Woods of Desolation is a fairly young project from Australia, creating Depressive Black Metal. They have a few releases out now, one of which is an album which is nothing short of a masterpiece and now that there's a new vocalist working with the project we sent some questions D.'s way.
1. Gegroet, some of the readers may know you from your work with Austere but can you first introduce us to Woods of Desolation.
Hello. Well, Woods of Desolation was formed in 2005, under this name we have publicly released 2 demos, 2 splits, a full-length and an EP.
2. P. knight was doing vocals and bass for Woods Of Desolation, with his being located in South West Wales, UK. How did that affect the recording procedure?
The distance between us didn't really drastically affect things at all. I would record the drums and guitars myself, then mail him the tracks to complete bass and vocals. Whilst this may of resulted in tracks taking longer to complete then the average band, this was never a huge problem for me.
3. How would you normally approach recording a song with Woods Of Desolation? I heard that some of it was improvised, is that true?
Correct. Up to and including the "Toward The Depths" full-length much was improvised. I would usually work alone on songs on an old acoustic guitar and play the riffs over and over again until I found something that worked for me, I would then go and improvise large parts of it during recording. I found this way of creating/recording best to allow me to be able to fully express honestly what I needed to whilst creating music. However, from the recently released "Sorh" EP and on future recordings there will not be any improvisation.
4. When you first came up with the idea of Woods Of Desolation, what made you decide to make a project with someone on the other side of the globe as opposed with someone locally? Was the distance the reason that P. knight is no longer in the band and replaced by Desolate?
When Wooods of Desolation started, I simply wanted NOTHING to do with any "scene" or be apart of anything, it existed purely for my own purposes and inner desires, and still does. I wanted to be able to create what I wanted, and needed to, alone, without any regard for anything or anyone else, which I couldn't do in previous local bands/projects. I had been in contact with P. Knight for a few years previously, so getting him involved was the right choice to make at the time, but getting someone locally, such as Desolate, makes things much easier to complete recordings and achieve the final idea's I have in my head etc.
5. I heard a few years ago that it snowed for the first time in over a century in some parts of Australia, Did this happen anywhere near you? I just ask while I wonder how much the climate where a band is located influences their sound. Your sound has such a desolate and lonely feeling to it, which generally makes me think of the empty lands in Wales or mountains of Scandinavia, what are your surrounding areas like and how do you feel they have affected you ith the music you create? Do you think it would be very different were you to live in say, Scandinavia or Scotland?
Well it does snow each winter in some parts of Australia, but the story you mention was indeed in area's that have not seen snow for a long time, unfortunately I did not get to see this...Where I currently reside you have the mountains a very short distance away from the coastline, whilst scenic-wise it may well be a decent location, my surrounding climate/area has a minimal influence on the creative process. What is reflected within my music is purely a reflection of myself, so if I was to live in Australia or Scandinavia etc the music would still have the same feeling(s) to it regardless of my location. Negativity, depression, hatred and similar emotions/views/feelings are not necessarily always relative to ones climate/geographical location, but more so to the individual creating the music.
6. The Woods Of Desolation album has a dark depressing feeling about it, unlike many other bands I have heard in a while it sends me into a trance when I listen to it. Does the music have a similar effect for you? Did you draw on any specific influences (musical, emotional, location) to create these trance inducing atmospheres?
When creating the music, yes. I have lost many hours whilst writing/recording material for Woods of Desolation. I do not like to listen to my work after it is finished for various reasons, so I can't really comment on what effect it has on me whilst listening to it afterwards.
7. I felt the newer material which I have heard with Desolate on vocals also sounded quite different musically, was this a result of losing P. Knight's input, or was there always an intention to progress Woods Of Desolation's sound since I felt the album was a big difference from the preceding demo.
All progress was just a natural occurrence over the years, there has never been, and never will be, a concious decision to change anything, not for myself and especially not for anyone else.
8. Can we expect further musical progression on future Woods of Desolation albums? Would you ever have any clean vocals in Woods of Desolation like we see in Austere?
I think musically we will no doubt progress further, but as said, it will not be a forced decision, whatever happens will just happen of it's own accord.
