Interview conducted by Veliccia with Guerfaul (Vocals) of Geimhre.
-Veliccia-
-Guerfaul-
For those not familiar with Geimhre, explain Geimhre's music and ideology.
Basically, we are playing folk and RAC inspired black metal. We keep the sound raw, but listenable, and refuse to be tied down by the rules an limitations that people have put on this music. As for our ideology, we stand for strength and continuance of our race and for the heritage of our people and country. We also speak out against people who commit treason against our cause or who have identified themselves as our enemies through either actions or words.
What releases does Geimhre have out and where could one find them?
At this time, we have two releases available. We have the "Cogadh" demo MC available through Northern Horde Records (www.nhrex.com) or Oisin Productions and we also have a split 7" with our comrade K.W. of Ad Hominem available through Under Cover Records in Europe or Northern Horde Records in North America.
What plans for future releases do you have?
We have a few releases planned for the near future. First, we will finally be releasing our first demo, "For the Blood of Hinterland," early this year. This recording will be fully re-mixed and re-mastered and will contain a somewhat different tracklisting as well as some additional songs. We will also have our debut full length, "Mollachd," released through Vinland Winds in the late spring. This will consist of over an hour of material and will mark our first time working with Francesca of the Italian right-wing folk act, Viking. She will be adding vocals and additional instrumentation to our material as well as contributing some of her own material. We will also have a neo-classical piece added from our comrade Gabor of Hunok. After that, we are interested in doing a few split 7" releases with various bands but those plans are still in their infancy.
What bands an/or people have influenced you personally and as Geimhre, as a band, in general?
Speaking for the entire band, I would say that we are inspired, musically, by various NSBM and RAC bands, such as Absurd, Honor, Warhead, Temnozor, Forest, Hel, Sokyra Peruna, Skrewdriver, etc. As a person, I would say I see Ian Stuart as an influence. He stood strong for what he believed in and ended up givinghis life for a noble cause. He was a true warrior and also an inspiration to us all.
You used to be the bassist, correct? How did you end up on vocals and what sparked this lineup change?
This was basically because I played bass in a few other bands and grew sick of playing. I did not do vocals in teh otehr bands I was in and wanted a change. Plus, it is much easier for me to concentrate on lyrics and vocal patterns, when constructing new material, when I don't have to worry about basslines.
You are also in a band called Fomorii with W.H. Volk of Grim Winter and a few other members of Geimhre. Why did you decide to create a band like this?
This was actually Vintrtrol's project. He was going to do it alone but then asked for some assisstance. I had been wanting to play some bass agiain, after giving it up for a few years, and this seemed like a good way. This project and even the demo weren't really planned. We just got together to jam, for the first time one Saturday and, after about eight hours, the demo was done. Totally completed. It just clicked and all fell together. I would say that lyrically I had been reading about Celtic mythology and wanted to try something different then Geimhre's nationalistic lyrics.
Are you in any other bands, besides Geimhre and Fomorii?
I am still a member of those two bands and some of us are planning to do a project in the late spring/early summer 2005. Something different than what we've done in our bands, thus far. This will be a more extreme style of metal, more akin to war metal, and will carry a more Revenge or Black Witchery feel. We are also talking to a few local RAC/Oi musicians about, perhaps, doing a RAC project in the near future. We generally work fast on projects so we have the time for multiple endeavors.
Anyone whom follows Geimhre's work would obviously see that you guys have the worst luck with labels. "For the Blood of Hinterland" has been postponed for as long as I can remember, from various labels. Is it because Geimhre is a difficult band to work with, or is it just a lack of commitment by these various labels?
Well, I don't think we are demanding. We are the opposite and that is why we get taken advantage of. All we hear is the same excuses over and over and it just gets old. All we wanted was a tape of our demo. Tenebres of Oisin Productions had no trouble putting outthe "Cogadh" demo and doing an excellent job with the packaging and everything in very little time. Meanwhile, the other labels took in excess of a year to accomplish nothing. I just think that some of the people running labels today are more into the idea of running one than actually running one. They have grand ideas but are lazy. That is a real problem these days. Laziness and inactivity.
With songs like "Traitor Song" and "We Are the Wolves...You Are the Sheep," it's apperent that someone has fucked up. In the liner notes of the "We are the Wolves..." split, you single out a Noel of Inertia. What is this all about?
Well, this is kind of old news, but he is the "big" concert promoter in Toronto and he turned his back on our comrades in Grand Belial's Key after comitting to a show due to finding out what their ideological stance was. Anyone who has ever heard of them or even seen an album, knows their stance and, in this case, GBK was the headliner and he waited unti the show was sold out to drop them. Then, at that particular show, he had his "security" goons break another of our friends' jaw because he had a shaved head. From that day, we have all boycotted Inertia Entertainment and still urge everyone, bands included, to do the same.
If you could change one thing about the music industry, what would it be?
Less Jews, less rock stars, less promotors, and less traitors.
What is the message you would like to send out to those that would buy your album just to say that they are part of the underground?
I really don't care why anyone buys, trades, or downloads our music. There are more importnat issues than the underground, anyways. This need for people to seem underground, evil, or elite is just a masquerade for children to pretend they are more important than they really are. I'd say more than half of the metal underground is full of degenerate, mentally inadequate children and Geimhre doesn't wish to be associated with this type of scene.
Any closing hails, curses, thoughts, or comments?
We would like to thank those that have helped us to this point. 14 Words.