Summon: How did the band get started?
John: Well I’d been looking for like mind musicians for years to play black metal with. After failing many times to find said musicians, I just ended up making a solo project instead. Which is how Iskalde was formed. Just my project to make music I wanted to make. So around early 2010 I started writing material, originally really dissonant out of tune stuff. Made very simple drum beats and recorded my first songs with a terrible guitar amp in 2010! went from there really!
Summon: What kind of music do you play?
John: In a nutshell black metal! Influenced by my inner frustration and anger really. Just all the negative feelings I have manifested into musical form!
Summon: How has the fan response been?
John: Well everyone whose heard the newer stuff has been pleasantly surprised. Very positive! Earlier material was a lot harder to get into, so I think the new EP is kind of a fresh breath of air! Probably cause it’s got blast-beats in it!
Summon: Where did the band name come from?
John: Well a band I love from Norway called Throne of Katarsis have an album called “Det Iskalde Morket”. Which sounded cool, so I looked up the definition in Norwegian which translated as “freezing darkness”, which is obviously pretty damn cool as a band name. So I took that!
Summon: Introduce the band members and what they do in the band.
John: Well it’s just me, John Rogers! I play guitar, vocals, bass, drum programming and everything!
Summon: Who writes the music? Lyrics?
John: Again just little old me, John. I do everything!
Summon: And where do the lyric ideas come from?
John: Pretty much just all my hate and frustration at society/modern world and humanity. Lyrics are just misanthropic to the max. I hate humanity from both an ecological and misanthropic viewpoint. So it inspires a lot of music!
Summon: What is your view in Satanism and Occultism?
John: I have mixed views to be honest. I think a lot of bands just use it to fit in and as an easy source of lyrics and image. They tend to fake the ideology, but if it’s honest and a genuine inspiration Satanism and Occultism is really ‘evil’ and makes a band very mysterious. I’d never sing about it as I wouldn’t feel honest doing it. I like to keep my music personal.
Summon: How many albums/CD’s have you released?
John: 3 EP’s! All up for download. First couple were slow dissonant blut aus nord worship. Really nasty lyrics and gargling vocals. 3rd EP got a lot faster and dare I say technical!
Summon: Tell me about some the songs on the latest CD?
John: As I said they’re faster and technical. Mainly due to a better drum programme. I would say there’s less atmosphere though….more intense really now.
Summon: Do you have any side projects?
John: Yes! I have a power violence band called Fascists to Ashes.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Fascists-To-Ashes/135453139807122?fref=ts
Very different, more about having fun then screaming your head off about disease and genocide!
Summon: Who are some of your musical influences?
John: Um hard question! Wrest from Leviathan, my father and David Attenborough!
Summon: Which current bands?
John: Deathspell Omega, Leviathan, Axis of Perdition, Funeral Mist and a Lil Xasthur!
Summon: What is the band like when you play live?
John: I don’t play live. I have no interest either, most of the time black metal shouldn’t be played live. It’s for isolation and lonely times personally.
Summon: What do you think of the US Black Metal/Death Metal scene?
John: Most my favorite bands are from there. IE Xasthur, Levaiathan, Morbid Angel etc etc! Very good scene. Full of smart and intelligent music.
Summon: What do you think of the Overseas scenes?
John: Very good, the UK has very few good bands. Norwegian music is still very high quality as is French black metal!
Summon: What are some of new favorite black metal/death metal bands?
John: There‘s a great couple of bands in my area named “Horla”
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Horla/335587606519102?fref=ts
and “Wytchfilth”. https://www.facebook.com/Wytchfilth?fref=ts
Summon: When do you guys plan on writing any new material?
John: I’m currently in the process of recording a new full length album. Still very early in the process but it’s sounding really good, lot more influences. Downtuned a little so put a bit of death metal in and bringing a punk influence in too!
Summon: What does the future hold for the band??
John: Nothing really. I’ll just keep recording and making new music and hope someone gives a shit!
Contact them at:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Iskalde-Morket/115311391845929?ref=hl
https://soundcloud.com/iskaldemorket/sets/submurged-from-light
http://www.metaldemos.com/bands/Iskalde-Morket-id133
