Blood of Christians on my Sword...

"In this period of time our hearts were full of mad hatred and wild cruelty, we felt hatred and expressed it by playing music... Not for fame, not for money, but for the cruel revenge on enemy of our race and spirit!!! The enemy named christianity. We played for the idea, which was belief in death of christianity and fall of the church, belief in young generation of a new millenium being able to deny judeo-christian moral system and to stand against the system, to obtain it's freedom by fighting and regain the lost pride of its forefathers...
"Today majority of this young generation sell itself for worthless money, let the system's masters of illusion play their dirty tricks and want to be lead by them like lamb through the maze of existence. But there are still individuals, who see this fact, people who feel hate and fight, full of pride and conscious of their acts... Those are ones, for whom Graveland plays..."

- ROB DARKEN

What can I say about the Polish band GRAVELAND? Everyone in the Metal underground has at least heard of them, they are one of the most controversial groups to have ever existed. Many who disagree strongly with GRAVELAND's political views have still admitted the incredible power of their music, and yet there are equally as many who have rubbished it, calling it a second rate imitation of early EMPEROR. I myself don't mind admitting that I am one of those who has been thoroughly bewitched by it. The Epilogue demo from 93 is truly spine-chilling, possibly the most evil piece piece of music ever recorded. Over the course of two more demos,
In The Glare Of Burning Churches and The Celtic Winter, the music got harsher and more severe, while at the same time allowing a haunting Slavic folk influence to start creeping through. Their first CD Carpathian Wolves was shoddily recorded and ended up sounding too one-dimensional to my ears, but the next album Thousand Swords was a complete triumph. I cannot begin to describe the feelings I get from this album. The anguish in Darken's voice is incredible - the level and depth of sheer hatred it possesses is overwhelming. Most bands can only manage to produce visions of a bunch of guys in a recording studio playing their instruments, yet Thousand Swords makes me feel like the clock has gone back to the Dark Ages, somewhere in Eastern Europe. I am mortally wounded, feeling my blood drain out into the freezing snow. I feel the bitter cold, the agonizing pain, the hatred towards the ones who did this to me...the christians. GRAVELAND recently released their third full-length album Following The Voice Of Blood, and while it doesn't quite measure up to Thousand Swords, it is a great record in it's own right, taking the music in a different direction again. The following (somewhat outdated) interview with GRAVELAND leader Rob Darken was carried out by my friend and heathen comrade Gylve, from Folkefienden Productions. Incidently, if you find Darken's racialist views offensive, then too bad...go and read Family Circle or something.

First of all, what were the reasons for the creation of GRAVELAND way back in the mists of Winter '91 and what do you wish to attain?

In Graveland I realise my destiny, I foretell the new era of rebirth of paganism, rebirth of Strong White Pagan Aryan Empire. By my music I want to wake up pagan identity in every White Man.

If you may, would you care to speak a bit about the forthcoming release of GRAVELAND, which I believe is due to be recorded soon in the not too distant future, what should we expect with the new Lp and how will it differ from "Thousand Swords"?

In Autumn '96 I and Capricornus recorded new LP/CD Graveland "Following the voice of blood" that is now released by No Colours rec. from Germany. We are very satisfied with this Lp. We attained very dynamic sound, specific atmosphere. We created very original melodies. I do not know if everybody will like this LP because it differs from any other today's music. I wanted to create sound similar to Venom from "At War with Satan". May this LP bring cool breath of war and cruel hatred and contribute to return of paganism and consolidate this pagan faith in your souls.

I know that you had signed a two album contract with Lethal Records just before the release of your second full length "Thousand Swords". Why did you actually sign the deal with a known label of rip off bastards in the first place and what chain of events led to the eventual boycott of the label?

Our cooperation with Lethalfuck was our big mistake. We knew that Piesch was a fucking thief and lier but we knew that thanks to his label, many people would get to know our band. We got only one CD "Thousand Swords" from him. Fuck him! In underground there are many fucking jewish commercial scoundrels that do not know what dignity, honour and pride of White Man are. Fuck them all! Vienna is not far away from Wroclaw so the matter is still open. Now we have many more important things to do. But we still remember about Lethalfuck rec.

