELODY LANE: Tell us something about the creative process of your music. Is there a main composer or can we talk about teamwork? The songs come from ideas of a single member and then the band works on these ideas in the studio jamming together, or your songs are written in the studio and all the members compose together?German: Well the guitarist has some ideas and they present the material. I usually start rewriting the drum parts from scratch after they present the material.
Per: Then we all come with input and work together to finish the songs. This time around I wrote the lyrics.

MELODY LANE: Can you tell us something about the contents and messages of your new album ? …Can you tell us anything about the whole concept of Dödens Makt? And please tell us where the title comes from?
Per: There is no core message. I’ve just written what I felt suited the music. There’s themes of anti christianity (and similar religions), pro-paganism, horror, folklore etc. There’s many references to death in the lyrics and the title was chosen by the band. It means “The Power Of Death” in Swedish and is derived from part of the title of one of the songs.

MELODY LANE: …After time, are you totally satisfied with your choices about sound and the writing of your previous album? If you could… would you change anything? What did you focus on to make the sound better and perfectly consistent with the musical ideas you had in mind?
Per: The previous album “The Angel Of Light” is very rough around the edges, but it has a nice rawness to it which I like. I wouldn’t really want to change anything. Some phrasing of the vocals aren’t perfect since I wasn’t in the band prior to recording the vocals, so the songs were very new to me. When playing those songs live I do certain things differently and add a few things. Despite that the original recording has an honest spontaneity to it. It feels almost live.

MELODY LANE: So apart from the covid/pandemic situation…will you tour in the next future? Do you already have a touring schedule? Any chance for us to see Burning Darkness playing live here in Italy or in Europe in the next months/year?
German: We would like to do a small tour. But it depends on how things are going onward.
Per: Gigs are certainly on the to do-list and touring again would be awesome, but nothing is decided as of yet.

MELODY LANE: Could you tell us two bands, from the actual international scene, you’d like Burning Darkness to tour with?... Two bands that would represent a perfect line-up for Burning Darkness to play with and that playing with them would help to enlarge your fan base…And why these bands?
German: Naglfar and Mörk Gryning

MELODY LANE: We know that ‘to define is to limit’… but how do you define Burning Darkness’ sound? Are you a Black metal band…a Melodic Black Metal band… An Extreme metal band…Or…?
German: We consider ourselves as a blackmetal band with melodic passages.
Daniel: All riffs I write are almost always a bit progressive death sounding. Sometimes they work as is (Sulphurous Wrath) or I edit them to be more black-ish (Dödens Makt är Stor). So I would say just metal anyhow!
Per: Many years ago, when the band started, I would not have agreed with Germán, then I would have called us melodic death or something, but nowadays we are more of a black metal band for sure. Personally I don’t let that limit me. Vocally I do mostly black metal screaming in Burning Darkness, but I like to mix it up with death metal growls and whatever else fits the music and is within my abilities.

MELODY LANE: Which musicians are/have been your main musical inspirations? And which are your favorite bands nowadays?
German: Frost, Nicholas Barker, Dimmu Borgir, Satyricon
Daniel: Peter Tägtgren, Alexi Laiho, Michael Amott and John Petrucci. Favorite bands would be Rammstein, Dream Theater, Hypocrisy
Per: Peter Tägtgren, Nick Holmes, Dani Filth, Spiros Antoniou, Mikael Åkerfeldt. Nowadays I find myself mostly listening to Judas Priest and that sort of thing.
Severin: Les Claypool, Geddy Lee, Ian Hill and Peter Steele

MELODY LANE: As a musician, what has been your biggest achievement to date and what do you want to achieve in the near future?
Daniel: This album and Quantic!
German: For me was to achieve a record deal for Burning Darkness. Next goal is to have some festival gigs. Per: For sure. The mini tour of Romania 2019 was a big achievement for the band as well.
Severin: Yes, the tour of Romania must be my answer as well. And I am eager to play live again soon.

MELODY LANE: Until today...What was the most important concert for Burning Darkness’ career? And why?
German: Well it was in Romania at Quantic. The stage was really big and we enjoyed every minute of it.

MELODY LANE: In the end…A message from you to all MELODY LANE readers.
German: Buy our record and SKÅL!! support the music.
Per: Thanks for the interview!
Daniel: Keep being metal as fuck!!!
Severin: Cheers!

 

Web: https://www.facebook.com/burningdarknesswe 

ARTICLE BY: MIKE MATTY