Forests Of Old - None more black

"Forests Of Old" have a new album out called "Voices From Oblivion" and while the band has its roots and sound in Black Metal,they also have a flair for creating some Doom ridden Ambient Sounds which is what caught my ear.Here is a interview with its creators.

1.The band from what i have read started out as "DESTRUCTION RITUAL".Was the name change a way of giving the band a whole new identity and how is the band different from a music standpoint ?



BSOG:Forests of old wasn't Destruction Ritual.It was more of Myself and Christ Insultor joining up with Wulv and forming a whole new band.Two very different bands with to different aesthetics.Christ Insultor isn't involved with the band at all any more or with black metal either.Forests Of Old is it's own entity and neither of our past or current other bands seeps into this.


2.The songs have a more old school approach or at least that what i think.Are you more influenced by older Black Metal or is it a combination of the old and the new bands ?


Wulv:I am not really influenced by new bands,Im not really influenced by much anymore at all..If anything i would say the older bands with older being a relative term.Influence often goes hand in hand with plagiarism.

BSOG:I really hate the word influence because influence often leads to stupidity.I am more inspired by the older bands,but i do however partake in checking out newer bands,most of who fail miserably.

3.You went through a lot of crap with labels and line up changes to get to this point.Can you tell the readers about some of those battles ?


Wulv:Without being to insulting? We made mistakes and this band will always only be the 2 of us,not that we wouldn't collaborate with others,but most people lack the time or dedication to do this the right way.We wasted a lot of time and effort trying to make this a full functioning band,when we should have concentrated our efforts on making our music which above all is most important.

4.The sound on the EP is one of pure raw Black Metal.Was that the plan all along ?

Wulv:My plan was to make music that was unrestrained compared to my previous writing style.The final product was not even in my mind as i was writing,compared to funeral dust how the songs were going to end up.I made the music sound the way it wanted to sound like,i didn't hold anything back in the creative process.
BSOG:This whole ep was very spontaneous,everything just kind of fell into place.It is very chaotic.It was more about finding out what we wanted this band to sound like.The raw element was not intentional at all,it kinda just happened.

5.What is your opinion on the Black Metal scene ? Has it gone forward over the years or is it like some people say gone stagnant ?

Wulv:The black metal scene ended when euronomous died and varg was incarcerated.Today's use of the word scene is a common group of people who can't think for themselves and are completely unimaginative.When speaking of the US scene,your talking about 2-3 bands and then everyone else who sounds like them.I refuse to let my work get lumped in with that,i refuse to let anyone else's ignorance influence how i write music.We are playing the style of music that forests of old needs to be,we're not reinventing the wheel.


BSOG:I think like any genre of music,it must evolve in some ways.I do not however enjoy all of these scene faggots who pollute the music that i love.I guess i am stuck in the late '80's early '90's,but there are a few bands who have come along lately that "get it".


6.Can you see the band experimenting with different genre's in the future ?



BSOG:Black metal will always be the core of what we do.That will never change whatsoever,we do however flirt heavily with doom.But there is never any idea that we don't consider when we are writing music,as long as the foundation which is black metal is still strongly present.



7.What is your take on Satanism,Christianity and Religion ?

Wulv:If you believe in the devil,then you believe in god,which makes you a christian.Forests of old IS satanism refusing to follow others,free thinking,using your own mind to create your own views,while not being ignorant to ignore the finer aspects of other peoples viewpoints.We are above religion.Very simple.


BSOG:I am what i am and that is all i will say about this subject.


8.Some of the songs on the EP have a bit of a Ambient feel to them.Is the Drone/Ambient scene play much of a influence ?



Wulv:Personally there will always be some kind of keyboard ambiance.It is like setting a scene like how you would hear in a film.The keyboards are allowed to breathe in certain sections,where it will set the mood and create a feeling within the listener.


BSOG: I like bands like Nortt and Sunn o))),but that has no place in forests of old.You will not hear any classical music with us,if it takes away from the harshness,then it doesn't work.



9.I also read you are working on a split with CRYPTIC THRONE.How is that coming along ?



BSOG:The split is dead in the water.A 3 track vinyl only ep will be out later this summer thru Runic records.

10.Would you like to take the band on the road sometime soon ?



Wulv:If we could then maybe.It has to make sense.We both have family obligations which make it very difficult to do this.But never say never.

11.FUNERAL DUST is something else you are involved with.Can you tell us the latest news from that project ?



Wulv:Covered by snowdrift was reissued and is sold out thru me,but there are a few other distros with copies available.I am working on a 12" split with moloch from the Ukraine which will be released later this year thru Runic records.



12.How do you see the future of Black Metal when you consider the record industry is now officially dead ?


BSOG:There was a record industry in black metal?Black metal will always survive because of the die hard fanatics who keep the music alive.


Wulv:Since the beginning,the best black metal is created by 4 assholes in a garage and they are always building new garages.If black metal bands waited for labels to release their music,then half the albums out there would have never seen the light of day.

13.What has been the reaction to the CD been so far.Have you had many reviews?

Wulv:Surprisingly to us,the response has been very positive.

BSOG:Nothing to rough yet,everything has been very positive,which is very encouraging,but we don't make this music with critics in mind.



14.Any plans for a full length album from FORESTS OF OLD ?


Wulv:Yeah sure

BSOG:We're doing a full length?


15.To finish up,how would you like people to feel after hearing the band for the first time ?

Wulv:What i just listen to?Where did this come from,it wasn't made from a single mindset.I want them to go listen to it again.

BSOG:I really don't give a shit if people get anything out of it,all i know is what it did for me and how it makes feel.

16.Thanks for the interview,any final thoughts ?



WULV:I am not an artist,artists don't belong in metal,i play music,it purveys its own message and feelings.I do not spend my days and nights brooding over a candle having deep thoughts to life's questions.I play metal!!!!!!!!


BSOG:HAIL FUCKING DARKNESS!!!!!!!!!!!