Interview: Krieg
I’ve gone back to doing things because I want to, because they satisfy my urges and needs and not because of any external pressure or expectation.
US black metal masters Krieg have recently returned with Ruiner, their first full length album in over a decade and it shows that no matter how much time has passed, the band’s fearsome music sounds as vital as ever. Gavin Brown caught up with Krieg vocalist N. Jameson to hear all about Ruiner and the return of Krieg as well as discussing US black metal, split releases and Krieg live shows.
E&D: Your new album Ruiner has just been released. How does it feel to be back and have you been pleased with the reaction it has had so far?
N. Jameson: The reaction has been somewhat humbling as we haven’t had a record be this successful since The Black House, which was twenty years ago next year. It was probably good to “be away” for a while, especially since after having a year like 2014 where we recorded over two albums worth of material leaves you a little creatively over drafted.
E&D: Was the making of the album a smooth experience?
N. Jameson: In so much that we didn’t really even know we were doing it for the first session. It was originally supposed to be three songs for a split with Withdrawal but there was something different about the finished songs, so we decided to go back to the studio a few months later and record five more songs. I don’t want to say there wasn’t a lot of thought put into it, but it wasn’t as stressful or tedious as recording a full length can be.
E&D: This is your first proper full length album in almost a decade. What has taken so long for Krieg to return with Ruiner?
N. Jameson: Life. After Transient we were talking to Kurt about going into God City, doing some kind of megalithic Killing Joke-esque album. But the material I was writing wasn’t up to snuff, it sounded almost like I was on autopilot. Then a lot of things externally got in the way. I moved to Richmond, Virginia in 2015 so any time I was with the band I’d have to travel a few hours. Money wasn’t great, my mental health was worse. Then in 2019 my girlfriend was diagnosed with cancer, then the pandemic and somewhere in the process we had a daughter. I’d burned out from black metal and was disappointed that Transient didn’t do better. There just felt like no point to anything, I’d lost the passion and every decision had to be made through a financial lens. It just wasn’t ideal. In late 2019 I began to feel some interest again, ignited by hearing the first Nyredolk demo as well as the early Lamp of Murmuur and Kommodus material. I had finally become interested in “modern” black metal again. That’s when the wheels started turning…
E&D: How has your sound and out look changed in that time?
N. Jameson: I’ve gone back to doing things because I want to, because they satisfy my urges and needs and not because of any external pressure or expectation. It’s similar to when I started, making music for myself basically. Though, obviously I love being the centre of attention so it’s released to the public but I don’t place any real weight on that. This is for me.
E&D: Do you still feel that Krieg play by their own rules and don’t follow the typical black metal rulebook?
N. Jameson: I’d like to think that hasn’t changed.
E&D: Over the years Krieg have done many split releases with bands like Leviathan, Wolvhammer and recently Crucifixion Bell. Do you feel that split releases with other bands are a great way of exposing both bands?
N. Jameson: Or showing a mutual support for each other, sure.
E&D: Who would you love to do a split with in the future?
N. Jameson: Kommodus. (The Infamous) Gehenna. Rot in Hell.
E&D: You have also done splits with Integrity and The Body. Do you find it interesting doing releases with bands who make markedly different music from Krieg?
N. Jameson: The Body was a collaboration where we went to the studio for 48 hours and the record was the result, so that’s somewhat different in definition if I can be pedantic for a moment but yes, I think it’s a good exercise in contrasts as well as something interesting, hopefully, for fans of each band.
E&D: How was the experience of working with both Integrity and The Body on those splits?
N. Jameson: I don’t think Relapse Records was entirely thrilled to deal with me but the Integrity split was a huge honour as they’re one of my favourite bands. Working with The Body was exactly as I expected-a very satisfying creative endeavour.
E&D: You released your first album Rise Of The Imperial Hordes twenty five years ago. What is the secret of the longevity of Krieg?
N. Jameson: Stupidity. I’ve wasted enough of my life so far, there’s no reason to stop now.
E&D: What have been some of the biggest high points for the band over the years?
N. Jameson: Recording The Black House, performing in Serbia, playing the fest Archgoat did their return gig at, working with different musicians and creative types I respect and admire. Splits with Integrity, Leviathan, Judas Iscariot. Getting to travel across the world, experiences. This is all rather ethereally vague.
