1.Can you give us an update on what has been going on with the band since the recording of the new album?
Wardra: 4 years have passed since our last release, it was a forced pause because a lot was spent on rethinking ideas and creative approach to writing material. This applies to both the topics covered in the lyrics and the musical component. There were a lot of search experiments and as a result a new album.
2.You have a new album coming out in the middle of April, musically how does it differ from the stuff you have released on the past?
Wardra: Musically, we have become more melodic, as we think, and moved away from long forms, although this was not an end in itself. We tried to break down what was written into наchapters, according to the concept of the album. The approach to writing and arranging was changed, and it was decided not to be tied to the physical number of band members. Previously, the approach was as follows: we write so that we can play live, without involving additional people. This approach had some limitations and it also explained the band's past sound.
3.This is also your first release in 4 years, musically hoe does it differ from the stuff you have released in the past?
Our latestз release, “Aberration Of The Abyss”, was an experiment for us and was written spontaneously, when we were all on a covid lockdown, working remotely, and this approach gave us the opportunity to experiment more. And both with the method of writing music, and with the material itself. We would call this release a transitional release, a kind of bridge connecting the straightforward "primitivism" of the first album with what we have now.
4.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores with the newer music and also how would you describe your progress as songwriters over the years?
Wardra: The lyrical component, like the music, has undergone a transformation. The lyrics became more gloomy, abstract and, if we may say so, philosophical. This reflects our sense of the surrounding darkness, into which humanity has been sinking ever deeper lately.
As we all say - WARDRA decided to move away from the primeval mysticism in the endless darkness.
This is a story about the destruction of worlds in the endless fields of nuclear harvest and a silent witness who will endlessly wander on a carpet of fragments of time, waiting for the beginning of a new world, which writhes in endless convulsions of sleep, with no hope of awakening.
Regarding progress, it is obvious to us.
We also decided to write lyrics in our native Russian language, giving up a kind of language cargo cult. We believe that such a direction of music as black metal is more sincere, and what can give more sincerity, if not the native language. This is more possible in terms of the depth of meaning and beauty of expression.
5.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Wardra'?
Wardra: For us personally, WARDRA is a derivative of “warden” - the guardian of some secret knowledge, the guardian of a dark mystery. This association becomes more pronounced and can be traced in the title of the new album - " Warden of Stellar Crypts”
6.Can you tell us a little bit more about the artwork that is presented on the new album cover?
Wardra:. This is another result of the creative union of the WARDRA group and the Rotten Fantom duo of artists. We have been traveling with them through the world of ideas and their embodiments since our first release, "Copper-Colored Sky". The work completely reflects the lyrics from the album - in the middle of the composition is the “Crypt Keeper " himself, he has a key on his neck from the shackles of the dead, which are located below, at the root. They represent the entire past of humanity, and the “Silent Witness " looks on nearby. A “heavenly sign”, a comet, cuts through the black canvas of the sky. It is like an omen of an impending cataclysm and the arrival of a new unprecedented era.
7.What are some of the best shows that the band has played so far and also how would you describe your stage performance?
Wardra: We didn't have a lot of concerts, but the most significant one was with the Icelandic band Misthyrming. Some of our friends find echoes of their creativity in our new album, although we don't think so.
8.Do you have any touring or show plans once the new album is released?
Wardra: As we said earlier, the release of "Aberration Of The Abyss" was done remotely and we realised that we were so comfortable and the band moved to the format of a studio project. Although nothing is excluded, everything will depend on our desire and mood to attract new people to work together.
9.In 2020 you where a part of a split with 'Logos', what are your thoughts on the other band that had participated on the recording?
Wardra: Split with Logos, this is a spontaneous release as a response to our need to be in a covid lockdown. In the tracks of Logos, we found echoes of melodies that was close to us, and when they approached us with a proposal to record a split and we decided that it would be great to present new ideas, as a result, the split turned out to be complete and harmonious.
10.On a worldwide level how has the reaction been to your music by fans of atmospheric black and doom metal?
Wardra: It's still too early to talk about this - we are waiting for the official release. But the first reviews from specialized publications are positive. And so we are waiting.
11.Are any of the band members currently involved with any other bands or musical projects these days?
Wardra: Yes, we all also participate in other groups. W and B are members of the old school black band MAJESTAT, and K is the lead singer of the death metal band GROND.
12.Where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?
Wardra: It's hard to say. We will continue to develop the direction that we set out in Warden of Stellar Crypts, deepening and improving our music. The main thing is not to slip into self-repetition.
13.What are some of the bands or musical styles the band members are currently listening to nowadays?
Wardra: If it's going to be a very long list of bands -) We are all fans of metal music in general. There may be a period when a certain genre gets into you more than others, but as a rule it is black metal in its various variations, especially now this genre is extremely dynamically developing.
14.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?
Wardra: Even if the world falls apart, we will always have music. This is one of the few things that allows people to move on.
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