Primeval Mass is a Black Metal Band hailing from the land of Greece!
They are a two-man band with a passion that will blow your mind, so join me
while I have words with this very underrated band!
1) Hey! Thanks for the interview and your time. How are things over in
Greece these days?
PM: Thanks for the interview, too. Everything's nice on personal level,
socially people are still quite nervous due to the economic changes.
2) At the beginning of this interview I called Primeval Mass "Underrated".
I mean, you guys have been doing this for what...13 years now yet it seems not
many people have heard of you.
PM: It depends what you mean underrated. It was never end in itself for us
the number of people that are going to check our music. I formed the band in
2.000 for music expression and this is the no.1 priority until now. Then if
certain people find our music interesting, so if the artistic communication is
achieved, that would be more than welcomed but NEVER a reason to create music in
the first place. Although, I wouldn't characterize us "underrated" since
whenever we present a new release we receive positive feedback and support from
people around the world.
3) So, let us get one thing out of the way...You are an Occult Black Metal
band with a lot of influence of heavy thrash metal.... How exactly do you make
such a combination work?
PM: Quite easily actually. My influences derive from the music I like
exclusively, and when these are absorbed and expressed through my personal point
of view, the result is balanced and uniform. The mixture of these influences,
despite how different might seem, constitute the core of our sound.
4) Based on your Facebook page you have a small following of listeners.
Does your fan base stem from other places aside from the internet? Is there
a nice following in your homeland?
PM: Yes, we still receive letters from old-school maniacs and there are
people from my country that constantly show us their interest and support since
our creation.
5) Your band is formed around chaos. For those new readers and potential
fans, does Chaos reflect your music as a whole? What would one expect when first
listening to your music and what album or specific song would your recommend
them listening to first?
PM: Our name and several lyric themes are based on Chaos. By Chaos meaning
the force responsible for the universal order, the essence of Life itself. Only
by considering this general fact, Chaos reflects in our music as well. The
potential listener should expect Extreme Black Metal with Heavy/Thrash
influences, all expressed through our personal character. Difficult to choose
one specific song, I would suggest any song from the new album "Blood Breathing
Idols", being more mature and representative, but the songs from the debut serve
this purpose as well.
6) After multiple demos, you guys finally released your first full length
in 2009 called "AS Solemn Maelstorm" I am listening right now to the song
"Prevail Of The Black Oath" off this very album.....How would I describe what I
am hearing would be ...fast....chaotic (ha!) and very IN YOUR FACE!
What went into the making of this album and how many hours did you put into
just writing the music alone.
PM: Our debut "As Solemn Maelstrom..." is actually a combination of the 2
previous demos "Enlightened Black Gnosis" (2.005) and "Atermon" (2.008). The
songs from both demos were composed the same period (2.002-2.004) and the
initial plan was to be released as a full-length back then, something we didn't
do for several reasons. So, we are talking about 2 different recording periods.
In "Enlightened..." everything went normally fine. We recorded it at a friend's
home-studio (Daimon Erect from Ezgaroth), with whom we had a very good
communication. In "Atermon" everything rolled fine as well as I also co-operated
with friends, with the only dark side of this period that we changed members
during the recordings, resulting the delay of the demo release. We managed at
last to complete the recordings with the kind contribution of Cthonos (Burial
Hordes) and George Antipatis (Sickening Horror) on vocals.
7) Will your albums be all English, All in your Greek or a mixture of both,
and why?
PM: Our latest album, "Blood Breathing Idols" is all in English. We used
some Greek in "As Solemn Maelstrom..." as they fitted aesthetically better and
were more convenient and accurate in expression.
8) You guys did a 7'' split EP with Ezgaroth in 2011. Any more splits
planned in the near or distant future?
By the way...the song off that split "Amongst the Ruins of Cosmos" is just
crazy! I love it!
PM: Glad you like our song! Our next release will be a split with Iasma, a
Greek band in the vein of Necromantia/ Mortuary Drape, where members from
Ezgaroth and Eschaton participate. All 4 songs from our side (3+a special cover
version) were recorded the first months of 2.012, during the "Blood Breathing
Idols" sessions.
