From the ancient soil of Attica I greet you! The DREADFUL RELIC is Commando Wolf, Hjarulv Henker , Blackhammer and Desolate Wings of the Pagan Dawn. A convocation with the aim to invoke worlds surrounded by the mist of times and dust of the ages, to curse, to spit and breath fire upon this world. Right now it’s almost two after midnight. It’s in these hours of the night that I find most suitable to do things that have a crucial role in my life, which is listening music, watching films and reading books. I also choose that particular hour to answer interviews as my mind is away from the daily mundane reality and focused only upon things of spiritual nature, the proper mood to answer an interview. I think that your introduction has perfectly described the nature of DREADFUL RELIC.

 

 

I actually had this idea in mind for sometime now, but after my departure from Der Sturmer the urge became so big that it was impossible to bear. This means that I had things inside that I needed to transfer outwards. And as Francis Yeats-Brown perfectly stated: "How long could I keep sane in a topsy-turvy world?" DREADFUL RELIC was created by me during the first blood moon of 2014. The next day I called Hjarulv and asked him to join as I thought his contribution would be crucial. Since that day until the recordings of the first release, we sat down and discussed in every detail how we want DREADFUL RELIC to be musically, visually and everything else. And this is what we always do before, in between and after each release.

 

 

Desolate Wings of The Pagan Dawn is indeed a truly great composer. A man with depth, vision and passion for the music he creates. Our meeting was a coincidence. At first, a close friend that used to order back in the days copies from the "Faustian Dawn" demo came in touch again with him. He remembered his real name, so they start again corresponding. During that time we were in the process of putting together the Archaic Conjurations Demo, so through my friend I got Desolate Wings’ contact. We were really big admirers of his tracks in DEMONCY and to BLACK FUNERAL`s "Vampyr -Throne of The Beast", so I asked him if he had any similar stuff in his archives. To my great surprise I got his answer few weeks later with a bunch of tracks to choose. Of course he is a permanent member. We are about the same age and we entered the scene at the same time. This means that our worldview on things is more or less on the same angle. That’s why he understands perfectly and shares DREADFUL RELIC’s musical and lyrical concepts. I can’t really think how DREADFUL RELIC would be without him. Yes "Tyrant Upon the Jewel Throne" is completely created by him and the same goes also for the track "Skulls Rattle Beyond Stygia".

 

 

ARCHAIC CONJURATIONS was recorded in a studio in a suburb of Athens. No special equipment used really. Except the guitar and bass which is ours, the rest of the stuff we used belonged to the studio. Despite the fact that usually the studio atmosphere is rather sterile and most of the times it’s hard to adapt to, the recording went fine and without particular problems. 

 

 

For sure it surpasses our expectations. To be honest, I did not expect so much positive feedback, as I had the impression that this type of music has not any charm other than to a very very close circle of underground maniacs. The demo was pressed in 300 copies and it’s sold out from us (but still available to some distros around) for some months now. But this doesn’t mean that that’s all about it. If that’s needed, FROST & FIRE will re-press it in the future. So far all the interviews we have received are from paper zines. Some of them are: RADOGOST (Pol), ABLAZE (Ger), PSICOTERROR (Peru), ARE YOU MORBID? (Hellas), MACABRE OVERDOSE (Finland), SATAN`S SADIST (Italy), SANG ET SOL (France), WIDMO (Poland) and a couple more...

 

 

Yes, FROST & FIRE is my label. I start it at the same time with DREADFUL RELIC. In the beginning, my plans were to do a label that will take care of all DREADFUL RELIC stuff, music, merchandise, etc. But later I’ve got the idea to make other releases with bands that don’t fit to the typical TOTENKOPF PROPAGANDA roster and whose stuff I like a lot and want to spread around. Recently I released (in co-operation with ALTARE PRODUCTIONS) an album of the dark entity from Portugal MONS VENERIS. The next release that I plan is the debut album of the Finnish band NECROMONARCHIA DAEMONUM, a side-project of members of WITCHCRAFT. Audial improvised darkness in the vein of ABPUPTUM.

Also the web-shop is a necessary function in order to finance further activities both for the label and DREADFUL RELIC. No complains so far. Everything works perfectly!

 

 

When we covered those particular songs, we did it because these bands are a part of us. I mean a part in the way that it’s stuff that we grew up and - at a point - we identify ourselves with. At the same time we wanted to do things that is rarely done by other bands. Most bands today choose the easy way and copy what others do. We think, live and act in the OPPOSITE way. It’s this approach we will continue to have with DREADFUL RELIC in the future: influence and inspiration, but not blind following. That’s for the sheep in wolves’ clothes, the majority of nowadays scene which shamelessly still calls itself "black metal".

