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This time I have contacted Secrets of the Moon, a good German act that has printed in Cd format its first Lp edited last year in a limited ediction. Their music style can be describet as a kind of surreal Black metal, so much atmospheric even if the recording doesn't give so much to the phatos of the entire album, making it in a lower level than how could be reached with simply a better recording (as always, I don't mean mainstream productions and other shit). Anyway, it's a disk I invite you to listen to, and then make your own opinion. Maybe their style will conquer your black soul... Heils! First of all, I'd like to learn more about the band: can you introduce us into the world of SECRETS OF THE MOON? Off course I can! The SECRETS OF THE MOON cult was formed in 1995 after the split of the predecessor band MARTYRIUM which was one of the first neo Black Metal bands from Germany. Nowadays SECRETS OF THE MOON is one of the few remaining bands from the elder days. So far we released 3 demo tapes, 2 LP's, 2 (split) EP's and 1 Album. Why this name? Is there something in our natural satellite that influences our lives more than what we know about it? Or is its mysterious fascination that attracts you like a wolf in the night? What? We chose this name because the moon symbolizes strength, power and wisdom. That's what we try to convey through our music as well. The moon stands for the inhuman and unique in our music while the secrets is the mystery and the unknown that surrounds the band. The aspect of your music that I like most is the alternation of fast and furious moments with some other more obscure and dark parts. I can say that "Stronghold of the inviolables" is a good album of traditional Black Metal mixed up with a personal attitude. Can you tell us something about is realisation? Yes, the album has a very deep, personal character because it features moments and expressions put into music. To realize all this at such minimalistic ways was a very difficult experiment. We wanted a very raw and strange sound for it so we decided to record it on an 8-track recorder only. We are not truly satisfied with the end result but still it represents atmosphere and that's was our main aim for sure… What is the "Stronghold of the inviolables"? An ideal place or a metaphor for something more spiritual? And who are the inviolables? The stronghold of the Inviolables is a spiritual world, which is free of any religious dictatorship. It's a world based upon freedom and everlasting strength. The Inviolables are the people who live this stronghold and who won the war that let them break out of the morals and laws, who let them break the chains. They are a few in numbers. I know (correct me if false) that this is your first LP, after many demos, promos and a split, is it correct? Are you satisfied of this work? Yes, you are right. Like I noted in your first questions we did many demos and promos before the release of "Stronghold of the Inviolables". But I wouldn't call this as a real "Album". "Stronghold of the Inviolables" is more like an experiment to us. It's a concept built upon a certain story. Our new album will be in a slightly different direction. Still the lyrics follow a certain line but it won't tell a story so it's kinda different… What's your way of life? I think you are deeply into occultism, aren't you? Yes, I try to deal as much with occultism as I can although it's very hard for me in those to keep on studying my works due to less time that I have in those days. Still there are many books unread and many rituals untouched yet. Those studies keep us going on with SECRETS OF THE MOON. It's a main source of inspiration. Moreover I am a very busy person, I hate being surrounded by people all the time so I keep myself away from them most of the time. Can I list you some topics usually used (and abused) in Black Metal? Please, give a short answer for each one: Satanism: life! Heatenism: free! Occultism: rebellion! National Socialism: interesting! Misanthropy: grandious! Back to music, what do your think about Black Metal in the new millennium? The way to make this music survive stands into experimentation or in its roots? I think it's both. I don't care much about other bands but for SECRETS OF THE MOON it will be important to go one step further all the time without betraying our roots. I think the scene has already gone back to its roots. There are more and more bands nowadays playing the old styled BM again which has already focused a new trend I think. Sometimes I wonder where all those bands come from. My girlfriend has a mail order and she keeps me informed about what's going on in the scene but most of the bands are just boring to me. The last band that gained my respect was SHINING from Sweden. What are your favourite bands? And what are your relations with the scene of your country? My favourite bands are MORBID ANGEL, BATHORY, DEAD CAN DANCE, DREAM THEATER and IRON MAIDEN as well as some more unknown bands like BLOOD AXIS, ORDO EQUILIBRIO, KATHARSIS and a few more. I have some good contacts in my country, which are very important to me. Those contacts are mostly in relation with Black Metal but those contacts go much more further than based on music only, which is very important to. Some good names to suggest us? Musically I adore Katharsis, Lunar Aurora and a few more from Germany. There are some good bands hailing from Germany but most are very boring I think. Have you planned some live dates in Italy? Unfortunately not (yet). I hope we'll do a small European tour at the end of the year to promote the new album. There are some things planned now so we'll see what comes. We would like to play with Italian gods MORTUARY DRAPE… Ok, now I'd like to know your opinion about Internet and the Web: Do you consider them harmful for the Black Metal scene (I'm talking about the underground) or do you think they are a good way to promote a valid band? The Internet is okay. It's a good way to promote the band and it's the easiest way to correspond with the world outside. It has become much more important than writing letters. I got tired of it and I have only a very few pen pals left. But still I try to answer all letters that reach me. And what do you think about webzines? Do you think that they lost something respect to paper 'zines? I don't like webzines. (uh!! I hope you like at least this one...) It's still better to hold a real 'zine in your hands with nostalgic underground layout and well prepared interviews. It's not the same to get all this on a screen. I would never read an interview in the www. By the way…! Keep on doing printed issues. It's much better and it's important that there are fanzines left in the UG. They become less and less… Ok, we have reached the end; feel free to leave us as you want… Thanks for this interview. Unfortunately I had to keep this short. Watch out for our new album "Carved in stigmata wounds", to be released when the time is right! ALL HAIL THE NEW AEON! Thank you for your time and Keep the Black Flame Burning !! We
will! Believe me!
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