INTERVIEW WITH STEVEN WUSSOW (ORDEN OGAN)

English: This interview was born with the desire to collaborate with my friends and colleagues from "Esquirlas de Metal", who offer our interview in the Spanish version and which you can read by clicking on this link: https://esquirlasdemetal.es/2023/10/24/careo-con-s-wussow-bajista-de-orden-ogan/

 Thank the entire "Esquirlas" team for their effort, dedication and this first step to join forces together, which will bear many fruits. Also thank Evgeny Gromovoy (Adamantis drummer) for giving the go-ahead (and correcting when he has played) with the questions in English and Steven himself for his time, kindness and trust. Thanks everyone & Long live Orden Ogan, long live Heavy Metal!

__________

Spanish: Esta entrevista nace con el deseo de colaborar junto a mis amigos y compañeros de Esquirlas de Metal, quienes ofrecen nuestro entrevista en la versión en castellano y que puedes leer pinchando en este enlace: https://esquirlasdemetal.es/2023/10/24/careo-con-s-wussow-bajista-de-orden-ogan/

Agradecer a todo el equipo de Esquirlas su esfuerzo, dedicación y este primer paso para unir fuerzas juntos, que dará muchos frutos. Agradecer también a Evgeny Gromovoy (batería de Adamantis) por dar el visto bueno (y corregir cuando ha tocado) con las preguntas en inglés y al propio Steven por su tiempo, amabilidad y confianza. ¡Gracias a todos y viva Orden Ogan, viva el Heavy Metal!

 

 

Official photo taken by Tim Tronckoe.

   

"THERE WILL BE A NEW ORDEN OGAN ALBUM IN 2024!"

Rafa Black Phoenix: Hi guys! Thank you for your time, it’s great to be able interview you!

 

Steven: Hey you`re always welcome. Thanks for having us.

 

1) How did the summer commitments go for Orden Ogan?

 

Steven: Well, although we did not play that many shows it was a super busy summer as there was and still is A LOT going on behind the scenes. But it`s still too early to go into details. All I can say is that 2024 will be the year of the Orden ;-)

 

2) This summer we were finally able to redeem ourselves with your show at the Milagre Metaleiro in Portugal, after the coronavirus prevented us from doing so last year. In addition to enjoying a great show, we have seen a line-up of the band in exceptional condition. How has the adaptation process to the band been for Steven on bass and Patrick on guitar?

 

Steven: As with every line up change, we also had a change in the dynamics of the band on and off stage. But I guess much more important when it comes to this than adding Pat as a guitarist and a different bass player is that Seeb is not bound to the micstand and the guitar anymore.

This raises the energy level on stage to a new max. As funny as it may sound… after being in a band together in this line up for a few years now… we are still getting warmed up. We still haven`t been able to play a proper tour together. Only festivals and single shows. But we will take care of this in 2024.

 

3) And the transition from bass to guitar for Niels? And while we're at it... For Sebastian “Seeb” to put aside the guitar and concentrate only on the voice...? I would ask if he misses her, but Arch Demon Seebulon The Origin of All Evil has told me in his dreams that he doesn't... (Laughs)

 

Steven: I always say that Niels is my favourite Orden Ogan bass player …. Hahaha. A MUCH better bass player than I will ever be and what makes it even worse… he is an extraordinary good guitar player. No joke. The guitar is his initial instrument. Therefore, I think he is super happy to be able to return to the guitar.

He and Pat work perfect together. Orden Ogans own Tipton/Downing like twin guitar team.

Well Seeb still plays guitar for Orden Ogan… but only in the studio. Would be a shame if he didn`t. He is quite happy that he can now focus on singing and playing mean pranks to his bandmates on stage.

Official photo taken by Tim Tronckoe.

4) It has merit because then what no one expected arrived: the pandemic. In addition to having to postpone concerts and festivals, the release of your latest studio work Final Days was released much later, altering the initial planned deadlines... What challenges, headaches and opportunities have this nightmare called COVID-19 generated for Orden Ogan? ?

 

Steven: Ok, how much time do we have… hahaha…  Damn, I mean we ALL were stuck in this… situation. Not just us. So everyone knows how much it sucked. Those years have been, just like for everyone else, incredibly hard for each one of us individually and as a band together.