9. Do you think you would ever have more members join the ranks of Woods Of Desolation? Maybe, for instance, to create a full line up?
There is a strong possibility that I will recruit a drummer for future recordings instead of myself. I simply do not have time to play/practice drums anymore, nor do I think my drumming ability is up to the level I now require. Apart from this there is no need to recruit any other members at this stage, and I don't forsee this changing anytime soon.
10. I've seen The One play live with vocals, guitars and a drummer and this worked quite well, they created a dark atmosphere while paying. Would you consider playing live with Woods Of Desolation? If not with a permanent line up, perhaps with a live line up?
I have at times considered the possibility of performing live, but I do not think it will ever happen. Performing live is simply not something I enjoy, plus not too mention Woods of Desolation is a deeply personal creation, and not something I wish to "expose" to anyone else outside the band. I feel with music, especially Black Metal, alot of feeling/atmosphere is lost when performed live. I will always prefer to perform, create & listen to music by myself.
11. With the progression of music involved in Austere and Woods Of Desolation, how do you feel about the people adament with keeping Black Metal "the old way"? Do you think the scene needs more bands like Woods Of Desolation and Austere who push the boundaries of Black Metal or do you think there's a risk where the music you create stops being Black Metal, as happened with avantgarde "Black Metal" bands of the 90s such as Arcturus.
I do understand people who wish to keep Black Metal "the old way", but they need to realise, it is not up to them what the bands do. If the band wants to incorporate different elements outside the usual boundries, so be it, it is ultimately the creator's decision what they wish to do with their music. That said, I do not think or worry about this at all when creating my own music.
12. What can we look forward to seeing from Woods Of Desolation in the coming months or years?
I am currently writing a new full-length, I'm hoping to have it completed and recorded sometime in 2010, but time will tell.
13. Any last words, contact details or distros where your releases are available you'd like to share with the readers?
Thank you for the interview. The following distro's have releases/merchandise available:
www.eisenton.de
www.ruinproductions.com
www.darkadversary.com
www.hammerofdamnation.com.br
And contact can be made via the following avenues:
woodsofdesolation @ hotmail.com
www.myspace.com/woodsofdesolation
Hello. Well, Woods of Desolation was formed in 2005, under this name we have publicly released 2 demos, 2 splits, a full-length and an EP.
2. P. knight was doing vocals and bass for Woods Of Desolation, with his being located in South West Wales, UK. How did that affect the recording procedure?
The distance between us didn't really drastically affect things at all. I would record the drums and guitars myself, then mail him the tracks to complete bass and vocals. Whilst this may of resulted in tracks taking longer to complete then the average band, this was never a huge problem for me.
3. How would you normally approach recording a song with Woods Of Desolation? I heard that some of it was improvised, is that true?
Correct. Up to and including the "Toward The Depths" full-length much was improvised. I would usually work alone on songs on an old acoustic guitar and play the riffs over and over again until I found something that worked for me, I would then go and improvise large parts of it during recording. I found this way of creating/recording best to allow me to be able to fully express honestly what I needed to whilst creating music. However, from the recently released "Sorh" EP and on future recordings there will not be any improvisation.
4. When you first came up with the idea of Woods Of Desolation, what made you decide to make a project with someone on the other side of the globe as opposed with someone locally? Was the distance the reason that P. knight is no longer in the band and replaced by Desolate?
When Wooods of Desolation started, I simply wanted NOTHING to do with any "scene" or be apart of anything, it existed purely for my own purposes and inner desires, and still does. I wanted to be able to create what I wanted, and needed to, alone, without any regard for anything or anyone else, which I couldn't do in previous local bands/projects. I had been in contact with P. Knight for a few years previously, so getting him involved was the right choice to make at the time, but getting someone locally, such as Desolate, makes things much easier to complete recordings and achieve the final idea's I have in my head etc.