I have read some very unflattering reviews of your debut Lp "Carpathian Wolves", it seems to me that people tend to favour your "Celtic Winter" mini album, now almost two years since the recording of your debut, what are your comments on it? Is there anything you now wish you had done differently?

I like music from "Carpathian Wolves" very much. Unfortunately we recorded this stuff in a very bad studio in which worked people who did not understand our aims at all. So, in such conditions we could not create better stuff. We even thought about recording this stuff again. Maybe some day, we will do it.

Ok, now is your chance to tell us all about your label/distro Isengard, and also about any future upcoming releases...

I changed the name Isengard for Eastclan because the problems with the financial police. Besides Eastclan better demonstrate my ideas. Eastclan support all true BM and pagan bands. I release t-shirts and tapes. I would like to release CD's in future. Now I do not have enough money for it. This summer I will release Juvenes and Thunderbolt/Kataxu (all bands from Poland). Recently I have gotten some interesting demos from West Europe and I am going to release it, too.

"Forgotten Songs" is the title of your debut solo album of LORD WIND which has just been released. Please, can you tell the readers about the concept of "Forgotten Songs", and if we are likely to hear anything more of LORD WIND in the future?

Lord Wind and Graveland represent two different yet somehow united sides of my soul. Graveland is about war, retribution and hatred. Lord Wind is permeated by longevity for all old pagan world that went away, full of respect for pagan beliefs and traditions of our ancestors. Now Fullmoon prod. from the United States release CD version of debut LP Lord Wind "Forgotten Songs". In autumn '97 I am going to record second LP.

Who do you lend your support to in the current Black Metal scene?

I have to say that now I do not listen to a lot of BM bands. I prefer old medieval folk music as Carmine Burane performed by Clementic Consort and New London Consort. I take inspiration for my music from it. But I support many true BM bands that are faithful to all BM ideas created by Mayhem-Burzum some years ago. Most today's Norwegian BM bands are traitors, they play for commercial aims and have nothing in common with true BM.

I know that you call yourself a Pagan, what do you see as the fundamental aim of Paganism (in this current age) and what would you like to see achieved?

I am a pagan. I try to develop my spiritual power, I improve my knowledge about Celtic belief, customs and traditions. I hate today's spiritless world, technical civilization and collapse of our values. Europe is weak, jewish conspiracy tries to take control over our White Europe and unfortunately they succeed. I think that paganism is the only true way to save Europe...

Do you uphold any Pagan festivals? If so, how do you celebrate them?

We try to celebrate all pagan festivals. We meet together on pagan mountain Sleza. We prepare mysteries. Last summer we spent a week in a east-north part of Poland (near the border with Lithuania). We wore our pagan garments, armour etc. We tried to live as our ancestors years ago. We took part in a pagan marriage... This summer the same meeting will take place.

What in your opinion defines someone as "Aryan"?

Our White Europe is Aryan Europe. I can describe someone as Aryan when he knows what honour, dignity, fatherland and pride are.

What is your opinion on the rise of Nazi/Fascistic attitudes within Black Metal?

BM is music created by people interested in Satanism, Crowley etc. BM is music of evil. Now many BM bands spread pagan ideas. As we know Adolf Hitler was keen on A.Crowley, wanted to build Strong White Aryan Empire based on pagan traditions etc.
(Paul: Why then, according to "A History of Pagan Europe" by Prudence Jones and Nigel Pennick, did Hitler go out of his way - after coming to power - to imprison runologists, Ariosophists and Odinists, many of whom died in concentration camps?...."It seems to me that nothing would be more foolish than to re-establish the worship of Wotan. Our old mythology ceased to be viable when Christianity implanted itself" - Hitler, 1941)
So I think that connection is obvious. Adolf Hitler wanted to get rid of all scoundrels from Europe, he was a racialist, and we as pagans are racialists, too.

You have told me that Anextiomarus of INFERNUM, has betrayed and has given the police information concerning the burning of churches. Has this caused any serious problems for any members of "Polish Black Metal Legion", and how has this affected you? How did you find out who the informer was and what is your opinion of Anextiomarus now?

