Nargaroth, certainly one of the most controversial bands of the entire black metal canon. But also one of the most respected, via the immense talent of its frontman René "Ash" / "Kanwulf" Wagner. Why does he need five names? Who knows. (he actually explains it in the interview so keep reading)
After releasing the debut Herbstleyd in 1998, the following sophomore Black Metal ist Krieg produced a very polarising response in the extreme metal community. Many felt it was a "cheesy" tribute, in the same vein as Warkvlt's Burzumination. Subsequent albums, such as Semper Fidelis (a tribute to Absurd), Era of Threnody or even Apocalyptic Steel all served to further cement Nargaroth's reputation for quality, albeit problematic, black metal releases.
One of the many reasons for Nargaroth's sulfurous reputation in black metal circles certainly has to do with the behaviour and antics of its frontman Kanwulf, aka Ash, aka René Wagner. A semi-solo project, in that it was originally a one man black metal band in the style of Burzum, which later incorporated other musicians from the German black metal scene - see the aforementioned Warkvlt -, Nargaroth always knew how to use fan reactions and "hype" in order to make their music stand out. That is not to say that Nargaroth play bad black metal, on the contrary... but if you know about Nargaroth at all, it's probably because of something the band said, or something the frontman did. Musical appreciation comes later.
The Polemical Nargaroth Interview on Black Metal and Culture
In the enigmatic book "Racist Metal: A History of Xenophobia in Heavy Metal Music", the contentious frontman Kanwulf / Ash answers questions regarding the problematic nature of the band Nargaroth, in perhaps one of most obscure and "edgy" interviews of black metal - a never translated before German based interview, with the mastermind behind on of the most contentious bands of all black metal, Nargaroth.
Nargaroth: "I am Ash and also Kanwulf, an outsider..."
As is usually the case with these kinds of interviews, the first few questions concern the beginnings of the band. In this case, it's about how Kanwulf got into black metal, and why he chose to make Nargaroth a solo project.
Kanwulf: From the start I was more an outsider and I followed my dreams even though others found it silly. When I want or envision something, I do all to make it happen. I don't want opportunities and greatness in this short life pass by.
He is then asked about the very split, and almost schismatic reactions that followed the release of the black metal "hit" album, Black Metal Ist Krieg. His take.
Kanwulf: The reactions are as always and as to be expected for a NARGAROTH album. For some it was one of the best, refreshing and most creative Black Metal albums. For others it was the worst crap. Both assessments suit me.
Now, more interesting... he is asked about why he changed his name from Kanwulf to Ash. According to Wagner, Ash was always his real persona. "Kanwulf" is a lycanthropic (werewolf) alter-ego, that sometimes takes over when he is "mad or lusty". He also claims he no longer associates with this beast.
Kanwulf: Ash is my true name. It's more my personality now than everything else. I'm also still Kanwulf. "He" is the dark werewolf, still is somewhere within me. He is/was my anger, my stubbornness, my ignorance, my lies, my hate, my vanity... he was my truth in the times from 1996 until 2001 and being him kept me alive in these sick, insane times. But every lord must pass one day.
That is... only slightly less insane than Jon Nödtveidt claiming to be the "Maha Kali", the destroyer of the cosmos or whatever. At least Kanwulf, or should I say Ash, made some good music, and didn't mallcore out Reinkaos-style. Props to him.
Nargaroth: "I don't listen to Black Metal anymore, it is too contaminated..."
Speaking of mallcore in the vein of Dissection, Dimmu Borgir and nu (post-Abbath) Immortal, Nargaroth's frontman has a pretty explicit take on the "modern black metal scene". Reader beware, continue the interview at your own discretion. Harsh words are directed against the scene.
Kanwulf: I personally do not care nor do I listen to any Black Metal anymore besides some of my old favorites once in a while, due [to] Black Metal is too contaminated to me. Listening to Black Metal reminds me of its demise and that, to me, is something pretty torturing as the art itself is very dear to me. [...] It brings aching memories and the knowledge [of] what Black Metal has become. That aggravates too much. And new stuff doesn't interests me at all. No matter if it is considered as legit or f[-]ggy by the scene.
