Interview with Aegrus done by Patrick
1.Hails how are things in Finland this week?Please introduce yourself to the readers?
Hails! Things are are great as the release date for the new album is getting closer day by day. Aegrus is a uncompromising Finnish Black Metal band hailing from Kouvola, formed in 2005 by Darkseer Inculta and Lux Tenebris to act as a vision about Satanic devotion - a vision that, over the years, has grown even deeper with its misanthrophic outlook about Lucifer/Satan, with light and darkness acting as a guiding force behind the members' passionate interest towards darkness, occult, self-development, and transcendental knowledge.
2.When did you first discover black metal and who were the first bands you listened to?Who are some current bands that have caught your attention?
For me first bands ever were Bathory and Satyricon and I still enjoy Dark Medieval Times album and Bathory albums before viking-stuff.
3.Aegrus was started back in 2005 when did you first get the idea to start this band?How did you choose Aegrus as the name of the band and does it have a special meaning?
Darkseer Inculta and Lux Tenebris met through mutual friend and founded together satanic propaganda machine that became to be Aegrus. Aegrus, which translates in English as ill or diseased, was chosen as a name for the band because it represents very well the feeling of being sick amongst the ignorant flock of ordinary mislead people.
4.Who would you say are the bands biggest influences?
There are many bands to name just a few, so I would say the biggest influences comes from generally overall Scandinavian Black Metal scene. Or at least did especially in the beginning years. Since then more influences have been absorbed and with more wider scale from all over the world at least for some extent. But I'd say that our origins still emanates strongly in our music.
5.In Manus Satanas is the bands third full length release how long did it take the band to write the music for the new release?
There were so many songs already done at the time when Thy Numinous Darkness was released, so we didn´t have to use much time composing music. We took a lot of time to rehearse songs to get them finished in their final form. Because we rehearse and record all our music in our rehearsal chamber, we can use as much time as we want whenever we want. Earlier recordings were done by Lux Tenebris and Darkseer Inculta and this was first time when burden was shared with them by Me responsible for other guitar and Serpentifer for drums.
6.Who usually handles writing the lyrics for the music?Which usually comes first the lyrics or the music?
Darkseer Inculta does most of the lyrics and musical arrangements along some minor part of the lyrics are Lux Tenebris`work. Lux Tenebris brings songs to others when he thinks they´re ready. Then the songs go through some changes if needed and if some other member has a fitting addition which serves the atmosphere better. Usually after that the lyrics starts to evolve. In some occasions lyrics have been made before any music but more often it goes another way around.
7.Besides the upcoming release are the bands previous releases still available for the readers to purchase?Besides physical releases does the band have any other merchandise currently available for the readers to buy if yes what is available and where can the readers buy it?
Demo material is pretty much sold out and can maybe be found in some distros. One can buy Thy Numinous Darkness and In Manus Satanas (preorder) t-shirts from Saturnal Records. There's also Aegrus logo patch available there. Purity Through Fire is shortly about to release a 7 inch called Wolves Howl Revenge and LP version of In Manus Satanas. With those comes a new t-shirt also.
8.Does Aegrus play live very often or do you prefer working in the studio?What have been some of the bands most memorable shows over the years?Who are some bands you have shared the stage with?
We have been played live just a couple times per year yet we enjoy to playing live so there could be more gigs in our calendar, especially outside Finlands border for a change. Grand Belials Key is of course the most mentionable band that we have had opportunity to play with in some secret location. It´s hard to say what has been the best show but it´s always great to have opportunity to play with like-minded people. Horna and Antimateria to name few.
9.Aegrus comes out of the legendary Finnish black metal scene what is your opinion of the black metal scene in Finland?
There are still many people involved who have been in this scene from the start. Besides these oldtimers there´s large selection of people who have opinions that are either in line with reason and intelligence and sadly some are just some hollow tough-guy-types that have nothing to offer in spiritual sence. Few exceptions aside the scene is going very strong.
10.Who are your all-time favorite Finnish black metal bands and are their any new bands you feel the readers should check out soon?
Behexen has always been my favourite band with Horna following good second.
11.What does black metal mean to you?
Freedom to express yourself in a way that brings the thoughts from deep within your soul out in the open. It´s very cleansing form of art, trip to inner self, some sort of meditation without the boundaries of everyday life.
12.I believe the band sings and writes about Satanism and Occult subjects when did you become interested in studying these subjects?
I´ve been a very religious person as long as I can remember. At very young age, maybe around 10 years old I found books telling the origin of world and man and I understood that people all around the world had same gods. At that point I started to think more of the unseen aspects of world. Everyone who has at least some thinking capability understands that traditional god versus satan wasn´t more than a way to keep uneducated people in line.
13.Who are some Satanist and Occultist you study and have read over the years?
Vexior/Ekortu has most interesting thoughts about the spiritual world. He´s devotion to understand the spiritual world is staggering.
14.Thank you for taking the time to fill this interview out do you have any final comments for the readers?
Thank you. In the making of music there is no room for opinions from outside and no compromise is made. We continue to work on a path that we have chosen and try to exceed ourselves.