Anextiomarus (Karcharoth) is a fucking traitor and coward. He was afraid of consequences of spreading BM ideas. When we wanted to take control over him, he started war against us. He wanted to make us release Graveland in a commercial label as e.g. Osmose. We had some problems with the police because of him, especially people from Fullmoon (he accused them of trial of murder on his person). I had problems with the financial police. Now he is a buddhist. Some time ago he was a communist. He is just funny person. He has many problems with drug dealers because they suspect that he works for the police as an informer.

Inside the "Celtic Winter" and "Carpathian Wolves" covers, you hail one "Baron De Belem", could you please tell me who exactly "Baron De Belem" is...

Baron De Belem was a Satanist, psychically unbalanced person, psychopathic and schizophrenic, very brutal sadist.

Your comments on the following, please...

Adolf Hitler: Adolf Hitler is the greatest person in the latest Europe's history. I respect his deeds because he wanted to get rid of all shitty jews from Europe and build Empire based on pagan traditions.

Norway: Norway has great natural conditions, this is a rich and beautiful country. But I despise almost all today's BM Norwegian bands because they are traitors. They have nothing common with true BM ideology created by Burzum - Mayhem.

Australia: I do not know Australia. I have never been in your country. I get some letters from Australia so I know that BM has some fans there.

Kwasniewska: I think that you mean the wife of the present president of Poland. Am I right? I do not think anything about her...

Vodka: I do not smoke, I do not take drugs. I drink only from time to time with my friends. A man can live without it. I am very busy and I do not have time for drinking. A lot of alcohol weaken the body and mind and we have to be strong if we are to win war against fucking jews, christians etc.

Do you hold any respect for the country in which you live? Describe your surroundings where you live, and what you see around yourself...Is there anywhere else in the world you would rather live than Poland? If so where and why?

I do not hold any respect for the country in which I live. Poland is occupied by communists, jews and catholics. Most people do not know what pride is. Polish government sell Polish lands and factories to rich people from West Europe. Poland does not belong to Poles. There are some people who understand that bad situation and want to change it but they are the minority. Poland is weak as was before second world war. Hitler attacked Poland because there were many jews and he could not find allies here. Today the situation is similar. I do not know in which country I would like to live. I think that I will stay in Poland. I am going to buy some land and live in my solitary place far away from noisy people. Now I live in Wroclaw, in a small flat. Wroclaw is a big and noisy city and I hate living here.

What is the worst possible thing that could happen to you and why?

The victory of christianity. I live only to fight against christianity and I am going to win and teach my children to live according pagan customs and traditions.

I have been told that you are not on very good terms with your once brother band BEHEMOTH, where does the conflict between both of you stem from and what comments do you have upon them?

I despise Nergal of Behemoth. Some time ago we supported one another. But Nergal was afraid of consequences of spreading BM ideas. He wanted to be big BM star, cooperate with big commercial labels. I agree with Randal of Absurd who named Nergal and friends "sunny boys". Behemoth is popular among anti-nazi pacifistic organizations that want to destroy us. I despise such scoundrels and I do not have anything common with them. Behemoth don't play original music, they are all ideas created by bands from Norway as Emperor, Mayhem, Satyricon, Hades etc.

Whose grave would you take pleasure to dance upon?

I have many enemies so there are many graves on which I would take pleasure to dance upon. My list would be very long...

Is there any question you would like to ask me? In case, what?

I would like to ask you about situation in Australia. I do not have many information from your country about paganism and our war against fucking christianity. Do you fight together against our enemies? Are there many pagans? Do you meet together and celebrate pagan festivals?

Gylve: In Tasmania there are no heathen groups worth mentioning, only the Viking Society that existed a few years ago but disappeared due to lack of interest. On the mainland however I could mention the Ásatrú group "Assembly of the Elder Troth" though I don't know too much about them. The only worthy groups belong to mainland Australia as there are not enough people interested down here yet...we shall see what the future holds.

The last words are yours...

I would like to thank you for this interview and support. Now Graveland have many enemies so I am really grateful for your support. Besides our problems with the police, State Security Bureau, jewish conspiracy, pacifistic scoundrels and other shitty submen we will not give up. We are ready to die for our ideas. Spread the pagan ideas and traditions. Be faithful to true pagan Gods of our world of White Man. Remember idea of 14 words: "We must secure the existence of our people and a future of White children". Glory for Pagan Aryan Empire!