Band: ANCIENT CEREMONY
Country of origin:
Germany
Style: gothic
/ death / black metal
Questions by:
Kai Mathias Stalhammar
Answers supplied
by: Chris Anderle (vocals)
*** Note: some questions used here have been formerly asked another bands, however not answered properly or not answered at all. Therefore, I felt it was quite ok to make another attempt. Fortunately, this time successful.
“Synagoga Diabolica” strikes as somewhat a new step in ANCIENT CEREMONY’s whole career, however a sensitive ear would most probably figure out it’s more likely a “back-to-the-roots” thing. What I mean is, your latest offering is closer to “Cemetery Visions” than any other work you’ve put out so far. And yes, by the way, both “Synagoga Diabolica” and “Cemetery Visions” have been issued in the shape of MCD – also a fact worth mention.
- You’re right and we consciously turned back more towards our roots again. This music – let me describe it as mixture of extreme Metal and dark horror-passages – is it what ANCIENT CEREMONY were aiming for from the foundation on. But after the second album on Cacophonous (“Fallen Angel’s Symphony“) it was obvious that some members had to go as they wanted to turn more into a softer, goth / rock-orientated direction. So we recruited a new drummer as well as a new keyboarder and recorded “Synagoga Diabolica“ to give the fans an impression on what they have to expect from us in the future and also to shorten the time until the next regular full length would be put out.
What
makes me draw more and more parallels between your very first and very
last effort, is… Alister Records. Once it was left behind, however you’re
now “back home” ;). Why? This label is far too goddamn small and, besides,
as you once told me they still owe you money…
- This money story is a private thing, they owe me the payment for working as their promoter but it is no band royalties or so. We’ve seen Alister only as some kind of step between and I was rather sure we could get a new deal at a bigger label with our new line-up and material. And it really happened, we are now signed to Trisol, one of the leading European indie labels and we’re fuckin‘ satisfied with this new sealed cooperation, it couldn’t have been better so far.
“Synagoga Diabolica” was licensed to Irond Records for the territory of CIS and Baltic States. Are the guys at Alister pleased with the way Irond handle promotion, sales and marketing?
- I arranged this deal and working with Irond has been cool so far except for the fact that we did not get any concrete sales reports. Irond are a very good license company in my opinion and so I also could make clear a deal between them and our new label Trisol. It is planned that I go to Moscow on invitation of Irond for an offcial CD-presentation around February, would be fuckin' great if it becomes reality.
What would you mark out as the most discouraging drawbacks one may discover giving a listen to your former works (such as “Under Moonlight We Kiss”, for instance)?
- “Under Moonlight...“ was more keyboard-dominated and many tracks got led by this instrument. I mean, synths are still important for ANCIENT CEREMONY’s soundscapes but the music in the meanwhile is more metal-focussed (crushing guitars, fast double bass etc.) again. We reduced these gothic moments and instead of a rather vampyric album brought forth by Cacophonous we now sound again more satanic, faster with eerie horror-interludes.
Looking back, into the early nineties… Would you say, you reached everything you attempted to, with the band you take part in? Or it’s more likely a bitter experience?
- I know both sides, both heads of this Janus-coin. The scene indeed has gone down during the last years (esp. in Germany) but slowly there can be signs detected which feed the hopes it might become a bit better again in the future. ANCIENT CEREMONY anyway follow their aims and ambitions consequently and independent from this, we have a Faustian sense in us and will strive for more on and on. There are several things still to be realized (for example an overseas tour, a massive live campaign through nearly all European counntries etc.) but things are running fine for us actually and it seems as if 2002 would become a very important and also great year for ANCIENT CEREMONY. We’re ready to harvest the earned forbidden fruits now!
Have
you ever had any experiences, have you ever done anything you feel ashamed
for?