Like I said this line up is now together for almost 4 years and we haven`t played a proper tour. FINAL DAYS became kind of our lost album as we decided to release it despite not having any proper opportunity to promote it with a tour in the middle of the pandemic. We had to get it out to the people.

Everything we had planned had been torn to shreds. No tour, no bigger video production… but hey, it was the same for everyone. I don`t want to whine and look back on this mess.

We made it through, we are still here and we are more than ready for what`s to come.

 

5) Of course, and then the war in Ukraine came... How much did it affect you? I'm talking about extra costs like gasoline for example...

 

Steven: Oh yes, how could I forget about that one… hahaha

You have to find a way to deal with the circumstances. You have to be a bit more creative when it comes to putting together a touring package, travelling and when to play in which country or region.  

The next tour we have lined up is a package tour with Feuerschwanz and Angus Mc Six for example. A killer package, as we think, that is going to be super interesting for the people. So this might be our idea to deal with what`s going on at the moment: putting together a nice line up and travel as smart as possible. 

 

 

6) You have also released Final Days: Orden Ogan & Friends in 2022, with notable vocalists such as Peter “Peavy” Wagner (Rage), Stu Block (ex-Iced Earth, Annihilator), Chris Boltendahl (Grave Digger), Elina Siirala (Leaves Eyes) and a long etc. It also included a new single, December, and the orchestral version of Fields of Sorrow. How has it been received by the public?

 

Steven: Guess people liked that experiment a lot. It was never planned as a “full album” release. It is more a “hey we are still here, still rocking hard” kind of release. Just to give the fans something nice to shorten the timespan till the release of the next studio album.

It was absolute cool and weird at the same time to hear your own songs sung by someone else. This gives the songs a completely different flavour. I think ALL guest vocalists have done a killer job. No fillers! And December, well it has already been one of my personal favourites during the recordings of FINAL DAYS. So now the fans can enjoy the full package.

 

 

 

 

  

 

7) Let's go to the immediate present: what state is the band in right now? What roadmap do you have planned for the remainder of 2023 and for all of 2024? Will we have a new album for '24?

 

Steven: As I already indicated… we are pretty busy behind the scenes. The recordings of the new album are almost done but will keep us busy until the end of the year. So to make it short: YES, there will be a new ORDEN OGAN album in 2024!

 

8) It is curious to see how every good German Heavy-Speed-Power Metal band has had the legendary Andreas Marschall among the pencils of their works. In fact, he is responsible for legendary covers on albums considered masterpieces by giants such as Blind Guardian, Grave Digger or Running Wild. Except Final Days you have always counted on him. Will you do it again in the future?

 

Steven: We all grew up with Andreas Marshalls artworks. They are ALL classics and we super proud that he did some extraordinary stuff for us in the past too. It is still FAR too early to give you any details about what you are going to see on the next one, but I am absolutely sure that everyone will love it.

 

 

9) To finish… For those who don't know or are approaching you for the first time… Who is Alister Vale, your “pet”? Is your story about him united on each album or are they independent of each other?

 

Steven: Alister Vale is kind of our mascot, our “Eddie” if you want to compare it that way. Vale is always put into a new setting with every new record and he is always mastering new challenges. We are always adding new chapters to his personal story.

Therefore, Alister Vale and his story are the recurrent themes in the Orden Ogan universe. And there is so much discover if you read the lyrics properly. But that`s up to the listener ;-)

 

10) In the future you might be encouraged to write a novel about it... I would buy it...

 

Steven: Absolutely, I would buy it too.. hahahaha!

There have always been super loose talks about doing something like this and there have been comics with the albums topics in the past. So who knows… If a day had 48 hours, we would be in within a second... hahahaha But not now and not in the foreseeable future. Sorry!

 

Guys, it's been a pleasure! Thank you very much again and we are waiting for you soon in Spain and Portugal with a new and successful album, although personally, something tells me that we will see each other again soon in 2024... ;) Hugs!!

 

Steven: Hey, we have to thank you! I can already promise that we will return with our new record! So keep your eyes open and see you somewhere on the road!

 

Remember that Orden Ogan will be touring their native Germany side by side to Feuerschwanz & Angus McSix in the spring and in the summer they are currently confirmed for these festivals. Where will you see them?