Pretty much what you'd expect from the man who wrote the song "F*** Off Nowadays Black Metal". He also mentions an event where Nargaroth was supposed to play live with Dark Funeral (Hole in the Sky, 2018), but he was later cancelled due to comments made against the bisexual and transvestite singer Michael Svanberg / Lord Ahriman. He later called Ahriman "mentally ill" for dressing up as a female dominatrice, and wearing women's underwear onstage. Kanwulf / Ash reminisces of this event, and the role of Nargaroth in the music world.
Kanwulf: I feel misplaced in the nowadays world, that is dictated by (false) democrats and (fascistic) liberals and mental illnesses, that I am not only forced to accept, but to support openly or I get kicked out of society (jobs and so on).
He also, hilariously, calls Behemoth's frontman Nergal a "metrosexual" and claims he never liked the band - despite touring with them in 2007. Wagner also briefly mentions religion, indicating he is neither religious, nor a satanist - this is important, as it's mentioned again further in the interview.
Kanwulf: I am not religious, but can't deny that once in a while I wish for something bigger. I think it doesn't have to be a god or whatever. Just find something bigger than you and you an be fine.
This mirrors comments made by Varg of Burzum and Satyr of Satyricon, that none of the original members of the Norwegian black metal "Inner Circle" were ever "devil worshipers" - and the entire devil worship drama was completely fabricated by one journalist of the Bergen Tidende.
"I can tolerate it if an Afghan or a Vietnamese likes Nargaroth..."
Now we get into the more "edgy" parts of the interview, where he is asked about his controversial comments in the past: about national socialism, about the "White race", about the Wehrmacht, and most of all... about praising Absurd publicly, both during live shows and on the liner notes of the Black Metal Ist Krieg album. Ash claims this had nothing to do with "NSBM", and he just wanted "to have a m[u]rderer at his wedding".
Kanwulf: The part about Absurd ("Absurd, good to know yeah out of jail!") was based on my wish to have a murderer as a witness at my wedding. I really wanted that. I didn't want anything average, and also because of my good relationship with him.
Perhaps one of the most controversial and NS aspects of Nargaroth, is when Ash, back when he was still calling himself Kanwulf, declared publicly that Nargaroth's music was "Black Metal, from the White Man to the White Man" and that he didn't want "any ****** foreigners listening to [Nargaroth]". He explains what he meant.
Kanwulf: It is not that I simply say this because I do not like any foreigners, it is really that I have had to deal with foreigners so often in my life. Privately, this has always worked quite well, but as for accepting them in my music, there was no way. Neither understanding nor acceptance!
The Nargaroth frontman also explains that he isn't making discriminations against various ethnicities! He can tolerate an Afghan or Vietnamese person enjoying his music.
Kanwulf: I can tolerate it if an Afghan or a Vietnamese person likes my music. That's perfectly fine! But the fact that they sometimes destroyed the CD, I really did not understand. [...] In GBK times and also after, where I was in the dorm, we had to deal constantly with Vietnamese, Afghans, Mulattos, etc.
He only deplores that they sometimes "destroyed the CD"? This must be a reference to a specific incident, but nowhere in the interview does he elaborate...?
Nargaroth: "I don't see Racism as a Fascist thing..."
While he "tolerates" Afghans and Vietnamese liking black metal, Kanwulf also knows - for a fact! - that foreign people, especially the "darker populations", can't appreciate Nargaroth. He mentions a fan from Greenland who just "doesn't get it" and reiterates that "darker people" routinely break his CD (?).
Kanwulf: I know foreign people can't appreciate Nargaroth's music. From experience. It really is experience. I haven't found even a single one. I even know some from Greenland who can't relate to it, even though they would be considered white. That's really very unfortunate. But the strongest rejection really came from darker populations, who even destroyed the CD just because of the music. I found that quite bad.
