Let’s start from from a short bio...

- The idea to create black metal band appeared sometime in winter ’95, but unfortunately becouse of no conditions to work or members to fill-up the line, M.Sordahl and Insanus (who are the original and first members of the band) start their serious work whole year later when Fra.Mortes join the band. Few month later first demo “Nocturnal Eden Behind Serpent Eye’s” was released. Second guitarist Dirgloch came in band in May ’97 and blood line was filled-up and the horror was awaken.

I never heard (and probably, never will) “Nocturnal Eden Behind Serpent Eye’s”, the demo you made your debut with, so would you like to enlighten me a bit concerning this tape?

- Well, there is no much to say. But anyway, demo we made our debut with is quite similar with “Black Silhouette...”. The main difference is in sound, drum arrangements and there are few new songs on CD. Also, intro and outro from “Nocturnal Eden...” will be on our second CD “In The Horizons Of The Dying Theatre”.

Now you have to tell us everything you want this world to know about your lyrics... I believe that they mainly deal with Vampirism, is that correct?

- For sure is that lyrics are dealing with vampirism. The lyrics are very compound because these words express emotions (solitude, pain, hate...etc.) which rule in nocturnal creature called vampire. We don’t want to describe that creatures in only one way (most movies and stories are describing vampires as bloodsucking monsters) ‘cos there is much more to it. However, it would be better if you read our lyrics, then you may experience it in your way.

“CASTRUM are worthy to enter the succession and at least they will overtake the throne which was left abandoned by C.o.F.” - this is an excerpt from your bio which obviously tells us that modesty is not the kind of thing you’re familiar with... Do you really feel that you may overtake the throne and dethrone CRADLE OF FILTH which (despite your words) still are the kings of vampiric black metal...?         
 
- To be honest with you we don’t care for any throne, and the last thing on our mind is to prove something written for promotion (it is one of the ways to get attention). After all, we respect C.o.F. and all their work and we can’t dethrone then, but we believe in ourself and all we need is a little luck, an opportunity to catch.

Where did the recording process of “Black Silhouette...” take place? I just can’t belive that Studio Castrum appears as your homestudio, because the sound the debut CD of yours is far about average, it’s almost perfect!

- First we must thank your nice words, although we don’t think it’s so good. «Black Silhouette...» is recorded in our homestudio where we did the best we can. When we were recording we compared our sound with other bands, than we put all things we like together. We were also using computer (drum and computer programing) what helped us a lot. It is not so difficult to do something, you just have to give everything of yourself.

Where there any tour or gigs you participated in? And who plays keyboards (as well as drums) on stage?

- We had some gigs in Croatia, Slovenia, we played on Under the Black Sun festival. Being on stage is something we really like, it is the gratest part of this job and we will play as much as we can. On stage we are using computer for both keyboards and drums, but right now we are working with drummer, so hopefully we will have live drums on our future gigs.

Don’t you think that metal scene had undergone enormous change during last couple of years? Just imagine metal fan of early or mid 80’s listening to stuff like DIE VERBANNTEN KINDER EVAS, ARCANA, ILDFROST or ELEND - almost neo-classical music with no guitars, bass or drums, but orchestral keyboards and sometimes even opera vocals... Personally I think that first-ever SODOM fans would laugh at me if I told them this ten years ago... What made us to become more... ehh, «open-minded» to non-metal music, what made extreme metal bands’ members to form so-called ‘side projects’ performing gothic or ambient music, which hardly has anything in common with their main groups? And why do we consider ambient as a part of black metal (or gothic) scene, like many individuals think?

- This is part of a normal process, music must change or the scene would be overstocked. But, I must say one part of metal is going back to roots (HAMMERFALL, PEGAZUS) even black metal bands import old school riffs into their music. Metal has changed, but in it’s basic stayed same. In 80’s it was important to be heavy metal band or fan, and that excluded other kinds of music. Sometimes it excluded even other metal, just or death or black or thrash or speed and so on. Today music is far more important, people are interested in all kinds of music. It’s not good being stuck in one direction, “open mind” can receive more information, than you can make the best of it. Ambient can express wide range of emotions, what is very important for black and gothic. For example it’s impossible to imagine melancholic darkness without ambiental mood.

How do you conceive the future of metal and ambient music? Once I asked one of my friends what music does he consider as the supreme art, «Music» from  the initial letter, and that’s what he answered: «Real Music is the one which won’t be forgotten even after 100 years pass...» Do you agree with his words and, if yes, do you really think that CASTRUM-alike bands will exist even after both of us, you and me, are dead and buried?

- Metal and ambient music will probably last for a long time. Surely, there will be good and bad times, and will probably evolve. MOTORHEAD, JUDAS PRIEST, IRON MAIDEN are live proof  of how metal can last. Of course, only the best will survive. CASTRUM and alike bands aren’t commercial and there is not much chance for them, on the other hand human beings are unpredictible creatures, so who knows what will they like after we’re gone.

Does Croatia have it’s own mythology or something like that? I know nothing of it, therefore could you enlighten me on this topic?

- We don’t know about our mythology before christianity came. There are legends about kings, knights and heroes who fought for Croatian kingdom. Some writers wrote about darknes and evil, and that is all considering gloomy themes. Sad thing is that there were lot of stories which were not written down, or were written incorrectly.

Few words  regarding your personality and beliefs...

- It is realy hard to answer this in few words ‘cos we are quite different persons and we can’t judge about ourselves. Only thing in common are vampires and our music. If you want to know about our opinion about religion, we aren’t followers of any religion, but we belive there must be something in afterlife. What is it we will find out (hopefully not so soon). Maybe you will conclude something about us from this interview.

My magazine is accesible only through Internet, hence what are thoughts of this modern phenomena, it’s present and future? Any plans for opening CASTRUM’s homepage on WWW (World Wide Web)?

- From one side it’s great, especialy posibility for communication which is enormous. On the other hand Internet is like drug. Once you get it you become addicted on it. There are so much information which are bombarding our mind and I’m at the same time enthusiastic and frightened with modern tehnology. At this moment we are working on our homepage. We hope it will be great.

What is your opinion of orthodox death / grind bands and these musical genres in the whole? Do they still appear as of interest to you? Can you mark out the most impressive acts among this demomaniacal breed?

- We’ve never been interested in this genre. Simply we just don’t like it, it is to crude, to much noise no melody at all.

Is anyone of Castrum’s members involved in various side projects?

- Yes, we have few projects. Insanus and Dirgloch play in raw black band GORTHAUR’S WRATH, Dirgloch also has melodic thrash band and Fra Mortes plays in HC / thrash band, something between SEPULTURA and PANTERA.

When will you manage to release your second album and what will it be alike, both in musical and lyrical aspects?

- Second album will be released in April 1999. Songs on this album are little shorter and faster, there are more music styles in music. Guitars are louder and heavier, there is not so much keyboards as on first album. Lyrics are a bit agressive and also are dealing with vampirism.

Well, the source of my questions is finally exhausted. Anything that you wish to close this interview with?

- Thanx for this interview, hope you’ll like it. We are very sorry for this delay. To all headbangers - stay heavy, check out our new CD maybe you’ll like it, hope to see you soon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

CASTRUM contact -
Email: zdravko.franjkic@ri.tel.hr