Hell Spawn

You're not really a new name because you've already built quite a reputation for yourself, in the first place by "The Pnakotic Demos". Are you aware of that? Did you realize you have that impact on the audience who was eagerly waiting for an official debut, almost 3 years after that legendary ep?
Markus: First of all, thank you for your positive feedback! To answer your questions: After selling around 1000 copies of our demo CD in 2007 and selling another 500 copies of its vinyl version one year later, and together with all the great reactions we received for this EP - we were hoping that there was a certain demand within the underground metal scene for our first full length album. People were encouraging us with their feedback and we knew of a few people, who constantly kept asking for the release date of our debut. However, we did definitely not expect what has happened over the past couple of weeks and is still happening: Overwhelmingly positive reactions and - for a band like us - a huge demand for the album. The band is still kind of shocked, but it is a great feeling. Thanks to everyone out there who bought or will buy the album!

There was already 'something about that ep' because there were a few version released, the latest with addition of the "A Prohet in the Forest" ep. Due to popular demand? Or label switch?
Markus: The first version of the Pnakotic Demos was released on a label that Manuel and I ran together with a couple of friends, New Iron Age Records. 3 years after its original release, there was apparently still a huge demand for the EP, because we constantly received questions from fans regarding its availability. Unfortunately, the NIA release was completely sold out. When Cruz Del Sur signed us in 2010, they came up with the idea to re-release the demo as some kind of appetizer for the upcoming album, and we agreed to do so, but we wanted the re-release to contain some quality bonus tracks and that it should be sold for a very reasonable price. So, both the demand and signing the Cruz Del Sur deal played a role in the re-release.

The biggest surprise actually is that (totally without being disrespectful - see first sentence when doubting) you're not really bringing new music. You're doing something that originates in the eighties but it hasn't been done that good or that authentic since then! Is that the reason for your 'instant cult status'?
Markus: Not sure if I should agree to calling it a "cult status", but I think you got part of the explanation for the success of the album exactly right: Whereas 95% of all bands today try to sound as far away from the imperfections of the 80s, our approach is exactly the opposite: we actually want to sound that way, we don't care about the perfect modern sound or perfect musicianship. There are flaws in our production and in our playing, but we actually rather feature them than hide them. We are fans of a certain style and era of Heavy Metal music, and that is the only reason why we chose to play it ourselves: simply because we love it! It's funny sometimes when we read things like "they sound too much like a debut album recorded in 1984". In fact, this is the biggest compliment for us, that's just great! The other part of the explanation is probably this: Without aiming for it, we must have hit a nerve of many old school metal fans, by reminding them of bands like Bathory, Manowar, Manilla Road and other epic sounding bands. And there are simply not too many new bands out there who sound that way today. In fact, I can only think of a handful. However, there seems to be quite a number of people out there who are desperately waiting for bands to fill the void in this area of Heavy Metal.

What's also interesting is that the current line up was (or still is?) active in other bands, but there was nobody who played in an epic/heavy metal band, it were all different, more extreme (or at least faster) genres. How did this style came along then?
Markus: It's true, some of us played in Thrash or even Death Metal bands. And we all still like this side of Metal, too. It was basically Manuel's idea to found Atlantean Kodex as an epic metal band, with the motivation to step in and bring a metal genre back to life that was basically dead. He just wanted to play the music that he himself wanted to listen to and missed so much since Quorthon's death and Manowar's departure from their signature sound and songwriting of the 80s. He is also big time into (real) doom metal. So it was just a logical choice for him. As far as I am concerned, when I joined AK, I was fascinated by the thoughtful lyrical and musical concept of the band even in its early days and therefore wanted to be part of it. And I knew they needed a singer. And I was young and needed the money *laugh*

I have the "The Pnakotic demos" ep and the "A prophet in the forest" ep, so not everything is new to me, but there is one new song I'd like to pick out and that's "Pilgrim". Super track but what makes it also special is the "Child in time" reference in the end part. Intentional? Or not intentional, but equally genius?
Markus: You know, it's funny you mention this part. Some people like it, because it sounds a bit like a mixture between Child in Time and Bathory, which is certainly kind of interesting. Others think, it sounds like rip off. I can tell you that it was not really intentional, but when we recorded the vocals, we knew what the part sounded like and looked at each other asking ourselves if  we can really do this, or if people will accuse us of being un-original. So you see, we were torn about this part, but eventually decided to keep it because we liked it. And there is no doubt that Ian Gillan's version of this vocal part is a pure masterpiece that we had no intention of competing with.

