Talking with . . .   Vesania

Interview with vocalist and guitarist Orion
Now this is what an email interview should look like. Polish death/ black metallers Vesania started off being led by the duo of vocalist and guitarist Orion (Neolithic, Behemoth) and drummer Daray (Neolithic, Vader). Their debut, Firefrost Arcanum, was a melodic black metal album but on their latest and Napalm Records' debut, God The Lux, Vesania has developed into a professional sounding extreme metal band with killer songs. Here is frontman Orion who answered our questions in detail.

Things seem to be finally happening quick for Vesania, first your management deal now a deal with Napalm Records, why do you think it's all come together at this point?
Now it’s happening really quickly, but at the same time I think we’ve worked for it since years. We haven’t been existing and prospering as every other band– recording whenever we only could. Instead of it, after we formed the band in 1997, we were just rehearsing and practicing for years. There was no point in recording bad songs. The other thing was that we just didn’t have money enough to afford frequent recording sessions. Before the first album, we were at the studio just once– we’ve recorded Moonastray e.p. then. It was back in 1999. Then, we’ve just decided to be gathering the money for the real recording session. There was no way to get signed without the album, so we just wanted to record it as good as possible to have the deal immediately. Otherwise we’d be lost probably- but we’ve managed to do it. We’ve recorded Firefrost Arcanum, the first album in 2002, it was out in 2003. After it happened, things are going really quick. But it’s good, I somehow love this tempo. Now, we’re much further than we were few years ago, and I’m really glad with it. It’s just how it’s supposed to be: every following step needs to be at least a bit better than the previous one. That’s the rule. We’re slowly achieving our goals.

God the Lux is an incredible album, what type of goals did you set for Vesania when writing and recording the album?
Before we started to write the music for this album, we had some experiences with the former one. I mean at the studio and live on tours. Plus two of us, Daray, and me joined two other, bigger bands in that time. That is Behemoth and Vader. So we had many lessons to learn and many experiences before writing God The Lux. We just wanted to do a good sounding modern black metal album, which would be good to play live, not too complex or twisted, but still dynamic and aggressive. After the debut album, we decided to do shorter songs for God The Lux. We’ve changed the riffing a bit. We left lots of melodies for synthesizers we set guitars to play more rhythmical than melodically. It adds the groove that we were missing before in my opinion. While composing, this time we were able to think about the songs as the entire integrity, it was much easier and quicker for us. And from more general point of view– we had to do the album good enough to encourage good labels to release it. We’ve managed to do it. We’ve signed management deal wit Massive Management and album deal with Napalm Records. And of course, we ourselves are really satisfied with this album– that’s always the main goal.

Does members participation in Vader and Behemoth effect Vesania?  What changes occur to allow you to play in both bands?
It does affect Vesania. But to allow us to play in both bands, we just had to change the system of working with Vesania. We’re not meeting each other regularly anymore in the rehearsal room couple of times a week or so. What’s going on with Behemoth and Vader we know long before, and that’s enough to arrange the rehearsals for Vesania. So, when we have time off from Vader and Behemoth, we’re playing everyday with Vesania. Rehearsing like this is a completely different form of working. We did God The Lux in this way. We like it even better; it allows us, or I’d say it forces us to be very focused on what we do. As for the tours; we talk about everything between these bands. As you can see, we’ve managed to find the time for Vesania. We’re going on tours in February and March 2006.

I was a big fan of Neolithic as well (I loved My Beautiful Enemy) is the band still going and if so, what does the future hold for Neolithic?
It’s hard to say, man. This band has difficulties with finding a good label or rather with signing the good deal. And Kay, the main guy is doing it for too long to be treated badly. I don’t know what’s gonna happen. We’ve recorded some new stuff recently. I decided just to record for this band, I’m not gonna play live due to lack of time- though I love it with this band. It’s pure rock’n’roll. The more wasted you are before going on stage – the better. That’s a total opposition to what I do normally. But coming back to the topic; the things are waiting for their turn now. Kay is preparing well produced, good rock-metal album. He finally managed to encourage Taff (the former singer, from Neolithic mini album, known also from Geisha Gonner and Rootwater bands), to do the vocals. That’s awesome, he’s the best guy to do it. The album is slowly getting ready. Let’s see what happens after it’s finally done.

Tell me about your new guitarist Valeo, what does he add to Vesania?
After first album, Annahvahr left the band. So we played the tours with some session guy. But we decided to do the next album as a four members band; we weren’t really convinced to the person that played with us. Now, we have upcoming tours to do. Our music demands the second guitarist. We chose Valeo to go with us. He’s a good guitarist and the proper kind of person. We’ve been rehearsing together for some time and I know, that he will do well. He’s solo guitarist. I never liked solos in Vesania. But looks like he’s gonna make me believe in solos. We’ll see.

