CVLT Nation Exclusive
Interview with Mick Barr of Krallice

Krallice/Years Past Matter/Mick Barr interview by Metaloath

The masters of atmospheric and sonic black metal have not spent their time resting so far this year. They are ready with a new album, Years Past Matter, and judging by the teasers available here and there on the Internet – it’s going to be the best way to take on the fall and winter that is coming up.

Last year’s album, Diotima, got raving reviews and ended up on the majority of shortlists over top metal albums in 2011. So, I guess it’s fair to say that the expectations are way up there. But then again, I’m not worried. They’ve been around for over five years and have put out three albums, all rock solid (Krallice, 2008; Dimensional Bleedthrough, 2009; Diotima, 2011).

Their signature is the long, contemplative and dense songs that will overrun the short-term memory of most listeners. If you put some effort into it, this band is insanely rewarding, and the upcoming album is great fucking news, no matter how you see it.

Mick Barr from Krallice offers some thoughts on the new stuff coming out.

New album out! Again! That’s a major happening for anyone into atmospheric metal-kinda of music. Are you all satisfied with how the album turned out?

Yes, again with the new albums. Probably too soon for some, but not for us. We are satisfied with the final recording. It was a good condensed period of work for us.

What does the title of the Years Past Matter album point to?

There’s a couple different ways to see the title. It could mean a time when matter ceases to exist and something else takes it’s place. Or it could mean that things don’t matter and haven’t for a while. It’s left up to interpretation.

Full interview after the jump…

Photo by Samantha Marble

Any specific musical or other non-musical inspiration that was substantial to this album?

Non-musical inspiration on my part comes from the ever increasing insanity of modern times. That could be reflected in the denseness of the music on this record. But I prefer to not to consciously acknowledge influence too much as most influence is usually subconscious.

The IIIIIIIII song is more than promising in regards of the new album. It seems a tad more focused sound-wise, in terms of the sound being enclosed and not that ‘roomy’. Could you share some of the choices the band made when producing and mastering the new album? Have you stuck with the formula or changed it up?

We stuck with the formula of putting our guitarist Colin Marston in charge of the recording, mixing and mastering. He may have done some different tricks this time. You’d have to ask him.

You’ve always presented rather long and intricate songs than really demands the listener to make an effort to absorb the songs. In a positive way, you know. Krallice doesn’t strike me as your-average-tits-and-beer kinda metal, like, say Tankard or Municipal Waste. Is it possible to talk about any fundamental or basic characteristic when it comes to the artistic core of Krallice. Is there an artistic or other kind of commitment?

The only artistic core I feel we have is to follow through whatever ideas we may have to a satisfactory conclusion. We don’t necessarily try to write long songs, the songs just come out that way. We like to expand on certain musical moments and not rush the structure along. And to be honest, we usually don’t take “the listener” into account while writing music. In that way, we aren’t making any demands of the listener at all. They are free to pay attention or zone out according to their temperament.

Some bands are politically active and want to change some aspect of the world, while others just want to blast & grind like motherfuckers until death. In this continuum – where would you place Krallice?

I guess of the 2 choices, Krallice falls more into the “blast and grind” camp, as we have no political agenda at all and collectively spend most of our lives focused on music. I salute those who sacrifice and struggle for the betterment of others lives. But I personally can’t get bogged down in political movements. Too much shady opportunism and complicated disinformation.

Photo by Samantha Marble

People are still into labeling music. You guys are black metal, according to the majority of the mighty oracle called the Internet. Are music labels meaningful in any way?

Sure, for convenience sake we are a black metal band. Urban BM, progressive-BM, USBM, all that. Maybe even “tits and beer metal” as you said. Music labels are meaningful to some as it’s a way to help navigate the overwhelming amount of music being produced and released. But of course, labeling music can have its downside when people pledge outright allegiance to one form of music alone. When a musician’s art can’t develop because they won’t allow themselves to write outside of genre limitations.

You’re on your own label with this album – how does that work out?

Just to clarify, we aren’t on our own label; we are self-releasing the cd version of our new record. There is no “label”. The LP will be released by Gilead Media. We are self-releasing this cd strictly because the label we usually work with, Profound Lore, has it’s hands full for the year and couldn’t fit our album into their release schedule. But so far, we are enjoying the process. Although I am dreading the daily trips to the post office once we begin mailing the CDs out.

You’re situated in NYC, right? What’s the music scene like there?

The NYC metal scene seems healthy if a little bloated at the moment. Lots of good shows to choose from, lots of good bands. Though I could use a little less doom and a little more slam.

Any upcoming talent we should keep our ears open to? Top three metal-related surfacing bands?

Ancient Wound, Andromorphus Rexalia, Praetura, Feast of the Epiphany, Geryon, Den Svarta Fanan … plenty more, but those are a few off the top of my head.

Any plans of a tour soon? Are we going to see you guys on the road in the near future?

No tours are planned nor are they being planned. We would love to come play in Norway, probably more than anywhere else. But we do not actively seek out opportunities to tour. Hopefully something will materialize in the near future and we can finally make it over to europe.

Final words or greetings to people that read this?

Thanks for the reading and the listening!

Thanks for taking the time, I really look forward to the new album!

Photo by Samantha Marble