He then addresses an allegation of "fascism" and "NSBM", both of which can be traced back to a late 1990s interview with the German zine Ablaze - see the book "Racist Metal: A History of Xenophobia in Metal Music" -, in which he openly referred to "modern black metal" being overrun by "homosexuals, gypsies and midgets" - likely in reference to the Roger Tiegs drama with Gorgoroth and a few other fallouts.
Kanwulf: When I say I'm a racist, which is actually not true, I just wrote it in the Ablaze interview, then I don't see racism as a fascist thing. Because if a Peruvian hates the Brazilian in Brazil, it is also racism, but it has nothing to do with fascism. You can just take racism without saying it's fascist. I just have something against the interpretation or abuse of my music by other cultures. The private has nothing to do with it! My music is worth more to me than anything else, and especially more than the [darker] people.
He also mentions that some of the "darker" people can be very talented musicians, but there is more to black metal music than just "the ability to play guitar" as he says.
Kanwulf: I'm not denying them the ability to play guitar, but maybe I am denying them the ability to live up to the historical background. This 'behind' is almost more important than the music.
This idea that the "meaning" of the music is equally, if not more, important than the technical skills itself is not new nor original to Nargaroth alone. Many of the former black metal originators such as Dead, Euronymous, Fenriz, Varg, Necrobutcher, Samoth, Satyr and even Shagrath of Dimmu Borgir have said the same thing. Repeatedly.
Nargaroth: "I don't have much to do with Satan... does that make me a Fascist?"
Ash also indicates that this "exclusionary" thinking doesn't have to do with the sole racial or ethnic background. If it were up to him, he would only give Nargaroth albums so a select few people he knows... An "Inner Circle" of German Black Metal? He would, at the very least, want to "vet" the potential listener, to make sure he is a serious black metal fan.
Kanwulf: Ideally, I would take the CD and only put it into the hands of people I know, but of course that's not possible. If someone orders the CD, they should really send me their résumé. I would have to see their attitude, their fundamental thoughts, so I could say: okay, it would be worth giving it to them.
The vocalist and songwriter continues describing what he sees in black metal, and expands on his views of religion and "Satanism" in particular. He believes true black metal is "something Satanic", but that he doesn't have much to do with any of that. He also comments on the inner booklet of the recent album "Apocalyptic Steel".
Kanwulf: I don't do Black Metal, in this bronze booklet it only says Metal, because Black Metal is something Satanic to me, and I don't have much to do with Satan. That's why I think it's not Black Metal. It would be a pretty strong insult to me if I called this music Black Metal, because it's not. Black Metal, this mountain riff or whatever, is worth a lot to me. [...] This was a white man, a German, that was someone like me, you know? The interpretation, this falling into the music, as I feel with Graveland or Burzum, I would like to have that in some of our people.
Lastly, René Wagner concludes the interview by expressing doubt at the idea that his entire career with Nargaroth can be resumed by the mere accusation of "fascism". He claims his appreciation for the German Wehrmacht came from his time in the Army.
Kanwulf: Ever since I was in the army, I like the military, and marching songs. Does that make me a fascist? That's why I'm labeled a fascist! Just because I don't want my family, the fallen soldiers, to now be considered war criminals, that makes me a fascist?! But we live in Germany, so we have to keep our mouths shut.
It should be noted that Kanwulf has consistently donated much of the profit he derives from Nargaroth albums and merch sales to various military and/or veteran causes, including Kriegsgräberfürsorge (German War Graves Commission) and MIA International (Missing in Action), to name a few.
This concludes the interview with René "Ash" / "Kanwulf" Wagner, whatever you wish to call him. If you want to read the entire exchange, you should buy the book "Racist Metal: A History of Xenophobia in Metal Music", as I can't provide an entire transcription (obviously). At any rate, this is one of the most important and debated interviews in all of black metal history.
Whatever you think of the man behind Nargaroth, it's always important to have access to the inner thoughts of such a crazy and influential black metal musician.
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