As I see, these last years Lunar Aurora has increased it's activity comparing it with the past, as since 2001 you released nothing until 2004, when you released two LP's and a split LP with Paysage d'Hiver, which is a lot of stuff for only one year. What reasons were there to wait so much time to release so much material? Was there any idea of splitting the band or you just needed some time to work on all those songs? Aran: It was a calm period for us and we hade some problems with labels which played a key role concerning some delays. This mixture was the reason. No thoughts about splitting the band! Well, in 2005 you released "Mond", which is a fantastic piece of black art. I must say I think it's your most brutal release until now, although I haven't listened anything before "Elixir of Sorrow". What's your oppinion about that? Which are the biggest differences as you see them between "Mond" and your previous works? Aran: This time it developed into such a direction. It depends on our mood. The songs for this album are very hard and aggressive. So we decided to give them a better sound quality to achieve more power. Every release we had for the last 10 years has got its own sound. We always try to find a suitable sound to catch the emotions of an album. That’s the reason why we can’t tell good or bad things about one album. Every album has got its own “soul”. “Mond” as well! The vocal parts were very necessary this time for a strong and wild and tight feeling. Next time everything will go into another direction… who knows?! The production of "Mond" has a big importance in my point of view, as you achieved a really good and powerful sound but you kept a dark and quite raw approach. Where was it recorded and how much time you needed for all the album? What do you think about those bands who choose to always release bad produced albums alleging a so called "true spirit"? I would say these last album sounds more majestic and orchestral, without any similarity to more comercial "Black Metal" bands, did you search a less classical and more grandiloquent sound? Aran: The album was recorded in munich and from the first recording session to the final master we needed about 14 days. Concerning sound-styles in BM I cannot see a “law” for it. As long as the production fits to the atmosphere! Some releases need to be harsh and other albums need a brighter production. We didn`t search a less classical sound nor did we search any sound. It comes the way it wants to! I think nowadays Lunar Aurora has a particular style, you don't sound like the majority of Black Metal bands you can listen here and there... Which influences would you say that have influenced directly you music as it is now, as well from Metal music as outside of it? Which new bands surprised you these last times? Do you think, as some say, that Black Metal has nothing new to offer, or you still find interesting and original bands? Aran: For me a big influence comes from the album “ummagumma” from PINK FLOYD. I got it since I am 12 years old and it has these magic power of depth and phantasie. Most of my inspirations (when it comes to music) can not be found in BM. Bands which surprised me the last times were KATHARSIS from Germany or COLD WORLD from Germany also. I don`t think that BM has nothing new in stock! The development always goes in waves… up and down… But there are still very interesting bands or persons! Now I'd like to now something more about the lyrical part of "Mond", and Lunar Aurora in general, as I don't understand german. I'm not sure but I think you don't speak about the typical satanist stuff and you're more into philosophical/poetical stuff, as well as a big fixation for moon, because of the album's title and the bands name.Which subjects are reflected on your lyrics? Which have been the biggest influences, from any source, like music, books, life... on Lunar Aurora's lyrics? Aran: Since my personal start with BM 14 years ago I always have been bored by themes like Satan, war, Christianity… etc. The expressions throughout this music-genre is much deeper than all the stupid phrases you can hear within the “scene”. One of the things about LUNAR AURORA is that for over 11 years now the band has stayed essentially true to its original aesthetics and aims, and all without, importantly, compromising the art with elements for mass productions. It is what it has always been, since we started: an internal craving for creating music with a deep spiritual background. It sounds unbelievable simple and somehow it is really as simple as it sounds. It is the endless strong need creating music that keeps us going. The lyrics are very important as well because we search for depth and inner growing! Esoteric themes are what our lyrics reveal. Things that shape up from our souls are the inspiration. The lyrics and the feeling in the music are about the different spheres, the spirit, the soul, personal hells and agony, the moon, the stars and the energy behind everything. Justification comes from our souls alone! Lyrics about the spells of nature, trip in the astral depths of other worlds, cold breathing of forests by the lunar light - it's all in our texts… and much more! Our own point of views and how we learn to see special meanings in life… reflected within the music and back again. Which are the future plans for Lunar Aurora? Are you going to release something new in the near future? With which band would you like to share a split EP/LP if you had the occasion? What about playing live? Do you play often? Have you played outside Germany? Where and with whom would you like to play? Aran: So many questions in one!? Well, we will enter the studio again in autumn 2006. I`d like to share a split LP with GRAUPEL! The next months we will play more shows again because in the meantime we have enough members in the band. Shows outside of germany will follow! I`d like to play live with GRAUPEL and URFAUST! Whyrhd, you are the owner of Cold Dimensions, the label that has released the last two albums of Lunar Aurora, as well as Graupel's debut "Auf alten Wegen..." and, recently, the re-release of Lunar Aurora's "Seelenfeuer". Did you start the label with the idea of releasing your own band's albums, or you also wanted from the beginning to release other bands works? Which are the plans for the future of Cold Dimensions, any new release coming? What does a band has to have to be released on Cold Dimensions? Is it only focused on Black Metal? Whyrhd: The reason for building up Cold Dimensions was/is the lack of suitable labels, so I decided to take this matter in my own hands to be able to release the stuff we recorded with Lunar Aurora. But of course there was also the vision to release other bands music through Cold Dimensions which came true by working with Graupel and of course there is more about to come, but it is a bit too early to give names here, because I do not want announcements and delays after delays afterwards, you know… Cold Dimensions is of course NOT limited to Black Metal releases, I have to find music KILLER and it has to touch me inside my soul to release it, no matter what kind of style it is. I know you're doing the vocals for the fantastic Greek Black Metal band Nocternity too. How did you end playing with them? Is it more a kind of project nowadays? I ask you because I saw Vinterriket will do the keyboards too, so it looks more like an "all-star band". Is Nocternity going to release anything new after the recent split with Nastrond? Whyrhd: Well, I was in contact with Khal Drogo for quite a while and he did not have a vocalist for future Nocternity music, so I said I will help him out, because I am really into the music. Well, it is more than just a project and for sure not an “all-star-band”. It is something that every one of the involved people want to do 150%ly, (not a fun thing you do because you are bored) is having a vision of, with K.D. as the head of the whole. The next album will be entitled “Harps of the ancient temples”, it will be out on Avantgarde Music, but not before 2007. What do you think about nowadays German Black Metal scene? In my opinion it is stronger than ever, with such great acts as Secrets Of The Moon, Morrigan, Zarathustra, Hidden In The Fog, Graupel or Helrunar. Which is your favourite country speaking about Black Metal? Aran: I have no favorite country concerning BM! But I think that Scandinavia has lost its leading role. No fresh stuff from there anymore! Ok Aran and Whyrhd, this is the end. Thanks for your time. I hope you the best for Lunar Aurora's future. If you want to say something else, last words are yours... Aran: I don`t like to say last words!
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