Interview by Ryan Harding

"Here’s tribute number 2, try to stop this one, you morons!"
- Blackmoon

Feo Amante's Horror Home Page Presents:
The Ryan Harding E-mail express with
David "Blackmoon" Parland
by Ryan Harding

At least three people I discussed the latest DARK FUNERAL album (Diabolus Interium) with said something to the effect of, “How does it compare to Secrets?” There may as well have never been an album called Vobiscum Satanas, which Diabolus effortlessly surpasses. The Secrets of the Black Arts, on the other hand, isn’t so easily dethroned. A Swedish black metal classic, its unparalleled atmospheric guitar tone and flaying speed was instrumental (so to speak) in establishing Peter Tägtren’s Abyss Studios as the ideal place to record. A look at the music credits reveals the repeated input of one name - Blackmoon.

Though David “Blackmoon” Parland initially began with the death metal outfit Necrophobic, he soon moved on to quicker and blacker territory with Dark Funeral after meeting Lord Ahriman. They were the writing force behind the recently re-issued debut mini-cd Dark Funeral and the first full-length, The Secrets of the Black Arts. Dissension resulted in several members departing, including Blackmoon. Ahriman recruited a whole new band, with former Hypocrisy vocalist Masse (now “Caligula”), for the follow-up Vobiscum Satanas. A good attempt, but something was missing.

The something was Blackmoon and original Dark Funeral vocalist Themgoroth, who were now in a band called Infernal. Along with Peter Tägtren, Tony “It” Särkka, Jim “All” Berger, and Mikael Hedlund, Blackmoon was also involved in War, who would release their mini-cd Total War and first album We are War before Infernal’s self-titled mini-cd was released on Blackmoon’s own label Hellspawn. Infernal proved a faster entity than Dark Funeral, but not without its dark underpinnings (often over looked in such speed-driven acts as Dark Funeral, Infernal, and Setherial is that atmosphere is very possible beyond the sound barrier).

Infernal has since hit a few walls with personnel changes, War had a temporary feud with their label Necropolis, and Hellspawn declared itself finished. In recent months, however, things have threatened to turn around. Infernal found a permanent drummer and slightly stable line-up, War has reinvented itself as Total War, and Hellspawn has recovered. Anxious to find out what we could expect from the Blackmoon camp, and more importantly when, I arranged for an email interview with the premiere Swedish axeman . Here it is, along with a few “notes” by me to elaborate on details some may find unfamiliar.

Blackmoon (second from right) in his DARK FUNERAL days.

Ryan Harding: Hellspawn Records looked to be quitting at one point. What were the circumstances that nearly ended the label, and why have you decided to continue?

Blackmoon: Hellspawn did quit for a while, but I later decided to not give in. Since, I thought "Fuck...I’m not ready with this yet". Things haven’t been that good financially and since the business deal we had with MNW/HOUSE OF KICKS did not work out very good, I was on the verge of giving it all up. Anyway, since we now have some really good shit coming, we will continue and try to build the label into a much stronger thing. I have a new business deal with above said company and from now on things will be on a much bigger level.

R: I know you have the MORBID ANGEL tribute coming up. Who can we expect to see on it, and which songs? What is your opinion of more modern Morbid Angel?

Blackmoon: Bands on the tribute include: Zyklon, Krisiun, Angel Corpse, Soulreaper, Centurian, Infernal, Behemoth, Lucifierion, In Atenrnum among others. So far the typical hit Morbid Angel tracks are covered.

As far as modern Morbid Angel goes, it is not that happening really. The new album Gateways is not very good. Neither was the Forumulas album, although I like some songs from it. However, the guitar riffing is shit compared to the first two albums. Trey’s riffing style on those albums were beyond anything at the time. Anyway, since Trey discovered the 7-string guitar, and started to go new age, Morbid Angel has become a lot worse. Anyway, I worship the early stuff, and I’m fuckin’ delighted to release their tribute album.

R: There will be another Bathory tribute. In my opinion Hellspawn’s first Bathory tribute is the best of all tributes. Do you think this one will be as successful? Will it focus on the same eras of Bathory, or will there be more selections from Blood Fire Death and The Return? Who are some bands that will participate, and what will Infernal cover?

Blackmoon: As for this new BATHORY tribute called The Return of the Darkness, it’s Bathory tribute volume II from Hellspawn. Why I’m doing a new one mainly happened by itself. Since Hammerheart now have re-released the In Conspiracy with Satan tribute in new packaging etc., I thought let’s make that one a little special and add some new bands. So I quickly gathered some new bands, and all of a sudden I was sitting with 5 - 6 new tracks. I then decided it was better to make a volume II.

Blackmoon ponders the meaning of all Metal.

Blackmoon: As for this new BATHORY tribute called The Return of the Darkness, it’s Bathory tribute volume II from Hellspawn. Why I’m doing a new one mainly happened by itself. Since Hammerheart now have re-released the In Conspiracy with Satan tribute in new packaging etc., I thought let’s make that one a little special and add some new bands. So I quickly gathered some new bands, and all of a sudden I was sitting with 5 - 6 new tracks. I then decided it was better to make a volume II.

Of course it is impossible to top the first one, and that’s not what we’ll try to do either. This will feature more lesser known bands (mostly Swedish) but still cool ones. So this will be like the “small Bathory tribute.” Also, I’d do it as kind of revenge thing to Quorthon and co., who fucked up things badly for the In Conspiracy album. It’s like, “Here’s tribute number 2, try to stop this one, you morons!”

[Note: Quorthon and Black Mark leaned on Hellspawn for using the Black Goat from Bathory’s first album on the cover of the tribute . . . a picture which Quorthon himself stole from an old horror magazine. Threats of legal action resulted in a limited distribution of the tribute, the quality of which cannot be overstated.]

Infernal has recorded “…Of Doom,” since that song is just plain fucking sick and brutal. Vocally it’s a nightmare, since the lyrics are spit out at lightspeed. Actually I sing on it myself, since I can do that Quorthon style of vocals quite easily.

Morbid Angel's Altars of Madness

R: Initially there was talk that the Morbid Angel tribute would be a venture with Necropolis Records. Are they no longer involved with the project?

Blackmoon: Necropolis are not involved. They couldn’t get any bands on it, so I had to take care of the whole project. They might license the album in the US, though. However, this album is 100% done by myself. This one has been hell to put together, since not many bands can do Morbid Angel songs. Tributes are usually nightmares to put together . . .

[Note: Contrary to many rumors, Necropolis is not going out of business. However, they have abandoned several projects due to a well-deserved financial loss resulting from signing a lot of mainstream bullshit. If they hadn’t adopted bands like Herbert, they probably could have stepped up to the plate for Blackmoon. Live and learn.]

PAGE 2: Blackmoon is embarrassed by the TOTAL WAR mini-cd

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