NAER MATARON
Naer
Mataron is not new in the Greek black metal scene. They might be a quite
new band but they managed to create an aura and a cult status around them.
So, with their latest release “River At Dash Scalding” they come to revolt
us against the modern world… That’s the Naer Mataron philosophy.
1.FIRST OF ALL POINT OUT THE MOST
IMPORTANT MOMENTS OF THE BAND’S HISTORY UP TO DATE AND INTRODUCE ITS MEMBERS
TO THE READERS.
-
Hailz Christine! The most important
moments in our history as a band were of course our releases! Our debut
album “Up From The Ashes” which was released back in ’98, our second album
entitled “Skotos Aenaon” released in the year ’00, the 7”ep “A Holocaust
In Front Of God’s Eyes” released during the autumn of ’02 and now the release
of our new album “River At Dash Scalding”. One other important moment for
me at least was the concert where we supported live the Norwegian Mayhem.
2.YOU’VE JUST RELEASED A NEW ALBUM,
WHICH UNFORTUNATELY DIDN’T HAVE THE CHANCE TO LISTEN TO YET. COULD YOU
GIVE ME THE TILE AND TELL US A FEW THINGS ABOUT IT? ARE YOU STILL SATISFIED
WITH IT OR IS THERE ANYTHING YOU’D LIKE TO CHANGE?
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Well, as I have mentioned before, it
is entitled “River At Dash Scalding”. This release is the most “complete”
release of ours. What I mean is that I am 100% satisfied with the album’s
lyrics and music. It contains 10 songs and it has 54 minutes of duration.
The music is fast, full of hatred and pride Black Metal as far as it concerns
the 7 songs. The rest, are two Dark-Noise compositions of Nordvargr from
the Swedish band MZ412 composed especially for us and there is also a cover
of the song “The Plunderer” of one of my fave bands, Ved Buens Ende.
3.WHICH ARE THE MAIN DIFFERENCES AND
SIMILARITIES BETWEEN IT AND YOUR PREVIOUS RELEASE “SKOTOS AENAON”?
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Both the “Skotos Aenaon” and the “River
At Dash Scalding” albums, have dark feeling inside them. Sorrow for what
is lost and pride for what is to come after the battle. The difference
is that the “River At Dash Scalding” cd is a bit faster than the “Skotos
Aenaon” and maybe a bit more aggressive. The “Skotos Aenaon” album was
very “philosophical” and “River At Dash Scalding” is more warlike I could
say…
4.WHERE ARE YOUR LYRICS REFERRING?
YOU HAVE A PERSISTENCE IN ANCIENT GREEK THEMATOLOGY, WOLFS AND WINTER.
WHY?
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Our lyrics deal with the glory of the
ancient Europe and of course Hellas. To analyze this in more depth, our
lyrics refer to our ancestors, the ancient moral values and traditions
and the ancient Pantheon. I believe that I have answered so far the first
part of your question. Now, as far as it concerns wolfs and winter…You
are referring to 2-3 songs from the “Skotos Aenaon” album… These 3 tracks
have a connection to each other. The lyrics talk about an ancient Hellenic
Warrior that was tortured in order to betray his homeland, finally with
no success. In the end he managed to escape and to continue his fight and
because of his power of will and his strength, his enemies named him Wolf.
It is a myth. However the deeper meaning of the story hides many truths
from life. Now, why do we have a persistence with these matters?…Just because
we are very proud of our past as Hellenes and Europeans and because we
despise the pathetic world of nowadays, the sub-human miserable christianized
world.
5.WHAT DOES YOUR BAND NAME MEAN AND
HOW DID YOU SELECT IT? HOW IMPORTANT DO YOU THINK IS THE CORRECT CHOICE
OF A BAND NAME?
