Hail, Wrath! How is life going for the members of Dødsferd in these meaningless days of the world and time?
Wrath: Fighting constantly and staying alert, that’s what we do! We are always struggling to survive in a country which destroys its citizens day by day through its corrupted Government, with its excruciating laws, which are enforced with unjustified violence. They have destroyed the health care system, education, and our beautiful mother nature; they have sold all of our green lands to worthless, ruthless companies just to make more money and feed their greedy bellies with more and more money and massive deaths. They care only to protect and serve their filthy kind! They have drown the majority of citizens in Greece in poverty and dissapointment. The only thing we can do is to fight, stay decent and proud and externalize all this sorrowful situation into music and art!
Let’s start the interview with the early days of the band. Your career has now spanned 23 years. How did it all begin? Did you ever think you would last this long?
I started this journey, this bloodstained journey, back in 1999. İn the first days, I was expressing myself by writing lyrics and poems at night till morning. The scent of death, as well as the hypocritical behaviour of people I knew, made me isolate myself in the small kitchen of my house, writing my thoughts on a piece of paper. Later, when I bought my first classic guitar, I was screaming all these lyrics, poems, and thoughts to ease the demons in my head. I aimed to find some peace, but that never happened. That was the beginning of my journey. If things were different, I would do something else; I would express feelings of joy in different ways. But life and this shitty world, never stopped negatively inspiring me and forcing me to express my darkest feelings and wishes through my art. In 2003 the first demo of Dødsferd, “Kruzifixxion of Human Disgust”, was self released on 200 hand numbered copies, while all these thoughts, poems I started writting in 1999, were published for the first time in a book in Greek, in 2022, that goes by the title, “Burried in the land of Dream”. My purpose was not to create a band and be a rock star or live a life of being a member of a band, gain money, fame, etc. It was just for my psychological stability. It was and still is a diary of my life.
How do you see the band’s musical evolution as a third-generation black metal band that has remained true to its style?
For me, it’s a way to express my thoughts through this extreme form of art. There are many different ways to externalize your darkest feelings, hate, frustration, pain, and punishment. Since the first days, the way I express my music, as also my lyrics have changed, in a more mature way and because of the variety of music styles I listen to. My lyrics have become more poetic and more focused not only to decry and spill hatred and vengeance but also to make people think about their status in this world, to fight back and create!!! I am trying to stay focused on my art and be true to my beliefs. My way of living, my ethics, and my values are represented through my art. I follow no recipes, and I am not doing this to have the approval of the masses but to forge a message for this drained world and its people.
In the 19 years between your first full-length album and your latest release, you have released a total of 12 full-length albums. As the band’s main composer and permanent member, how have you managed to stay so active?
This modern world, never stopped feeding my soul and mind with hatred, disgust and agony. As I have written above, this is the diary of my life. There are no blanc, meaningless pages of this diary since the first day I started. Nothing has changed since then, nothing at all!
My art, my never ending thirst to create, derives from my willto present a world with values, justice and mutual respect! When I have nothing to say through my art, then I will just end this band and all the projects I have.
Have you ever had an album in your career that you were not satisfied with or that didn’t fully meet your expectations, either at the time of release or now? What are your favorite albums in the band’s discography?
I am never satisfied with everything I do. There will always be something reminding me that I could have done it better. But that’s life! Nothing is perfect! We all need to have our minds open and learn! Knowledge has no boundaries, it’s endless!!! There are no favorite albums for me. Each album represents my character and attitude while I was evolving through my band. It would be unfair for my work all these years to make this distinction, cause every release I had, completes the puzzle of this realistic painting!
Have you ever faced any difficulties as a musician in the underground black metal scene? What challenges have you encountered in keeping an underground band alive and moving forward?
Nothing is easy in this life, whatever you do. Of course, I had difficulties and still I have. But my vision is stronger and I am continuing even stronger to establish it, even if I will be left completely alone. What I do, my music, and my vision are not negotiable. Back then, Moribund Records was one of the greatest and most powerful labels on extreme art. They chose my band, they chose Dødsferd to include in their incredible roster! And that’s because of the genuine feelings I created! I have to work more and more, I never back down on any difficulties. I never used excuses or listened to anyone else on how I should work with my band and my music. Dødsferd is Wrath, and Wrath is Dødsferd!
As you have seen, my live performances all these years of existence are rare. I am not doing it for fun, or to gain money, or to be a rock star, or become a profeesional musician. I am not doing it for free, to let imposters take advantage of my band and music. Only few organizers have the guts to do something completely different from the preferences of the masses, respect my needs as a band and arrange a live performance. Total respect to Murat and CHAOS magazine!!!!
All these difficulties make me stronger and more determined on the path I chose to follow!
What does the name Dødsferd mean? Why did you choose this name when forming the band?
It’s a Norwegian word and it means, “Journey of Death”. One of the greatest album and the one that influenced me a lot is “Stormblast”, from Dimmu Borgir. One of the songs of this album is Dødsferd, an epic song with a capturing atmosphere. Another important reason, is that I wanted a band name completely different from the ones of the Greek Scene. A band name that would distinguish my band from the others.