5. I heard a few years ago that it snowed for the first time in over a century in some parts of Australia, Did this happen anywhere near you? I just ask while I wonder how much the climate where a band is located influences their sound. Your sound has such a desolate and lonely feeling to it, which generally makes me think of the empty lands in Wales or mountains of Scandinavia, what are your surrounding areas like and how do you feel they have affected you ith the music you create? Do you think it would be very different were you to live in say, Scandinavia or Scotland?
Well it does snow each winter in some parts of Australia, but the story you mention was indeed in area's that have not seen snow for a long time, unfortunately I did not get to see this...Where I currently reside you have the mountains a very short distance away from the coastline, whilst scenic-wise it may well be a decent location, my surrounding climate/area has a minimal influence on the creative process. What is reflected within my music is purely a reflection of myself, so if I was to live in Australia or Scandinavia etc the music would still have the same feeling(s) to it regardless of my location. Negativity, depression, hatred and similar emotions/views/feelings are not necessarily always relative to ones climate/geographical location, but more so to the individual creating the music.
6. The Woods Of Desolation album has a dark depressing feeling about it, unlike many other bands I have heard in a while it sends me into a trance when I listen to it. Does the music have a similar effect for you? Did you draw on any specific influences (musical, emotional, location) to create these trance inducing atmospheres?
When creating the music, yes. I have lost many hours whilst writing/recording material for Woods of Desolation. I do not like to listen to my work after it is finished for various reasons, so I can't really comment on what effect it has on me whilst listening to it afterwards.
7. I felt the newer material which I have heard with Desolate on vocals also sounded quite different musically, was this a result of losing P. Knight's input, or was there always an intention to progress Woods Of Desolation's sound since I felt the album was a big difference from the preceding demo.
All progress was just a natural occurrence over the years, there has never been, and never will be, a concious decision to change anything, not for myself and especially not for anyone else.
8. Can we expect further musical progression on future Woods of Desolation albums? Would you ever have any clean vocals in Woods of Desolation like we see in Austere?
I think musically we will no doubt progress further, but as said, it will not be a forced decision, whatever happens will just happen of it's own accord.
9. Do you think you would ever have more members join the ranks of Woods Of Desolation? Maybe, for instance, to create a full line up?
There is a strong possibility that I will recruit a drummer for future recordings instead of myself. I simply do not have time to play/practice drums anymore, nor do I think my drumming ability is up to the level I now require. Apart from this there is no need to recruit any other members at this stage, and I don't forsee this changing anytime soon.
10. I've seen The One play live with vocals, guitars and a drummer and this worked quite well, they created a dark atmosphere while paying. Would you consider playing live with Woods Of Desolation? If not with a permanent line up, perhaps with a live line up?
I have at times considered the possibility of performing live, but I do not think it will ever happen. Performing live is simply not something I enjoy, plus not too mention Woods of Desolation is a deeply personal creation, and not something I wish to "expose" to anyone else outside the band. I feel with music, especially Black Metal, alot of feeling/atmosphere is lost when performed live. I will always prefer to perform, create & listen to music by myself.
11. With the progression of music involved in Austere and Woods Of Desolation, how do you feel about the people adament with keeping Black Metal "the old way"? Do you think the scene needs more bands like Woods Of Desolation and Austere who push the boundaries of Black Metal or do you think there's a risk where the music you create stops being Black Metal, as happened with avantgarde "Black Metal" bands of the 90s such as Arcturus.
I do understand people who wish to keep Black Metal "the old way", but they need to realise, it is not up to them what the bands do. If the band wants to incorporate different elements outside the usual boundries, so be it, it is ultimately the creator's decision what they wish to do with their music. That said, I do not think or worry about this at all when creating my own music.
12. What can we look forward to seeing from Woods Of Desolation in the coming months or years?
I am currently writing a new full-length, I'm hoping to have it completed and recorded sometime in 2010, but time will tell.
13. Any last words, contact details or distros where your releases are available you'd like to share with the readers?
Thank you for the interview. The following distro's have releases/merchandise available:
www.eisenton.de
www.ruinproductions.com
www.darkadversary.com
www.hammerofdamnation.com.br
And contact can be made via the following avenues:
woodsofdesolation @ hotmail.com
www.myspace.com/woodsofdesolation