An easy one in between: next to your namesake song, where does the idea for the bandname come from?
It's sort of a forbidden book, like the ones from H.P. Lovecraft.

Another track I'd like to pick out, already dating from the "A Prophet in the forest" is "Vesperal hymn". There are some folk elements in the vocal line. I think that comes from the fact that not only metal music is your source of inspiration. Your range of influence is wider than that; true or not?
Markus: Our bass player Florian wrote this song, and I can't really speak to his influences, but there must have been more to it than metal only. If I remember correctly, he did his first demo recording of the song together with his wife singing. I remember when we recorded it for the album, we were not really sure in the beginning where we were headed with it, but ultimately liked it a lot for its different character. I personally like the lyrics a lot.

You chose Cruz Del Sur to release your first full length and official album. Seems a logical choice when looking at their catalogue (you have some excellent compagnons there) but maybe for a German band there were labels closer to home? What convinced you?
Markus: You are right, Cruz del Sur are the perfect choice for AK, and we love what Enrico is doing. You will hardly find anyone in this business with more dedication and true spirit. Since we ran our own small label for a short time, we know what an effort this is for Enrico. And I also agree that we perfectly fit into the label's catalogue. So when we got the offer, there was not much convincing work necessary on his part.

On the lyric sheet, all tracks have been given a subtitle as well. To explain the themes, or as you put it to help people 'open the gates of perception'? Again "Pilgrim" has a great one "Through the ruins of Europa" but at the same time cynical and nostalgic...
Yes, you're right. It's about giving the people a hint of the meaning of the lyrics, but avoiding to tell them too much, so they still have the chance to explore the themes for themselves.

What's up next? Get on a (European) tour?
Markus: Unfortunately, AK will never be a touring band. We all have very time consuming day jobs and I live in the States at the moment, which does not make things easier. I guess, in our hearts we all would love to go on tour, but it's not going to happen any time soon, that is just a reality. It's going to be hard enough for us to play a couple of single gigs and festivals. The only one that is confirmed to date is the Hammer of Doom Festival in Wuerzburg/Germany on April 16, 2011.

Since some of the material of "The Golden Bough" is already somewhat older, does that mean that there is a lot of material lying on a shelf waiting to be recorded and released?
Markus: I bet, our songwriting team already has some new ideas. There are no completed new songs or anything like that, but there are certainly some ideas floating around that we can pick up someday and put them together. Will there be a follow up album any time soon? Well, if the first one makes us millionaires and we can quit our jobs, chances are good *laugh*. Otherwise, we'll have to wait and see...Maybe it's going to take another 3 years...

Saw a new treat just by wrapping up these questions, there is a (again) limited live tape (!) released of your very first gig as Atlantean Kodex. Did you have anything to do with that yourselves? Why did you want to bring this one out?
Markus: We like throwing our own bootlegs on the market. Or let other people do that. Would be funny if there's a bootleg or live release of every gig we ever played. But seriously: We just provided the master tape and then Francisco, the organizer of our CD release party in Lissabon, released the tape. We just liked the idea of this being a tape with an old school artwork and appearance. And it was also a way for the guy to recover some of his cost for the fine event that he organized. We just like retro stuff like that, believe me there is nothing in it for us financially...

http://www.myspace.com/atlanteankodex
Pow

We kregen van Cruz Del Sur 2 finished products van ATLANTEAN KODEX  hun "The golden bough" cd ter verloting! Normaal gezien gingen we hier een wedstrijdvraag voor posten, maar met de eindejaarsfeesten in zicht hebben we besloten om de cd's gewoon weg te schenken! Wil je hiervoor meedingen, stuur dan een mailtje naar [email protected] met de vermelding ATLANTEAN KODEX, een onschuldige hand zal de twee winnaars aanduiden! Veel succes!