Bands of great level are appearing in Australia, among so many bands i ended up knowing the Urgrund band of Melbourne. The same executes a Black/Thrash Metal of great quality; in the year of 2005 she threw your second called album Unchangeable Fate. In a conversation with the members of Urgrund explained some facts and everything on your new album.
01 - Hail Urgrund. How are you?
I am doing fine…Just busy with a lot of happenings as always…Hence, the delay in doing this interview…Although, everything is running solid and well with the band…
02 - To begin speaks to us a little of the history of Urgrund. How did everything begin?
1998, I wanted to get out of playing in a black metal band exclusively and attempt more traditional (Primitive) methods and subjects…A war Historic theme base was discovered and we went from there…Mind you numerous line up changes and laziness didn’t really secure the bands inprint till after The Graven Sign album…This was the break through to the international market….
03 - I didn't find meaning for the name Urgrund. Would he have him some occult meaning?
Yes…Primaeval Ore…The essence of what is real… The Plain of the beginning…It’s actually based on a German word Ur (old) Grund (earth)…Ancient Grounds…I found this suitable for the band…I kept some of it’s meaning in the lyrics…
04 - You play a Black/Thrash very good Metal. What did motivate the band to choose this style?
Progression and what I listened to all the years leading up to it I guess…Bathory, Sodom, Possessed, Darkthrone, Metallica, Slayer, Venom, Frost etc…And then there have been Australian bands too like Sadistik Exekution, Armoured Angel, Bestial Warlust and Destroyer 666…
05 - I don't know a lot of bands or even the scene underground of Australia. How do the things happen at your country? Do bands that you would indicate to the fans of the style exist?
I would say there is a great interest in Australian bands abroard due to our unique yet raw and primitive styles…there is a scnene but I would say it’s more celebrated internationally due to the fact that what we have here is small…we have a lot of bands but not the support and media that say Europe and USA can offer acts through Sponsorship and merchandising ventures…Ffor some reason I find the cult underground status we have appealing….Perfect for a band like Urgrund…
06 - It's noticed that the lyrical context of the band adopts the militarism in several parts. Why the use of these themes? What would the inspiring source be?
Apart from being heavily interested in war and evolution…I like to base lyrics on a time frame…Of course mostly during the Roman and Germanic occupations of Dark Age Europe…but all the same Modern History plays it’s part in the band too..WW2 themes and the Occultic aspects of the Reich are well expressed… Barbarian warfare, Secret Orders and Ancient Lore/Heathenism are focal points also…
07 - Did the group already think about changing the theme? Or will you always use in their music?
As I write most of the lyrics I will not stagnate the band into just being a concept ‘War metal band’ I write about stuff I find of interest and express in the most tragic dark manner possible through the mastery of Urgrund
08 - Since we are speaking about militarism, some people confuse a band that uses militant themes with Nazi bands. Do i know that the band is not Nazi, but what the opinion of the group on this?
Aye, this is rather fucking stupid…I realize we have used a lot of Imagery that can entice the idea that we are supporters of a white power regime…but this about music and it is just imagery power at that…NSBM is perhaps a label interpreted as ‘not so black metal’ with really bad underproduced music…It’s just another form of expression I guess…Not my thing…In fact it’s rather boring and unmusical…Even though I am kind of right wing (like most white folk that aware) as a mindset…this has nothing to do with the music or expressing race hate through metal…and Urgrund is not an NS band whatever the hell an NS band is these days anyway…
The Symbolisim of Chaos, Bind Runes and the Wolfs Angle Hook we have used in the past as forms of power, Mystery, uprising, hate and destruction and it’s various occultic references…not as a symbol of nationality or a Nazi reference…I mean I very much hold the banner of traditionalism and culture…However, to exploit this through the form of being in a band gets political…And Urgrund is not about Politics…
09 - You some time they were confused with a Nazi band? If the answer goes yes, what was the reaction of the band?
At first it didn’t bother me, but once you get interviews or people label you as NSBM then it’s a bit fucking hard…We are a Black Death Metal Band with a fist of fury…we have substance and a story to tell…There’s No 4 track machine screeching songs about Auschwitz…
We have Skinheads that have been present at our shows which is great..They find some parts of the music enlightening that a lot of others do not see…But I guess we appeal to a wide range of metallers…
10 - Changing the subject and talking about the new works Unchangeable Fate, the title is very interesting. Does translating mean Inevitable Destiny, what does the band really want to pass for the listener? Does some idea exist for brings of this title
Yes… When the Old gods battle the enemy and all will be crushed and the debris crumbles to the earth… another reference to war in turn to new beginning…the Ragnarok interpretation of the apocalypse… I used the Wolf Fenrisulfr and battle scenario as the cover…
I didn’t want the listener to realize just that one theme as there are many different studies on the album…For instance Saga of Redemption (the whole concept of Sin is a joke and the perverse understandings of Catholicism) Almost a Nietzschean track…Foredoomed being a track based on literature and Fausts’ pact with the devil…Desert Fox (field Marshall Rommel)…So there is a vast subject matter here…
11 - In relation to the final result of the album you were satisfied with him? Could he have been better?
The production was lacking somewhat, but if it’s meant to better by all means…the new one is crushing!
12 - As it is being made the whole work of popularization of Unchangeable Fate? Are a lot of presentations being made by the group?
You mean has there been a good response?…If this is the case…It’s been ok but we need to wave the flag at a higher mast in some places in Europe...Perhaps it hasn’t hit home yet…it was promoted a bit better this turn…It will sink into the audience…I think finally getting a new webpage up helps spread the plague…
13 - Redstream Records is distributing the new disk. How Urgrund and Redstream partners became?
Pat and Red Stream have been good to me…I will definitely continue some sort of partnership…Be it distribution or merchandise…As for the next sponsorship step, we have finished our contract with Baphomet Records… So we are hunting few a new label for a decent deal…Preferably a Euopean sponsor….
14 - Does the band already think about a new material? Or you about the moment do think only in publishing Unchangeable Fate?
Devlopments are at hand….the New album ‘Disciples of Supremacy’ has already been recorded…This will be out late August 2007 on Baphomet/Red Stream…Await the black death thrash attack again….8 new tracks of legends, war, death and disaster…
15 - I am for here. I want the whole best for Urgrund! The space below belongs to you for us to leave your message...
Many thanks for the interview…
‘March of the black sun
Initiate me…By your mastery
Pound for pound…unleash your chaos
War speech, powers league…Disciples of Supremacy’
-RMF Scavenger