Interview with Peter was done in 2005.
:: Lets start from the very beginning. As I understood SKYFORGER has started as a death metal band, then you began to play black metal and now you came to pagan metal. In fact this kind of "evolution" is pretty typical for many bands and some may think that you are following trends. Do you? What has influenced those transformations in your sound?
Hello Igor! No, we started as pop music band, then changed our style to rock, then heavy, then thrash, then death (as you mentioned above), then black and finally, following a trend, become a pagan metal band. : The main influences for those transformations were metal magazines, popular bands and people around - we try to catch what is the most popular at the moment and follow that way. I think it is stupid to hide that. What is pagan metal, did it have special sound, some different kind of metal or it uses traditional folk tunes between metal riffs or there is only a lyrics dealing with pagan religion and history? So then at the very beginning of SKYFORGER we used those lyrics and folk tunes in our music. By the way, as I understand you follow a trend too and made up your true underground magazine?
:: Today SKYFORGER is one of the leading Baltic metal bands. You have released a number of successful albums. And, in the end, you are among most experienced metal bends of Eastern Europe. What do you consider as most important milestones of your musical career? The ones you are most proud of? I think every album is milestone for us; they made some trace in our thinking and somehow changed our musical view from album to album. I'm not ashamed of what I was created; because I know that in every album we put our heart and soul with full 100 per cent, bet we are nothing big in the common view of world's metal music. Many people even don't know about us.
:: What moves you on writing new songs? Now it's your job or it is your Earthy mission?
My inner feelings, my thoughts at a moment, my mood - it's neither job nor some mission; it is what I like to do for myself. I create music when it comes out of me, I don't know how, but it happens and there is a days when I try hard, but I cannot made nothing which makes me satisfied.
:: What would you like to achieve with SKYFORGER? Are there any goals for you?
Yeah, the main goal is to become as famous as Beatles years ago. I want to see pagan religion conquering the world and become the first warrior/priest as a head of this religion, I want that everybody knows me and says: he is the coolest guy - it is so naturally, isn't? : But seriously, there aren't any super goals or missions; I just like to play music, like that style of living. Through the music I can express myself and tell everybody my point of view and my thoughts. I like history and I talk about it through my music, I tell about what I like and I'm happy if people like what I do.
:: One of your albums is dedicated to Latvian Riflemen. Even more, your site has really impressive article about their history and deeds. When one reads this article he may get a picture of brave patriots and fearless warriors. At the same time you said nothing about another (and very sad) incarnation of Latvian Rifle-men - they were among few who has supported October revolution in Russia, they were main force of Bolsheviks... even more, without Latvian Riflemen Russian revolution would never occur - Latvians saved Petrograd when it's fate was in danger. Plus, Latvians were among those who killed and raped when Red Terror has started in 1918. Together with Jews Latvians formed NKVD in 20-ies... and when you show them as patriots you may not forget that most riflemen did not leave Petersburg after Revolution when Germans were occupying Riga... May be I'm wrong, but it looks like you have chosen not really good example for icons. Am I wrong?
Latvian Riflemen of World War I and Latvian Red Riflemen are two different things. The first ones was a great heroes of our nation, the volunteers, who sacrificed their lives for freedom of our country and most of them died in Christmas battles of 1916, but Red Riflemen were only a puppets in Russian political games, they were men who thought they was betrayed by tsarist generals on battlefields of 1914-1917 and wanted revenge; their role in October revolution was clearly overstated. About NKVD and raping - it's another "horror story" made up by Russian politics (of course there was some bad people among the Latvians too, but not in that hard way) - every one is guilty, except Russians. They all the time and everywhere want to find scapegoats. These accusations sounds like some Jews said about world holocaust - it was done mainly by Baltic nations, but that isn't serious - think for yourself! How many there were Russians and how many Latvians, by numbers they were like raindrops in the ocean. That was special politics to put things in such light. When the Red Latvian riflemen's role was done, most of them was killed by NKVD or sent to Siberia. By the way, do you know, that many of old Latvian Riflemen were in the ranks of White army, also colonel Briedis for example (one about we sung in this album). So, I guess, we will never find out the real picture of those times. But undeniable fact is that Latvian Riflemen were crucial factor of that time period and they changed many things in the battlefields.
