Primordial

Coming from Dublin, Ireland Primordial is a Pagan Metal band that was formed in 1987 by Pól MacAmlaigh(bass) and Ciarán MacUilliam (guitar). Originally called Forsaken – for a brief period – its music is closed influenced by Black Metal but under a very unique way.

Very acclaimed by Media and public, Primordial has been chosen as band of the year several times not to mention the awards received throughout their career. Lots of talent and competence on the stage have also made the band tour all over Europe and America participating on the most important festivals and venues.

Primordial’s discography consists in seven studio album and the most recent, Redemption at the Puritan’s Hand, has been released this year through Metal Blade Records.

Voted for “Best Underground Band” at Metal Hammer’s Golden Gods Awards 2011, Primordial will be at the Bloodstock edition’s line up this year.They’ll play at the Ronnie James Dio Stage in August 14^th (Sunday) and the festival takes place in Catton Hall, Derbyshire (UK).

Recently, before Primordial hits Bloodstock, I had the honor to interview Primordial’s vocalist Allan A. Nemtheaga and we’ve talked about the band’s career, tours and a lot more. Honestly, it’s been quite a challenge this interview once I had no idea if my ideas would be understood but as I praise the impartiality and freedom of speech, you’ll be able to read everything in here, with no cuts as always.  I hope you all enjoy it!

* AL: Ana Leary - Rock Pulse UK

* AAN: Allan A Nemtheage - Primordial

AL: Coming from Ireland whose music relation is deeply rooted to its tradition and history, how did you have to the idea, while creating Primordial, to add Black Metal influences to your own music? Have you somehow been inspired by Cruachan?

AAN:Is that a joke? We have been Primordial longer than Cruachan have been called Cruachan. We are old friends but the both bands sound NOTHING alike whatsoever. The lyrical approach is completely different if you read them. We have far more Black Metal within our sound and a totally different take on our culture and historical influences. Cruachan sing about folklore and myth generally, we do not. They are of course old friends of ours and cool guys but that's as far as it goes.

AL:Back to 1987 when you got started as a band you’ve changed its name from Forsaken to Primordial. Can you tell us how did you get to the name?

AAN:Ciaran and Paul started together jamming at the end of 87 but that was not really the start of the band, just kids learning their instruments. It really started in the middle of 91. Forsaken didn’t really fit and there was another band with the same name. We had a song called 'primordial beginnings' so it started from there.

AL:As you've joined the band your music has got a darker atmosphere due to your own personal tastes. How have you all absorbed such influences and what’s been the major consequence of such while composing?

AAN:Well, I think when I joined I brought some more of the underground tape trading demo bands which the other guys were just about to discover. I was doing a fanzine so was already totally immersed in that scene. It was all just new and fresh back then so we absorbed everything.

AL:  During Imrana’s album it’s clear the band was still forming its style. Could it be considered the moment Primordial was ready to explore further sounds and experiments?

AAN:That’s a long time ago really. I don’t' think we consciously thought about anything in particular we just wrote what pleased us at the time, like we still do today.

AL:Imrana’s following up “A Journey’s End” has an epic style. By using mandolins and whistles Primordial’s music got closer to those elements traditional in Irish music. How have you got to decide such elements would also become so strong on the band’s musicality?

AAN:No I don’t think so at all. These elements are not a strong part of the bands musical backdrop if you look at our whole body of work. Maybe 3 or 4 songs they make an appearance in. despite the fact that the song 'dark song' doesn’t really sound anything like Irish traditional music atall. It was in the main body composed by me and a friend who played briefly in primordial after that for a completely unrelated side project, it was more influenced by old Goth music actually. We changed that to become more Irish in feeling.

AL:The albums “The Burning Season” and “Spirit the Earth Aflame” have brought you the opportunity to tour with bands such as Immortal. Although the styles difference what achievements you recall from this? At this moment could we consider Primordial’s music fully developed when it comes to emotions and rhythms?

AAN:Burning season is only a mcd not an album. Touring with Immortal was great and I don’t think we were so far apart. Both bands had an epic scope influenced by Bathory, for example. We had started to play in Europe around 97 and 98 so again it was great to break through and play in new territories and overall it was a very positive experience. This time around 2000 is where we became more like a proper band with goals and aims.

AL: With “The Gathering Wilderness” Primordial has achieved remarkable deeds like, for example, being the album of the month in Terrorizer Magazine. Have you expected having so much praises from this particular album? 