 

 

My fave Hellenic albums from that period are "Crossing The Fiery Path" & "Scarlet Evil Witching Black", "Thy Mighty Contract", "Eosforos", "His Majesty At The Swamp", "Summon The Dead" and few more. As you see the albums are not so many because most Hellenic bands during that decade were releasing only demos or 7" EPs. Coming to the post-95 Hellenic scene, nowadays the local bands are nothing but a circus, a bunch of idiots and newcomers (and for the record, all those who got involved after 1995 are newcomers as well and most of the times twice ridiculous, as many of them today pose as some kind of "scene veterans". Yeah, dream hard, cunts!) who have the impression that there is near to something that can be called Black Metal. The last 10 years, you mean 2006-2016? It’s definitely a decade that this thing most people call "Greek scene" hit the bottom. However, there is an album that for a strange reason is often in my player and that’s ZEMIAL’s Nykta. Other than that, everything else I had the misfortune to listen (tracks here and there) was boring, uninspired and soulless. Not to mention the complete ideological void.

 

 

 

There are no differences really. Anyone who will listen to "Warlords of Cosmic Sovereign" will realize that this EP is a natural continuation of what we started on the demo. Both were recorded within a small period of time and I also wrote the lyrics almost at the same time with "Archaic Conjurations". Perhaps some people noticed the hint we gave in the end of the info sheet that accompanied the demo. Another kind of hint is also in end the info sheet of the EP.

 

 

 

Perhaps some times it is a waste of time to talk about the obvious, but taking into consideration the state of the so-called "Black Metal" of today and the state people involved on it I think that’s a necessary action. In DREADFUL RELIC we take our musical and lyrical concept 100% seriously and we fully stand behind it. I can’t imagine myself (the same goes also for the rest in DREADFUL RELIC) singing, playing or writing something that’s not coming directly from the depths of my soul. We have this lyrical concept because we see a part of ourselves there and we see the world with the same eyes. My inspirations come from everywhere. A good source can be music and literature. But the fact that we are living and walking in this world, understand and view our surroundings the way we do, is enough to grow inside you a sheer wave of hatred, horror and retribution. The Evolian Rivolta Contro il Mondo Moderno.

 

 

 

I think the two Conan movies are quite hard to be surpassed. Other films of the same kind that I like is SOLOMON KANE (2009), KRULL (1983), EXCALIBUR (1981), CLASH OF THE TITANS (1981), JASON AND THE ARGONAUTS (1963) and more. To be honest I don’t know what’s so special in the "Atlantean Sword" scene. Or to set it better, it’s something that I can`t describe its full meaning with mere words. I suppose it’s a combination of things. The scenery, the musical background, the torchlight in the chamber and in the end the rise and the breaking of the chains. It’s a very crucial moment with profound symbolism. Everything placed as it supposed to be. Perfect for a band name to be chosen from!

Beyond the obvious admiration upon the film every time I watch it, usually such kind of films works to me in a subliminal way. Exactly the same thing happened to me the night (the first blood moon of 2014) that I’ve got the inspiration for the band’s name. Further than that, the same happens when I`m writing lyrics.

 

 

Indeed, a good idea! We are already working slowly towards our concerts. However the line-up will be slightly different from the one in the studio. Except me and Hjarulv, we will use another drummer and maybe one more member, we will see that during the concert rehearsals. For sure, our stage appearance will be one that will match with DREADFUL RELIC’s concept and ideological background.

 

 

Right now no, I don’t work on Wallachian Tyrant. But it’s in my plans (maybe in the course of this year) to start working on the final issue. I have many ideas of how this should be and look like and I’m looking forward to start realizing them. Traditional paper media means a lot to me as it’s through this medium that I used to know about my fave bands and their ideals. Also zines used to have a certain charm and mystery that perfectly fit to the nature of an underground elitist music as Black Metal used to be. Even the small of the old paper alone often cause nostalgia.

Through the years I interviewed several interesting bands, not only for Wallachian Tyrant, but also for a few other zines as well. So it’s quite hard to choose just one. But for sure I can say that Proscriptor from ABSU, Calus from ALTAR OF PERVERSION, Widar from BILSKIRNIR, Pete Helmkamp from ORDER FROM CHAOS/ANGELCORPSE (I contributed this one to Icelandic zine CURRENTS) and some more... The philosophy of the zine was to show the spiritual roots and foundations of Black Metal and other music genres with the similar worldview (from Dark Ambient to RAC/HATECORE), no matter the perspective we are looking at it.

 

 

I left the band because of personal reasons, not because of any musical or ideological differences. I always underline this in order to avoid rumors or any quick assumptions that suddenly I changed my musical tastes or worse, I move an inch away from my ideological views. Quite the contrary! I don’t know if I achieved something, I guess time will show. Yes of course, it was a useful experience. However, not something that I’ll look back and mourn. It’s over for good and interesting challenges are always ahead.

