Primordial is one of those names that need few words for introduction! Born in Ireland in 1987 as Forsaken they would change it to the actual one around 1991 and debuted with the demo ‘Dark Romanticism’ in ’93. Two years later came the debut album ‘Imrama’ that showed a great blend of Black and Epic Metal, followed by a split 10’ with Katatonia in ’96 and the second album ‘A Journey’s End’ in ’98! In ’99 they released the EP ‘The Burning Season’ followed in ’00 by the third album ‘Spirit the Earth Aflame’ and in ’02 by the fourth ‘Storm Before Calm’! 2005 brought ‘The Gathering Wilderness’, the fifth studio album and a year later they released a split with fellow country mater Mael Mórdha! In 2007 was released ‘To the Nameless Dead’, in ’11 came ‘Redemption at the Puritan’s Hand and last year they released their eighth album ‘Where Greater Men Have Fallen’ again a masterpiece of dark and obscure music!! The band suffered from few line-up changes and is now Allan Averill (vocals), Ciáran MacUiliam & Micheál Ó Floinn (guitars), Pól MacAmhlaigh (bass) and Simon Ó Laoghaire (drums). MH- Hi Alan, how are you? How has been the promotion to ‘Where Greater Men Have Fallen’? How was to play the 3 shows in a row in Germany? Do you have a tight and busy schedule for 2015? P- I'm fine. Not as busy as I would like actually, things are only really starting for the year now, we haven't even reached ten shows for the new album yet. The promotion is really up to the label but things seem fine on that front. 2015 looks ok to me so far but could always be more as far as I am concerned. MH- From ‘Dark Romanticism’ to ‘Where Greater Men Have Fallen’, twenty one years are in between, so how has been the ride? Many things are different for sure but for you what are the main things that have changed? For sure nowadays you don’t arrive at home with a black eye after buying a Metal record, right? P- That can still happen without a doubt, sometimes you can still get one from your own band even in 2013 :) It's been a curious, strange and rewarding ride and charted nearly all of my adult life. I think the line between the old me and the guy in the band became blurred a long long time ago. The band becomes an institution in your life. It's hard to remember not being in the band, but it is what it is, I wouldn't change it. MH- ‘Where Greater Men Have Fallen’ is your eighth and latest album, can you tell us what is behind the title? Lyric wise in what did you inspired yourself to write songs as ‘Come the Flood’, ‘Born To Night’ or ‘Ghosts of the Charnel House’? P- I tried to make the title a little easier to understand this time. Greater really states that no matter what you attempt a greater man (or woman) has already failed in attempting the same thing. It's about the inevitable road to war and bloodshed that took us to WWI and where we are 100 years on as a civilization. ‘Come the flood’ is about praying for a biblical flood to wash the blood of these wars from the land.
‘Born to Night’ is about martyrdom and how people wish to project their vanity on to others, ‘Ghosts…’ is about child abuse in Ireland in the 20th century by the church. MH- You used again as producer the Colombian Jaime Gomez Arellano, satisfied with his work? How do you guys work? Did you record all the album and Jaime did only mastering and mixing or he was with you guys at the studio when recording? P- Well I think every couple of albums you need to shake up the process and move out of any comfort zone you've developed. Yeah sure he was there all along the way. I think the album sounds dynamic and live like we wanted. After 8 albums you need to work on understanding what the band means and capturing urgency and vitality.
MH- In your point of view does this new album continues in the same musical path as ‘Redemption at the Puritan’s Hand’ or it shows a different side of Primordial? Primordial has conquered a respectful name in the Metal world so did you feel any pressure when you were writing this new album? P- I don't know. I think the new album is perhaps darker and heavier and shows a little more of our influences, Sabbath and Metallica for example here and there. We don't really think about it too hard. MH- ‘Where Greater Men Have Fallen’ is your fourth album with Metal Blade Records, so how has been the relationship with them? Do you feel they have given the right support to Primordial? P- It is all fine. We have no problems, we get along great. At this stage in the game with the industry the way things are the structure of labels a lot is upon the shoulders of the bands, with networking and availability to tour etc. We do what we do. MH- You’re going to play in Portugal in the XVIII SWR Barroselas Metalfest, do you have good memories from your passages through our country? You have an interesting fan base here, do you think that can be related with the fact we have some Celts roots? Can we expect a bunch of new tracks mixed with some old tunes in this gig? P- Celtic roots? I’m not even sure what that means anymore, there is proper evidence to really support the fact that the notion of the 'Celts is a romantic myth, but anyway that's another discussion. Of course Portugal was one of the places we first toured back in 98. We have great memories of that time and it will be great to be back there once again! MH- Ok, this is all by now, thank you for your time.. Hope you have a good time in Portugal and to end please leave a message to all your Portuguese fans that are eager to see you guys in April/May!! P- See you all soon!!