www.cruachan.cjb.net

Media Archive | Interviews | Ancient spirit, Aug 2002

- In 1994 you've recorded your "Celtica"-demo. Please tell us something to this really original tape. I think CRUACHAN were the first band who mixed such kind of Celtic folk with metal - do you agree? In times where every demo-tape is re-released on cd - what's up with "Celtica"? By the way, what is the meaning of the songtitle "T.M.C.D.A.C.A.K.A.T.G.M." (I hope I've written it correctly)?

Ha ha, its great that people still remember celtica, our first studio experience. Yes, you are fully correct, we were the first band to combine celtic folk with black metal, Although Skyclad were definitely around before us. A re-release of celtica is certainly possible now that we are with a label that has the resources to do it but as yet no plans have been made. 1 track from celtica will be on our next album however……..but which one?????

- I've read that you've recorded the debut "Tuatha Na Gael" in 5 days and mixed it in 1 day. Well, I think the sound isn't very good on that album, and the songs have lost a lot of their power, but due to only 6 days I think it's ok. What is your opinion when you hear this album today? Have you ever thought about re-recording some of these songs? I think your co-operation with Nazguls Eyrie Prod. wasn't the best, right? Would you term it as amistake to have signed to them?

It was actually recorded and mixed in 5 nights and to be honest we were very naïve about the whole studio recording thing, this can be seen when “tuatha” is compared with “kingdom”. There are certainly some great parts on the album but overall it really pisses me off when I hear it because the songs deserved a lot more than they got. The production is very bad, we left in a lot of obvious mistakes thinking we would get away with them and as a result it just sounds amateurish. You will notice on “kingdom” the track - “catte raid of cooley”, is an extension of the track “tain bo cuailgne” from “tuatha. We felt that this could have been done better so we completely reworked the middle section. We plan to eventually re-record most songs from “tuatha” and release them as bonus songs on our forth coming albums.
It was not a mistake to sign with nazguls, although they did no promotion and had limited distribution, we still sold a lot of copies of “tuatha” and it has become a somewhat cult album. Unfortunately Hartmuth, the owner, completely ripped us off and we did not see any of the royalties that we were owed. We cannot understand why he done this to us because he was such a good friend to us in the early days………you live and learn.

- You've also released a promo-tape '97 which was only spread among the labels. Please tell us something to this featured songs. Were there some labels which was interested in signing CRUACHAN? In the band-info for "The Middle Kingdom" I found an interesting statement: "German based label CENTURY MEDIA showed a lot of interest in CRUACHAN but no deal was signed due to the fact that the band did not have enough freedom to do what they wanted to do." What was the exactly problem with CENTURY MEDIA? What do you think in general about labels - do they often try to take influence on the bands?

As soon as that promo was sent we were contacted by century media so we did not reply to any other labels that showed an interest although I cannot remember who exactly did contact us. Century media are a very scarey bunch of people although very pleasant to talk to face to face. The 24 page contract they offered us was not even good enough to wipe your arse with, it was a disgrace. We came close to signing but luckily at this time we took on a manager who took legal advice to decipher the contract. It contained ridiculous clauses that tied us to century media, even when we leave the label. All music I would write now or in the future would technically belong to them. They had the power to include what ever the trend was at the time in our music, for example: if we finish recording an album and send the master tape to century media, they could easily include a lot of techno music on it if they feel that is the trend. Some labels are good, some are bad. Luckily we are now on a label that has nothing but deep respect for us and what we do.

- Now let's come to "The Middle Kingdom". What can you tell us to your second full-length-album? You have lost most of your black- and death-influences which took a bigger part on your former releases. Do you
think you'll loose some of the older fans (I personally don't care about such a correction if the result is as good as "The Middle Kingdom")? What was your intention to include a permanent female singer?

Its been 5 years so firstly we are glad to finally have it out. Secondly, people must remember there is a 5 year gap between albums, a lot can happen in 5 years. If we had released an album every year, people would not have noticed much of a change. We are really pleased with “kingdom”, there could have been some things done better but fuck it, its done and that is that, you can't please everyone which is why we write our music for ourselves first and foremost...if other people like it, cool. If they don't...it's their choice. I'd rather the new vocals as they fit with the music. We purposely went for 'normal' female singing rather than the usual opera that female vocalists associated with metal often do. We wanted a more down to earth 'folk' singer approach .

- As Hammerheart Records were not able to send me the lyrics for your new cd and so I haven't read them - please say a few words to it. Are there any other topics besides the Celts you write about (when I'm reading the songtitles I don't think so)?

CELTICA.....It is about the future in store for mankind.
THE FIANNA.....A short poem about this band of warriors from Ireland.
A DRUIDS PASSING.....About the last moments of a druids life.
IS FUAIR AN CHROI......this is a song we've had for years...I kind of celtic love song.
THE MIDDLE KINGDOM.....a tale of faeries and elves.
ORO SE DO BHEATHA ABHAILE.....more of a rebel song than anything else, people still sing this song in pubs to this day and a number of versions have been done by ballad bands, although none I've heard with electric guitar etc.
UNSTABLED......about horses.

- You have chosen a really great cover for your new cd. As I don't know who was responsible for it please tell us some details about the artist (and maybe some other works of him). I think there were used typical Celtic
elements: animals, plants, some ghostlike creatures, a proud knight in the middle of the cover - have you told the artist what he should draw?