Of course, you must be saddened by Doc's death, what memories do you have and were you surprised at his passing?
I was really surprised. We’ve seen each other few days before he passed. He was helping us out again on one of the festivals that we were playing with Behemoth in Poland. Before his death, through last few months, we were meeting each other very often. He was doing really well; so the more I was surprised getting a text message about his passing. It was striking. I couldn’t believe it. He was a great person. At the same time he was the best drummer in Poland, and one of the best drummers ever. There were many things that everybody could learn from him. What can I say man, I was at his funeral, it’s a great loss. I will remember him as a smiled guy, telling me funny stories in the back of the tour bus, on the tour, which Vesania did with Vader– first tour that I’ve ever been to.

Do you have enough time and energy to devote to both Behemoth/ Vader and Vesania?  What's it like touring?
We never have enough time. I’d need at least twice as much as I have to do all that I want to do. But we’re just trying our best to work it out somehow. As for energy, I’m not complaining, I’m still ready to rock. I’m pretty much all the time on tour since few years. It obviously demands sacrifices. You know, no private life, no regular life plus running your organism on 200% everyday. But on the other hand, that’s exactly what I want to do in my life. If it weren’t, I wouldn’t do it. I can say that I get used to it. This interview I’m answering while being on tour which lasts already more than two months. It’s just my life now and I want to keep it as long as I can, as long as my body and health allows me to do it.

You are in a good position now to get the name Vesania known worldwide; what were the early days of the band like and what struggles did you face getting Vesania to where you are today?
Nothing is easy. We sacrificed a big part of our lives to keep the things going. When you’re 17-20 years old, you’ve got many kinds of things to discover. But we were focused on a band already then. The main problem has always been the lack of funds. None of us was from the rich family, so we had to face many problems. We were finding any kinds of job we could do and then we were spending all the money for the band. For the people around it was stupid, for us it was the only way. Poland is kind of bitchy country considering young musicians. You have no chance for any kind of help plus every kind of musical equipment is really expensive. We never tried to go too fast. What made us, who we are now, was the patience. Step by step, slowly but still forwards.

God the Lux is a more brutal but catchier album than your debut, do you feel you are moving away from your black metal roots or will that always be an important aspect of your sound?
We’re not moving away from black metal. We just sound a bit better, compose a bit better, but it’s still the same kind of music that we perform. I guess it’s gonna be always the style of this band. We’re not trying to be original at any price; we’re just slowly progressing by experience that we’re gaining.

From reading your website and previous interviews, it seems that you will work intensely for some time writing or rehearsing, and then take some time off before returning- why does this method work well for Vesania?  Do you feel you get more accomplished this way?
As I told you before, that was the method that we actually had to choose. But after we were somehow forced to it by not having time to do as usual, we found it really good for us. It gives us the needed dose of focus, that’s the first thing. And then, we have enough time to get distanced to what we’ve just done. We can think everything over, get the objective attitude. It makes us aware of what we’re doing. And this awareness is the key to make things well. When you have the opportunity to see something from many points of view, it allows you to judge it better.

What are your expectations with Massive Management and Napalm Records?  Do you think they can take Vesania to the next level?
Massive Management are the people that we’ve always wanted to work with. They know what they do; they’re responsible for the success of Vader. This cooperation is extremely needed at this point in time, as we’re on tours all the time and we need somebody to take care of our business. These are the new possibilities for us. Together with Massive, we found the new label– Napalm Records. They’re doing great promotion for us. We’re still in touch and exchanging the news, I really like this kind of cooperation. I’m sure it’s the next level for us.

Final comments?
  Thank you for this interview and please forgive me you had to wait for the answer so long. I’m just a bit busy lately, but still trying to keep the things together, no matter if I’m on tour or not. I wanted to thank to all the U.S. fans, especially those, who are coming to Behemoth’s and Vader’s shows with Vesania c.d.'s. We appreciate it really much. I hope we’ll be able to make it to U.S. one day.

Discography:
2005... God The Lux (Napalm)
2003... Firefrost Arcanum (Empire)

Current line-up:
Orion... vocals and guitars
Valeo... guitars
Heinrich... bass
Daray... drums
Siegmar... keyboards

www.vesania.pl

TTM reviews of albums by Vesania:
	2005 - 'God the Lux'