1. Please give the reader an insight into your way of life in the forests of Olympia, Washington. To what extent is your lifestyle choice a product of the music you play and vice versa?

I can speak only for myself. I live on a farm outside of town, about ten acres of pasture and woods. My partner and I grow food and tend to animals, work with wood and seek to reclaim knowledge about how to live in a harmonious and honest way in partnership with the land. For me, Wolves in the throne room and the other things in my life are one in the same. It is important to me that art and work and craft function as part of a cohesive life vision.

2. I have read that you are admirers of radical Finnish eco-philosopher Pentti Linkola, who advocates deindustrialisation and although his early writings were largely pacifist is now seen as more of an ecofascist, advocating a social structure encompassing an elite autocracy with an educated few in control of a population of workers living as in the middle ages, destruction of unproductive workers and genocide in big cities. Do you agree with his view that humans are the 'cancer of the planet', and if so what inspires you to create such visionary, beautiful music? Is it more the case that you admire him for living as he preaches and that he cares about our delicate ecosystem? I mean it's pretty impressive that at 75 years of age he continues to subsist on fishing from a rowing boat without running water or elctricity! Can you describe me your ideal, feasible social structure?

The thing about our band is that we play black metal – it is the nature of this art to explore that which is extreme, uncompromising and dark. Linkola puts a name to the simmering misanthropy that we feel. Though painful to contemplate, an eco-fascist state, brought into being through a cruel transformation, might be our only hope to bring humanity into balance with cosmic and ecological realities.

We work with themes and images that exist in the realm of the “ideal”. Linkola’s philosophy – like that of all philosophers – is an artistic rendering of a mythic ideal; philosophers dream and quest for knowledge, while others must struggle to create and destroy on the physical plane. Quixotic demands for genocide in the cities and the like is not so far removed from the apocalyptic fantasies of Black Metal. Whether or not I “agree” with Linkola is beside the point; we both drink from the same well of apocalyptic misanthropy and bitterness that is a natural response to living in this age. But also I feel the truth of Rudolf Steiner’s occult cosmology that places humanity at the center of the universal drama; to Steiner, we are divine beings who have lost our way and are worthy of redemption. Our music approaches this existential question from both perspectives.

My heart resonates with the impulse of Linkola’s ecological ethic – which I would describe as cruel and pragmatic - but I have no interest in philosophy and no interest in participating in grand political programs, whether their genitive impulse rises from, what we traditionally label, the right or left. I no longer have any grand notions about social structures or whatnot. I don’t believe that anyone can alter the forces of destiny. The world I dream of will be birthed by fire and I doubt you or I will be around to see it. On the other hand, I believe that it is honorable to try as one might to create beauty in this world, rather than revel in the downward spiral. Our music is a reflection of this melancholy state of mind; we do not glorify filth and depravity and the base things nor are we filled with hubris for our glorious European heritage.

3. Would you, therefore, describe Wolves In the Throne Room as a political band (I have heard of an affiliation with the 'Earth Liberation Front') with a message or do you feel that our situation is futile? If you have a political message, it is almost more dangerous, risky than the black metal bands who have so-called dangerous lyrics but use pseudonyms and create an atmospshere of almost a 'show' rather than a rallying call. Discuss...

For us music should function on a level deeper than that of politics. If humanity is to lift itself out of the gutter, deep spiritual transformation will be required – very soon. This or that political program is rather beside the point. In my daily life, I might favor this thing or that, but WITTR seeks to access our unconscious, our dream-world, as a path to a more harmonious and spiritually fulfilling existence.

In my youth, it was the fashion for punk bands to deliver sermons from the stage on one political issue or another. Such prostlitizing is sort of a pathetic cliché at this point. Nor do we have any affiliation with the ELF (which is a number of autonomous cells which subscribe to a certain philosophy, so it is not the sort of thing that one could be “affiliated” with). Though I have no quarrel with ELF ideology or methods.

There is little ELF activity nowdays – occasionally some petty vandalism or something equally inconsequestial might occur. I’m sure you have heard about the prosecution of alleged “eco-terrorists” here in Cascadia. I would venture that there are ten FBI agents for each ELF “member”. I should mention that I have nothing but admiration for those who have taken action in defense of nature’s beauty.

4. There are so many subgenres in black metal and such disparate messages these days, and the whole satanic message seems tired and safe. I mean to attack the Christians seems almost like flogging a dead horse. I feel that Black Metal should be defined by its atmosphere and conviction / sincerity of (a) dark ideology. Do you consider yourselves a black metal band or something entirely new? In fact, i have often thought that bands who consider themselves Satanists in a traditional sense cannot be black metal as black metal should to my mind be a solitary, individual path in a way. I know that, for example, Gaahl of Gorgoroth, Gaahlskagg, Trelldom considers himself a 'satanist' without a capital S, in that he has his OWN perception of satan outside of the Christian concept. This, I can respect, but do you agree that any type of herd mentality in Black Metal would be hypocrisy?

Actually I would disagree. One thread within black metal is an exploration of the unreasonable and terrifying energy of the brotherhood, the warrior cult; Those ecstatic moments where ones ego is completely subsumed to the whole. In black metal we see images of the roaring crowd crying out in bloodlust, war and the sprit of nations. The martial/post-industrial underground shares a certain aesthetic with many important black metal artists. I have a certain begrudging respect for those who have created a strict, uncompromising dogma around black metal, though I suspect that most of the threats of revenge against blasphemers is little more than hot air.

