- Greetings! "True-metal.ru" is happy to welcome Ancestors Blood. In Russia it is very easy to buy your CD’s, but it somewhat problematic to find your full biography in Russian translation. May be for a start you can shortly tell us about history of Ancestors Blood?
- Hails! We thank you for this interview opportunity. Ancestors Blood was created in 2002.
Discography:
Wisdom Opens The Gates For The King (Demo) 2003
Preparing For War (Demo) 2005
Forgotten Times (Demo) 2007
Return Of The Ancient Ones (Full-length) 2008
When The Forest Calls (EP) 2009
Current line-up:
Raud - Vocals, Guitar
Thorgaunt - Bass
E.H. - Keyboards
Pyromaniac - Drums
More present details can be found on Facebook

- In different sources the style of your music is called differently. For instance Pagan Black Metal or Esoteric Hathen Metal. How do you define your music yourself, or would prefer it to be defined?
- We do not generally care to label our music eventhough we call it "Esoteric Heathen Metal" because of our direction towards the lyrics and music.

- How well the term “Black Metal” applies to your music?
- Our musical background comes from "black metal" so its influence can be heard on, otherwise the music goes on a different path.

- What’s your opinion on the fact that listeners have a habit of creating their own labels or “tags” for the music they listen?
- People are free to do whatever they want even if it's absolutely ridiculous because if you try to control peoples "righteous" opinions in this sort of matter you'll most likely find yourself trying to find a needle in a haystack.

- What is the essential concept that you are trying to convey to your listeners?
- Forget enslaving religious monotheistic nonsenses. Become aware of your peoples mythologies, history, learn how they lived and how they passed on, how they gived and received from the nature thus respecting and keeping the balance on surrounding world around them. Not letting anyone or anything take control of your life, be your own master, just asking guidance(not beg), knowledge and power from the higher beings.

- Where does your inspiration come from?
- Everyday life, history, mythologies, legends and folktales, nature etc.

- Do you ever use Finnish epic poetry when you write your own lyrics?
- Kalevala is a great source of inspiration, but we contribute our own vision in our lyrics.

- What are the other ways, by which you express love toward nature, homeland and culture?
- There are many ways to describe, so just to give you a glimpse. Rituals for example: going to Sauna and meditate. Walking in the woods, visiting the ancient monuments, reading Kalevala, listening to Sibelius etc.

- Do you have favorite song(s) of Ancestors Blood?
- No specific one, like them all.

- How recent shell we expect the new album by Ancestors Blood? Can you reveal us the secret of what you fans going to hear on this album? Is it different or similar to the previous works?
- There's still much to be done so at this point can't give you no exact date, but it will be announced through our site when the time comes. People will hear music with a slightly more variousity than compared to what our last effort was. The sound world is a bit similar to "Forgotten Times" era.

- In my opinion, Raud has very special type of vocal. Did he ever study singing?
- No, never.

- Do other members have been educated in music or studied music professionally? Does music education help in creative process?
- E.H. has studied music some years ago. Definetly it has its benefits as can be heard through our music.

- What sibolism is behind Raud’s robe, in which he appears on concerts and photographs?
- Spiritual embodiment of rituals and magicks.

- If the black metal and its derivatives never existed, what style of music would you prefer to play?
- Heavy metal influenced with Motörhead, Black Sabbath, Dio, Irwin Goodman, Goblin etc.

- Ancestors Blood has fans all over the world, but your CD’s are seldom released. What’s the cause of such minimalism in terms of releasing new albums?
- We have other projects that preoccupies our time and we do not have any interest to release an album every year. It takes a lot of time, preparations and patience to create the lyrics and music wich eventually evolves into Ancestors Blood. Take for instance our newest upcoming album has been in creation around 4 years just because we want to be assured that everything goes in its place and we are satisfyed with the result.

- A couple years ago you had a CD released called "A Dark Passage From The Past", which included early demo recordings. Do you plan to release these demos separately for the mutual happiness of yourselves and collectors of your music?
- Demos were released separately on tape versions but if anyone would want to put them out separately in a different format we wouldn't have objection about it eventhough we don't believe anyone is interested in doing so.

- In Russia there is wide-spread opinion that spending money on CDs is futile since it can be found on internet. What is the situation in Finland concerning illegal downloads?
- If you truly support the artist you like, then you buy the vinyls, tapes or cds. Downloading should be the ultimate final option unless no other choice(availability etc.). In Finland majority people downloads illegally.

- According to information I found in the Internet, members of Ancestors Blood are also involved in project called Kadotus and a number of other bands. How does such involvement affects progress with Ancestors Blood?
- We do have other projects that requires our attentions, so the time that is left is fully concentrated on Ancestors Blood. Recordings of the new album have been slightly postponed, because of aforementioned reasons and so.

- Does financial situation of Ancestors Blood allow you to work only as a musician or you work on other jobs?
- The jobs we have gives us the required food on the table. On working as a musician, it would mean to quit our jobs and trying to build Ancestors Blood as big as any band who can survive on doing just touring and music. It holds a big risk.

- How much do you tour? Do you ever plan to visit Russia with a concert?
- Touring is nonexistent at the moment, we'll see what the future bestowes upon us. Last year we were offered to play in St.Petersburg, but had to decline since we didn't have any time because of personal issues and the recordings of the new album took place.

- Have you ever been to Russia? What do you know about this country?
- No, never. A vast country with huge population and long history. Many Finno-Ugric peoples dwell in there.

- Are you familiar with Russian metal scene? May be you like or dislike some Russian bands?
- Not familiar with the scene, only know a couple of bands: Trelleborg, Walknut and Temnozor. We played with Temnozor on "White Thunder Roars Over Finland" tour in 2009.

- What can you tell us about Finnish metal scene?
- Shitloads of bands and only a couple of worthy to check out. Bands come and go, only the strong prevail.

- Do you think you made a significant contribution in the development of the Finnish heavy metal scene?
- In time it will be revealed how people shall remember our music.

- Do you know of any bands with similar worldview as Ancestors Blood?
- Heervader, Hunok, Moonsorrow, Primordial

- Now is the question, which is frequently asked by Russian journalists. In 2012 some people predict to be the end of the world (doomsday). Tell us, what is your attitude toward such gossip, do you fear humanity’s end?
- Eventually We all will complete the circle of this world and will move to another dimensions and worlds, so it will not be the end. Just a new beginning.

- And it was the last question. Thank you for the interview. We wish Ancestors Blood prosperity and success and more new albums!
- We appreciate for this opportunity and wish you the best of luck for the future.May the flames of our ancestors burn forever in our hearts!

Ancestors Blood: Raud, Thorgaunt, E.H., Pyromaniac
True-metal.ru: Твердислав, Slubbert, Terry

© True-metal.ru, октябрь 2012