Firstly, comes rather predictable question: what was the reason for taking such a long break after "Drift Of Empathy" has been released?

- Well after the release of "Drift Of Empathy" on Hammerheart Records in 1996 we decided to split ways with HHR as both sides weren't 100% satisfied about the cooperation. You must know both HHR and CALLENISH CIRCLE were quite unexperienced in the music-business and I guess the expectations were far too high from both sides, which eventually ended up in a big disappointment for both parties. It took us some time to get things together (few line-up changes etc) and eventually we started writing new material and in 1997 we recorded the "Escape" mcd that was released in 1998 on Dutch mini-label Polar Bear Records (RIP). Although the distribution-network was like non-existing the Escape mcd sold almost 3.000 copies so far. As PBR was a small label we knew from the beginning we had to look out for another label to release our 2nd full-length album. After the recordings of "Graceful... Yet Forbidding" (that we completely financed ourselves) we gained interest from not less than 8 recordlabels and because DSFA Records did a great job in the past for bands like ORPHANAGE, WITHIN TEMPTATION and TRAIL OF TEARS we decided to sign with them. This ended up in the biggest mistake we have ever made because as soon as the album got out (in the beginning of 2000) NOTHING happened; no promotion, no distribution, it seemed like the label was DEAD. Because of this we got very frustrated and claimed back the legal rights of the album to license it to several partners worldwide. It took us some time to get out of the DSFA-contract and now Edgerunner Records (Norway) will do the official European release (including the "Escape" mcd as bonus, all recordings digitally remastered) and they already seem to do a 100% better job than DSFA ever did (adds in the important mags, arranging interviews etc). Furthermore I have arranged cassette-licenses for Eastern Europe, South America and South East Asia. At the moment I am working on license-deals in North and South America. So as you can see there are several reasons for the quite long periods between our albums.

It looks like stylistically, you guys made more emphasis on melody and harmonic lines, still staying pretty aggressive, though. Any explanations (but please no "natural progress" kind of answers, ok)?

- We were quite fed up with the slow and lame rhytmns we were playing in the early days and we just wanted to get some more spirit and energy into our music. Most bands start quite aggressive and with each new album they seem to wimp out even more. With CALLENISH CIRCLE it has gone exactly the opposite way, we started as a quite soft doom / death outfit (simply because in the early days we didn't have the music abbilities to play faster music) and during the years we developed into the band we are nowadays. The new album (to be recorded in April 2001) will definitely suprise you all cause this will be a very aggressive and straightforwarded album, with of course all the typical CC-trademarks...something like the rebirth of CALLENISH CIRCLE, hahaha. Expect the ultimate Thrash Attack!!!

You've been leaving all the labels you collaborated with, right after
they have brought forth the light your CDs… Why such a reshuffle? (I'd like to know more concerning your relations with Hammerheart Records. They've grown pretty big nowadays…)

- Regarding HHR I already explained in the first question. I think both HHR and us were not really ready to release a full-length album in a profi way. Expectation were far too high and it ended up in a big disappointment for both parties. Nowadays both HHR and CC have grown more mature and although I really would love to release the new album on Hammerheart Records this won't be possible as I am working at HHR as promotion-manager these days. Personally I think HHR has grown to a very respected recordlabel and with new signings as CONTROL DENIED, DISMEMBER, ANCIENT RITES and SINISTER there is a lot of great releases coming up this year. Not to speak of the bands that are already on the HHR-roster like THYRFING, PRIMORDIAL, REBAELLIUN and some very promising newcomer-bands.

How did you come to make GOD DETHRONED's Henry Sattler participate in "Graceful's" recording?

- Henri often works at Franky's Recording Kitchen as producer because Bertus (studio-owner) has a daily job aside the studio. So Bertus offered us to work with Henri Sattler (GOD DETHRONED) or Robbie Woning (DEAD HEAD). We decided to work with Henri cause Robbie (who is writing for Aardschok Magazine as well) doesn't seem to be that found of our sound and we definitely don't want to work with a person who doesn't like our sound.

By the way, wasn't it Henry, who contrived to spice your sound with slight black metallish-touch?

- No no, all the material was written at our rehearsal-room before we
entered the studio so Henri definitely didn't pushed us to get a more blackish sound on the album.

Enough music for a while… Have you felt that outside forces control your existence?

- No I don't believe in such things. Of course there are some things that seem to be out of your control but I won't relate that to outside forces or whatever.

And as a matter of fact, what's your opinion on everything's that's considered "supernatural"?

- I simply don't believe in anything like that...sorry I am a very realistic person (that's ok - ED).

What do you know (and think) regarding Russia? Any metal bands coming from our lands you've heard lately?

- In the past I used to be in contact with a few Russian underground people but nowadays not really anymore. It's quite difficult cause almost no Russian bands make it to get a deal with a European label and therefore all the bands stay in the underground and as a result of that we hardly hear any music coming from your country.

How do you see the current political situation in the nowadays' Europe (EU's activities, the appearance of new currency (euro), present relationship between EU and NATO, and so on and so forth)?

- I am not interested in politics...politics SUCK! It's all about money, power and personal benefits. Personally I think politicians are the worst scum on this earth.

How would you explain that Netherlands (almost) always contrived to
stay away from various armed conflicts and alike petty unpleasantnesses?

- I think that's a good thing, you see Holland is a pretty small country and just let the bigmouth-countries like the USA and UK take care of controlling the world. They usually do whatever they want so why interfere and put a lot of money and human lives in wars, conflicts we are not involved in. They better focus on the problems in Holland instead. There is still loads of shit to deal with over here.

As far as I know, there's bloody hell of immigrants residing at Holland (mostly negros). What's your attitude to them?

- It's not only negros my friend, it's also Marrocan, Turkish, Polish, Russian, Azian etc etc people that come to our country to benefit from our wellfare and I really DON'T like that. Most of these people only come here to take advantage without making their tribute to the community (by having a job and paying taxes!). I think the government should get a far more severe policy when it comes to immigrants and only when they get a job and adapt to our culture by learning the language etc they can stay... if they don't want that; out with them! Please notice I am not a right-wing or nazi-person (as I said I don't care of politics!) but I am really fed up to pay a shitload of taxes for other people who fucking stay in bed whole day long, wheter they are negro, Azian, Eastern European or whatever.

Ok, now back to music. What do you think of those who stand strictly
against incorporating keyboards (as well as other "unorthodox" instruments) in metal music of all kinds?

- I also don't like keys in metalmusic that much cause most bands use them because of the facts the basic of their music is so boring and I think that's the wrong way. Keys are good as long as they give something special to the music and not for masking the fact that the rest of the music is of questionable quality.

How would you react if someone told you that CALLENISH CIRCLE is pure crap just because you "dared" to make synths almost an inalienable part of CALLENISH CIRCLE's sound?

- If you would have listened the album well you would have noticed there is hardly any keyboard on our album (there IS keyboard - ED). Live we also play without keyboards. But when somebody says CC sounds like crap it's ok with me, everyone may have his own opinion. No problem with that!

Oops. Looks like there're no questions at the moment. But perhaps there's a question you've been craving to be asked?

- No not really, just wanted to say that we will enter the Stage One Studio at the end of April to record our 3rd album over there with producer Andy Classen. You can expect the ultimate CALLENISH CIRCLE-album filled with aggression and killer thrash-riffs. Release is planned for the end of 2001. For more info or whatever feel free to contact me at:

CALLENISH CIRCLE
c/o Patrick Savelkoul
P.O. Box 21
6120 AA Born (L)
The Netherlands
E-mail: info@callenish-circle.com
Website: www.callenish-circle.com