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Band page - Illnath
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Band Profile
What is your name and your current position in the band?
The name is Narrenschiff and I sing and write lyrics.
Tell us about the history of the band. More specifically, when was the band formed, how did you meet, and have there been any particular highlights or low points in your career, any crucial events that have taken you where you are today?
The band started out with then name Flaggelation ten years ago, we actually have our anniversary this year. It started out with Pete and another guitarist who joined forces and spent a year trying to find members. They took along Tobias and Artur in 98 and released the demo "Behind the Veil" in 99. I'll fast forward a while here and end up with the current line up. Benjamin joined in 2001 and we recorded the mini CD "Angelic Voices Calling" with Simon "Harme" Thorsback on vocals. I joined in 2002 as a result of their earlier communication with Valgalder Records when Harme quit and I went straight into studio to record "Cast into Fields of Evil Pleasure". Just before the European tour in 2003, Tobias quit the band and we had a session bass player for the tour, and a few years later we got Kenneth in as the bassist of the band. He came through Pete and Tyr's other band 7Thorns, and for a while those bands were sharing all the members except the vocalist.
When it comes to highs and lows I think the Reality tour with Konkhra was a bit of both. It was our first tour but also probably the worst one in human history. i'm not even going to get started on the issues, but they were bad. And as a result the band got jumpy and we had a few talks about going separate ways and dissolving the band. However, we played it through but unfortunately just after this tour Benjamin split with us and we were left without a drummer (he's back now, though). A lot happened on that tour and it was a major step. As for a great high, I must give a nod in the direction of our new record label Deathlight Records in Spain, they are brilliant people and seem to take us as professionals.
Another low must have been the contract with Worldchaos Productions in Japan, which was a terrible and painful story which finally ended as Deathlight took us up.
Was there ever a time when you wondered if your band would remain just a local outfit and never make it in the industry?
We all had ambitions about becoming a part of the great scene, and I think that's why we are getting there these days. We always wanted to go there, and by believing strongly in that idea things happen. Of course, we had times where we were nervous, but after reading the reviews of Angelic and Cast, we were quite encouraged to keep going.
What is your latest album and why should people buy it?
Our latest album is "Second Skin of Harlequin" and people should buy it because noone can guess what it sounds like. Like suggested by the title it's not much like Cast and it is a technical and interesting album to listen to. It kicks ass.
How would you categorize the style of the band? And did you ever consider or try playing other styles of music than the one(s) you are playing now?
Personally, I've been playing mostly death, black and progressive metal, while Pete and the other guys obviously are having a go at power metal in 7Thorns.
Can you share with us one or two of your favourite moments with the band?
When I returned to do the vocals on the first two songs for our upcoming album "Three Nights in the Sewers of Sodom" things had laid dormant for years and I had no idea how the spirit in the band was, and once I came to Denmark I realized it was amazing and the feel and atmosphere in the band was really good.
Also, playing live with Benjamin again was a kick. I've missed him so much as a drummer.
How is the writing process in the band?
The songs are written by the guys in the rehearsal room and I get rough recordings and updates regularly (I've been living in Norway and England the last few years). Then I write lyrics as they go along and i polish them while recording in the studio.
What brought you on the path to becoming a musician? Did you ever consider or take any other paths through life besides music?
I've been doing fine art and illustration for years and just got my bachelor degree, so visual art was always my passion. However, once I started playing a band and things started to happen, I realized this is what I wanted to spend my life doing for as long as I can. I think a passion for metal music and the musician life style was what attracted me in the first place, and the touring and taking-one-day-at-the-time-life tempted me incredibly much.
Do you have any idols? If yes, who?
Mr. Doctor from Devil Doll
Do you have any regrets looking back at your career? For example any songs or even full albums that you regret recording? If so, what made you regret it?
Tough question, I think it all has been a learning curve and the mistakes we've made have made us who we are, I wouldn't change a thing.
Are there particular songs in your catalogue that the fans love but you're not particular fond of yourself?
"Behind the Mirrors" seems to be well liked among the fans, but I'm not too fond of the song myself, I do like the lyrics, though and I'm quite proud of them, but I think we all find the song rather boring to play live.
How important do you rate the lyrical side of your albums?
Since you are asking the vocalist, I have no choice but to say VERY important. There are immense amounts of bad lyrics in the black metal genre, but sometimes some writers shine through with some incredible stuff. I want to make the lyrics just as much an art as Pete does with his guitar playing. I know most people don't read the lyrics, and it is almost a secret part of the album until the fan is interested enough to actually take the booklet out and read them, but I feel that I want to communicate something to those who do and show them that illnath is not just a sweet package of music and melodies, but that we also have lyrical content.
What do you think about the state of the music industry today?
I think it is easier to be promoted as a band, it is easier to get out there and show your stuff but at the same time you are drowning in a million rubbish band that have made it onto the scene for some reason or other. It just seems like everybody are getting a piece of the pie these days.
What do you think is the best way to fight music piracy?
Make the album something special to take care of, look at In Sorte Diaboli with the mirror-idea. It's awesome and it makes me want to own the album, at least. Besides that I think it's almost impossible. It's just another form of information waiting to be shared and it's going to happen one way or another no matter what we do.
Do you have a life philosophy? If yes, what is it?
I used to be quite deterministic and believe in the deepest end of science and mathematics, but after looking up Planck's constant and Gödel's proof one can't really be sure. From growing up in a Christian family, I think it took way too long before I started to think for myself, and I am still searching for that Theory of Everything to be solved. But for now what makes my life worth living is meeting people, provoking emotions in people and creating things in music, art, poetry and so on.
Can you describe a typical day in your life?
Not really. These days I travel a lot because of the ending of my study and because of my band, the last three weeks I've been to New York, England, Norway, Denmark and Germany. Also, I am working as a self employed illustrator, which means I can work wherever and whenever I like.
What do you like to spend your time with besides music?
Painting, drawing, reading, working out, running, drinking and meeting people.
What's the craziest thing that has ever happened on a tour?
Pete's walkabout in Berlin at 04:00 in the morning being drunk on JD trying to get back to Denmark. Enough said.
You're heading off to live on a deserted island for a couple of years with your portable entertainment system... Which albums, movies or books would you bring? (Max. 3 of each)
Albums; Devil Doll: Sacrilege of Fatal Arms, Archon Infaustus: Perdition Insanabilis, Behemoth - Demigod.
Movies; Nightmare on Elm Street 6, Dellamorte Dellamore and Dreamquest
Books; Nullpluss by Gert Nygårdshaug, Supernatural Omnibus (collected horror stories) and Unabridged Edgar Allan Poe.
What is your favourite joke?
The one Funny Guy in Boondock Saints tells the mafiaboss. See the movie, You'll laugh.
Can you tell us about any future plans for you and your band?
I'm going back to Norway to spend some more time earning money and working with the band. We have just received notice that the label has spent quite a lot of money on promoting us in the States, so hopefully something will happen over there soon. We have an European Tour with Dismember and Necrophobic in August-September and gigs in Moscow and St. Petersburg in November, so we're pretty much packed with stuff to do.
Thanks for answering these questions. Now you are free to write a few lines to our readers.
Think for yourself and make life worth living.
Narrenschiff
Added by Steen - 6/19/2007
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