Another one from the vault, this time we go back to September 2021 when Zero sat down with Archon of Celtefog to talk about the benefits of solitude, and how the landscape we’re surrounded by not only influences our thoughts but also our outlook.
(Shout out Zero for setting this one up!)
Celtefog Interview (Archon Interview by Zero)
Thank you for granting us this interview. As long-time admirers of your work, we appreciate the opportunity to discuss your creative endeavors. Could you begin by telling us your vision for Celtefog, describing its core essence in your own words?
Well first of all thank you for your comments. Celtefog is my way to express my thoughts, my fears, my rage and my wills. Nothing more, nothing less.
Celtefog possesses a distinct, thematic character compared to your previous work with Empathy. What prompted you to dedicate focused attention to this project, and was this artistic direction always intended, or did it emerge organically during the creative process? Furthermore, was the solitary nature of the project a deliberate choice from its inception?
Actually till now i cannot say that Celtefog is something bigger than my previous bands. I created Celtefog because i would like to create music alone, totally alone. Ιn my previous bands i didn’t had that kind of freedom. This is the reason of the different music between Empathy and Celtefog for example. I compose alone and I love it.
Nature appears to be a significant source of inspiration throughout your body of work. Could you elaborate on your personal connection to the natural world, and what aspects of it resonate most with you? Furthermore, what are your thoughts on the perceived affinity between nature and black metal as a genre, and how does this relationship inform your own creative process? Do you consider the inclusion of natural elements in your work to be essential?
Since i was child i remember my self, surrounded by nature in all the ways. I love all the landscapes, mountains, lakes etc. but what makes me dream is when I’m watching the sea in the middle of the winter! The problem is that the Switzerland have no sea… hahah. About the connection of black metal and nature, i believe that there are musicians who they don’t have the need to kill Christians, Muslims, gays etc. They took a different path and they created their own music. I cannot say that we playing black metal anyway, because the black metal is mostly the lyrics and the wrath against modern world. This is my view about black metal anyway, and this is the reason I’m listen to it.
Relocating from the Mediterranean to Switzerland, what key cultural and environmental differences have you experienced? Beyond the absence of the sea, what contrasts in landscape and social interaction have you found most pronounced?
Huge differences. First of all the culture. Swiss people are nice and polite persons but they keep in distance if they don’t know who you are. In Greece the people don’t give a shit who you are. They can like you or they can hate you no matter if they know you or not. Just because of that Balkan/Mediterranean temperament! About the landscapes, there are differences between the two countries. As i said before, there is no sea in the Switzerland. This reason is enough to say that i prefer the Greek landscapes.
Your (2019) release, Outlands, evokes a distinct atmosphere, seemingly reflecting a shift in natural inspiration. While A Faded Wisdom possessed a more ancient, Hellenic quality, Outlands conjures images of mountainous landscapes and a sense of stoic solitude. Could you elaborate on the creative process behind Outlands, and how the change in your physical environment, from Greece to Switzerland, may have influenced its composition? Were there any other significant differences in your approach compared to previous records?
There is a small story behind Outlands. I started the composition since i lived in Greece. Ιn the meantime i moved to Switzerland. Because of my main influences are coming out from the landscapes, that change of country and life, had changed also my mood. I decided to delete all the songs i had created till that time and i tried to give some extra time to my brain. That season i traveled also to Norway to meet my bandmate and friend Vlad. I stayed in Norway 7-8 days, and i had the chance to visit some beautiful places. When i returned back in Switzerland i was under a Nordic influence and i composed Outlands.
The release of Outlands preceded the unprecedented global bullshit of Covid-19. While your personal experience may have been less directly impacted, how did you observe and process the widespread changes and challenges of the past two years? Did these events, in any way, influence your artistic perspective or your approach to creating new music?
Except of that mask shit into the airplanes, i didn’t saw any change in my life. I’m working in the open air as a gardener and there are no restrictions for us. No masks, no vaccines, no paranoia and shitty conversations about Covid. At the other hand I didn’t stopped composing music for the new album.
What are the next steps for Celtefog? Are there any upcoming releases planned, and where can fans find the latest news and music?
I’m trying to continue with the new album that titled Delta. I hope soon i will finish it. For any news about Celtefog anybody can find them in Celtefog’s facebook page.
Finally, are there any artists, authors, or other creators whose work you find particularly noteworthy or inspiring, and that you might recommend to our readers?
I don’t use to read books, but I’m listening tons of music. I would like to suggest you some Greek bands that you really must listen to. Discretion, Crossover, Dismal Sleep, Sulferon, Athos, Isolert, Human Serpent, Infernal Throne, Thrinos, 1/2 Southern North!Thank you for your support! Respect the Nature.
Shaped by both personal experience and a deep connection to the natural world. From the windswept landscapes of Outlands to the introspective depths of Δέλτα, Archon continues to offer an evolution to the narrative that is Celtefog. As Celtefog progresses, it’s clear that this is a project driven by a unique artistic vision, one that promises to further explore the intersection of extreme metal and the profound beauty and power of the natural world.
Mithraic Magazine 
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