 

 

Rafa Black Phoenix

ENTREVISTA CON MARKO DESPOT MIRANOVIĆ DE "NUMENOR"

 Si quieres leer la entrevista original en inglés, haz click en el próximo enlace:

 https://blackphoenixrisingmetal.blogspot.com/2021/03/interview-w-marko-despot-miranovic-of.html

 

 

¡Hola a todxs! Hoy tenemos en Black Phoenix Rising a Marko Despot Miranović vocalista de la banda serbia NUMENOR, quienes estrenaron el pasado viernes 5 de marzo su nuevo y sorprendente trabajo “Draconian Age” un álbum compuesto por 10 temas increíbles con  un sonido muy fresco, melódico y cañero a la vez.

Antes de nada Marko ¡Muchas gracias por concedernos esta entrevista y mi más sincera enhorabuena por este nuevo trabajo de Numenor!

Bueno, me gustaría agradecerte tu interés y tus bonitas palabras. Realmente significa mucho cuando aprendes que hay personas que escuchan tu música durante horas y que están teniendo sus pensamientos, imaginaciones e inspiraciones cuando escuchan mi música. La música / mensaje de Numenor por eso, es muy específica.

 

 

 

1) La primera pregunta va dirigida sobretodo para la gente que no os conoce: ¿Cómo definirías vuestro sonido? ¿Cuáles son vuestras influencias?

 

Las influencias son diferentes, pero en su mayoría provienen de los 90: Luca Turilli, Blind Guardian, Domine, Rhapsody, también están Iron Maiden o Kind Diamond. Por otro lado, hay algunos momentos de la escena Black/Death de noruega o Suecia de los 90 como Covenant y Arcturus. Nuestro estilo es el metal épico, me gusta llamarlo "de espada y brujería" ya que empleamos diferentes estilos para construir algo fuerte, único y diferente a otras bandas de fantasía. Creo que estamos realmente en contraste con Gloryhammer, Powerwolf o Wind Rose y esas bandas. Soy completamente incapaz de meterme en esto. El problema es que incluso Madonna suena más peligrosa que estas bandas si entiendes lo que quiero decir. Crecí primero con Motorhead y Iron Maiden, luego en Type o Negative y Paradise Lost, así que todo esto me suena / me parece bastante extraño. Quizás me he vuelto demasiado mayor.

 

2) “Draconian Age” como decía es vuestro nuevo y cuarto disco de estudio. Creo que es vuestro disco más solido en lo que a sonido, composición y consolidación del proyecto respecta. ¿Cómo ha sido el proceso creativo del álbum y cuanto ha afectado-contribuido la pandemia a su elaboración?

 

Más o menos no hubo ningún efecto. Esta vez intentamos hacer canciones más directas con menos experimentos como lo hemos hecho muchas veces antes, y sí funcionó al final. No creo que hayamos sido más creativos en este disco, es todo lo contrario, intentamos ser más sencillos.

 

  

 

 

3) ¿A qué hace referencia el titulo escogido “Draconian Age”?

Nick Holmes de Paradise Lost dijo una vez que Draconian significa algo difícil, como tiempos difíciles. Por otro lado, la "Edad Draconiana" para mí significa algo de una época antigua (antes, como la conocíamos) o de un mundo diferente, si quieres. Me gusta la idea de que haya dimensiones y mundos paralelos. Creo firmemente en eso. Pero, sí, se inspiró en "Dragonian Times" desde que crecí con ese disco en particular.

 

4) Abre el disco por todo lo alto el bueno de Hansi Kursch de Blind Guardian. ¿Cómo surgió la idea de que participara en él? Como siempre está increíble nuestro mago preferido hehehe.

 

Es una historia larga pero la haré breve. Hansi y yo somos amigos desde hace mucho tiempo. Ahora, soy parte de su biografía y estoy escribiendo historias para sus próximos libros y CD / LP. Entonces, estamos en contacto más o menos cada día. Ya puedes ver algunas partes de la próxima biografía que Mark Fosternas y yo hicimos en el CD y LP en vivo del "Imaginations". Pero, sin embargo, esto es solo una pequeña parte. Toda la historia se ha convertido en un proyecto enorme.

