WOODS OF DESOLATION (Eng.)
– Hello, thanks for your time. What are you currently up to?
Hello. I have just finished moving away from my hometown, which I guess has had a beneficial impact, as I have recently starting creating new material for the next WoD record; the first new material in quite some time.
– First of all, and though several months ago you released your second full-length album, if you don’t mind I would like you to make some history of WOODS OF DESOLATION and also introduce yourself.
Well, I have been a self-taught musician for almost 15 years now and have been involved in various bands/projects for years prior to my formation of Woods of Desolation in 2005. Since then several releases have been made; from the very raw, improvised home-recording beginnings to what is being created now.
– As I said, your latest «Torn beyond Reason» came out almost a year ago; how do you now see it and what does it mean personally to you?
Overall, I think “Torn Beyond Reason” was an honest and personal audial portrayal of that time. Like with any release, good and bad decisions were made and it definitely now has it’s positives and negatives, but now that I have had a couple of years since the recording to let it settle in I think I can still create something better with the forthcoming material. However, I’m glad I decided to take the step into a studio recording with “Torn Beyond Reason” instead of recording it myself.
– The music on the album, as always, is really emotional, and lyrics always fit that feeling they manage to evoke. How do you tend to write? Does music come first and then you add the lyrics? Do you try to make everything work as a whole?
Music always comes first, then lyrics are put to songs later.
– And how important are lyrics in your music?
Well, I would never include lyrics that I thought were shit, and I still put plenty of thought into them but the music takes priority for me. I’ve always been of the belief that you can convey and express what you want to to the listener via music perfectly fine. It may be harder to do then visual means (lyrics/artwork), but I’ve always thought I was best at expressing myself musically then by any other means.
– I could say this new effort has more melody than «Toward the Depths». What makes your music different from album to album? I mean, what does inspire you or affect you to create a certain sound?
The difference(s) between releases is just natural progression. As the years progress as does my song-writing and playing skills, I’ve never intentionally tried to create any particular sound or style with my work. Whatever comes out in the creative process is what the release is.
– Some people tend to compare you with AUSTERE, I don’t know if some of the musicians you have worked with have something to do with this but; how do you feel about this comparison?
Well, I believe there are a few contributing factors to this; the last album was recorded in the same studio as Austere, members of Austere have previously performed session roles in Woods of Desolation and I was going to be a full-time member before Austere broke up and so some ideas/songs I wrote for Austere were worked into “Torn Beyond Reason”. It is also a little known fact that I actually wrote some of the material on Austere’s “To Lay Like Old Ashes” album. However, with all that said, I’m hoping the next record I do will put some distance between the 2 bands.
– Songwriting has clearly evolved since your debut. How have both yourself as individual and as an artist changed since your first album?
The early material was largely improvised, so now much more time is spent on writing and arranging material. I guess you could say my vision for what I want to create is much more focused now.
– Production sounds quite better as well; could you please shed some light on this process?
‘Torn Beyond Reason’ was recorded in a local professional studio, whereas all previous releases were recorded in a home-studio on poor equipment. This would naturally offer a vast improvement to the production.
– This year you have also released a compilation album, «The Darkest Days»; how did you come up with this idea? I guess it may be a good way for your fans to get some of your earlier material.
Well, I was continually getting emails from people wanting to get a hold of the early material, which were all limited to very small amounts and thus long sold out. So I came up with the idea to just compile the early material along with leftover unreleased material from around the same point in time, and close that chapter of Woods of Desolation behind me for good.
– Beside WoD you have another band, GREY WATERS. I read some time ago you were working on the first GREY WATERS full-length album; are you still working on it?
The short answer is no. I wrote and recorded all my parts for the album in mid-2010, but as it stands nothing more has been recorded since then and the album lays unfinished and this does not appear to be changing anytime soon. The band is dormant and so my attention is elsewhere also.
– Beside the mournful feeling (I’d dare say), both bands have a different sound or musical approach. How does one band compliment the other? What do they provide you?
Grey Waters was an avenue for me to explore more of a rock-based area of my song-writing different to what I was curently doing and had done previously. It’s just a shame Grey Waters has been cursed and plagued with set-backs and problems since day 1 when I formed it in 2006 as a solo-project…
– We don’t get many Metal bands from Australia, but I could say the few ones we know have a really personal sound. How do you see the Australian Metal scene as an insider?
Like every scene there are good bands and shit bands. It is a bit unfortunate we are so isolated from everything else though, as alot of bands with potential just fade away as their music just doesn’t get out there and exposed to an audience as easily as it would for a European band, for example.
– Finally, as this year is about to end, I would like you to tell your favourite 3 albums released this year and the one that has supposed your biggest disappointment.
I didn’t really hear many 2011 releases, and those I did hear I knew would be good so I actively seeked them out, so I can’t really comment on any disappointments to be honest. Some 2011 albums I liked that come to mind off the top of my head would be: 40 Watt Sun – The Inside Room, Primordial – Redemption At The Puritans Hand and City & Colour – Little Hell.
– That’s all from my side, thanks again for taking your time to answer our questions. If you now want to add some final words; feel free to do it.
Thanks for the interview. Those interested in keeping up to date with Woods of Desolation can do so via the official Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Woods-of-Desolation-Official/169396779759552
I will also soon be announcing the launch of a brand new band I have been working on the past several months titled Gástgedál – recordings for the debut release are nearing completion soon!!!