Your latest album, Wrath, was released in 2024. What can you tell us about the songwriting period, the production, and the recording process? Did you try any different and unique methods, or did you stick to your usual recording formula?
It’s an album that I was working on for more than 2 years. I am the only one who composes music for my band, as also the one who writes the lyrics. It’s a decision I have taken since the birth of this band. When I have nothing to create, I won’t ask for others to contribute, but I will end this band. Guitars and Vocals were recorded here in Crete by me, at the Barking Dog Studio; drums were recorded by N.D. in Athens, and bass was recorded in Athens, by the other member of the band, my brother, Neptunus. The mix was done in Crete by Giannis Leledakis at the Omegha Studio, while mastering was done by Nasos Nomikos at the VU Productions Mastering Studio in Athens.
Hypnotic Dirge made an absolute description on it: “Thematically, ‘Wrath’ carries in its wake a vigorous indictment of the social and economic consequences of capitalism, political corruption, ecocide, and the largest argument against our civility – warfare.”
I wanted to create an album that would create the exact same feelings that were troubling me for the last years. And I did it in a very big degree!!!
How has the response been to your latest album, Wrath?
There was an amazing response and support from all over the world. Most of the well respected sites, included it as album of the year. An honor for me! It’s an album that returned to the first roots of the band that nobody would expect. As I wrote above, my band is not for the masses and definitelly not for the one that seek somthing similar to what nowadays labels and fans want to create. I am continuing my path!
You own a label called Fucking Your Creation. When and how did you start this label, and what were your reasons for launching it?
FYC records is more like a community of true artists who have chosen to serve art, away from the preferences of the masses; Powerful artists who serve the ultimate meaning of art, without polluting it with thoughts such as gaining money, fame and useless followers; unique artists who have stood against the corruption of a rotten world, of a sick society that faces everything with apathy and injustice; fighters who have given their heart and soul, not just in theory, to defend all the ones that have no voice to protect themselves. True artists were chosen to enter the family of FYCR for all of these important reasons. Musicians, poets, painters, writers, graphic designers and many more are the heart and soul of FYCR. Since 2019, this unique family has been getting bigger and stronger, proudly creating only quality art for a higher cause!!!
I created my label for all the reasons above and because I didn’t want anyone to have the right to exploit my music and my will to create anymore. No more tolerance on uselessness and lame excuses! I spend a lot of time and money, but I do it for a higher cause, to serve my vision!!!
Have you ever been involved in projects or bands outside of your usual black metal style? What bands are you currently active in and making music with?
Yes, of course. I never feared expressing myself in many different ways. There is no restriction on artistic expression. I have Drunk Motherfuckers, a stoner, heavy rock band, that started as the Drunk Earth in 2004. I also had a jam band, Mortovatis (Experimental, Space doom Band) and the bands I created here in Crete, Gin Lane (Indie, alternative, post rock)and G.N.L.S. / Geometric Nictation of Lament’s Space(Experimental, Avantgarde, Post Black). You can find their releases through my label, FYC Records.
Since you are the main member of the band, I’d like to ask: Does your band have a political stance or a philosophy that you actively support? What themes and topics do you explore in your lyrics?
FYC Records, me as a person and my philosophy stand against Nazism and this entire offensive turnover of history. I am against all those who reminisce about such disgraceful years, the ones who want to hurt animals and nature, the voiceless people, and the ones who cannot protect themselves. My lyrics have to do with the debasement of humanity, the eternal fall of man and the parasitical behavior of humankind. We must defeat all human weaknesses, follow the path of knowledge and respect and evolve through internal purification!
You will be headlining at Chaos Fest – organized by Chaos magazine – in Istanbul. How did this show come about for you? Do you have a message for black metal fans in Istanbul?
Murat arranged an interview for my band, on his new Chaos Magazine Issue. We talked about a lot of things, as far as my activities as a band are concerned. He is a man of honor who had the guts to respect the needs of the band and arrange a live performance in Turkey for the first time. These are the people who make the difference in the underground scene and prove their values and dedication. I am honored to perform live in Turkey! Total respect to all my loyal followers! I have prepared a unique live set for them!!!
What are your plans for Dødsferd?
I am in the middle of recording the third part of the “Suicide and the Rest of Your Kind Will Follow” album, as well as a killer compilation album with new and old covers, as well as some re-recordings of songs and other stuff! Some live performances for 2025 are in the works.
Thank you very much for your detailed and thoughtful answers. What would you like to say to your fans and our readers?
Thank you for your time and this intriguing, detailed interview. I can’t wait to play live in Turkey and share a very powerful live set with you. You have a very strong scene and dedicated people, like you and Murat, who support the underground arts and values!
Nothing is external!!!!
With Respect
Nikolaos Spanakis (Wrath of Dødsferd)!!!