Entonces, dado que somos amigos desde hace tanto tiempo, solo queríamos tener una canción juntos. Se trata más de amistad que de cualquier otra cosa.

 

 

5) La portada escogida para el álbum se trata de la ilustración del artista Dobrosav "Bob" Živković para la edición serbia del 1984 de “El señor de los anillos”. Personalmente me encantan las diferentes portadas internacionales realizadas para la obra del maestro Tolkien más allá de los tres grandes: Ted Nadsmith, Alan Lee y John Howe. Yo voy detrás de la edición soviética de “El Hobbit” que me ha de mandar una amiga de Moscú cuando la situación sea mejor…

¿Por qué decidisteis emplear esta portada para vuestro nuevo disco?

 

Desde que crecí con este libro y esta portada en particular, fue como un sueño hecho realidad. Fue como cuando Hansi tomó la decisión de cantar para mí. Entonces, sí, se completa el círculo completo. Crecí en este libro y Blind Guardian, y ahora todo ha vuelto a mí. De todos modos, me gusta mucho la portada, ya que va bien con el título "Draconian Age" y su perfecto trabajo de la vieja escuela. Por otro lado, realmente no me gustan todas estas obras de arte digitales brillantes.

 

 

6) ¿Que planes tenéis de ahora en adelante teniendo en cuenta que todos los conciertos, festivales y esperanzas están depositados en 2022?

No hay planes en absoluto en este momento. Debo decir que solo estoy observando la situación. Bueno, intentaremos usarlo tanto como podamos. Quizás trataré de terminar al menos mi parte de la biografía / historia de Blind Guardian. En este momento solo me estoy enfocando en el período "At the Edge of Time".

 

7) Aprovecho para preguntarte Marko: ¿cómo ha sido este año de pandemia en Serbia?

Nada especial. Paso cada vez más tiempo en Skype con amigos míos simplemente hablando, jugando a DND o haciendo algunas entrevistas.

 

8) Serbia es un país muy desconocido para mis compatriotas, como te comenté yo lo tengo pendiente desde hace tiempo. ¿Algún consejo a la hora de visitar Serbia para un metalero y viajero entusiasta como yo?

 

No hay muchos metaleros en Serbia, supongo que la vieja guardia todavía tiene más gente. Pero ahora estamos en los 40, así que somos veteranos. Pero, fue diferente ya que hubo mucha gente entre 2000-2005, pero la mayoría de estas bandas han desaparecido ahora con solo un disco detrás de ellos. He oído que el metal en Serbia también fue bastante popular a finales de los 80, pero lo fue hace mucho tiempo. De todos modos, Serbia es bastante extraña y aislada.

 

9) Sé que es difícil abordarlo aquí en pocas líneas con tantas preguntas pero ¿que nos puedes contar sobre la escena metalera en Serbia? (Bandas, bares, iniciativas, festivales, movimiento en general… Siempre hablando en circunstancias “normales”, sin pandemia, lógicamente.)

 No hay festivales, en los terminos de festivales de metal como en Alemania. No hay bares de metal, pero sí de rock y creo que eso es genial ya que no me gusta escuchar metal en los bares. Es demasiado para mí. La mayoría de las personas con las que estoy en contacto del mundo del metal son mayores, vienen de hace 20 años. Algunas personas dejaron la música pero aún así las conocí en las calles y estamos hablando del éxito que ha tenido Numenor porque he hecho un gran retraso de alrededor de 10 años en comparación con todos ellos. Me gustan algunas bandas de Serbia pero no tocan metal. Siempre fue así.

 

10) Teniendo en cuenta que nuestro canal-blog es sobre literatura y Heavy Metal esencialmente y que es un hecho que a Numenor (solo hay que ver el nombre hehehe) y a ti en concreto os gusta la literatura fantástica: ¿cuáles son las obras que más os gustan y creéis que todo metalero-amante de la fantasía debe leer? ¿Tenéis en Serbia alguna escritora-escritor de fantasía que puedas recomendarnos?

