Summon: How did the band get started?
Lord Forneus: We began as a studio band initially after a long time in planning,started officially around 2006 with my self released demo track. Then in 2011 the first demo was record and released on Ukrainian label Depressive Illusions.
Summon: What kind of music do you play?
Lord Forneus: We play raw Black metal with touches of old school bestial death metal, doom, thrash influences and most releases contain dark ambient pieces.
Summon: How has the fan response been?
Lord Forneus: Very good so far, we hope it continues.
Summon: Where did the band name come from?
Lord Forneus: The name comes from Iceland’s most active volcano, I feel the name serves the purpose of the band, the frozen landscapes and burning fire of hatred all in one.
Summon: Introduce the band members and what they do in the band.
Lord Forneus: Well I am the main musician in the studio form but I have added members that have contributed in only small ways so far,but will be featured fully on the next album,whenever I decide that will be. These members will also take part in our live assaults. The members being currently, Razakel Krieg of the UKBM band Baalberith as additional guitarist, vocalist and terrorist. Currently our drummer is Valefar Berith also of Baalberith but we aren’t sure if he will remain in the band due to him wanting to pursue other avenues. When playing live we will have Razakel’s brother, Zaharoth Tyr as second guitarist so I can remain as a vocalist to lead the band in live settings.
Summon: Who writes the music? Lyrics?
Lord Forneus: So far everything has been written & recorded by myself. I have had some input from Razakel but we will come together as a unit when writing the second album. This wont be for a long time though, eventually everything will be in place for our next record.
Summon: And where do the lyric ideas come from?
Lord Forneus: Lyrics are everything that I want to comment on,or let loose whatever it may be. I have written lyrics for this band on many subjects from religion, nature, winter, suicide, depression, hate, anger, old traditions, local history. Those I consider the main themes.
Summon: What is your view in Satanism and Occultism?
Lord Forneus: I do not believe in any form of organized religion. But I completely agree with a lot of what Satanism is about. I live my life with inspiration from this religion in that i am my own god and I do what the fuck I wish when I wish. I will never again answer to anyone. I also love Occultism,i like old mystic magik and folklore very much. Anyone who is part of these religions is very much fine with me. I also very much respect the Pagans,Heathens,Druids and anyone who opposes Christainity, Islamic &Muslim faiths. These are some of the most destructive and harmful religions in existance. Everyone of the follows must be eliminated. As much as I respect certain religions as I mentioned,even Buddhists, I still think nature is the only true force. We see it happen around us all the time, its real and everywhere which is what a god should be isn’t it?
Summon: How many albums/CD’s have you released?
Lord Forneus: Currently,we have but one album released. This was in December of 2011 and is pretty much gone now as is the label. I do not plan to record another full length record until I can be with the full band,which will continue on from the recording members. None of them wish to play live so I am a bit stuck for putting together shows or proper writing as i wish for a new full length. But we do have numerous EP’s about in various formats on various labels,I will leave the die hard black metal fans to find it for themselves as the true competent ones will find what they seek. The rest i am not interested in helping.
Summon: Tell me about some the songs on the latest CD?
Lord Forneus: Well, as mentioned the lyrics/themes are based around anything from religion to nature to depression,even my urban environment I truly despise. Musically however,they again range from full on blast-beat to cleaner tone guitars,we only put bass in our last demo in November of 2013.Vocally I isolate myself into a state to record and it ranges from screaming to insane moaning. I don’t follow a true path of sound or genre, I play hard and fast with hate in my heart and nature in my soul, depressed and alone.
Summon: Who are some of your musical influences?
Lord Forneus: I am a man of many influences. I can listen to anything musically within and out of my own sounds. I do not declare utter favorites in bands but I have many from all ends of every spectrum I enjoy. Black Metal,Dark Ambient,Trip Hop,IDM…I like nasty hard music like I like my sex.
Summon: Which current bands?
Lord Forneus: Fuck me,these days I am so dead and tired of the music around. Past bands always rule if not now…I would say from the UK we have a little bubbling scene of nasty BM bands fed up of the shit we have been forced by mediocre record labels in the more ‘mainstream’ of our underground. Let’s say UKBM, Baalberith for obvious reasons and who are about to release on a decent enough label a new album, Morktar who just got signed to a great UK label and will release a debut offering later in 2014.Moloch from Ukraine is a personal favorite and distant brother in arms of mine. He has helped release us on the great label of Depressive Illusions Records. Due to narcotic devotion my brain is rotted and tbh these are the only bands I care enough about to mention now. Bigger bands would be….fuck I dunno, all old ones.
Summon: What is the band like when you play live?
Lord Forneus: We were due to play a UK festival of the label that release our debut album,but after the first 2 venues said no to black metal bands on the bill the third said we could play but they doubled the costs for insurance reasons due to black metal bands on the bill. We like to try and use local branches from trees and pine-cones,acorns around the stage with candles,but we play hard an intense shows. We would mostly keep the blast-beat speed up live and not play slower tracks because live rituals are supposed to be violent.
Summon: Have you guys ever played in another country?
Lord Forneus: No but we hope that promoters will be in touch for us to tour in mainland Europe. We know those shows would be awesome,places like Germany where the maniacs really get into the shows. We don’t not want a crowd that is stood staring at us, we want to see violence as this is why we play live.
Summon: How big of crowd shows up at shows usually?
Lord Forneus: With us not many id hope. A few true maniacs headbanging and slamming will do us.
Summon: How is the crowd response when you play?
Lord Forneus: Lets hope violent.
Summon: What do you think of the US Black Metal/Death Metal scene?
Lord Forneus: I think it is,or like with everything,was pretty great. Krieg, Judas Iscariot, Kult of Azazel, Ibex Throne, Xasthur, Velvet Cacoon..fucking loads of great bands from there. Shame all the labels are owned by fucking assholes who keep fucking up our releases.
Summon: What do you think of the Overseas scenes?
Lord Forneus: Fucking awesome,the bands I mentioned fed up over here want this country to have a darker,dirtier scene to be proud of. We are fed up of this over produced bullshit fucking symphonic extreme this..its all fucking shit. We have some amazing bands in the obscure areas, or again we did…
Summon: What are some of new favorite black metal/death metal bands?
Lord Forneus: I dunno if Lifelover still counts but fuck it,they were very fucking good. Took me time to understand it and when i did i loved it. Most bands I like are underground and obscure if they are any good these days. I like most good raw black metal and really brutal death metal. Usually I find the bands I really enjoy have stranger elements to them than generic sounding shit.
Summon: When do you guys plan on writing any new material?
Lord Forneus: I am currently updating my equipment and I will be recording an all new demo as soon as possible. All music will be written & recorded by me,this time with better gear I hope to achieve an even more raw and intense sound. And it will be louder,better produced but only in a sense that it will be louder and the raw element will be right in there ripping your throat out. Then we will take you down to the depths of your own depression and leave you literally…..hanging….
Summon: What does the future hold for the band??
Lord Forneus: Harder,faster,rawer music. I am very busy with my other projects such as Mists Of Poveglia who have a box set out soon. It is possible a 7 inch vinyl will appear within the next year,it will be a long delay until this finsihed. We have Moloch’s vocalist doing lead vox for us which is what may end up as the 7 inch. We will rehearse and hopefully be playing live shows. We will commence our UK Tour after this. Then we plan to tour in Germany for the maniacs. Then after that we might be writing a new album which we be on a bigger label hopefully.
Contact them at:
https://www.facebook.com/GrimsvotnUK
https://www.facebook.com/WinterForestIndustries
