KAMPFAR’s ‘Profan’ is one of the releases which gathered a lot of attention this year. Metalpaths had the chance to talk with the bassist of the pagan black metallers Jon Bakker. Enjoy!
New album this year, “Profan”. A lot of people are very excited about this release. We would like to know how have things evolved between “Djevelmakt” and “Profan”? What is different from the previous albums?
“Profan” was in many ways made in the creative aftermath of Djevelmakt. We had a lot more up our sleeve. Even so we also had the idea how to go some steps further and challenge ourselves even more. We dug deeper in the filth to create the atmosphere we finally achieved. Music wise its even more extreme, yet more various than our previous albums.
The new album has a lot of layers and drifts from ‘frenzy’ to mid-tempo, from shrieks to eerie chants. Is there a specific reason for that variety of sounds drifting away from the traditional black metal path?
We dont want to be stuck in a formula. Profan is not made after a specific recipe. This is 100% Kampfar anno 2015 and nothing else. We made a journey which takes the listeners through hope and finally total despair. The tempo and layers of music is the foundation of that journey.
How come “Profan” comes just after 1 year after “Djevelmakt”? I mean it is a short period between two albums and that comes off a bit surprising (in a very good way).
As said we had a lot of ideas after the release of Djevelmakt. The plan always was to follow up with a new album during 2015. Profan is the final record in our third chapter, so we don´t plan to enter the studio very soon again. If we find the inspiration for the fourth chapter, who knows…
More about “Profan”; what is the lyrical theme of the album and what does it represent for you today?
The lyrics is based around the world today. Good forces really try to make things work but the majority just fucks it up. The summary of it all is that there´s no hope. We searched as deep down in the filth as it gets to find the lyrical theme of Profan. It´s a total surrender to the scythe and death.
You are touring Europe with Gorgoroth and Gehenna – huge names in the black metal music. Have you ever toured with them before? How do you feel about it?
We never toured with any of the bands before and we´re really looking forward to this package. We´re all from the same period and will give the people a good variety of Norwegian Black Metal.
Do you prefer touring, playing live, meeting fans and receive feedback as an artist or recording new material in a studio?
We like making records but the stage is our home ground these days. Our live performances give us the possibility to communicate with great people. We´re a strong live band and we give everything no matter what. When creating music we make sure the songs will work out live as well as on a record.
Are there any plans of a tour coming by Greece also sometime in the near future?
Nothing is booked for Greece yet but we really hope to finally play in your beautiful country some time very soon. We all go to vacation in Greece regular though.
What are the future plans of the band? Another album perhaps that soon as “Profan”. What should we be anticipating?
The only plan we have right now is to tour and play festivals. This is our final record in this chapter so we dont enter studio before we find inspiration to push Kampfar to a whole new level.
What would you want to say to the Greek fans? The last words are yours.
Keep the Metal scene alive with buying physical formats and go the gigs. Create your own future and follow your own path.