Para ser honesto, hay escritores de fantasía en Serbia, pero no he revisado sus cosas, en realidad el principal problema es que perdí por completo cualquier interés en la literatura fantastica como hace 15 años. Recientemente intenté leer algunas cosas, pero después de algunas páginas me di por vencido. De hecho, Hansi me recomendó algunos libros, pero fallé por completo. Él todavía está cavando todas las cosas de fantasía, mientras que yo realmente no puedo hacer eso más. Ahora estoy más o menos solo en las obras de Tolkien y Moorcock. En realidad, si necesito recomendar uno, será Robin Hobb. Pero me encantan las cosas más históricas, ya que son más vívidas, más reales, pero aún hablan de algo diferente (¿romántico?) En comparación con los tiempos modernos.

 

11) Muchas gracias por tu tiempo y ojalá podamos veros muy pronto de gira por España, de festivales y por Belgrado (Una vez acabe la pandemia, ¿por qué no?)

 

Por supuesto, me gustaría agradecerte tus amables palabras y también espero encontrarme con usted en algún lugar o en Belgrado.

 

Si quieres dedicar algunas palabras a la gente de España y de Latinoamérica que nos leen ¡Adelante este es vuestro momento!

Bueno, ya que soy bastante consciente de que mucha gente de Latinoamérica o España realmente escucha a Numenor, me gustaría enviarles mi más sincero saludo a todos. Los saludo a todos :) !!!

 

 

Rafa Black Phoenix

 

Visita:

@blackphoenixrisingmetal (Facebook)
https://numenor-kingdom.bandcamp.com/

INTERVIEW W MARKO DESPOT MIRANOVIĆ of "NUMENOR"

 

 

Hi everyone! Today in Black Phoenix Rising we have Marko Despot Miranović, vocalist of the Serbian band NUMENOR, who released their new and surprising work “Draconian Age” last Friday, March 5, an album composed of 10 incredible songs with a very fresh, melodic and heaviest sound.

 

First of all Marko Thank you very much for granting us this interview and my sincere congratulations on this new work from Numenor!

 

Well, I would like to thank you for your interest and nice words. It really means a lot when you learn that there are people who listen to your music for hours and that they are having their thoughts,imaginations and inspirations when they are listening to my music.  And yet Numenor's music/message is very specific.

 

 

 

1) The first question is directed above all for people who do not know you: How would you define your sound? What are your influences?

 

Influences are different but they are coming from the 90s mostly: Luca Turilli, Blind Guardian, Domine, Rhapsody, also there's Iron Maiden or Kind Diamond (one could obviously hear that). On the other hand there are some moments from Norwegian or Swedish black/death scenes from the 90s like Covenant and Arcturus.

Our style is epic metal, I like to call it sword and sorcery metal since we employ different styles in order to build something strong and unique and different from other fantasy bands. I think that we stand truly in contrast to Gloryhammer, Powerwolf or Wind Rose and such bands. I am completely unable to get into this stuff. The problem is that even Madonna sounds more dangerous than these bands if you get what I mean. I was raised first on Motorhead and Iron Maiden, then on Type o Negative and Paradise Lost so all this sounds/looks quite weird to me. Perhaps I have become too old.

 

2) “Draconian Age” as I was saying is your new and fourth studio album. I think it is your most solid album in terms of sound, composition and consolidation of the project. How has the creative process of the album been and how much has the pandemic affected-contributed to its elaboration?

 

There was more or less no effect at all. This time we tried to make more direct songs with less experiments like we have done many times before, and yes it worked at the end. I do not think that we have been more creative on this record, it's quite the opposite, we tried to be more more simple.

 

  

 

 

3) What does the chosen title "Draconian Age" refer to?

 

Nick Holmes from Paradise Lost once told that Draconian means something hard, like harsh times. On the other hand Draconian Age to me means something from an ancient time (before as we knew it) or from different world if you like. I like the idea that there are parallel dimensions and worlds. I strongly believe in that. But, yes it was inspired by Dragonian Times since I grew up on that particular record.

 

4) The good Hansi Kursch from Blind Guardian opens the disc majestically. How did the idea for him to participate in the album come up? As always our favourite wizard is amazing hehehe.

 

Its a long story but I will make it short. Hansi and I have been friends for such a long time. Now, I am part of their biography and I am writing stories for their upcoming books and CDs/LPs. So, we are in contact more or less each day. You can already check out some parts of the upcoming bography that Mark Fosternas and I did on Imaginations live CD and LP. But, yet this is just a small part. The entire story has become such a huge project.