The artist is my brother John, our flute player. He has done our previous cover and the cover on primordials first album. As my brother is in the band he knew exactly what we all wanted, it totally suits the song “the middle kingdom”.

- Before we've talked about the band-info: what is your opinion on the label's comparison "CRUACHAN could appeal to fans of ENYA and CLANNAD, but also METALLICA or THE GATHERING"? Any objections?

Not really, they are all great acts but as with all bands I hate comparisons and I agree with the label when they later say “alone in their kind”. You must understand that a label will do all in its power to sell a band and I respect that, they would never do something to offend us and if they did it would be by accident.

- You always used original instruments as flutes, tin whistles, mandolin or the great uillean pipes. When did you start learning to play these instruments? Do you think it's easy to play them? As the harp was a very
popular Celtic instrument - could you imagine to use a harp in the future?

Myself and my brother started learning these instruments about 10 years ago, we had always listened to folk music and it was always a desire to be able to play it compitently. All instruments are hard to learn at first but as the saying goes “practise makes perfect”. Yes the harp is a brilliant sound, we use the sound from the keyboard to recreate it because no-one in the band can play the harp…….but I am working on that.

- Talking about original instruments: I think that some Celtic songs and melodies belong to the most beautiful music ever written in mankind's history - melancholic, dreamy and not of this earth are the best words to
describe them. What do you think was this special secret of the Celts to write such wonderful melodies? Do you often involve traditional melodies in your music?

Who knows, I read a lot about faerie lore and mythology and it is said that these mystical creatures are responsible for such wondrous music. Many people have read stories of how men have been lured into the otherworld by the sound of faerie music.
Yes we do involve traditional tunes, on our first album was Brian Boru’s march. A very ancient tune that was allegedly played at the battle of clontarf in 1014 a.d.

- The famous druid Merlin is often described as a mighty and influential wizard. Do you personally think that he really lived some centuries ago? How do you imagine yourself Merlin? As there are a lot of literature and movies about these topics: what are your favourite books and movies about Merlin, King Arthur, Uther Pendragon, Morgan, Mordred and other figures which are often used in this context? (If you are interested - my favourite books are the books from the Zimmer-Bradley-trilogy - especially the 1. part - and the books of Douglas Monroe, but there are some others which are really good! movies I can't remember anyone who really made an impression on me)

There is a theory going around at the moment that they all did exist in some form many hundreds of years ago. King Arthur was allegedly a celtic chieftan. My favourite film was Excalibur.

- In the Celtic ideology people try to live in harmony with nature, not over or against it. What do you think is the reason that this absolutely elemental feeling didn't survived from the past to the present times and mankind is going to destroy the planet earth? What went wrong during the centuries?

Mankind has become selfish, it is as simple as that. Greed is what will destroy this planet unless we change our ways, my song “celtica” tells just such a tale, people should read it and take note.

- Is there still a strong Celtic spirituality out in Ireland? Are there people who still believe in those traditions and mythologies? Do you personally take part on Celtic ceremonies like Beltane or the summer- and winter-solstice?

Yes there is a huge sense of celtic spirituality in Ireland, its hard to describe but trust me….it is there. I do not mean to sound offensive but we are making a point of keeping our religious beliefs separate from our music, there is too much emphasis on religion and music lately and we will have no part of it

- The trees have a high rating in the Celtic mythology. What is in your opinion the special thing that makes them so holy for the Celts? The Celts have a strong believe in reincarnation, too. What do you think about this? They also believed in the possibility to reincarnate as animals or plants, right? Could this be one of the reasons for the high respect for the nature?

Trees, plants are our life force. They give us the oxygen we breathe and should be respected. Ancient people could not have known about oxygen, respiration etc. but still they worshipped nature, deep down they knew nature is what keeps them alive. Yes, they had strong beliefs in re-incarnation.

- Please comment the following topics:
-J.R.R. Tolkien “An absolute genius” / * CRUACHAN-live-gigs “very tiring”/ * the esoteric Boom (f. e. in
Germany esoteric topics are very popular) “Cool”/ * Hammerheart Records “Best label yet”/ *
the meaning of the four elements for you “the elements are the core of nature, the be all and end all” / * vinyl “Do not eat it……ha ha”

- Please comment the following bands and composers:
* ENYA She should never have left Clannad./ * SLAYER My favourite band 10 years ago, don’t like the new stuff..too much like Korn or something./ * THE DUBLINERS Aaah yes, Luke Kelly R.I.P./ * DEICIDE Deeeaaadddd bbyyyyy Daaaawwwwwnnnn/ * PRIMORDIAL Hail to our celtic brothers, a truly excellent and original band./ *DARKTHRONE My favourite band 5 years ago, they seemed to become worse musicians with the release of every album.

- What are in general the future plans with CRUACHAN? Is there maybe a tour planned And what can we expect from the next album??

We will be here for a long time. We want more people who listen only to folk music to give us a chance, we may bring metal to people who would never before have listened to it. We begin recording our next album in December, twice as much time means twice as good.

- As you could see we have reached the end of the interview. You have now the possibility for last words or greetings or anything else you want to say.

Hail to all our fans everywhere, respect the earth.