There are two threads of individualism that one might follow: The odious modern idea of the individual, unfettered by anything that is inconvenient or painful, and what one might call heroic individualism where one is aware of one’s self within the context of tradition. In this more traditional and honest understanding, one’s individualism is, by definition, balanced with duty and responsibility to culture, the land, to family, tribe, to spiritual and ethical truths. In a traditional cosmology, for instance, the King acts as intermediary between heaven and earth. Though he is certainly a powerful individual, he is utterly beholden to his duty and his place within the order. The same might be said of the blacksmith the farmer or the even the acsestic hermit.

More often than not the “satanic” black metal “individual” is, I think, little more than a hedonistic modern person – the idea that one’s own desires should be the whole of the law does not fit my worldview. I value sacrifice and comradeship over selfishness. I am aware that devotees of the Left hand path utilize various spiritual and occult cosmologies to reconcile the glorification of the One with the acceptance of unity, but I don’t care about this sort of thing. My experience with the divine is a feeling of utter humbleness and thankfulness, not the image of my glorious ego spreading itself over the cosmos in triumph. Hubris is not in my nature.

Satanism, whether in some orthodox incarnation or as a system of non-spiritual individualism is valuable as a methodology to bring balance to the cosmos as well as one’s inner world.
As any passing study of world myth and symbolism reveals the image of ousborous in one incarnation or another. Embracing satan as a path to balance is, I think, a worthwhile path.

As to whether we are “black metal” I don’t really care. We tend to use that label because it seems that black metal encompasses so much and tends to be the home of the relatively intelligent and thoughtful (as well as the very, very stupid).

5. On a musical note! I adored your use of female vocals in such a unique way on the album, so tastefully realised. I noticed a theme of polarities - rasped/clear vocals, quite-loud dynamics and dark/light sounds...does this type of polarity interest the band and are you influenced by post-rock bands such as Godspeed You Black Emperor or post-metal bands such as Isis and Pelican... I noticed some similarities in musical vision?

Thank you. It is important to us to create music that is more “balanced” that most black metal. We have no interest in “post rock”, although I see how one might come to this conclusion. Neurosis has been a powerful influence-inspiration. Perhaps this is the source of some of these dynamics you have noticed.

6. You describe Black Metal as a 'Cleansing Fire' and that you desire 'catharsis' (Oaken Throne Issue IV). Could you please elaborate on this. Do you feel guilt at being part of humanity? Catharsis from what?

I do feel guilty, guilty that I am not stronger, more able to remove my self completely from the “filthy modern tide”. Modern life is an addiction. We are addicted to ease, comfort, distraction and unreality. The cost to our souls and to the planet is enormous and we have only ourselves to blame.

Black metal channels the mythic energies of apocalypse and destruction in order to work through these feelings of misanthropy, guilt and self-loathing. Like any meditative practice, black metal seeks to annihilate the ego in order to reach transcendent states of consciousness.

7. Are you fans of 80s/90s doom metal such as Candlemass. I'm sure I could hear an influence there on '(A shimmering radiance)... You are certainly not afraid to mix a variety of styles and you achieve this without ever feeling like its a mess or disjointed. I have to say that 'Diadem of 12 stars' left a huge impression on me on first listen and I have hardly stopped listening to it. What has the reaction been to it within the USBM scene? Are you part of a 'scene' there or do you see yourselves separate or more as a part of the increasing array of unusual, avantgarde BM bands such as the French bands Deathspell Omega, Blut Aus Nord, Alcest...?

We appreciate a number of those sorts of bands; My Dying Bride, Paradise Lost, Amorphis and many others. This is a pure and powerful manifestation of Metal! When we create music, we never try to emulate any other band or style. We are at the age and a place in our musical development where we feel confident to create our own music that is our own personal manifestation. Though after the song is recorded it becomes clear where one inspiration or another can be heard. For instance, our new album (which will be unleashed by Southern Lord in the early fall) owes a small debt, in places, to Kill em’ All and Ride the Lightning, important records in my childhood.

It seems as though Diadem has been well received, though I have heard some grumbling from the aforementioned dogmatic Satanists – who are welcome to fuck off. I am glad that people have been touched by our message – that black metal, through exploring utter darkness, can be a catalyst for renewal and spiritual growth.

Because we play live, it is only natural that we have found peers and comrades. We have played often with Asunder, Ludicra, SUNN 0)) and others. Apart from the “rock and roll” world, Cascadia is home to a deep underground of Black Metal, but little is known about it outside of our forests. I suppose we reside somewhere between these “scenes”, though the place where I am most a peace in on the farm tending to the simple things.

8. If you had to name ten bands that have inspired you which ones would they be? If any particular albums have left their mark please elaborate.
9. What hope does the US have of undoing the damage caused by George W Bush in regard to the rest of the world's perception of your country?

This is not the sort of thing I like to talk about. George bush is not the problem. I hope that the world turns against the united states and dethrones this decadent and backwards empire, though I doubt that the successor will be any better. I am rather pessimistic about things…

10. What is your favourite, most personal place that you have visited in this world, and why?

For me, it is not so much a favourite place but those ephemeral moments of transcendence when the beauty of any place is overwhelming.

Thank you for the thoughtful questions.