Primordial interview: vocalist Alan on the IMRAMA re-Release
Primordial are Pagan Metal pioneers. Now, 14 years afters its initial release, their debut IMRAMA is getting re-released. Vocalist Alan Averill "Nemtheanga" explains why and talks about the early days of his band.
METAL HAMMER: Is there any special reason, why IMRAMA gets re-released right now – 14 years after its initial release?
Alan: Pretty simple, really. We got the rights back after all these years and we didn’t want the only versions being available on rip off media. We finally have control over our own art. A lot of people into the band weren’t around back then and are not aware of our long history so it’s time to make them available again for everyone. We are one of the originals of the species.
METAL HAMMER: Primordial were one of the first bands, mixing Black Metal with Folk elements and pagan topics. Today, this is a big genre of its own. Do you feel like being a scout for a scene to come?
Alan: We are one of the originals. There is no denying that. At the time we knew we wanted to mix our relationship to our culture and history with an Epic Black Metal sound. We didn’t realize it was almost 15 years before the trend came round. We were inspired by Bathory and Sabbat to take this step of mixing culture and extreme Metal. It didn’t seem strange at all to us.
METAL HAMMER: The old songs got updated with a remastered sound. Does this implicate that the sound of the re-release now is like it should have been in the first place in 1995?
Alan: No. It was remastered very slightly once back in 2004. A small volume and bass increase. The actual sound and tone is the same. I don’t agree with going back and altering frequencies and changing drum sounds. It was recorded for about £ 2.500 sterling on two portable 8 tracks onto ½ inch reel and it sounds like that! Keep it as it is.
METAL HAMMER: How was the recording situation like in 1994? Underground band, small label, debut…
Alan: It was chaos. Ireland was a poor country, we didn’t have proper instruments or any experience at all. We hired some extra gear into the small studio that recorded our demo but it was really amateur. However, we worked with what we had and IMRAMA was born through all the confusion and chaos. We were young and excited to be making an album so the energy level was what pulled us through all of it and the belief that we could achieve something. We had a few offers here and there at the time but Cacophonous seemed the best at the time. I have no regrets.
>>> continue to part 2 / 3
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