Hi! Can you delve into the creative process behind “The Mysteries of Fate”, and how the concept was conceived and developed?

Styrr: Hi! The creative process of crafting the album was fantastic! We had no constraints – be it temporal, stylistic, or otherwise. A significant amount of time was spent in the studio, conceptualizing material, and recording demos. Each member brought their ideas and perspectives. The notion of creating a conceptual masterpiece emerged almost immediately, and everything else unfolded organically.

Ingvarr: Hi. Definitely, the process was super engaging and something new for both of us, I think. The key thing for me was that we totally loved what we were doing, from writing riffs to turning them into these long, epic pieces, constantly tweaking and adding stuff. I’d say with full confidence that it was a real team effort.

What historical or mythological influences played a role in shaping the narrative and themes of the album?

Styrr: First and foremost, it draws inspiration from the mythological epics of the North and Slavs. This involves pagan worldviews, the concept of infinite rebirth, and the cyclicality of natural processes and the universe presented in the album. In terms of historical elements, it likely encapsulates an entire era of resistance and confrontation by pagans against the foreign Christian faith. It also embodies the notions of warrior honor and commitment to one’s cause, prevalent among all warriors in the pre-Christian era.

How did the geographical location and cultural surroundings influence the band’s sound and thematic choices?

Styrr: Having lived in Germany for over 7 years, the wonderful and diverse nature, along with the fantastic architecture, has been a profound inspiration for me. It has significantly influenced our album, contributing its unique essence to our work.

Ingvarr: Being in Germany for 5 years, the inspiration from European nature is one of the first things I gotta mention. But I also want to point out that the history and ancient culture of Ukraine, where we were born and lived for many years, and Germany, where we’re living and making music now, have hugely contributed to the ideas behind our project.

As a project of two musicians, can you share insights into how your individual musical backgrounds and experiences contributed to Schreigarm’s style?

Ingvarr: This question is particularly intriguing, given that our musical backgrounds are closely related yet distinct. I can share that when we started, more than two decades ago, we were playing classic metal and thrash metal in our local scenes. Subsequently, Styrr was involved in death metal projects and developed his own black metal projects with various influences. As for myself, I evolved into melodic death metal and later into modern metal, eventually creating my own project. With such backgrounds, and inspired by the melodious and atmospheric allure of post-black metal, we began creating material without any constraints. The result was our first album, and since we have a lot of material written, we are now preparing to record our second album.

The album has a moderately raw sound combined with epic keyboards and a mix of clean and extreme vocals. How did you approach the production and arrangement of these elements to achieve the desired atmospheric and immersive experience for the listener?

Ingvarr: First and foremost, it’s about the synergy and collaborative effort in creating the core of a track – the guitar, bass, and drums. I really enjoy arranging the bass and guitar solos, as well as working on the vocals. Styrr, on the other hand, tends to focus on creating atmosphere, using strings, ambient keyboards, and the jaw harp, although this isn’t a fixed rule. Overall, it’s a team effort and the process is incredibly engaging and self-rewarding. That’s the most important aspect for us.

Styrr: To be honest, the arrangements were written quite swiftly and underwent minimal changes from the demo stage. Regarding the keyboards, they have an exclusively background melancholic sound, setting the atmosphere. The use of keyboards in this particular context was decided by us even before writing the first song.

The use of clean and extreme vocals is a distinctive feature of the band. How do you balance and integrate these vocal styles to convey the emotional depth of the album’s narrative?

Ingvarr: The idea was to experiment with vocals to create a wide range of emotions, and it comes out quite naturally based on our music, from aggressive to melodically epic, or even just calm, atmospheric moments. Besides growls and screams, which we both use, Styrr additionally brings in more extreme vocals like hysterical screams and shrieks. By the way, ‘shriek’ is even part of our band name “Schrei”garm, but written in German. My unique contribution is clean vocals, used to add a lyrical quality to the track.

The album covers the warrior’s journey from birth and formation to death and rebirth. How did you structure the musical progression of the album to reflect the different stages of this journey?

Styrr: We didn’t exert any particular effort into it. From the moment the album’s concept was defined, everything unfolded organically.

Can you elaborate on some of the key symbols and their significance in the album’s overarching narrative?

Ingvarr: Undoubtedly, the main symbol in our narrative is the circle, representing the cyclicity of universal processes. And the final phrase in the album screams this message: ‘And I shall be reborn before I die…’

Being a conceptual epic, did you face any challenges in maintaining cohesion and continuity throughout the album while still allowing each track to stand out on its own?

Styrr: As I mentioned earlier, we didn’t encounter any problems. We had a lot of inspiration and enthusiasm during the composition stage, everything flowed naturally, and most importantly, it turned out exactly as we wanted. All that was left for us to do was enjoy the process.

Can you share some insights into the role of atmospheric elements in your music? How do you use them to enhance the storytelling aspect of the album?

Styrr: We paid special attention to the atmosphere on this album. In fact, the atmosphere is one of the most crucial elements for us. We created the atmosphere through ambient guitars, delayed tremolo guitars, and diverse keyboards. The Jew’s harp holds a special place. We intentionally used it in the first and last songs to emphasize both the authenticity, mysticism, and esoteric nature of the atmosphere, and to underscore the concept of cyclicality – beginning spawned from the end.