:: So, let's talk about your beautiful folk album Sword Song. Actually, this album is the reason we are doing this interview. I think that the album is one of the best albums of 2004. Could you tell our readers about this nice side of SKYFORGER? What has influenced you on recording you versions of traditional songs?
Some other says that this is a bad side of our band, but very well, where I shall begin: When we started our band we started to sing and play our traditional music too, but just for ourselves, to find some melodies for putting in our metal songs. We learned how to play those old instruments and sing songs by ourselves, just listening to local folk bands. After years some friends of us asked to do a folk concert for people, we played and people like it, then we played a lot and finally one friend persuaded us to record this songs in one album. That's the story- it is album of songs we been playing around for some years.
:: How did you choose songs for Sword Songs? What has influenced on your choice of certain songs?
I can say the truth, that most of the songs you hear in Sword Song we was taken from the albums of other Latvian folk bands, but we arranged them in our way. It's not like we copy or steal melodies or lyrics from those bands, you know folk music is for everyone, it was made by our nation and everyone can sing them. These were the songs we like very much and which stick to our main theme of whole album -mythology and songs about warriors and war.
:: Do you plan to develop folk direction of SKYFORGER's music in future?
Maybe, but we are not sure now, only time will tell. We are metalheads, not dedicated folklore men in white shirts.
:: Why do people of XXI century should study their roots and traditions? Current science has proved that men and women, races and people are the same; boundaries are disappearing and humankind is about to conquer space and other planets... why should we cling to obsolete ideas and mourn about the past?
You know someone said: without past there is no future. But I totally agree with you, there is no big need for everyone to study their past, if you like history and things - please do it for yourself, if not - look for the future or whatever. With my songs and lyrics I just talk or tell about things from the past, because that is what I like, history fascinates me (and not only history of my nation - history of whole world), but I have never said: come on, lets start to live like our ancestors do, that is the only right way! And I don't mourn about past; I only have an interest about it.
:: Latvia has joined EU. At the same time some European countries like France and The Netherlands said "No!" to EU constitution. What do you think about EU and being a part of it?
There is some good things been a part of EU, such as common cash, free borders, economical help from bigger countries, many Latvians wanted to be in EU, because it's a way to escape from today's pressing of Russia, but I don't believe that EU will keep for long, too much confrontations among nations, especially French and English, big countries had their own goals and don't care too much for small ones such as Latvia. Idea is not bad at all, but politics always is politics and history shows us that they never care for simple people like we are, but for business and own pockets.
:: As a one who lives in Belarus, I do not share Russian views, neither I do share Latvian ones. But as a one who studies a history of WWII I should add a couple of notes. Baltic nazi-collaborators did take part in various cruelties on the territory of Belarus. For example, Estonians have killed about 40 000 jews and local folks in Novogrudok. Lithuanians were taking part in slaughtering people on the north of Belarus… Hard to believe, but one of the Lithuanian extermination teams (from Vilnius' ghetto) consisted of Jews and those bustards were killing their own kind here, in Belarus. I do not have any info about Latvians, but I'm pretty sure they weren't much different from Estonians or Lithuanians. Anyway, the more your country is playing dirty games with Russia, the more Russia would play the same kind of games with your country. Don't you think that past can't be a reason for today's relations? What do "normal" people, not politicians, think about "cold war" between your countries?
