Interview by: Nkro
I was introduced to the music of Wolven Ancestry not long ago and was immediately snagged as a fan. It seems as though the word
has been spreading and awareness of the band is growing fast in the garden of the underground.
Would you mind giving a brief bio on how Wolven Ancestry came to be?
LORD DEFILER: As the name implies, Wolven Ancestry was never created or born for it has always existed as an entity. We harvested
this essence from the earth in musical form to unleash upon the masses.....
You have now finished recording your new album called "Silence of the Boreal", due out on August 7th. Could you tell us a little about
it? Will it be different from the “Gaia” album?
FRAUST: Like it or not, Wolven Ancestry is not a band who desires to repeat themselves. "Silence of the Boreal" is different from
"The Wrath of Gaia" in a number of ways, ie, it is faster, more intense and more progressive, yet retains the same elements that make
Wolven Ancestry unique. It is a natural progression for us.
I have to say that Archaic North Records is unknown to me, how come you signed to this label? Were their offers from any other
labels? (Not that there is anything wrong with ANR, was just wondering haha)
FRAUST: Archaic North is operated by members of Wolven Ancestry. The label was actually started by Lord Defiler many years ago but
never really served much of a purpose until "The Wrath of Gaia" was released via ANE in 2007. Since then the label has grown in
scope, signing North Bay's Empyrean Plague and booking large tours for its bands. We have gotten offers from several other mid-sized
labels but have decided to stay independent because we prefer to remain in control of our own creative outputs and destiny. Life is
more meaningful that way.
How do you go by when composing songs within the band? With six members I guess there are a lot of different opinions?
FRAUST: The composing process for this album was like this: I wrote each song on my own, and then brought these "proto-songs" to
the rest of the band to begin rehearsing them, and as we did, we made the changes that felt right to us as a band. It was the first
time we had done things that way, but we are all extremely happy with the result. The next album will likely involve writing
contributions from other members.
Which inspires Wolven Ancestry at the moment of composing music? Where does your inspiration musically and lyrically come from?
FRAUST: Musically my inspiration comes certainly from albums that I enjoy, namely the second-wave BM greats, but also local music.
Canada and mainly Ontario has a lot of great local talent. I am also inspired by nature, fractals, infinity, and thoughts that I never have.
Listening to samples of your new album on your My Space site there is a strong Epic Black Metal feeling in your music. What is the
secret to making good epic melodies without it falling into sounding cheesy, in your opinion? That’s really difficult thing to pull off.
FRAUST: It sure is. There is a reason our album took 3 years to complete... time was well spent perfecting every small aspect of every
song. You can jam some riffs and throw them together and maybe it will even sound good, but chances are it wont be very original
sounding. Once time has passed and we observe music in hindsight, drivel like that gets lost in a sea of useless information.
The production is furious and sharpened as hell. Where has the album been recorded?
FRAUST: Thank you. The music was recorded in our own Sardonic Moon Studio. It was engineered and mixed by myself.
You have played a lot of live shows and some touring as well, what has it been like?
FRAUST: I cant speak for the other members, but every aspect of touring other than being on the stage is quite draining for me
because I am not a social person. However travelling can be great at the same time because you get to see alot of unique things.
We've been fortunate enough to tour every part of Canada now (except the far north- but maybe one day!) and its been amazing.
As a unit, we love it. Playing music is what we're meant to do.
What can the crowd expect from a Wolven Ancestry gig?
FRAUST: Honestly, you can expect one of the most intense and mesmorizing black metal stage shows out there. We dont hold back
live- on stage we are literally like hungry, rabid wolves.
So if you look back at your past album, tours and simply the last years of your bands history, is there any event/show that sticks out in
your mind?
FRAUST: Touring the USA, Playing Heathen Crusade in Minneapolis, Touring with Rotting Christ, Opening for Behemoth in Toronto,
Opening for 1349/Goatwhore in Toronto; Yet stll none of those even compare to the feeling of smoking a joint around the campfire
with your entire band on tour.
What do you think about the metal scene in Canada today? Are there any new acts you think deserves more attention?
FRAUST: I think the scene here is rather small but there are a few amazing bands who capture the essence of Canadian life in their
music in different ways: Empyrean Plague, Dark Forest, Eclipse Eternal, Sorcier Des Glaces, Will of the Ancients, Cryptik Howling to
name a few.
A metal head enters a CD shop and see your CD beside that of a Dimmu Borgir or a Dark Funeral CD. Why should they pick Wolven
Ancestry instead of them?
FRAUST: Because those are scandinavian black metal bands. They no longer play their music for the love of music, its very influenced
by labels, formulas and money. In Canada there is no money for black metal. We play from passion.
If Wolven Ancestry could do a split CD release with any one Metal band, whom would it be with?
FRAUST: The only thing that makes sense to me would be doing a split with another Canadian band. It would have to be one we
share musical and lyrical similarities with. There are a few who fit the criteria... talks have occurred already.
Cheers! thanks so much for the interview. Is there anything you'd like to add?
FRAUST: Yes, Fuck Norwegian black metal! Canadian black metal is true!!!!!!
