A Dirty Dozen with SKOLL from NACHTBLUT – September 2020

According to a recent press release: “NACHTBLUT, a flagship of German dark metal, show off with their gloomy new offering, Vanitas, out October 2 via Napalm Records, and unleash the third single, “Meine Grausamkeit Kennt Keine Grenzen” (engl. My Cruelty Knows No Bounds) to the world, along with a harmoniously conceived music video. The new album Vanitas draws the listener into the band’s musical maelstrom in a classifying NACHTBLUT manner. Songs like “Das Puppenhaus” (engl. the dollhouse) is reminiscent of scene giants such as RAMMSTEIN, with brutally honest lyrics and rhythmic guitars. “Die Toten vergessen nicht” (engl. the dead don’t forget) shines with an unmistakably dark and orchestral sound that will cause shivers to run down the listener’s spine, while the folk-influenced song Leierkinder” (engl. children of the lyre) convinces with an addictive rhythms and moving lyrics that will carry the listener away to days of yore. With Vanitas, these dark metal giants create a symbolic work of art somewhere between transience and infinity.” We get drummer Skoll to discuss new music, influences, and much more…

1. Tell us a little about your latest release.  What might a fan or listener not grab the first or second time they listen through?  Are there any hidden nuggets the band put in the material or that only diehard fans might find?

I don’t know if people get all the hints or details on “Apostasie” or will on “Vanitas.” But if they didn’t or won’t, that’s how it is. I think it would take all the fun out of it, if I would explain or spoil the little things you maybe get listening the second or third time to a song or you just know because you are diehard fan. There are little gems and details on every record of us, but I’m sorry, I won’t do the math for you or giving a walkthrough ;-).

2. What got you into music, and can you tell us about the moment you realized you wanted to be a musician?

I wouldn’t say there was one moment, at least I don’t remember. As a kid I was fascinated by drummers and gratefully my parents supported me and I got my first drum-lessons with the age of 6 or 7. From there, music was always part of my life. I think pretty naturally, when I was teenager, music got a boost in importance for me.

3. Building on that, is there a specific song, album, performer, or live show that guided your musical taste?

Rock music was always around. My father is a Black Sabbath and Deep Purple fan, so obviously that was my first contact with rock music. Later Marilyn Manson got me more into the goth/shock-rock. I think “Disposable Teens” was the song that got me really into this. I just liked the sound, the vibe. Lyrics were not that important, I mean I was still a kid, didn’t speak English at all.

4. Who would be your main five musical influences?

Of course, when you are a kid and start listening to a certain kind of music, usually the first bands you listen to, won’t be those super-unknown-underground-just-insider-knows-bands. So Manson, Korn, Rammstein, System Of A Down and Tool were the bands my self-determined musical journey started with. From there I rummage myself through all kind of genres and sub-genres.

5. If you could call in any one collaborator to do a song with, who would it be, and why?

Tough one – I’m torn between Till Lindemann or Tobias Forge. Lindemann, because of his voice and Rammstein are kind of role model to me. Also, we have German lyrics so that would fit. Tobias Forge, because I really like what he does with Ghost. For me the band of the moment.

6. How would you describe your music to someone who’d never listened to you before? What is the one comparison a reviewer or fan has made that made you cringe or you disagreed with?

Describing music is like talking about food. I can tell that the dish is salty, but what is “salty” to you? I would say we have heavy riffs, good melodies, groovy drums, electronic elements, string and choirs, guttural vocals. A cringy comparison… I don’t remember one right now, but there have been some yes. But nothing is worse or more annoying than those reviews made by people living in their bubble of “genre XY” and due to the fact that our music is not part of or typical for genre “XY” they being pretty disrespectful and the whole review is just about, why they don’t like that kind of music and their personal preferences, instead of doing a review of the record. This is not something happen only to us from time to time, I read stuff like this again and again about other bands too. I always asked myself why this person wanted to write reviews? Obviously you can’t just write all the time about the 5 bands you like. I guess those kinds of reviews are cringy.

7. What’s the best thing about being a musician?

It’s the combination of a lot of things. Making and playing music, interaction with people, seeing a lot of places and for me it’s not feeling like work/job, even if I know it is.

8. When the band are all hanging out together, who cooks; who gets the drinks in; and who is first to crack out the acoustic guitars for a singalong?

If someone needs to cook, I guess I would do it. Drinks – someone will start to get them, there is no particular person in the band or crew who starts all the time. Acoustic guitar definitely one of the crew members.

9. When was the last time you were star struck and who was it?

I don’t know if I ever were really star-struck. Like I said before, I really like what Tobias Forge is doing, but that does not result in crazy fandom. For me, a lot of fascinating artists are out there, but I can’t pick one outstanding now.

10. If you weren’t a musician, what would be your dream job?

Probably still something with music. I guess doing tour management or working for a label or booking agency.

11. Looking back over your career, is there a single moment or situation you feel was a misstep or you would like to have a “do over”, even if it didn’t change your current situation?

Nothing really that bothers me and need to be done over, because I can’t stand it. Of course from a retro perspective you always know better and there are small things I would handle differently nowadays, but it’s how it is and made us who we are.

12. If you could magically go back in time and be a part of the recording sessions for any one record in history, which would you choose – and what does that record mean to you?

I know that some people getting into rhapsody and glorification thinking about a few records of the past and what if they could have participated. I enjoy those records too, but I don’t feel the need or the wish to be part of the process. Just keep the magic ;-).

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Category: Interviews