So, since we are friends for such a long time we just wanted to have one song together. Is more about friendship than anything else.

 

 

5) The cover chosen for the album is the illustration by the artist Dobrosav "Bob" Živković for the 1984 Serbian edition of "The Lord of the Rings". I personally love the different international covers made for the master Tolkien's work beyond the big three: Ted Nadsmith, Alan Lee and John Howe. I'm searching the Soviet edition of "The Hobbit" that a friend from Moscow will send me when the situation will be better...

 

Why did you decide to use this cover for your new album?

 

Since I grew up on this book and this particular cover so it was like a dream come true. It was like when Hansi made a decision to sing for me. So, yes the full circle is completed. I was raised on this book and Blind Guardian, and now everything has returned to me Anyway, I really like the cover artwork since it goes well with the title Draconian Age and its perfect old-school work. On the other hand I really dislike all these digital shiny artworks. 

 

 

6) What plans do you have from now on taking into account that all the concerts, festivals and hopes are deposited in 2022?

 

I have no plans at all at this moment. I have to say I am just observing the situation. Well, we will try to use it as much as we can. Perhaps I will try to finish at least my part of Blind Guardian's biography/story. At this moment I am just focusing on At the Edge of Time period.

 

7) I take this opportunity to ask you Marko: how has this pandemic year been in Serbia?

 

Nothing special. I am spending more and more time on Skype with friends of mine just talking, playing DND or doing some interviews.

 

8) Serbia is a very unknown country for my compatriots, as I told you I have been pending for a long time. Any advice on visiting Serbia for an enthusiastic metalhead and traveller like me?

 

There are not so many metalheads in Serbia, I guess the old-guard still has the most people. But, we are now in our 40ties so we are veterans. But, it was different since there were a lot of people between 2000-2005, but most of these bands are vanished now with only one record behind them. I have heard that metal in Serbia was also quite popular during the late 80s, but it was a long time ago. Anyway, Serbia is quite strange and isolated.

 

9) I know it is difficult to address it here in a few lines with so many questions, but what can you tell us about the metal scene in Serbia? (Bands, bars, initiatives, festivals, movement in general... (Always speaking in "normal" circumstances, without a pandemic, of course.)

 

There are no festivals, in terms of metal festivals like in Germany, there are no metal bars, but there are rock ones and I think that's cool since I do not like to listen to metal in bars. It will be too much for me. Most of the people that I am in contact with from the metal world are older, they come from like 20 years ago. Some people left the music but still I met them on the streets and we are talking about how successful Numenor has become because I have made a great delay of around 10 years compared to them all. I like some bands from Serbia but they don't play metal. It was always like that.

 

10) Taking into account that our channel-blog is essentially about literature and Heavy Metal and that it is a fact that Numenor (you just have to see the name hehehe) and you specifically like fantastic literature: what are the works that do you like them more and do you think that every metalhead-lover of fantasy should read? Do you have any fantasy writers in Serbia that you can recommend to us?

 

To be honest there are fantasy writers in Serbia but I have not checked out their stuff, actually the main problem is that I completely lost any interest in fantasy literature like 15 years ago. I've recently tried to read some stuff but after a few pages I gave up. Actually, Hansi recommended me some books, but I completely failed. He is still digging all the fantasy stuff while I really cannot do that anymore.

I am now more or less only into works of Tolkien and Moorcock. Actually if I need to recommend one it will be Robin Hobb. But I love more historical stuff since it is more vivid, more real, but still speaks about something different (romantic?) compared to modern times.

 

11) Thank you very much for your time and I hope we can see you very soon on tour in Spain, festivals and Belgrade (Once the pandemic is over, why not?)

 

Of course I would like to thank you for your nice words and I also do hope to meet you somewhere or in Belgrade.

 

If you want to dedicate a few words to the people of Spain and Latin America who read us, go ahead, this is your moment!

 

Well, since I am quite aware that lots of people from Latin America or Spain really listen to Numenor I would like to send my deepest greetings to them all. I salute you all :) !!!

 

 

Rafa Black Phoenix

 

Visit:

@blackphoenixrisingmetal (Facebook)
https://numenor-kingdom.bandcamp.com/