Interview conducted by Naberius with Wulv (Vocals, Guitar, Bass, and Keyboards) of Funeral Dust.
-Naberius-
-Wulv-
Please give a brief history on Funeral Dust.
Funeral Dust started in the winter of 2004/2005 after Permanent Midnight took a break from shows and to pursue other interests. I perform vocals and played the keyboard in the band. In March 2005, I decided to start writing and recording music that I really wanted to do. Which was black metal, as you now know. I purchased an ESP Viper and a MAPEX kit and started writing songs for my upcoming album "Covered By Snow Drift." Not really knowing if anything would become of Funeral Dust, I pressed on because of the sheer devotion to the music. A month kater, I talked to my friend and now session drummer, Dan K, of the band No Warning Shot about recording my album for me. He agreed and I began pulling my tracks together. It was only a week before recording when I asked Dan to drum on the album. He agreed and in one practice we had all the songs written and the drums and scratch recorded. And from there on, I began over layering guitar tracks, synth, and vocals to the songs. Then on June 15, 2005, I completed my first demo album "Covered By Snow Drift" and from there it's history...
What releases does Funeral Dust have out? Any future plans for more releases?
Right now...Funeral Dust - "Covered By Snow Drift." I plan on releasing...Funeral Dust/Temple of Azoth - "Unholy Alliance" Split CD in Novemeber 2005; Funeral Dust - "Allegiance"/Scatach - "Mooneater" Split CD in January 2006; and Funeral Dust/Nebunam Split CD in the spring of 2006.
I believe I read that you do plan to do live shows once session musicians are found. Will they be used purely as session musicians or do you think that there is a chance taht more members will be added to the ranks permanently?
Because of the fact that session members that I have in mind do live a good distance away from Pennsylvania, I will remain a one man project.
I know you are also involved with Permanent Midnight and have also worked with NoWarningShot. Anything else the readers should look for you in? What is your main involvement these days? Do you concentrate on Permanent Midnight and leave Funeral Dust a side project or do you try to balance everything out?
Balance is the key! NoWarningShot is a relatively easy thing for me to do because Dan works with me and we can go over songs and lyrics rather well. So that is not much of a problem. As far as Permanent Midnight goes, I've caught a nice break to work on Funeral Dust mainly. My drummer is currently away living in New York right now so we are at a stand still. But when he does return, no matter how short or long, I will continue with Permanent Midnight. Though, Funeral Dust will always be on my mind as long as I make music.
On "Covered By Snow Drift," you do two covers of a couple of "classic" black metal songs, Darkthrone's "Unholy Black Metal" and Carpathian Forest's "The Return of the Freezing Winds." What made you choose these songs to cover and why did you decide to throw in the little surprise at the end of "Unholy Black Metal?"
That's just it..."classics." I feel the staples of black metal still secure its foundation, its core. I'm trying to show Funeral Dust fans where I came from musically and what influenced me...so it may never be lost! Darkthrone and Mayhem are the true creators of black metal...at least to me...and I have always been a huge fan of Carpathian Forest's work. The use of synth and odd soundscapes in their music has greatly inspired me to play.
Your own tracks on "Covered By Snow Drift" seem to be inspired by the cult movie "The Evil Dead." Is there a reason why you decided to pretty much make the album around the movie? Bringing horror movies into black metal may be a brave move considering their usual place in death metal...
"The Evil Dead" is one of my favorite movies. And all of my friends whether they be black metal, gore/death metal, or heavy metal fans are drawn to it. Evil can be felt and can inspire all...Mortician is also one of my favorite bands, even though not black metal, still very inspiring to me. The samples that I have taken from that movie add and complete the needed atmosphere to the tracks on the album. And as far as the rest of the album, it is dedicated and inspired by the cold winter...
Do you worry about your "black metal credentials" being involved in a death metal band on the side?
We have all grown and evolved from something to become what we are. Much as Mayhem, Immortal, and Darkthrone did. In Permanent Midnight, I add what the songs need to have the certain atmosphere and feelings. Whether it be death or black vocals, they are all filled with cold and grim emotions inspired by my predecessors. As far as my personal thoughts, "I am black metal in my mind and spirit, through and through." Though others may look at it in different ways. And that is why I feel I get more satisfaction from Funeral Dust.
Obviously, by listening to your music, you can tell that you are heavily influenced by the "classic" bands of the early 90's. What are some of the bands these days that have caught your attention?
Leviathan, Sargeist, Valhom, Necrofog, Dead Mountain, Daggard, Xasthur...a few others that I can't think of but always Nokturnal Mortum, Graveland, Ancient, and many others...
You are releasing your music on your own label, Wolf's Lair Records. Is this to avoid the headaches of having another party involved in the distrobution of your music or do you have plans to make Wolf's Lair into an "actual" label that releases other artists as well?
Right now, it's just to promote our local acts; just to get a name out there. It may not grow to more than that. Right now, I'm getting distributed through myself, Sardonic Wrath Records, and RedRum Records. Also, Morbid Thought Records are inquiring about distributing my albums.
This is now your space for anything else you'd like to say.
As of now I have some projects on the way...three split CDs, Funeral Dust shirts and buttons and a full length called, Funeral Dust - "Pure Evil" due to be released in the winter of 2006/2007. Hail Fucking Darkness - Wulv.