9) So who exactly am I speaking with and what part is yours in Primeval
Mass?
PM: This is Orth. I handle all the guitars/bass/vocals in Primeval Mass, as
well as the music/lyrics/production.
10) So, your lyrics come from "LIFE" do you just take how you are feeling
and put it into words on paper or do you actually take a look at the world
around you and what is going on around the world and incorporate it into your
music?
PM: To "live" is to "experience" and my experiences are put into paper.
Whether that would be a thought, an observation, a direct experience or any
other incentive from my environment, any inspiration is transformed into music
and lyrics. The difficult part in the beginning was to express these incentives
directly into music with equal
accuracy as I did with lyrics (that is why we release nothing the
first 3 years of our creation), but with constant practice and inner Work, this
goal was quickly achieved.
11) I may have gotten the wrong impression but it seems you are not the
hate all ANITlife type of band.....Am I getting it all wrong or are you guys the
exception to the rule that likes to make the best of what life has to offer and
explore all that is out there to take in a learn from....Sort of like life as a
learning experience...?
PM: You're not mistaken, of course I love to enjoy every single moment in
Life and learn with open mind from everything. To live is to experience as I
said before and experience itself is the base for all knowledge. Anything less
is just theory. We might be part of the exception as you said, but we don't
"hate" any different philosophy a band might have. The whole "suicidal",
"anti-life" attitude is simply something I don't espouse at all.
12) So, you have a new full length album out now "Blood Breathing
Idols"
I had a listen to the song "Cenotaph" off this new album.
Seems over the years you guys have stuck to your guns and haven't made any
obvious changes aside from the slight Thrash sound in some of the guitar styles
and of course the speed of the lyrics.
How has the response been for this album and where can one get a copy??
PM: Yes, we have the new album out, the CD version by Katoptron IX Recs and
tape by Stuza Prod. Although, we also had Thrash elements and fast lyrics in the
past, the difference is that these are now more balanced with the rest elements
that characterize us. I have specific ways to compose which keep our style
integral and give room for experiment, so additional elements can be added
without losing identity.
Till now the feedback is more than positive. The
album is available for 10 euros (+postal expenses) and those interested can
contact us at: [email protected]
13) Primeval Mass definitely has a sound of their own.
Do you think standing apart from so many other bands in the metal genre
helps you guys or has it had any downfalls?
PM: This is something that never mattered to us. As long as I play the
music I want, the way I want, with no limitations, there will never be
downfalls.
14) Your musical taste must be varied I am guessing...So many bands take a
band that they love and try to duplicate it into their own music
How do you guys manage to show respects to the different metal bands you
grew up knowing and loving yet not allowing your music to be a duplicate of
those bands?
PM: To create something unique was a goal since the beginning and copying
another band wouldn't fulfill US, above all. We acknowledge our influences of
course, but we express ourselves through our personal point of view and style.
After all these years constantly playing music, we built a strong basis, the
"core" I mentioned before, with certain elements that characterize our sound as
Primeval Mass and any additional influence is filtered through this sound.
15) Primeval is not a "touring" band....I think if my research is correct
you only played live a couple of times many years ago.....Is there a reason why
you don't play live and will there EVER be another live performance in the
future?
PM: Indeed, we only performed live twice, 9 years ago. We have decided back
then to be absent from the stage for a couple of years to concentrate on the
recordings, but these years became more due to line-up changes. We will most
probably give live shows again when we will find the appropriate individuals
that will complete our line-up.
16) You guys are getting new material together....Does this mean a new
album is coming? Will it be another Full length or are you going to maybe do an
EP this time around? Any other information about this that you wish to share?
PM: Apart from the split with Iasma that I mentioned earlier, our next
release will be 99% a full-length. I have many songs composed already and most
likely the recordings will start next months.
17) Well, the end has come upon us now...I once again would like to thank
you for taking the time out of your day to do this interview.
Any last words you would like to say before we say good bye?
PM: Thank you also for the interview, interest and support. All the
best to you and your zine!
