The Metal Blessing Radio band of the month for April this year is none other than Gondolin!
With a release scheduled sometime in 2009 through Sullen Records, Gondolin plays a type of ambient black metal.
MBR: Hello, I hope you are doing well. Why don’t you introduce yourself to the readers.
Angsar: Well hello, my name is Angsar, I am a college student, and I am now the owner of Christian Metal Fellowship.
Ethan: I am Ethan Boyd, a high school student residing in Northeast Indiana.
MBR: How long have you been making music in Gondolin?
Angsar: The idea came up during the summer of '08, then sometime in the fall we begun the writing and recording process.
MBR: You have an album coming out soon on Sullen Records, how is everything coming along with that? And how many songs are planned for the final product
Angsar: Well, overall, its been coming along somewhat slow, but lately we have been trying to get more done with it. The CD will have seven tracks, and I will actually show you guys the tentative tracklist:
Opening - A Hasty Departure
Crossing of the Open Sea
Awakening to New Lands
Discovering Runes of Old
An Ode to the Most High
Set Sail, the Portage Awaits
Closure - Lost at Sea
MBR: Were you pretty excited when you discovered your album would be released through Sullen Records? And will the Gondolin album be a limited pressing as with other Sullen recordings?
Angsar: It was pretty awesome to find out when James had said he would like to release it. As for amounts, since its a Sullen/OGR split release, it will be limited to 1000 copies. I'm not completely sure if it will have special package deals like other OGR releases though.
MBR: You play a sort of ambient black metal, but how would you personally describe Gondolin?
Angsar: I, personally describe it as a sort of epic ambient black metal.
Ethan: I would describe it as more of an Ambient Doom Metal project, I take a lot of influence from Ambient when writing the music and I incorporate the crushing heaviness of Doom Metal as well.
MBR: Where did the inspiration for Gondolin come from? Also why did you choose the name Gondolin?
Angsar: The name came from J.R.R. Tolkeins world of Middle Earth, Gondolin is a hidden city of the Elves.
Ethan: The inspiration for the music comes from the natural world that God has formed.
MBR: You are also in numerous other musical projects, would you care to tell us about those as well?
Angsar: I am also the main man behind Maugrim, a dark ambient project. The debut will be coming out on EEE recordings within the next few months, so keep an eye out. I have been involved in other musical projects as well, some that will probably never see more light, unless things get straightened out, Sergius is one for example. I am also in a joke-esque grindcore project called Vomitcrew Cancercore, with a college buddy.
Ethan: Honestly, I probably get involved in more projects than I can handle. It's fun though. My main focus at the moment is Vikarbyrgi, an Unblack Metal band, which will be recording a full-length come Summer. I expect it to be released sometime in Autumn. Another band I am heavily involved in is a Thrash/Black Metal project by the name of Petroglyphic Omen. We expect to be playing shows this spring and hope to have a demo avaliable shortly. There are many other projects I am working on that I do not wish to make known just yet.
MBR: Any idea when we will see albums for any of those other projects?
Angsar: As I said, Maugrims debut will be out on EEE soon, and then there will also be a split from Maugrim later in the year, which is a lot darker then the debut. Sergius may have some stuff down the road, but right now, nothing is being planned. And Vomitcrew has a few things planned out, but its all just for fun, if it gets serious, then awesome.
MBR: What are some of your sources for musical influence? Also what other bands have directly influenced your work in Gondolin?
Angsar: I am personally influenced a lot by many different bands, but I guess none of them actually form an influence for the music I participate in making.
Ethan: While I do not personally look to bands to influence me while writing music for Gondolin, I do think that some influence from some bands shines through. Shape of Despair might be seen as a similar band, and I'm a huge fan of their work. Ahab might have influenced me at one point as well. All in all, I just write what sounds fit for the atmosphere I'm trying to convey.
MBR: As far as personal taste goes, what are some of your favorite bands or musicians to listen to?
Angsar: Some of my personal favorites are: Austere, Swallow the Sun, Doom:VS, Crimson Moonlight, Agalloch, Vanguard, Antestor, Eulogium, Suidakra, Eluveite, Trenches, Aurora Black, Virgin Black, Shadows of Paragon and many others.
Ethan: My favorites as of late include: Negura Bunget, Flaskavsae, Blut Aus Nord, Njiqahdda, Temnozor, Old Wainds, Leviathan, Kathaaria, Alcest, Deathspell Omega, The Elemental Chrysalis, Iskra, Trancelike Void, Hellhammer, Ephel Duath and the newest Darkthrone albums, which have been getting many plays from me.
MBR: What releases are you most looking forward to this year so far?
Angsar: I was really looking forward to Austere's "To Lay Like Old Ashes", and I must say, it was not a disappointment at all, I am also looking forward to Eluveities "Arcane Dominion" and Eulogiums "Transcendence of Hope"
Ethan: I usually don't know about new releases, but there are a couple on my mind. I am trying to get a hold of the new Xasthur cassette release, but it seems as if it's sold out already. I'll have to wait for the CD release. Blut Aus Nord's new album is incredible, I wouldn't expect anything less from those masterminds. It would be a lie to say I'm not looking forward to the new Zao album. If Virgin Black releases Pianissimo soon I will without hesitation pick that up. Finally, there's plenty being released on EEE Recordings that I'm excited about. Flaskavsae's new full-length, new Njiqahdda, new Light Shall Prevail, new Elan as well as all the rereleases they're doing. My wallet will surely be empty for the majority of this year.
MBR: Ambient black metal is certainly one of those genres that is an acquired taste, much like grindcore or drone. How did you become interested in ambient?
Angsar: I actually was not interested in ambient music until I started working on Maugrim, then I kind of got more interested into it. And it is quite an acquired taste, which is why it surprises me that Gondolin has gotten such good feedback from the secular and Christian scenes.
Ethan: I think once you aquire a taste for the less-accessible forms of Black Metal, you can easily delve into the Ambient genre. Many characteristics are similar. Burzum's "Hvis Lyset Tar Oss" comes to mind.
MBR: Besides churning out tons of music, what are some of your other hobbies if you don’t mind sharing?
Angsar: I listen to a lot of music, I love to sell band merchandise and attend shows, I don't have too many hobbies right now though, since college takes priority.
Ethan: School is also a biggie for me, but now that Spring weather is coming I will putting aside time for biking, a big hobby of mine. I also enjoy camping and travel. This summer I will be traveling to Seattle, which is exciting.
MBR: That is a really cool looking logo you have for Gondolin, who designed it? And is that CGI or hand-drawn?
Ethan: My good friend Alastair from Australia designed this logo. You might know him from the grindcore project Engravor. He is an incredible artist, and has done logos for bands such as Vikarbyrgi and Hallowed Butchery. His album art is also top-notch, as you can see from bands like Vikarbyrgi (Concealed Hour) and Theonymic (Cry of Creation) as well as his Engravor releases.
MBR: Thank you very much for your time in this interview, best wishes with the Gondolin release. Is there anything else you would like to tell the readers?
Angsar: Keep an eye open for the release, I do hope you enjoy it, and may the Lord bless you all
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Subject: April 09 Band of the month - Gondolin! 
Tue Mar 31, 2009 9:29 am