How important is it for Schreigarm to create an immersive experience for the listener, and what do you hope they take away from the journey presented in ‘The Mysteries of Fate’?

Ingvarr: I’m confident that creating the right atmosphere is our top priority and what we aim to deliver to the listener. To achieve the necessary immersion, we focus on adding more atmospheric elements rather than complicating the parts of the basic instruments.

Can you shed light on the lyrical themes and the poetic elements that contribute to the storytelling?

Styrr: I pay great attention to the lyrics. My texts are quite multifaceted and have several sides of perception. Everyone will understand, hear, and feel something of their own. Much attention is given to dual images, philosophical views, metaphorical meanings, esoteric undertones…

‘The Mysteries of Fate’ has been described as an enchanting world. How do you see the relationship between the music and the listener’s imagination, and what role does that play in the overall impact of the album?

Ingvarr: This is undoubtedly a world from the times of Paganism and before the parasitic сhristian era. Incidentally, this theme resonates quite interestingly with the name Antichrist magazine. 😉

Looking ahead, do you envision continuing the conceptual approach in future albums, or are there other musical directions and themes that Schreigarm is eager to explore? Thank you for your time!

Styrr: At the moment, we have already written material for the second album and are in the pre-production stage. The material will also be conceptual but with a much darker atmosphere. I don’t want to reveal all the details – you’ll hear everything when the time comes. Thanks for the interesting questions! Goodbye!

Ingvarr: I would like to add that some of the concepts in our lyrics are connected with real events, and in our second album, they are more relevant to our lives than ever. Thanks for such intelligent questions. See you soon.

Original: https://antichristmagazine.com

1.For those that have never heard of you before, can you tell us a little bit about the album?

Styrr: “Hi! First of all, thank you for inviting us to the interview. Yes, we just recently released an album “The Mysteries of Fate” on the label Werewolf Promotion. The album sounds very powerful and atmospheric. We are very pleased with the final product.”

Ingvarr: “The moderately raw sound of 'The Mysteries of Fate', combined with epic keyboards and a magical symbiosis of clean and extreme vocals, create an incredible atmosphere, immersing the listener in the enchanting world of this conceptual epic.”

2.Recently you have released your first full length, can you tell us a little bit more about the musical style that you went for on the recording?

Styrr: “It's a little difficult... On our album you can hear influences and classical elements of various styles such as Black Metal, Post Metal, Viking Metal, MDM and others…”

Ingvarr: “From the very beginning, we didn't want to stick to any specific style, we were and we are very open to experiments and didn't want to focus on something specific…”

3.The lyrics on the new recording are a concept album, can you tell us a little bit more about the story that you covered with this release?

Styrr: “ “The Mysteries of Fate” is a conceptual metal saga about the thorny path of a warrior in pre-Christian times, from birth and formation, through the bitterness of farewells and first bloody battles, to death and rebirth…”

4.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Schreigarm'?

Ingvarr: “Schreigarm literally means the scream(from German) of Garm. The howl of Garm is one of the signs of the beginning of Ragnarök. In other words - harbinger of the Apocalypse! We believe it's a very powerful name for the band.”

5.Can you tell us a little bit more about the artwork that is presented on the new album cover?

Styrr: “On the cover depicts pagan ritual objects against the background of yellowed oak leaves. The bones symbolize our attitude towards death, our pagan perception of the surrounding world, our worldview. Autumn leaves symbolize, on the one hand, the withering of the life cycle, but on the other, instead of fallen leaves, new ones always grow... This is the main concept of our album "Secrets of Fate" - the beginning born from the end. Everything in our universe is cyclical, everything goes in a circle, rejuvenates. Well, and the leaves are specifically from an oak, as the oak has always been a symbol of wisdom and knowledge. (All pagan ritual attributes are handmade by me, the photo and concept are also my).”

6. Currently there are only 2 members in the band, are you open to expanding the line up or do you prefer to remain a duo?

Styrr: “We are absolutely planning to expand our band. At least we need a drummer for live performances.”

Ingvarr: “We are more than open to expand, we are actively searching for band members drummer and bass. And it would be a great time when we can invite the whole orchestra to make an awesome show.”

7.Both of the band members are from Ukraine but now reside in Germany, can you tell us a little bit more about the move?

Styrr: “Ingvarr and I moved to Germany in 2018 and 2016 respectively, for new opportunities. We learned about each other in 2019 through a mutual friend in the metal music scene of Ukraine. Remarkably, we both settled near the same city, Neuss. This is where the story of the band begins.“

8.Are there any plans for tours or live shows in the future?

Ingvarr: “Absolutely, concerts and festivals are the best places where you can convey emotions, immerse yourself in the atmosphere, and experience it all together with the audience. Currently, there are no specific plans, as finding band members is our first priority, but we will make every effort to play as many live concerts as possible.”

9. On a worldwide level, how has the reaction been to your music by fans of black metal?

Styrr: ”The reaction is very positive. And we are very pleased with this!”