WEB: http://www.myspace.com/wolvenancestry
has been spreading and awareness of the band is growing fast in the garden of the underground.
Would you mind giving a brief bio on how Wolven Ancestry came to be?
LORD DEFILER: As the name implies, Wolven Ancestry was never created or born for it has always existed as an entity. We harvested
this essence from the earth in musical form to unleash upon the masses.....
You have now finished recording your new album called "Silence of the Boreal", due out on August 7th. Could you tell us a little about
it? Will it be different from the “Gaia” album?
FRAUST: Like it or not, Wolven Ancestry is not a band who desires to repeat themselves. "Silence of the Boreal" is different from
"The Wrath of Gaia" in a number of ways, ie, it is faster, more intense and more progressive, yet retains the same elements that make
Wolven Ancestry unique. It is a natural progression for us.
I have to say that Archaic North Records is unknown to me, how come you signed to this label? Were their offers from any other
labels? (Not that there is anything wrong with ANR, was just wondering haha)
FRAUST: Archaic North is operated by members of Wolven Ancestry. The label was actually started by Lord Defiler many years ago but
never really served much of a purpose until "The Wrath of Gaia" was released via ANE in 2007. Since then the label has grown in
scope, signing North Bay's Empyrean Plague and booking large tours for its bands. We have gotten offers from several other mid-sized
labels but have decided to stay independent because we prefer to remain in control of our own creative outputs and destiny. Life is
more meaningful that way.
How do you go by when composing songs within the band? With six members I guess there are a lot of different opinions?
FRAUST: The composing process for this album was like this: I wrote each song on my own, and then brought these "proto-songs" to
the rest of the band to begin rehearsing them, and as we did, we made the changes that felt right to us as a band. It was the first
time we had done things that way, but we are all extremely happy with the result. The next album will likely involve writing
contributions from other members.
Which inspires Wolven Ancestry at the moment of composing music? Where does your inspiration musically and lyrically come from?
FRAUST: Musically my inspiration comes certainly from albums that I enjoy, namely the second-wave BM greats, but also local music.
Canada and mainly Ontario has a lot of great local talent. I am also inspired by nature, fractals, infinity, and thoughts that I never have.
Listening to samples of your new album on your My Space site there is a strong Epic Black Metal feeling in your music. What is the
secret to making good epic melodies without it falling into sounding cheesy, in your opinion? That’s really difficult thing to pull off.
FRAUST: It sure is. There is a reason our album took 3 years to complete... time was well spent perfecting every small aspect of every
song. You can jam some riffs and throw them together and maybe it will even sound good, but chances are it wont be very original
sounding. Once time has passed and we observe music in hindsight, drivel like that gets lost in a sea of useless information.
The production is furious and sharpened as hell. Where has the album been recorded?
FRAUST: Thank you. The music was recorded in our own Sardonic Moon Studio. It was engineered and mixed by myself.
You have played a lot of live shows and some touring as well, what has it been like?
FRAUST: I cant speak for the other members, but every aspect of touring other than being on the stage is quite draining for me
because I am not a social person. However travelling can be great at the same time because you get to see alot of unique things.
We've been fortunate enough to tour every part of Canada now (except the far north- but maybe one day!) and its been amazing.
As a unit, we love it. Playing music is what we're meant to do.
What can the crowd expect from a Wolven Ancestry gig?
FRAUST: Honestly, you can expect one of the most intense and mesmorizing black metal stage shows out there. We dont hold back
live- on stage we are literally like hungry, rabid wolves.
So if you look back at your past album, tours and simply the last years of your bands history, is there any event/show that sticks out in
your mind?
FRAUST: Touring the USA, Playing Heathen Crusade in Minneapolis, Touring with Rotting Christ, Opening for Behemoth in Toronto,
Opening for 1349/Goatwhore in Toronto; Yet stll none of those even compare to the feeling of smoking a joint around the campfire
with your entire band on tour.
What do you think about the metal scene in Canada today? Are there any new acts you think deserves more attention?
FRAUST: I think the scene here is rather small but there are a few amazing bands who capture the essence of Canadian life in their
music in different ways: Empyrean Plague, Dark Forest, Eclipse Eternal, Sorcier Des Glaces, Will of the Ancients, Cryptik Howling to
name a few.
A metal head enters a CD shop and see your CD beside that of a Dimmu Borgir or a Dark Funeral CD. Why should they pick Wolven
Ancestry instead of them?
FRAUST: Because those are scandinavian black metal bands. They no longer play their music for the love of music, its very influenced
by labels, formulas and money. In Canada there is no money for black metal. We play from passion.
If Wolven Ancestry could do a split CD release with any one Metal band, whom would it be with?
FRAUST: The only thing that makes sense to me would be doing a split with another Canadian band. It would have to be one we
share musical and lyrical similarities with. There are a few who fit the criteria... talks have occurred already.
Cheers! thanks so much for the interview. Is there anything you'd like to add?
FRAUST: Yes, Fuck Norwegian black metal! Canadian black metal is true!!!!!!
WEB: http://www.myspace.com/wolvenancestry
