"Very well; busy. I have been working a new job, as wellas trying to record as much as I can. Recording conditions are restrained, given that not only do I sahre a house with my wife, but as well as three other people. Recording only happenswhen I happen to find myself alone."
Do you have any news on Hills of Sefiroth?
"The new full length, "The Neglected Ancestry" is complete, awaiting release. An EP entitled "Fly Hight the Hated Black Flag" is also done, and coming out on Wraith Productions from Florida. This will included the first demo as well, "As if to be Widows We Weep..."
This last full-length album "Of Disease and Desperation" you worked with Total Holocause Records, how did this go? Did it come out how you expected?
Is THR the label for Hills of Sefiroth or was it just for this album? Who is your current label or do you plan on self producing your albums?
"There is no certain label for Hills. I work with THR and other labels on a release by release basis. 'The Neglected Ancestry' is in fact sitting in Sweden right now at THR. The way it works is that if they like it; they will release it. BUt as I said above, THR is the best, ad if it goes well, I will only work with them if possible. I chose to work with Wraith, because Horde is a fan, and he offered. This is how is should be. There are no royalties in black metal. This is the way it should stay. Black metal is not about commerce. In the words of Hakan ; "black metal ain't no fucking marketplace!"
You have lyrical themes of Nature and Ancient Pride, why these lyrics and not the typical Satanism/Anti-Christian type lyrics?
"There are anti-christian themes buried in a lot of the Hills of Sefiroth lyrics. This is something that I write about constantly, but not blatantly. As far as Satanism, Satan is a figment of the Christian fairy tale, and promoting the devil only further gives the religious fanatics something to fight. The lyrics of Nature and Ancient pride are something I feel very strongly about. The taste of the frigid night air and the stench of ashes and soil are something that give me the best feelings and memories I have. When I step outside into a cold winter night, see the night aglow and mighty woods in the horizon, I am always compelled to write. Ancient pride is a concept I write on very much as of late; the devotion and commitment of our fathers and brothers of ancient history is a loyalty and dedication long forgotten by modern culture. Never again shall we see the pride and strength of the people that inhabited ancient Europe. The lyrics on ' The Neglected Ancestry' are fantastical interpretations of various ancient cultures rolled into one loose concept of loyalty, honor,strngth and pride. Themes of nater expel these feelings and concept through metaphor.
You're in several bands besides Hills of Sefiroth, you want to talk a bit about them?
"Sure, first is Vedengraven, and ambient horror-esque instrumental project that was actually started before Hills of Sefiroth was, but under a different name. I am working slowly on a demo; several tracks of droning noise, laced with seventies horror keys and sampling. Also is Beast Among the Living, a much more polished, much more techinical black metal band that I only do vocals for. A demo might be available in the New Year, including an old Bathory cover. Myself and members of Beast Among the Living also are now working on a guttural death metal band, but this will not probably see the light for several months. Last is Stormhammer, a flok black metal band that is only myself."
Stormhammer, one of your side projects. When does "Unsere Erbschaf die Nacht" come out?
"Hopefullyit will be out by the end of the year. I will be self releasing 100 CD copies, and Sweden's Insikt Records will be releasing 300 cassettes."
It's planned for Stormhammer to be laid to rest after the demo comes out? Why is this?
"Well, I have planned to lay Stormhammer to rest, but that is not se in stone. Stormhammer is mostly all acoustic, and is basically me just getting a lot of emotion and creativity out and not using Hills of Sefiroth to do it. I could have done like Ulver with Kveldsfanger but rather I just created an entirely new entity instead. If I continue to write songs in the Stormhammer vein, maybe a future release may be possible. Time will telll..."
I'd like to thank Justin for taking time in doing this.
Well that about wraps up this brief interivew with Justin of Hills of Safiroth...the last words are yours.
"Thank you for the recognition and support. Keep the underground alive; Black metal is intolerance and hatred; not trends, not commercial success. This is not for everyone. The moment that black metal is popular, the moment black metal is dead.