10.Where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?

Ingvarr: “At the moment, we have already written material for the second album and are in the pre production stage. And despite having just released our debut album, we can't wait to share the new material with everyone.”

11.What are some of the bands or musical styles that have had an influence on your music and also what are you listening to nowadays?

Ingvarr: "Well, musical influences could be listed extensively, but the main ones are probably: Khors, Drudkh, Austere, Harakiri For the Sky, Alcest, Ellende, Insomnium and many other bands, ranging from classic rock to various kinds of metal.”

12.How would you describe your views on Paganism?

Ingvarr: “Paganism for us is not a religion but a worldview.”

13.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?

Styrr: “Listen to Shreigarm! Stay Metal! Stay True!”

Ingvarr: “Thanks for the invitation and see you on the live shows!”

Original: https://occultblackmetalzine.blogspot.com

Hi Schreigarm, congratulations on the release of The Mysteries of Fate! You must be excited.

Styrr: "Hello! First of all, thank you for inviting us to the interview. We are very excited to present our creation to everyone!"

Ingvarr: “Hi, It is a pleasure to be invited.”

Firstly, can you tell us about the formation of the band? When and how was it formed? Do you believe the band name 'Schreigarm' perfectly describes your music and philosophy?

Ingvarr: "Everything started with an acquaintance in Germany in 2019 between Styrr and Me through a mutual friend in Ukraine. But quite quickly it turned out that we wanted to do something unique that we haven't done before. In Ukraine we had our own bands in quite different styles, and still, our musical tastes were very diverse. And it's cool that we managed to do something that everyone likes."

Styrr: "Schreigarm literally means the scream(from German) of Garm. The howl of Garm is one of the signs of the beginning of Ragnarök. In other words - harbinger of the Apocalypse! We believe it's a very powerful name for the band."

Now, can you tell us about The Mysteries of Fate and the lyrical themes behind each track? What are the ideas you wanted to convey?

Ingvarr: “There is a lot of what we can say about it but shortly: “The Mysteries Of Fate” is a conceptual metal saga about the thorny path of a warrior in pre-christian times, from birth and formation, through the bitterness of farewells and first bloody battles, to death and rebirth…”

Styrr: ”Yes, we were committed to a concept album from the very beginning. And looking ahead, I can say that the next album we are currently working on will also be conceptual, but with a different darker atmosphere and content.”

Where and when did you record The Mysteries of Fate? Are you satisfied with the final product?

Ingvarr: “We are really pleased with the results, and the main key to this success is the creation of demo versions and preproduction material. This process allows us to refine and add any missing elements to the sound picture before the final mix. Everything, except drums, was recorded at Infernum Records in Langenfeld, Germany, by ourselves. The mixing and mastering were expertly handled by Anton Vorozhtsov in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine.”

Styrr: “By the way, drums recorded at Black Dwell Records (Zdolbuniv, Ukraine) in 2022 y. by our friend - Lycane. I think he did a fantastic job. And yes, we are completely happy with our recording. The album sounds exactly how it should be, how we imagined it even at the stage of writing the material.”

Do you have any plans to release official band merchandise?

Styrr: "Yes, we have plans for merch releases. We are in negotiations with many labels regarding this matter. And we are always open to any suggestions."

Ingvarr: "With such an album cover and such a logo, it would be a sin not to make merch! )))"

What are Schreigarm's musical and non-musical influences?

Ingvarr: "Well, musical influences could be listed extensively, but the main ones are probably: Khors, Drudkh, Ygg, Austere, Harakiri For the Sky, Alcest, Ellende, Insomnium and many other bands, ranging from classic rock to various kinds of metal.”

Styrr: "As for non-musical influences, it primarily includes nature, literature, esoteric pursuits and occult practices…”

Could you please share your personal views on religion and god?

Styrr: "We are pagans. We honor our ancestors and live by the laws of honor. All religions are foreign to us! Any religion is a framework that confines the herd.”

Ingvarr: “Paganism for us is not a religion but a worldview."

Can we expect to see some gigs across the USA or Europe in the near future?

Ingvarr: “This is actually the first point on our list. We will do everything to make it happen. We will start from Europe for sure. We are really geared up to give many concerts, as it is only through live performances that one can fully immerse themselves in the atmosphere of our music.”

Lastly, when can fans expect something new from you? A music video, single, or documentary perhaps?

Styrr: "At the moment, we started working on our second album, recording demos. Documentary materials from the recording sessions will soon be available on our YouTube channel and social media. Additionally, we plan to release all the songs from the album “The Mysteries of Fate” on our YouTube channel and social media soon, each with individual visualizations for every track! So don't miss out!"

Thank you for the interview. Is there anything you would like to say to your fans, supporters, critics, and our readers before we wrap up?

Styrr: “Thanks again for the invitation! Listen to Shreigarm! Stay Metal! Stay True!”

Ingvarr: “Thank you for the great questions and the interview! I encourage you to go to metal concerts and festivals – it's definitely worth it. Hope to see you there!”

Original: https://ironbackstage.blogspot.com