 

 

Life in Greece is quite hard. A terrible state of economy, high rates of unemployment in a country with a leftist government. But that’s all secondary to me. A strong and vital Nation can deal easily with these things within a short period of time. What doesn’t change or can change really hard is the colonization of Europe by non-whites. The huge waves of africans and asiatics entering every day in the country and many of them going afterwards to Central and Northern Europe. If things will continue like this Europeans will face biological extinction together with our culture and traditions, which are already targeted and hunted down since decades. At this point I think reality will give the solution. The long night for Western civilization as once Oswald Spengler called it. If, after such strong slaps in his face, the European man won’t wake up from his lethargy, then I think that it’s perhaps time to face extinction. That’s the timeless law of Nature: the weak races will perish.

HRISI AVGI nowadays has much more power and influence than the previous years as it’s now the 3rd party in votes in Hellas, but with much more responsibilities. The zionists and their puppets in the Eu and in the state here can hardly sleep at ease. It’s a "bad example" for the rest of Europe. Right now we are in the midst of an ongoing trial with accusations such as "criminal organization with illegal activities". But that’s hard to prove in the court (especially as in the case of Golden Dawn, with no sign or sight of any evidences, just speculations) and they know this. They just want to slow down things.

 

 

 

Everything in the universe is cyclical and so it’s history. These modern times bear many similarities with the past times, when empires where decaying before their total collapse. And as it looks now, it may be sooner than we may think.

 

 

Yes of course, from time to time I faced problems. It’s inevitable I think, especially if you stand firm on your ground. Otherwise you’ll turn into a laughing stock or a band like the most in the "black metal scene" of today, who with the first hint of accusations from the antifa they run and completely ridicule themselves (more than they already were) with apologetic statements such as "black metal is only Satan, no politics", "we hate humans not races" etc., words that clearly equal tolerance, acceptance and understanding for the "fellow human". No matter how hard they try to disguise themselves under monickers such as "ultra satanic orthodox devil worship misanthropic pagan folk black metal" their real nature is obvious: Sheep in wolf’s clothes!

Coming to antifa, I believe they are not so powerful as they used to be a couple of decades earlier. Of course there’s still a number of these sewer-rats that run around and cause troubles, mainly to younger guys who were too naive to wear the "wrong" t-shirt or to some old people, but lately they often run out of luck and encounter people who they weren’t supposed to. Also, I think you Bulgarians have a good way to deal with them. I have heard many good stories from there...

 

 

In my eyes, my "image" will not "suffer" if someone will call me NS. On the opposite, I’d say. That’s an ideological elevation. On the other hand, I can’t imagine myself being in a band that will be accepted and praised by such type of people. Our band and the ideals we stand for MUST cause hate, fear and nausea to such lowlife herd. 

 

 

Thessaloniki used to be much better but without a doubt it’s still a nice looking town with interesting things to see. However, the rabid urbanization destroyed a part of the charm that the city had. The same and even worse scale happened to Athens. Of course Athens is much more polluted and multi-culti but keep in mind that it’s the capital of Hellas with five million people and the first destination for every alien invader.

Coming to the places to visit… For Metal stuff, I think I’m not the right guy to talk about as the last 15 years or so I avoid like hell metal clubs or gigs. What is interesting for anyone that’s interested to see is Metal record stores - Athens has many, maybe more than a dozen, with new and 2nd-hand stuff and a huge variety of music genres. I really enjoy going around in these stores looking amongst old records etc. often just for the shake of it. I love the smell of old paper and the magic of searching. Needless to say that in the past I scored some really good stuff in decent prices. Unfortunately nowadays these shops use Discogs a lot so a lot of their stuff ends up there instead of the shelves.

Coming to non-metal, there are literally hundreds of places to see. I mean besides the ones that’s known to most people like Acropolis and the museums of Athens. Within short distance from the center (30 - 60 min driving) you can find really interesting historical and mythological sites. Monuments, temples and burial places dating back to the Bronze Age up to the Classical antiquity. Apart from that there is lots of breathtaking nature with mountains, hills etc. These last years I visit such places at least once in a week. Without a doubt the enchantment and the aura of these places is really tremendous. It’s a source not just for inspiration but it also affects the way of living and how you observe the world, first and foremost with total contempt!

 

 

Simply because we think facebook and Black Metal are things that can’t be combined. To our eyes, BLACK METAL is a form of music that surpasses the mundane barriers of any other form or genre, something more than just entertainment. Its nature is elitist, arrogant and dangerous. By its overexposure to facebook you lower it to fit the eyes of every trash out there. 

 

 

As I mentioned in a previous question, right now our priority is to build a line-up and rehearse for future gigs. Apart from that, these days I focus a lot on writing the lyrics for our debut full-length. Also as far as I know Hjarulv is working on his part which is the music and the same goes for Desolate Wings. So yes, a full-length is on the works. It’s too early to talk further about it as we have to take our time. The demo and the EP will be re-pressed if there will be any demand for them in the proper time.

 

 

 

Thanks for your support and the very interesting questions. Hails to the Tyrant that will rule with an axe!

 

OUTRO: "As for DREADFUL RELIC's future, turn your heads toward the stars..."