You
can find Primeval on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/primevalmassofficial
You can hear music here.
https://soundcloud.com/primevalmass/blood-breathing-idols-primeval
Greece these days?
PM: Thanks for the interview, too. Everything's nice on personal level,
socially people are still quite nervous due to the economic changes.
2) At the beginning of this interview I called Primeval Mass "Underrated".
I mean, you guys have been doing this for what...13 years now yet it seems not
many people have heard of you.
PM: It depends what you mean underrated. It was never end in itself for us
the number of people that are going to check our music. I formed the band in
2.000 for music expression and this is the no.1 priority until now. Then if
certain people find our music interesting, so if the artistic communication is
achieved, that would be more than welcomed but NEVER a reason to create music in
the first place. Although, I wouldn't characterize us "underrated" since
whenever we present a new release we receive positive feedback and support from
people around the world.
3) So, let us get one thing out of the way...You are an Occult Black Metal
band with a lot of influence of heavy thrash metal.... How exactly do you make
such a combination work?
PM: Quite easily actually. My influences derive from the music I like
exclusively, and when these are absorbed and expressed through my personal point
of view, the result is balanced and uniform. The mixture of these influences,
despite how different might seem, constitute the core of our sound.
4) Based on your Facebook page you have a small following of listeners.
Does your fan base stem from other places aside from the internet? Is there
a nice following in your homeland?
PM: Yes, we still receive letters from old-school maniacs and there are
people from my country that constantly show us their interest and support since
our creation.
5) Your band is formed around chaos. For those new readers and potential
fans, does Chaos reflect your music as a whole? What would one expect when first
listening to your music and what album or specific song would your recommend
them listening to first?
PM: Our name and several lyric themes are based on Chaos. By Chaos meaning
the force responsible for the universal order, the essence of Life itself. Only
by considering this general fact, Chaos reflects in our music as well. The
potential listener should expect Extreme Black Metal with Heavy/Thrash
influences, all expressed through our personal character. Difficult to choose
one specific song, I would suggest any song from the new album "Blood Breathing
Idols", being more mature and representative, but the songs from the debut serve
this purpose as well.
6) After multiple demos, you guys finally released your first full length
in 2009 called "AS Solemn Maelstorm" I am listening right now to the song
"Prevail Of The Black Oath" off this very album.....How would I describe what I
am hearing would be ...fast....chaotic (ha!) and very IN YOUR FACE!
What went into the making of this album and how many hours did you put into
just writing the music alone.
PM: Our debut "As Solemn Maelstrom..." is actually a combination of the 2
previous demos "Enlightened Black Gnosis" (2.005) and "Atermon" (2.008). The
songs from both demos were composed the same period (2.002-2.004) and the
initial plan was to be released as a full-length back then, something we didn't
do for several reasons. So, we are talking about 2 different recording periods.
In "Enlightened..." everything went normally fine. We recorded it at a friend's
home-studio (Daimon Erect from Ezgaroth), with whom we had a very good
communication. In "Atermon" everything rolled fine as well as I also co-operated
with friends, with the only dark side of this period that we changed members
during the recordings, resulting the delay of the demo release. We managed at
last to complete the recordings with the kind contribution of Cthonos (Burial
Hordes) and George Antipatis (Sickening Horror) on vocals.
7) Will your albums be all English, All in your Greek or a mixture of both,
and why?
PM: Our latest album, "Blood Breathing Idols" is all in English. We used
some Greek in "As Solemn Maelstrom..." as they fitted aesthetically better and
were more convenient and accurate in expression.
8) You guys did a 7'' split EP with Ezgaroth in 2011. Any more splits
planned in the near or distant future?
By the way...the song off that split "Amongst the Ruins of Cosmos" is just
crazy! I love it!
PM: Glad you like our song! Our next release will be a split with Iasma, a
Greek band in the vein of Necromantia/ Mortuary Drape, where members from
Ezgaroth and Eschaton participate. All 4 songs from our side (3+a special cover
version) were recorded the first months of 2.012, during the "Blood Breathing
Idols" sessions.
9) So who exactly am I speaking with and what part is yours in Primeval
Mass?
