Interview with Skaldic Soul

I will introduce SKALDIC SOUL through this interview. All started from a joke between the band and me but then, the joke changed to one real interview.

01. Hello Skaldic Soul, how did the band start ? 

Hej Folks, first we are glad to be here answering the questions for these amazing folks!! The band started in 2006. We ever loved Folk Metal bands. Many years ago, the band Bathory changed our lives and since that time, we ever listened to bands like Cruachan, Suidakra, Ensiferum, Borknagar etc… So, we created the band in 1999 to play some cover songs, and in the end of 2005, we decided to change it to play some folk metal made by our own.

We had a lot of lineup changes mainly for drums. We have lost a lot of time working with new members. In 2007 we made our first single called “Forbidden eyes” that was very different from what we do now, and after that, between 2008/2009 we released our first EP “Paths In the Highlands”. We passed through several lineup changes again because our synth player, our drummer and our second guitar player left the band and then, we had to think in our positions again that ended in me leaving the flutes and bagpipes to Renato who joined us, and I went to the rhythm guitar. After that, Julio joined the band to play the drums and we reached our best lineup since we started the band, me and Lui worked on new songs. So this year, we started the recordings of the 7 songs of the “ThunderForge “ album, starting by drums, bass and then, the guitars, flutes, without to forget the last part: the vocals and backing vocals.

02. You are from Brazil, why that band name ?

Yeah, it´s a point that we hear a lot, "a brazilian folk viking metal band" sounds strange, yeah... Perhaps, if you see that most part of brazilians are descendants from Europe and every part of the world, the members of Skaldic isn´t different, so we used that heritage to talk a little in our songs about that theme. We have chosen this name in honor of the ancient Skalds who were poets that used music and poetry to tell their tales and so, that is what we do.

03. How does Skaldic Soul work for compos ?

Everyone in Skaldic Soul composes music, but most part of the music is made by me and Lui. We usually compose the melodic part and the body of the songs and the other guys do their parts, like the flutes and drums. After that, we work on the lyrics, but we always think to the theme of the song at the very beginning.

04. What are the musical influences from the band ?

We have a lot of them but basically, Ensiferum, Suidakra, Wintersun, Vintersörg and Månegarm.

05. what are your lyrics about ?

We talk about Epic stuffs, telling one story here and there like in our upcoming Thunderforge Album, we have a trilogy about the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle by Bernard Cornwell, or even talking about a rage of viking hero like in "Until the red sun rise" song.

06. How's the pagan/folk metal scene in Brazil ? 

The scene is growing fast and strong, we are one of the oldest bands of this genre in Brazil so we saw this all start here, and it´s becoming bigger every day. Of course, It´s not very big like in Europe but it´s something that is getting a considerable attention of the Pagan/Folk Metal World and European Bands.

07. The band Arraigo won the latest bands' battle in Sword Chant, how do you like them ? 

It´s a great band from Argentina. I think they have one really amazing sound, mixing various styles that I never saw before, and I hope to share the stage with these guys soon.

08. What do you think of the pagan/folk metal bands from South America? Do you have some favorite bands ?

Like in Brazil, it´s growing a lot too, mainly in Argentina and Chile. I had the pleasure to share the stage with some of my favorite bands from South America like Skiltron and the guys from Triddana, Einher Skald and Zrymgöll too. They are amazing!!

09. Do you like folk music from your area ?

Yup, mainly the style "moda de viola" that is a kind of sound from the inner country.

10. Do you have some gigs in plan ? 

Not for this year, after the tour with Arkona and Suidakra in South America, we decided we won’t schedule more gigs to focuse more on the work of the new album, have a lot of things to do yet, all the mix and master stuffs and an acoustic song to record that will be the bonus track of the album, but we are planning the Thunderforge Tour for 2013 for sure.

11. What bands have shared the stage with Skaldic Soul ?

That is one hard question, a lot of bands… Sorry folks I can´t remember all the bands over these long years, but we already shared stages with Korpiklaani, TYR, Suidakra, Arkona, Skiltron, Enthring, Krisiun, Tuatha de Danann, Helllight, and hundreds of other bands.

12. are you signed somewhere ?

Not really, we are making it by our own.

13. what material(s) have you released so far? And when was it ?

2007 was the Single “Forbbiden eyes”, 2008 the EP “Paths in the Highlands”, and 2012 will be the “Thunderforge” Album.

14. Are you working on upcoming album ?

Yup, we are working on the “Thunderforge” Album that will have 7 songs and a very nice Intro, and will count with some great guests. It´s a surprise yet but will be awesome for sure!

15. what do you plan for 2013 ?

We plan to make the Thunderforge Tour, and to work on the next album, we have a lot of songs for the next one.

16. How do you like Sword Chant ?

We really like the Sword Chant sites and forum, since we knew the website for the first time. Sword Chant is very important for the Pagan/Folk Metal Bands. I always keep an eye in there to see the news and to know new bands or new stuffs. We really think that is an amazing job made here for all the bands over the world. We recommend for everyone of the pagan world to check this website to keep informed and to know new stuffs too.