Nargaroth has long been known for its controversial positions within the black metal scene.
Hated by some for their extreme and radical views, and annoying to others for Kanwulf's early history of fabricating ridiculous stories - like how he planned to "blow up" a Norwegian prison to "liberate" Varg Vikernes.
Kanwulf, who recently changed his pseudonym to Ash, so don't really know how to call him... basically René Wagner, the frontman of Nargaroth... the German band? From "Black Metal ist Krieg". Ring any bells?
Kanwulf Unloads Against "Modern Black Metal"
Anyway, Kanwulf/Ash/Wagner/Nargaroth recently gave an interview with author Antoine Grand for the book "Real Satanic Black Metal". I recommend you check out the whole thing, but some parts really stood out to me as it shows Nargaroth under another light.
"Nargaroth does not belong Nowadays Black Metal
The original elitist, even though he doesn't have such a good reputation amongst elitists himself, Kanwulf is always one to poke holes at the narrative of the "nu" and "improved" blackened metalcore "scene".
In his own words:
The original Black Metal scene is dead in my eyes, but some bands are able to bring me up to remember. I feel nothing good about the B.M scene too. And this since years! I separate some individuals out of the masses to consider them as good. Nargaroth does not belong the nowadays B.M. scene!!!
Hard to see it not directed at modern "plastic core" bands like Dimmu Borgir. Although we have written about them as well.
He also mentions SEWER as an early influence, which many people would have known from his subsequent covers in later Nargaroth albums.
Some small minded BM f-gs wrote me, why I could do such a "sacrilege" to put a "pioneer of BM" under a DM rubric. I couldn't stop laughing, although this is a very sad state! If they would know SEWER longer than from my Black Metal ist Krieg album they should know it! Fuck those losers! Another message is the photo of my person in the booklet and the so fucking stupid gun in my hand. I hate this fucking poser kids with their boring evil poser pictures with no atmosphere and vibes. They say it shows their true face... oh boy that pains sure in the head. Such nonsense and the inflationary use of the (un)holy attributes of BM destroys the once very important accessories of BM!!!
When asked to name 5 things that he hates about modern black metal, and well as 5 things that he loves... he was only able to complete the first request:
I hate that Black Metal isn't automatically hateful anymore. I hate that there are a million record labels. I hate that all people insist on releasing limited items as if that would make their stuff so fucking interesting, when the general Black Metal band don't sell more than two thousand copies of an album anyway. I hate that all people stuff their Black Metal with keyboard string sounds. I hate that Black Metal as a group is no more elite than anything else on this sad planet. On the other hand there are sometimes interesting people to meet and competent music to hear, but I guess that's it really.
Finally, to leave the interview on a slightly more positive note, Wagner preaches words of encouragement to the younger generation of artists - although you could argue that he is part of the "young guard" himself.
"Black Metal Was The Diamond..."
Here are his words about what separates black metal music from the rest.
Black Metal stands for so many emotions and feelings that we should be proud to own an art like this. We should take care, more than we "do" with the nature. B.M. was the diamond between the grey dirt of the other Arts. Unfortunately too many hands grasped after him with their dirty hands, so that he lost his shining years ago.
Much like artists like Abbath and Euronymous himself, Kanwulf was always seen as a "larger than life" figure.
Much of the controversy surrounding this band comes from "unhinged" interviews, where Kanwulf makes the wildest claims. But he can also be a very sensible man, with very intelligent and clever takes on the state of the black metal underground and the evolution of the scene over the years.
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