THE HIGHWIRE DAZE INTERVIEWS

Updated: 08/03/01

The rebellious art of Primordial is one of passion and power rooted in Irish tradition. Those who listen to Spirit The Earth Aflame are unlikely to forget it's sweeping, dynamic melodies. This is metal at it's most compelling, almost like an epic art film for the ears. Our chat is with Nemtheanga, the voice of Primoridal, and we talk about the band, Irish metal, and certain pop icons. Read on…

Highwire Daze: Introduce yourself, tell me what you do in Primordial, and tell me how long the band has been together?

Nemtheanga: I am Nemtheanga, the voice of Primordial. The genesis of the band goes back to '87/'88 but only really became a "band" in the year of 1991. The name Primordial has been in existence since 1992. Before that we were called various other things..not important.

HD: With "Spirit The Earth Aflame" having been out for a while, are you satisfied with the overall results and what have the reactions been here in the States?

Nemtheanga: Yes "Spirit..." has been out over a year now, we are satisfied still with the results. It is a confident and pure release of character and depth. There are things of course you know better to do the next time, but being in the studio is always a learning process. The promotion and production was better than ever, the cover as we wanted and the songs I feel are the best we have ever created. The sales have increased nearly three fold and we have played more gigs on European soil than ever...so yes I am still satisfied. The States has been ok, behind The Ravenous and Defleshed the best seller on Hammerheart America, but America is so vast and it takes a long time to build momentum there. It's hard to have a solid fan base as people are so spread out. Add to that the climate for the kind of music we play is not the same as in Europe, more "brutal" music seems to hold far greater sway. However we have made a start there, now we must build on it. We hope someday to make it across the Atlantic and play.

HD: Have you ever played here in the States or plan to do so in the future?

Nemtheanga: No we have never played in the States, there was talk of Milwaukee and a few other shows around it but there were too many problems surrounding it. Who knows maybe next year?

HD: What is a live Primordial show like for those of us who have yet to see you play?

Nemtheanga: Intense, a white knuckle ride. Many people expect us to be some kind of shrinking violets but we are not...we are hungry. Before 1999 we never really got to play abroad so we are very hungry for it and have not a shred of complacency in us. We give it blood, sweat and fucking tears every night. You can expect no less. The is passionate music and we passionate people.

HD: Do you particularly like being tagged an "Irish metal" band or do you find it a bit limiting?

Nemtheanga: Well we are Irish and I expect no less, we are intensly proud of that. It surely gives us even an edge in the curiosity stakes over another Norwegian band or another Swedish band...but then again we have had to work very hard and harder then many of those bands as it seems sometimes there are not that many curious people out there? We don't feel limited by anything, it's all kindling to the fire.

HD: How close are you to recording the new album and what will the title be?

Nemtheanga: We will record the new album in the Winter and it should see a spring 2002 release. We had hoped to have it out before the end of the year and record earlier but we decided not to rush. However there are the two re-releases of our first two albums coming out to keep people interested. I have no title yet either.

HD: What are some of the songs on the new album and what are the lyrics inspired by?

Nemtheanga: The songs on the new album seem darker, more complex on various levels. They are more Epic and we are utilising a lot more strange harmonies nad notes and timings. Well perhaps not strange but untypical. The songs a further extension of our sound...pushing further in more directions. They also seem more influenced by our culture and heritage then ever and very influenced by history. The lyrics are perhaps a little more lyrical then the last album...more complex and perhaps a little less violent image wise, more obscure.

HD: How has the current political atmosphere in Ireland inspired or affected your music, if at all?

Nemtheanga: Perhaps, we live in the South though and the bulk of the troubles is in the North of Ireland. However the spectre of our history hangs over all of us. Politics in Ireland are very heated and passionate...like it's people...and thus like our music...

HD: Do you feel that nationalism is a dangerous thing?

Nemtheanga: No I don't, I believe ignorance is a dangerous thing. I believe that a respect for your culture, heritage, folklore, history and tradition is of immense importance and one must strive to keep it alive. Because without it we are nothing. We have no grounding, no root, we will be strangers in a strange land. Art is Rebellion and Culture is Resistance.

HD: I understand that some of your earlier recordings are being re-released. What do you think about the early Primordial releases when you hear them now?

Nemtheanga: Yes, our first two albums "Imrama" and "A Journey's End" are being re-released. When I listen back to them I am very proud of what we have achieved and overcome, the spirit of these albums is still intact. They are part of me, part of us and I am glad that after bad distribution, bad promotion, bad mastering ("A Journey's End"), changed cover artwork ("Journey's...") and actual deletion ("Imrama") we can now present them, especially "A Journey's End" more as we had intended and put them out there for those who never got them to discover them. There is still a demo from '93 but at the moment we would rather leave that for the few with long memories!

HD: So what's it like being from the country that unleashed Boyzone onto the world?

Nemtheanga: I don't know, what's it like being onstage with Jerry Springer?

HD: Overall, what is the metal scene like in Ireland and are there very many places to play?

Nemtheanga: Small but increasingly partisan. Growing in many respects, steadily but surely people are finding their way back to real music, past the trends and bullshit. We get the usual trends from the US and the UK but thankfully more and more people in the underground are rejecting that. We sadly do not have a touring circuit and it makes it hard to play anywhere, but where we can we try.

HD: How did the tour with Immortal go and were there any probelms with both the bands being so different in musical styles?

Nemtheanga:: I think our styles are closer then many think, we both play Epic music with big structures and sweeping gestures. The tour was fine and a great experience and there was no problems, good partying, good crowds and good people. That's what it's all about. We hope to be back on the battlefield many more times in the future.

HD: What are the future plans for Primordial?

Nemtheanga: A new album, another tour, more festivals and reaching more people and places. Doing things our way and pleasing ourselves. Appearing on Jerry Springer...that kind of thing.

HD: Do you bave any messages for Primordial fans in the States or for those who might be interested in checking your music out?

Nemtheanga: For Primordial fans in the States...keep the Ancient Flame Burning and we hope to see you sometime...on the field of Battle. For anyone interested in checking the band out, if you see yourself as an individual then you will see yourself in this band...plain and simple. Keep Fighting my friends!