Summon: How did the band get started?
Oz: Neldöreth was formed in November of 2004 by myself and original drummer Brad Feist. We had been together in a symphonic black metal band called Dark Symphony. We decided to quit that and form something more to our suiting to our Satanic beliefs and thus Neldöreth was spawned. The first line up was myself (vocals), Andy Check (guitars), Nathan Bailey (guitars), Jay Smith (bass), and Brad (drums).
Summon: What kind of music do you play?
Oz: Black Metal.
Summon: How has the fan response been?
Oz: It has been pretty okay. Our label (Extreminal Productions) has informed me that our Invert Christ album is now sold out and the latest album, The Saints of Blasphemy – I: Baptized in Blasphemy, has sold about 500 copies through them and I’ve sold a couple hundred myself. So I have no complaints there.
Summon: Where did the band name come from?
Oz: It’s taken from J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Silmarillion”. It’s a forest that was part of the kingdom of Doriath. However, I think it’s taken on a whole new meaning and when people hear the word Neldöreth, they think something totally different than a forest in a book.
Summon: Introduce the band members and what they do in the band.
Oz: On the next record it will be myself on vocals, Damien – Guitars, Vehemence (Vulkodlak) – Drums, Ixitichitl (Manticore Manticore) – Bass, Ricktor Ravensbrück (The Electric Hellfire Club, Wolfpack 44) will be providing special guest guitar solos.
Summon: Who writes the music? Lyrics?
Oz: I write the lyrics. Damien, who joined the band this year is writing the music on the next album.
Summon: And where do the lyric ideas come from?
Oz: The lyrics are about Theistic Satanism, black magick, the occult.
Summon: What is your view in Satanism and Occultism?
Oz: I usually do not like to discuss my beliefs because many readers do not understand such things. How can such powerful things be explained to their full potential in a paragraph or two? It’s my firm belief that a Satanist always can sense he or she is so, but when you study and practice your dark arts through magick and communication then you can truly embrace the full power of it. It’s about sacrificing the ego and giving up such mundane earthly pleasures.
Summon: How many albums/CD’s have you released?
Oz: 3 full lengths, 1 EP, and 3 demos.
Summon: Tell me about some the songs on the latest CD?
Oz: The album is the beginning of a trilogy about the Saints of Blasphemy, who were all fallen angels that followed Lucifer. This tells of their descent onto earth to bring about the end of Christianity. The song “Ritual Suicide” is in memory of Jon Nödtveidt (Dissection). The song “Abomination Proclaimed Through Heresy” has guest vocals from Dana Duffey (Demonic Christ / ex-Mythic).
Summon: Do you have any side projects?
Oz: I have some in the works but nothing worth mentioning just yet.
Summon: Who are some of your musical influences?
Oz: Pete Helmkamp is one of my biggest musical influences! Everything he has done I think is great. Dissection, Bathory, Hellhammer, Watain, Impiety, Manticore to name a few.
Summon: Which current bands?
Oz: Really been digging the new Inquisition, Root, Watain, Hubris, Murrum, Hellgoat, etc….
Summon: What is the band like when you play live?
Oz: Neldöreth is a vessel, a communication between two worlds. Our set is a ritual and our music is an offering unto our Lord Satan.
Summon: Have you guys ever played in another country?
Oz: Not yet.
Summon: How big of crowd shows up at shows usually?
Oz: It really depends on where we are at and what night of the week. Some are really good some are not. So it all depends.
Summon: How is the crowd response when you play?
Oz: Same answer as above.
Summon: What do you think of the US Black Metal/Death Metal scene?
Oz: I enjoy a lot of bands from the US. There are really a lot of great and gifted bands.
Summon: What do you think of the Overseas scenes?
Oz: I haven’t been there so I’m not sure.
Summon: What are some of new favorite black metal/death metal bands?
Oz: Pact, Hellgoat, Nightbringer, Sacrament ov Impurity, Hubris, Murrum, Teloch Vovin, Wormreich, Ritual Decay, Oakmoon are all great!
Summon: When do you guys plan on writing any new material?
Oz: We are currently writing the new album. The album will be titled The Saints of Blasphemy – II: Communion of the Abhorrent.
Summon: What does the future hold for the band??
Oz: The new album late this year. More touring in 2015 and then the final chapter in the Saints of Blasphemy trilogy in late 2015.
Contact them at:
https://www.facebook.com/Neldoreth666