AAN:I don’t know...the last 3 albums have all been album of the month in Terrorizer so it’s not that remarkable really. To be honest, far more people praised to the nameless dead when it came out. We just write and don’t really concern ourselves with things like that, if it happens it does.

AL:Have you ever imagined that 2008 would bring so much change to the band?  Have you ever wondered touring throughout Europe the way you had during this same year?

AAN:It was just a year of turmoil really. Some great moments and a great album came out of it but also some of the darkest lowest points we ever had but things happen, we are human beings with flaws and character and sometimes you need lows to regain the highs. What doesn’t kill you etc.

AL:How can you describe the strongholds conquered in Scandinavia? Which ideas the contact with bands such as Finntroll and Moonsorrow has brought to Primordial’s music?

AAN:Nothing at all....both bands are awesome guys and great touring partners but haven’t influenced our music in any way whatsoever. it has been strange how we have begun to sell quite well in Scandinavia and Finland over the last couple of albums and all our shows there have been amazing but sometimes things just happen like that, ten years ago it was Greece for example.

AL:How can you manage reaching new levels in your career but keep the same essence of the band? 

AAN:We just don't worry about what anyone thinks of us. We take things as they come and try and be as honest and passionate as possible about what we do and never compromise a single thing.

AL:What can you tell us about the first North American tour? Which memories from this time are still strong on the band? And what have been the main differences you’ve noticed among the American Pagan Metal fans?

AAN:It was a great, great experience and something we all hope to do again for the cycle of this album. America is a country you have to keep returning back to ‘break’ so I think maybe things have come a little late in the day for us to do that but we will be back over there for sure, and Canada was great as well don't forget. People there were just genuinely excited to have us there and crowds were generally 90% strong and reactions were great. I’m a big fan of America!

AL: When Primordial was closer to its 20th year of existence you’ve faced a very hard moment happened in Athens. Looking back from now, how important such crisis has been? Which good things can you keep from such experience?

AAN:We are human, not machines. It was a very difficult and emotional experience that could have ended up far worse. I could just say shit happens and it does, it was really unfortunate but maybe you have to reach the bottom of the barrel to get some perspective. The next step was definitely death or close to so I’m glad we pulled out and so far so good came back stronger.

AL: Simon returned to the band and the works of “Redemption at the Puritan’s Hand” got started at full speed in Wales. You’ve considered it as “the death album”. Does death you’ve mentioned has the meaning of rebirth? Could it also be considered a new cycle on Primordial’s music?

AAN: I don't know. I think the previous year’s experiences influenced my writing but also the ageing cycle, our relationship to spirituality and death. After so many albums you need new angles to find to write about this world and how you engage it. I guess I just became particularly morbid between albums!

AL: The fact “Redemption at the Puritan’s Hand” is Primordial’s seventh album bring us the expectation to see a mature and well structured band. The album is intense, passionate and perfectly arranged. How difficult it’s been to the band to achieve such level? What’s been the biggest complexity you’ve faced during this album?

AAN:I don’t know again, we don’t really analyze it too much. We just write when we have to about what we have to and please ourselves foremost, trust in our instinct and then things slowly fall into place. I think you really need to view some chartable growth in a band, moving forwards so thankfully we have been able to do that over the last 5 years.

AL:What challenges you expect to overcome on this new phase of Primordial? 

AAN:At the moment, the challenge is trying to balance playing enough shows and trying to get on tour in the middle of a very difficult economic climate here in Ireland which is doing everything it can to work against us. Unfortunately.

AL: Have you designed the Redemption at the Puritan’s Hand’s artwork? If positive, what has inspired you for this particular work?

AAN:I find most of the images and come up with the ideas and general aesthetic but they are shared with our artist Paul Mccarroll from UNhinged art who comes to the table with loads of his own input. We wanted something striking and aesthetic, iconic and totally opposite of the modern fussy airbrushed computerized style. I think we have achieved that.

AL: What about touring? Any dates schedules?

AAN:Check our Facebook. We are doing festivals all summer and then hopefully we can get out again before the end of the year and include north and South America in that as well as some other countries we have never been to.

AL: Could you leave us a message to our readers? 

AAN: No compromise.

Thanks a lot for Mr. AT and Allan Nemtheaga for making this interview possible !! - Ana Leary

For more information about Primordial and tour dates, please check:

http://www.primordialweb.com/-> Official site

http://www.facebook.com/primordialofficial - > Facebook

http://www.myspace.com/primordialofficial -> Myspace

http://www.metalblade.com/english/content.php -> Metal Blade Records