Anyway, the more your country is playing dirty games with Russia, the more Russia would play the same kind of games with your country. Good topic, so it is us who play the games and not Russia, who always threaten us! So we must be like a sheep and does what big Russia say to us. You, friend, don't know what really is going on here, don't you? How do you feel when in your native country you are called fascist only because you are Latvian and a bunch of local Russians have absolute no respect for a land and nation where they live, this local 'freedom fighters' threaten and menace us everyday of returning of old Russian order, they do not want to learn Latvian language and spit on everything what is Latvian, because they had a good backbone from big Russia! (Of course here are a many and many good and loyal Russians too, i am speaking only about those who wants to return old soviet system). Germany was admitting his war-crimes and asked for sorry to all nations they occupied and terrorized in the WWII, but Russia - Never! As I said above they still continue with threats! So, then where is this normal relationship between our countries, when somebody comes to Russia and hear from normal people: ah, Latvian - then fascist! Sorry, the minds of your people has been brainwashed a big time. We are not any fashists and never were. It is just very good name to call anybody who dont run after your commands. And if there even were some bad people, then where is reason to bring it up now? In WW2 there was two million army of Vlasovci forces, consisting only of russians, fighting for Hitler side. Now it is painful to admit that there were such people of your own, and 100 more than were from here.
:: I'm pretty sure you know that Belarussians are partially Balts. I bet you know that a lot of our people down here believe that "Litva" is not a name for current "Lithuania" but a name for ancient Belarus… but I want to talk about another thing. Our peoples have a lot of common habits, rituals and so on. As all Balts all Belarussians are extremely pagan in their everyday life even today… Hard to believe but we had a holy pagan site with holy stone and some sort of priest even in the beginning of 1900-es! In the center of Minsk, our capital! We have a lot of common. So, what do you think about possibility that some day all Baltic tribes would unite as centuries ago on Grunwald field? Do you think that it's possible after all that happened to our peoples last centuries?
No I think today it isn't possible: language difference, economical level and many other things. We must be real, it was happened centuries ago, but not now, I think. Only if there will be a really big catastrophe or another great menace. But never say never.
:: You mention that you are a pagan. How much your religion influences your everyday life? Do you practice various rites and so on?
No, not really - I am pagan in my heart and mind, it is more like philosophy of life for me, but I live in modern world, in a big city, so I do not practice any rituals and don't have need for them. Those old rites was connected with wild nature, with fields and field working or hunting- I haven't any of this in my daily life now and to do it only for show - that's not my way. But we like to support it!
:: Do you have any contacts with pagans from other countries? For example, this sort of movement is popular in Lithuania?… KULGRINDA is one of the bands to mention.
Not much, I know some people from Kulgrinda and I have friends from folk-groups and fighting clubs even behind the borders of Latvia, but that's all - nothing very special going on with them, just be a friends and sometimes meet in folk fests. I'm more like home sitter or lone wolf.
:: So, you say that "Sword Song" wasn't really impressive for your fans. Am I right? At the same time I should say that metalheads are pretty closed-minded people, and you should target your folk album for another audience. Neofolk community is pretty big in today's Europe. Just to mention some names: FORSETY, ORPLID, DEATH IN JUNE, OF THE WAND AND THE MOON… have you ever tried to expand your audience with neofolk audience? BTW, ORPLID and OTWATM share metal past.
No, we don't tried with neofolk audience, but I don't think that metalheads are close-minded! We did this album for those who like pagan metal, we think that there is a big audience who listen pure folk music too. And as far as we know - our fans like "Sword Song" too. Anyway we don't specially target this album for a special audience.
:: "Sword Song" consists of songs you heard on other bands' albums, right? You have not done any research or something like that? You "covered" folk songs of other folk bands, is this correct?
Yeah, sorry we don't have a time for folk expeditions and here are enough people who do these things because they are much in to it than we are. In this case word 'covered' is not like a do cover for metal band, because this is a national folk songs and everyone can play them and many folk bands play the same old songs, just do their own arrangement like we done. It can be completely different songs in the end.
:: My final question would be a bit tricky: let's imagine that world is about to end and you may choose only 5 albums that would be saved for future generations. You may choose any albums you value most - metal, pop, classical, etc. What would you save for our grandchildren?
You try to kill me haha! Can you for example answer this question? But ok I will try on fast hand here:
:: Bathory Hammerheart
:: Judas Priest Painkiller
:: Saxon Rock the Nation
:: Van Halen Balance
:: Mekong Delta Music for Eric Zann
Heh, let it be like this. So thank you for conversation, forgive me for such a late answers and don't take in mind if I write here something not so good for your ears. It's just only my point of view, Farewell! Nothing is forgotten, nothing will be forgotten!
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