E&D: Are you looking forward forward to your upcoming live shows and will you be playing a lot of material from Ruiner?
N. Jameson: Yes and no. Putting the shows together has been like pulling teeth but going in through your dickhole instead of your mouth. NYC has been a fucking nightmare to get bands for. The logistics have been difficult for nearly every aspect of the whole enterprise and I’m looking forward to it being over with, at least the administrative elements. As for performing again after seven years? We’ll see how that goes. And yes, we’re playing four songs from the album.
E&D: What have been some of the best shows that Krieg have ever played and what made them so great?
N. Jameson: Belgrade in 2003. Incredible hospitality, exceptional crowd. Serbia just had the perfect atmosphere for what we were doing. In 2014 we played The Black House in it’s entirety live twice, the first one in Rhode Island at Dusk, which is one of my favourite places to play and a spot we’re hitting on our first run back. It was the first time in years I had done a show fully back in the corpse aesthetic, which felt appropriate for the album, and was just like being in a meditative trance for the duration. There’s been plenty of other shows that have been creatively and personally satisfying but those two come to mind first.
E&D: Who are your greatest black metal bands in the live arena and what have been some of the best ever performances you have ever seen?
N. Jameson: Profanatica, Demoncy, Antaeus, Archgoat-all great live. Goatwhore is a band that doesn’t get enough credit from the underground for whatever reason but they’re always worth seeing. Some of the best performances I can pick out would be Vanum at Red River Fest in 2017, Bone Awl at Disgraceland in 09 (? Maybe 08), Sarcophagus at Milwaukee Metalfest in 1998. Plenty of others. I’m 45, I’ve forgotten half of my life already.
E&D: How do you see the black metal scene in the United States currently and what bands would you recommend to check out?
N. Jameson: It’s vastly different than when I was coming up, I don’t know half of these social circles nor do I really care to. There’s just an ocean of bands and projects and labels now. To continue the metaphor, they are the fish and creatures of that ocean. And what do fish do in the ocean? Shit in it. Nonstop. Best US bands right now? I’m really digging Solar Cross. Dai Ichi is great. Grinning Death’s Head (or any of Mark McCoy’s projects really) Pan Amerikan Native Front. I’ve had two hours sleep in as many days so forgive me if I’m drawing a blank.
E&D: What are some your favourite USBM albums of all time?
N. Jameson: Of Great Eternity, Moonlight Butchery, Massive Conspiracy Against All Life, Disgusting Blasphemies Against God, Joined in Darkness, the first Woe record, the VON recordings before they became an LLC, Xasthur’s side of the Acid Enema split. For We, Who Are Consumed By the Darkness. That Deteriorate record they did with the mastermind of T.O.M.B. is underrated. Crush the Race of God, there’s just a lot that comes to mind.
E&D: What are your other favourite black metal albums from around the world?
N. Jameson: Too many to name. Currently I spend a lot of time listening to the Korpsand Circle related bands, Kommodus, Gorgoroth, the first Ancient record, as much of the Circle of Ouroborus catalog as I can.
E&D: What are the most underrated black metal albums ever in your opinion?
N. Jameson: Potentiam Balsyn, Gorgon Reign of Obscenity, Debauchery Dead Scream Symphony, to name a few.
E&D: What does black metal mean to you today and how has it changed over the years for you?
N. Jameson: It’s simply a part of who I am. I’ve spent close to thirty years of my life within it. As I’ve changed, it changes. It’s difficult to explain.
E&D: What was your introduction to black metal in the first place?
N. Jameson: The Stockton College of New Jersey had a radio station and there was a show called “Hours of Desolation” that would play metal. It was where I first heard Samael, Darkthrone, Emperor, Celtic Frost etc. I loved death metal but there was just something that drew me to black metal more intensely. This was well before the internet, so it made these bands feel all the more mysterious and obscure.
E&D: What have been your favourite albums released this year?
N. Jameson: I’m not going to spoil the surprise.
E&D: What have been the best live shows you have seen this year?
N. Jameson: I haven’t been to any shows besides Integrity in January of 2020. A lot of it has to do with my work schedule or taking care of my daughter but also Richmond doesn’t get a lot of interesting shows anymore, though I’m sure I’ve missed plenty. I just don’t have the urge, really, to socialise and go through that song and dance bullshit as much as I did a few years ago.