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Naer Mataron means Hades in the Sumerian
world. The Palace of the forgotten souls, the total darkness. It is important
I guess to have a name that suits to your music. For example would the
name “Twisted Sister” fit to the music and philosophy of Emperor in your
opinion…(?)…hahaha…
6.WHY DO YOU USE CORPSE PAINT? DO YOU
STILL WANT TO KEEP THE IMAGE OF THE EARLY BLACK METAL DAYS? DON’T YOU THINK
THAT IT’S A BIT TIRING TO SEE ALMOST ALL THE BLACKSTERS WEARING CORPSE
PAINT?
-
Corpse paint will always be a part
of Naer Mataron. You see, we use corpse paint because when we do something
as a band we forget the daily life. The magical part of us comes forth,
therefore a total transformation must take place. Besides that, yes, we
are against the commercialization of Black Metal. Black Metal was never
supposed to be “beautiful”. It is an Anti-art! I really don’t give a fuck,
if it is tiring for someone to see us with corpse paint! We will never
change our minds as far as it concerns this matter. Besides that we also
praise our ancestors with this move, as the ancient Spartans used to paint
their face towards the battlefield.
7.DO YOU HAVE ANY PLANS FOR LIVE SHOWS?
DO YOU REMEMBER THE WAY YOU FELT THE FIRST TIME YOU GOT ON STAGE?
-
No, there aren’t any plans for lives
shows yet. We played live some months ago with Rotting Christ and Horrified.
I believe that it is enough for this year. We don’t like playing live very
often. The first time that we had played live was back in ’97 if I remember
right, along with Order Of The Ebon Hand and some other bands. During
this live concert I was feeling quite calm. There was a strange “balance”
inside me back then…!
8.IF YOUR MUSIC WERE AN EMOTION, WHAT
WOULD IT BE?
-
Sorrow. However this single word can
take many explanations…
9.WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO A FAN TO CONVINCE
HIM BUY YOUR RELEASE INSTEAD OF SOMETHING ELSE?
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Absolutely nothing. My music and my
lyrics say it all. If he can understand my thoughts and feelings through
my songs…everything is accomplished!
10.IF YOU HAD THE CHANCE TO MEET THE
CREATURE THAT CREATED THE UNIVERSE, WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO ASK HIM?
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Why do you allow the existence of stupidity.
11.IF YOU COULD TRAVEL IN TIME WHICH
HISTORICAL PERIOD WOULD YOU LIKE TO VISIT AND WHY? WHAT WOULD YOU MISS
THE MOST FROM OUR TIMES?
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I would definitely want to be in the
Thermopylaes battle of the ancient Sparta. To be one of the 300 persons
that fought along with Leonidas. I really believe that this battle had
something magical in it. What I would miss more from our times…hmm…Black
Metal. Black Metal has been a way of life for me for the past ten years.
It is not just music anymore…
12.WHICH SONG OF YOURS DO YOU THINK
IS THE MOST IDEAL TO REPRESENT YOUR WORK AND HOW WOULD YOU IMAGINE A VIDEO
CLIP ABOUT IT TO BE?
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Personally I would choose the “Astro-Thetis-Cosmos”
from the “Skotos Aenaon” album. A video-clip would definitely have shots
from Hellas’ landscapes and of course shots from the ancient monuments.
13.YOU ARE GRANTED ONE WISH. WHAT WOULD
YOU DO WITH IT?
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I would ask for 10 more!?
14.WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF YOU WEREN’T
ABLE TO EXPRESS YOURSELF THROUGH MUSIC?
-
Maybe I would become a writer or a
director.
15.WHAT TITLE WOULD YOU LIKE THIS INTERVIEW
TO HAVE?
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“Revolt Against The Modern World- The
Naer Mataron philosophy”.
16.THANK YOU! HAVE I FORGOTTEN TO ASK
YOU ANYTHING AND YOU’D LIKE TO ADD?
-
Thank you for your support Christine.
I don’t know if you have forgotten to ask me something…if you have, then
it’s too late! Keep the dark flame burning inside you, follow your instincts
and beliefs and hail Zeus and Wotan!
Christine Parastatidou