- I normally do not feel ashamed for any of my deeds for I am a really extreme and self-conscious entity. Hm, let me think... should I mention that I was an altar boy when I was smaller? (*laughs*) I was young that time and so easily can live with it. What else? Ah, when I was 18 I fucked a girl from behind on the ground of my bed room - and then my grandma came in to go on my nerves. Well, I did not feel really ashamed, so forget it, it was more her who had to shame for coming in... for coming in before I had "cum" into or unto that girl (*laughs*). Yes, now one thing comes to my mind I probably should feel ashamed for somehow. It was my last grilfriend... oh damn, she is so crappy. I normally don't speak about private things in interviews but this is a rather private question and hence it is legitime to reply on this level. I moreover definitely don't mock on my past relations but this feeble creature is telling lies about me, the band etc. everywhere that I feel the urge to waste some lines on her - luckily 95% of the people she tries to manipulate in the meanwhile only laugh at her and turn away from that cripple bitch. She anyway was our singer on "Synagoga Diabolica" and we had to work with some effects to make her sound acceptable with the chanted parts (the spoken ones were fantastic). But she behaved like a diva, thought she was a star - she is nothing. She furthermore claimed she was into satanic stuff and a metal lunatic - oh fuck, how stupid, she never got the essence out of the life attitude "metal" and was totally impotent in affecting or even kissing my satanic soul. Well, she looked rather nice but that's what 666.000 other women also do. I won't mention her ridiculous sexuality now as this would go too far here, it's normally not my style and also not for the public but the fact that I wasted more than one precious year with such a cavewoman is something I a little bit should be ashamed for. What makes me really ashamed is that I left a fantastic woman for her. My ex-ex-girl was a superb creature, strong character, very sexy, cool behaviour, a real metal spirit... yes, that undoubtfully was one of the biggest faults in my whole life but at least I've learned out of it.
What kind of man are you, and what kind of man is the one you’d obviously “terminate” (figuratively speaking ;)) once you’ve seen and talked with him / her for a while?
- There are many people worth getting terminated because of their weak soul and a false, blind character. It’s rather difficult to describe now and so I can hardly give much basical details here. Anyway, those feeble bastards who envy us and so think they have to talk lies about ANCIENT CEREMONY, those who try to destroy the band or who want to fuck me up are worth any torture and expiration. But on the other hand I simply let them rot, it is their destiny for they are scum, they are so unhappy with their worthless, weak existence that this probably is enough pain in the ass for these cripples. So why waste my time and energy with such ridiculous ceatures? My life is exactly the mixture of the two lifestyles “Satanism“ and “Heavy Metal“ plus all the things implied. So I have the right to punish or even destroy all those who try to fuck me or the band up – and be sure I will do so with no remorse. I’m a strong person who knows what he wants and I am willing to invest lots of power, creativity and passion to reach my self settled goals!
Have you ever thought of a paradox christian “Trinity” reveals? In case you had, were your attempts to find out an explanation successful?
- It’s as most x-tian (or basically religious) ideas just an instrument to make the sheep obey blindly, to give them one more illusion there was higher deity that loves them. I give a shit on such foolish religious mainpulations and prefer the ANCIENT CEREMONY trinity – consisting of music, lyrics, artwork – instead.
Personally
I’ve studied the so-called “holy bible” quite carefully, and I humbly suppose
it’s the same with you. Therefore; what would you name as most incredible
absurdity it features?
- I definitely have, you’re right. Well, as there are too many things one could speak about here I want just to mention the role “Satan“ plays; in the old Testament he appears very hardly and is obviously totally different to what these monkeys made out of him in the new Testament. Ah, read and compare on your own... you’ll see the difference and detect how obviously ridiculous this all is. Nevertheless the old Testament is an interesting book full of mythology, history, mysticism and magick. Let me close this answer with the fact that I think they way “Satan“ is presented in “The Third Testament“ is the fuckin' very best (*laughs*)!
If Satan really is as he was portrayed in the bible, how would you act once earthlings attend the “judgment day”?
- Sit down, wait and drink blood.
What pops up in your mind once you hear, “Russia”?
- Irond Records, my good friend Andy Korukhin of “Dark City“ magazine, sexy girls, Moscow (I hope to conquer you soon (*laughs*)), the Kreml, sexy girls, the Sbornaja, the 1917 revolution, sexy girls, Oleg Romantsev, Lenin, sexy girls, the mafia, Anna Kournikova, sexy girls, vodka, Mussorgsky and not to forget – just if I haven’t mentioned that yet - sexy girls.
Anything to throw up at this world in conclusion?
- Thanx a lot for
the very cool interview. Keep up your good job and all the darkest from
the band and me to Vae Solis. Check our new album “The Third Testament“
released on Trisol / Irond Recs. and don’t hesitate to come along when
I’ll be in Moscow for the official CD-presentation.
“Satan means kindness
to those who deserve it instead of love wasted on ingrants!“
ANCIENT CEREMONY contact
-
Website: http://www.ancient-ceremony.de
Email: Anderle666@aol.com