Interview with Svarti Loghin - Raymond N

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Thanks for taking the time to answer our questions and let’s get started:

Infernal Masquerade: Svarti Loghin means “Black Flame” in ancient Swedish. What is the flame that brought the band together and it’s keeping it releasing albums?

R.N: The fact that SL continiously have been composing music and that we enjoy arranging, rehearsing and recording them would be the simple answer. We have a feeling that we have something worth recording, it would be presumptuous to call it unique but a sound that is kind of our own that we’d like people to listen to and hopefully enjoy.

I.M: With a very depressive sound the band has one of the most unique Depressive Black Metal sounds in the scene. How did you guys crafted this sound?

R.N: We started with our musical roots in bands like Xasthur but you can hear our influences from other genres aswell, on Drifting Through the Void maybe clearer than on Empty World. Good old psychedelic pop/rock from the 60s is one of the biggest influences, and also even some country and grunge etc.

I.M: “Drifting Through The Void” is the band second album, how do you see that the band has evolved since it’s formation in 2006?

R.N: I would say that we have developed a sound of our own, from the quite basic depressive black metal in Cold Void, our first song ever written, to the more laid-back atmosphere and nostalgia on the newest record.

I.M: Can you please tell us about the concept and ideas behind “Drifting Through The Void”, what makes you (besides being Scandinavian) have these bleak ideas?

R.N: Our biggest source of inspiration is everyday life, and it can be really dull and bleak at times. But what separate us from the other bands labeled as depressive is that some our songs are very upbeat and joyful, as life also can be at times.

It’s funny that you bring up the fact that we’re Scandinavian as a reason for bleak ideas, I don’t know if it’s entirely true but people from northern places seems to be more introspective than people from the south. I don’t know if it’s the lack of sun and warmth that does this.

I.M: Why do you guys choose to still use the Black Metal screams on “Drifting Through The Void”? The album by itself could have been a great indie rock hit if it did not had the screams (some people at Infernal Masquerade think that)?

R.N: We felt that we had not entirely left the black metal behind us and that it would fit at some passages in the songs, but to these people I am pleased to say that the next EP will not contain screams.

I.M: Your MySpace page states that you are working on a new MCD already; can you tell us more about it?

R.N: Well, it will be a step further down the same road as the other albums, with less black metal for each album. It contains of two instrumental songs, two almost indie rock songs, more 60s infuenced than ever and a really soft song. But I can’t state that we have left the black metal influences behind us, we still have a quite aggressive piece left unreleased if we find a similar band that is interested in a 7” split or something like that.

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I.M: Current technology allows us to have access to more people and supposedly be ‘less’ lonely, while it also takes away the human interaction. How do you think this has impacted people suffering from lack of human communication and relations? How has it influenced the ideas behind the music (if at all)?

R.N: I can see where you’re going there, and I’m personally not sure if it’s a good or a bad thing that more of our contact with people is more electronically based instead of physical contact. It have definitely made it easier for people to be assholes when they can hide behind anonymity, but that maybe helps them getting the aggressions out of the system and keeps them from physically attacking innocent people? I don’t know if it’s a source of inspiration but it’s an interesting development of the modern society, and more side effects is to be seen in the future of this new way of living.

I.M: Do you think that the band’s view on life and things would be different if you were born/resided in a different place?

R.N: I think that the enviroment shapes your personality, at least to some extent. That is part of the explanation to why there is more black metal bands from cold desolate places. In southern Europe or USA people maybe go to the beach instead of trying to invoke bleak thoughts into music during dark winter days. But then of course if there is many active bands in an area there’s a greater chance of that the music is getting spread and thus creating interest from more people.

I.M: Any touring planned to support “Drifting Through The Void”?, we would love to see the band performing at some festival or maybe even the USA.

R.N: Not at the moment, but if we would get a decent offer we would definitely consider it.

Thanks for answering the questions and good luck promoting the album.

R.N: Thank you for your interest!

Best regards,
Raymond N.

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