Interview with "Seventh Sign", issue #3 This interview was done by Astaroth Daemonum Could you give us some details about Cirith Gorgor? Well, we started back in 1993. In 1995 we kicked our former vocalist out and half a year later we found a suitable replacement; Nimroth. With him on vocals, we recorded our debut demo "Mystic Legends..." at the end of 1997. Then, somewhere in 1998 Osmose productions contacted us and we signed up. After the recording sessions of our debut album "Onwards to the spectral defile" guitarist Asmoday decided to leave the band, and about one month ago we found a more than suitable replacement for him, called Marchosias. This as a brief history of the band. Right now we are planning some gigs and working on new songs. Why you choose this specific name, is there any interesting story behind it? The thing is that all members have quite different ideas about certain topics, we all are different individuals. But, some visions and ideas we do collectively share, of which one is our respect for Tolkien's writings. I already had the idea of using Cirith Gorgor as bandname, and everybody agreed... Cirith Gorgor stands for the spectral defile leading to the valley of Death. Could you give us some details about your first album (it is your first album, right?) Yeah, it's our first album. It has been out for a couple of months now. We recorded it in 1998, nevertheless the songs on it date from the period 1994-1998. What do you expect with this release? Well, we really don't have any concrete expectations. Our philosophy remains the same as always;to play together as long as we can with pleasure, strength and satisfaction. Of course it would be great if all true metal fans like our album, and I must say that 'till now we only had positive reactions, so... Are you satisfied with the final result? Keeping in mind that Onwards to the spectral defile is our debut album, I'm very satisfied with the result. Of course we already see and hear things that could be better and will be better on our next album, but one shoudn't complain to much after only one album is released. There will always be things that can be done better when looking to it afterwards. Do you have plans for the future (maybe a European tour)? Right now we are negotiating about a number of gigs, probably one with Marduk and Cannibal Corpse. Furthermore we are busy working on a deal for some gigs in France...hopefully it'll work out. The main problem with Cirith Gorgor is that four members study at university/school so we have quite busy lives. We even rehearse just once a week! Which group do you want to support? In the Netherlands there are a lot of brotherbands that really deserve support. In the black metal field there is Ordo Draconis, Liar of Golgotha,Iscariot and Tartaros. There are a lot of good death metal bands here, I really appreciate the music of a.o. Centurian, Inhume, Drowning in Tears, Severe Torture and Mangled. A Greek demo band I appreciate is Jackal's Truth, really good music. Which are your main influences? I'd say that we are inspired by a lot of bands, but definitely not influenced! Our music comes from ourselves, we just write music we like best and while composing we don't bother about other bands or about critics. Anyway, I for myself can state that Dissection is one of my favourite bands, absolutely brilliant music. How is your relationship with your record company? Are you satisfied with them? Yeah we have a good relationship with Osmose. Especially our drummer and Nicholas the Promoguy (/gay) seem to get along quite well (hehe). But seriously, in the first place we are proud to be the first Dutch band on Osmose, and furthermore they work professional with a good distibution and promotion. So we consider ourselves lucky with the situation. How do you call your kind of music that you play? I think the description "Fast yet melodic black metal" should do the trick... What do you think is missing of the metal groups of nowadays? In my opinion there are enough groups that don't miss anything! But, the main issue here is the lacking of agression I think. There are so fucking many bands that play black "metal" with no strength or agression. Ok, in my opinion the last Arcturus album is great, but it definitely isn't metal anymore! Although I can appreciate some of these "experiments" and also some gothic/wave, the music I enjoy was, is and always will be extreme metal! Could you tell us a few things about the lyrics? From what you are get inspiration? The lyrics all differ in theme, dose of symbolism etc. The lyrics written by our vocalist for example deal with Germanic mythology, honour and the old gods. My lyrics on the other hand are more diverse and carry more symbolism, they deal with themes such as withcraft, Tolkien, Goetia, mythology, darkness, melancholy and history. What do you expect, fear, hope that the new millenium bring both for you and the whole world? I think there will be no drastic changes for the next decades, just the usual progress in all kinds of electronic devices. I'm afraid that more people will grab on to religion again, to compensate for the mechanic society we live in on one hand, and on the other hand for all kinds of doomscenarios which are presented to us (pre-millenial tension). Send an extreme message to the fans suitable to your music? Hails and honour to the worthy ones. To all enemies: Death is the hunter! Think for yourself, stay metal and to all religious sheep: I whish you hell!!!