Interview conducted by Veliccia with Panzer (Vocals) of Operation Winter Mist.
-Veliccia-
-Panzer-
Please give the readers a brief history of the band.
Operation Winter Mist was formed in 1998. Our frontline soldiers consist of Nebelwerfer (guitar), Dreadnaught (bass), Pte. S.Tanner (drums), and myself, Panzer, on vocals. We have two releases "Winter Warfare II" (Regimental Records) and "Imperial Grand Strategy" (Die Todesrune Records.)
Your lyrics are pretty much exclusively about war. You also display a great sense of nationalism to your native Canada. So would you lump yourselves in the NSBM category or does your music not include the racial part of NSBM? Or do you choose not to label yourselves anything?
We label oursleves as a metal band. In reality, it is you, the media that categorizes us into a subgenre. The lyrics are based on historical fact, not political ideology.
The way you, obviously, take great pride in your country leads one to make the assumption that it goes far beyond just0 the music. Am I right in this assumption? What is it that people should know about Canada that most would not that leads you to take this stance?
We take great pride in our northern homeland, it is the foundation which OWM was founded. Each member is fanatically Canadian. There are many things people should know about Canada such as the beauty of our lands and our proud military history. Some of the main events in this nation's history is the victory by the Canadian Army at Vimy Ridge that brought Germany to catipulate, ending WWI. On D-day, Canada's armed forced were the only army to achieve all of their objectives and pushed farther into Normandy than Britain or the US. This led to the defeat of Gemany's massive counterattack by the 21st SS panzer division launched against the Canadian who were pushing inland instead of the Americans who were still trapped on the beaches. Our country's role in the great wars has been overshadowed. We refer to this as our "forgotten army." Most people don't even know that Canada had been involved, especially in the younger generations.
A lot of the bands out there singing about war and death and all of that are all just talk. If Canada went to war tomorrow, would you join the ranks?
That would depend on the circumstance of this said war. If I was to defend our mother dominion against an aggressor nation than I would follow the footsteps of my grandfather and his elders and ancestors before him to fight and givge my life, if necessary. I was born into a family of warriors who were always first to fight. If we are talking about the war on terrorism, I would not participate in this "Crusade" as I believe Christian and Islamic followers should destroy each other for the benefit of the whole. I would not cut my hair to invade some foreign sandbox to fight a holy war or a war of conquest.
What is up with the picture of Luger in the booklet for "Imperial Grand Strategy?" The tombstone over his picture...
Luger left the band almost two years ago just after the recording of "Imperial Grand Strategy." He did so at his own accord and we wish him well. It is customary for an ex-member to be KIA (Killed in action.)
What is the "black metal" scene like in Canada right now? Are there bands around that you have or would be glad to share the stage with?
The Canadian scene is small but fiercely dedicated. There are numerous great bands and musicians within these borders, many yet to be discovered. When we play live, the fans go crazy pounding their fists in the air, shouting out the lyrics, and headbang the entire show. We are very proud to be a part of it all.
What is your opinion on the new black metal that's been coming out? Do you think we have lost our way from the original intentions or do you welcome the new blood and, sometimes, changes?
I am an old schooler and have been involved in the metal scene for a very long time. I love old Venom, Bathory, and Celtic Frost, etc. I like the second wave BM such as Darkthrone, Burzum, and Mayhem, etc. just as much. All genres of music must go through the inevutable stages of evolution. Newer and younger musicians bring fresh ideas to a sometimes stale form of music. Change is necessary to the survivability of BM. I emjoy many of the new bands out there today.