PM: This is Orth. I handle all the guitars/bass/vocals in Primeval Mass, as
well as the music/lyrics/production.
10) So, your lyrics come from "LIFE" do you just take how you are feeling
and put it into words on paper or do you actually take a look at the world
around you and what is going on around the world and incorporate it into your
music?
PM: To "live" is to "experience" and my experiences are put into paper.
Whether that would be a thought, an observation, a direct experience or any
other incentive from my environment, any inspiration is transformed into music
and lyrics. The difficult part in the beginning was to express these incentives
directly into music with equal
accuracy as I did with lyrics (that is why we release nothing the
first 3 years of our creation), but with constant practice and inner Work, this
goal was quickly achieved.
11) I may have gotten the wrong impression but it seems you are not the
hate all ANITlife type of band.....Am I getting it all wrong or are you guys the
exception to the rule that likes to make the best of what life has to offer and
explore all that is out there to take in a learn from....Sort of like life as a
learning experience...?
PM: You're not mistaken, of course I love to enjoy every single moment in
Life and learn with open mind from everything. To live is to experience as I
said before and experience itself is the base for all knowledge. Anything less
is just theory. We might be part of the exception as you said, but we don't
"hate" any different philosophy a band might have. The whole "suicidal",
"anti-life" attitude is simply something I don't espouse at all.
12) So, you have a new full length album out now "Blood Breathing
Idols"
I had a listen to the song "Cenotaph" off this new album.
Seems over the years you guys have stuck to your guns and haven't made any
obvious changes aside from the slight Thrash sound in some of the guitar styles
and of course the speed of the lyrics.
How has the response been for this album and where can one get a copy??
PM: Yes, we have the new album out, the CD version by Katoptron IX Recs and
tape by Stuza Prod. Although, we also had Thrash elements and fast lyrics in the
past, the difference is that these are now more balanced with the rest elements
that characterize us. I have specific ways to compose which keep our style
integral and give room for experiment, so additional elements can be added
without losing identity.
Till now the feedback is more than positive. The
album is available for 10 euros (+postal expenses) and those interested can
contact us at: [email protected]
13) Primeval Mass definitely has a sound of their own.
Do you think standing apart from so many other bands in the metal genre
helps you guys or has it had any downfalls?
PM: This is something that never mattered to us. As long as I play the
music I want, the way I want, with no limitations, there will never be
downfalls.
14) Your musical taste must be varied I am guessing...So many bands take a
band that they love and try to duplicate it into their own music
How do you guys manage to show respects to the different metal bands you
grew up knowing and loving yet not allowing your music to be a duplicate of
those bands?
PM: To create something unique was a goal since the beginning and copying
another band wouldn't fulfill US, above all. We acknowledge our influences of
course, but we express ourselves through our personal point of view and style.
After all these years constantly playing music, we built a strong basis, the
"core" I mentioned before, with certain elements that characterize our sound as
Primeval Mass and any additional influence is filtered through this sound.
15) Primeval is not a "touring" band....I think if my research is correct
you only played live a couple of times many years ago.....Is there a reason why
you don't play live and will there EVER be another live performance in the
future?
PM: Indeed, we only performed live twice, 9 years ago. We have decided back
then to be absent from the stage for a couple of years to concentrate on the
recordings, but these years became more due to line-up changes. We will most
probably give live shows again when we will find the appropriate individuals
that will complete our line-up.
16) You guys are getting new material together....Does this mean a new
album is coming? Will it be another Full length or are you going to maybe do an
EP this time around? Any other information about this that you wish to share?
PM: Apart from the split with Iasma that I mentioned earlier, our next
release will be 99% a full-length. I have many songs composed already and most
likely the recordings will start next months.
17) Well, the end has come upon us now...I once again would like to thank
you for taking the time out of your day to do this interview.
Any last words you would like to say before we say good bye?
PM: Thank you also for the interview, interest and support. All the
best to you and your zine!
You
can find Primeval on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/primevalmassofficial
You can hear music here.
https://soundcloud.com/primevalmass/blood-breathing-idols-primeval