A lot of metal hearts beat faster when Kawir arrives at the front with a new album under its arm. The band has been at the top of Greek Black Metal for about three decades, but unlike many of its stylistic peers and compatriots, it manages to bring a more distinct sound of its own. This is partly due to the strong Pagan feel that meanders throughout their discography. With ‘Κυδοιμός’, the band delivers yet another rock-solid album, enough reason for me to ask founder and guitarist Therthonax a few questions about this new effort, during which I also address his health and his view of Kawir’s position in the current musical constellation. The result is a bit short and perhaps not with the depth you would expect with the music, but nevertheless: it is Kawir and so it is worth the effort.
Hi Therthonax, before we get started and together dig into your latest album, I’d like to start with something that is even more important than our so beloved music. Not too long ago we read a statement regarding your health situation which was really bad at the time of writing. At that point it seemed unclear whether there would ever be a new Kawir album. Yet, here we are, so I guess things got better, how are you doing these days?
Hello, well yes I am back from the dead, I had a really bad experience with doctors hospitals and people in general.
Of course I am just as glad as anyone else now holding this new Kawir record in my hands. I can imagine that, for the reason discussed above, the process of writing, recording and releasing ‘Κυδοιμός’ has been exceptionally emotional, a personal victory perhaps even…
You are complete right it is a personal victory. The album was composed back in 2021 during the quarantine, but we recorded it exactly a year ago. This album is more dark and aggressive. I can tell you the story behind that: first of all I was searching for a keyboardist to send him my riffs and to record above so I started to ask a few friends. First I asked Mortiis, but he told me he can do only an intro and outro, so I thanked him and we made an appointment for something for a future release maybe. Then I asked Morpheus, ex-Limbonic Art, he agreed, but back then he was busy with his house or something like that, so I again tried and asked Dis Pater from Midnight Odyssey and he said yes immediately. And the rest is history!
From a more bystander sort of view, ‘Κυδοιμός’ feels like a record that seems to portray a Kawir that is more alive than it has been in many years. Some fresh energy and new found power seem to have been poured in. Can you relate to such a statement? I am quite sure this has not only to do with your personal (health) situation, so, what do you think has been the catalyst for this sort of rejuvenation?
Well as I told you, the album was actually composed before my health issues, so it is like that. Now I am better and we are ready to play it everywhere.
To continue a bit of the previous question, I’d like to state and emphasize that none of the previous albums were any bad – on the contrary: not at all, I loved them all when they were released. To me it just feels that ‘Κυδοιμός’ is a significant step up in terms of intensity and overall song writing. If you would compare this last record with your previous albums, what would you say is the most evident difference?
Every album is different, but it’s a fact that the new album is more dark and aggressive. So it’s more black metal than pagan, but all the stories are about Hellenic myths and heroes.
Another thing that is worth mentioning is the great production. It is both clear and massive at the same time, allowing the music to both retain its unique rawness and to deploy enough aggression to knock you off your feet. Even the catchy melodies do shine like never before. As far as I was able to find out, a different approach was taken for ‘Κυδοιμός’. At least some other people were employed for recording, mixing and mastering. What did the production process behind the album look like?
Actually the one who is responsible for the sound of the new opus is our bass player Epameinondas. He did the recording, mixing and mastering. I was not there many times, I just explained to him what I had in mind and he did everything.
You prefer to write in your mother tongue, something I can understand, but for the average listener outside of Greece it is quite hard to follow what it is all about. Almost all of your previous work is based upon the tales, legends, history and overall culture of Greece, and so is this latest album. Is there anything that sets ‘Κυδοιμός’ apart from its preceding work when it comes to its lyrical and conceptual content?
Well, I don’t think that many listeners do ever read Homer well. These are famous Greek myths, but in our own language, I think, in ancient Greek or modern Greek, it sounds much better than in English, so you just need a dictionary maybe.
Putting status and commercial success aside, of all the more or less classic Greek Black Metal bands, I have always considered Kawir a bit of an outlier. Without a doubt, you also have the distinctive elements of Greek Black Metal in your toolbox, but you have always deployed them in a different way than the majority of your peers. I’ve always wondered if that was a conscious decision and where exactly the Kawir sound comes from. Can you comment on that and do you agree with such an observation in the first place?
We are different and our sound is more pagan I can say but perhaps the uniqueness is that we are using ancient Greek.
In addition to the previous question. Within the music of Kawir there is an obvious amount of Folk, perhaps more than any other band from your native Greek Black Metal scene. This conveys in a certain Pagan Black Metal feel to it – on this new album mainly evident in the start of ‘Achilles Funeral’. Was integrating that specific Pagan sound, also by the use of traditional instruments, a very conscious decision? And what does the Pagan Black Metal scene mean to you personally?
Well, to me it’s a different perspective. Before the monotheist religions appeared we were all pagans in the whole world from China to Finland and from Russia to Mexico. So it was like that we are honouring the gods before Christ or Allah or whatever name. We preferred to sing for our own Gods because the Greek language in my opinion has a magic. It is my inspiration for more than 30 years. I will tell you a story when I had my other project called Kabeiros which is Kawir in Greek. It was without any electric instruments, we played on Olympus mountain three times as a ritualistic act for our Gods. There were around 5000 pagan Greeks and I have to say it was fantastic to be with our brothers and sisters on this holy mountain.
There is no light without darkness and no darkness without light.
I have read some comments here and there that ‘Κυδοιμός’ turned out to be a less typical Kawir album than expected. Partly because of a somewhat greater emphasis on the Black Metal part of the music and less on the atmosphere and traditional instruments. Partly I can see where they are coming from, however, I think the trend of Kawir being more (brisk) Black Metal-based has already started a few records ago and ‘Κυδοιμός’ is the first album where the balance between the two sides of the band feels completely right. How would you interpret these kind of comments?
Everyone can have his/her opinion. For us, we made one of the best albums in our career and we are very glad to see the positive reviews. The album scored a lot of 10/10 rates and it’s definitely one of the albums of the year for many.
To be honest, I was quite surprised that for the release of your new album I saw you pop up at the Dutch Soulseller Records label. Maybe out of sheer habit, but I was actually just expecting you guys back at Iron Bonehead Productions again. So, why the switch of labels?
Nothing happened with Iron Bonehead, but we were searching a new label and I liked Soulseller and its roster, so it was not a hard decision.
Kawir has never been a band that is on the road a lot. Is playing live concerts something you just do very selectively or have the occasions never been inviting enough? What are the plans in this regard for the future?
Actually during all these years we have played a lot but the last 4-5 years, because of my health issues, we had to cancel all the shows. I hope to be back in 2025 and to play live again. I feel better now and we have a very good line-up, so if you ever see we are playing near you: don’t miss it!
Let’s end the interview with a brain teaser. Now that you have reached over three decades of existence, thirty years in which you have continued to release consistently quality Black Metal, it might be a good thing to do a little retrospection here. If you look back to what you have accomplished in these years, are there any events and records that you are particularly proud of? And maybe something that you wouldn’t have done with today’s knowledge or maybe completely different?
Actually there are many things to be proud of, but I have managed to try all the local alcoholic beverages in so many countries, hahaha.
For now this was it, I would like to thank you most very much for your perspective on ‘Κυδοιμός’ and the run-up to that album. I’d like to give you the opportunity to end the interview with some words of your own…
Thank you my friend, let’s keep the metal spirit alive. Cheers to all!
