Spain's Ouija! An institution and one of the proud Spanish black metal scene's seminal bands. Since 1995, they've carved into the hearts of those fortunate enough to have experienced their music the deepest of blasphemies through their message of rebellion and self-discovery. Sages in their knowledge of most things adversarial and real life champions of what true black metal has always and should always stand for. During my latest interview, Midgard of Ouija gives us some history on the band, some insight into the current scene, a look into his own spiritual beliefs, thoughts on the overall state of humanity and an in-depth rundown of the concept/creative process behind Ouija's latest album, "Fathomless Hysteros". Eyes on the board… The spirits are calling…

Jeger

Your latest album, "Fathomless Hysteros", is a fine piece of contemporary black metal and a specimen of how today's BM should sound. But can you explain the album's concept?

The concept would be to renew ourselves with the new times but continue maintaining our original spirit and express it in this way in the new album. This album, "Fathomless Hysteros", I would say it is our most complete album. I would not say the best because the three albums are very different from each other and it is difficult to compare them. Also, the public is sovereign and they are the ones who must judge which one of them is better. The whole band is very satisfied with the final result of this work. Our sound has matured like good wine and that is reflected in it. I would dare to say it has the Ouija DNA but with the freshness of the most modern and current sounds. I think we have adapted well to this current age and take the best of it and at the same time be faithful to our roots and way of understanding this music.

What was the songwriting/recording process like for the latest album?

Regarding the lyric, I can tell you that I'm who does this work, say that it follows the same wave that we have always followed. Perhaps like everything, with the pass of time, my writings evolves and it becomes more complex and twisted. Possibly my lyrics today are deeper than in the past, but I think that is something very normal since as the years go by, even if your base is the same, there are things that you see and treat from another prism. I don't mean they soften, possibly even become more extreme. However, I always say that people read my writings and draw their own conclusions, since sometimes I write in a very metaphorical way and for me, it can mean one thing and for you another, it depends on the prism with which I am looking at it.

About the composition of the music, I can say that Map and JM101, our guitarists, are the ones who compose the music. They are in charge of this function, they merge together, mix riffs and rhythms until the song is completely outlined. Once this task is done Fulgur - our drummer - already introduces the percussion and Shogoth - the bassist. Finally, I already do the lyrical work both in the creation of the lyrics and their assembly with the music. In short, a team effort.

Do you feel like new bands are focusing too much on the early 90's scene? These homages are important to a certain degree, but too much of anything is usually not a good idea. I get promos on a daily basis for albums that are throwbacks to that era and personally, I'm bored with them.

The little like and the much is tiring. But currently there are few bands that have a marked personality. The vast majority join the fashions of the moment because it is easier to sell their product that way. Possibly this new phenomenon that you mention will saturate the scene more than it has until the public demands another type of product and most of these bands disappear or join the next trend of the moment. As I say, in the end only the strongest will prevail.

Like most black metal bands, you've spent your time toiling the underground where true black metal belongs. Have you ever had mainstream aspirations for Ouija?

In the 90,s when we were very young we did have those aspirations but they soon dissipated, since as you say we have always been a band focused on the underground. And for reasons of life itself we have sometimes had to slow down the band's career, and this factor I would say is what has maintained us in this status. Perhaps twenty five years earlier, depending on how the events would have developed, the film today would have been different. But ultimately the important thing is that here we remain stronger than ever and faithful to our principles.

There's always been what feels like a sense of competition between different schools of BM, particularly between the Finnish and Norwegian scenes of the 90's. In your neighboring Portugal, black metal has become a burgeoning genre, particularly over the past 15 years or so. How do you feel about the current state of the Spanish black metal scene and would you say that there's competition between it and Portugal's?

There is no competition with the Portuguese scene or at least as far as I know. It is a scene that I personally respect a lot, and I believe we are united by more ties of union than differentiating us. Currently in Spain there are bands of great quality. The problem is that it always costs a lot to be accepted outside our borders. The Spanish brand is very good in many things but not for extreme metal. The general public prefers to listen to a shitty Norwegian band than a good band from Southern Europe or South America... Sad but true as life itself. I am going to mention some good bands from Spain Cauldron, Balmog, Ered, Marthyrium... There are many more but these are very interesting to me.

What does the future look like for Ouija? Any new album aspirations yet?

The future is very uncertain and even more so in a world as compulsive as the one we live in now. We are too much slaves to the system and headless puppets towards an imminent drift. But despite all this, our future plans are to prepare for important festivals and also prepare new songs for a new EP. It would be the next project.

Do you have a message for the horde?

To end the interview I am going to leave a totally combative message to the Black Horde, saying that we are under a new change in the world order and humanity with each passing day is more stupid, cowardly and submissive. They are hanging a yoke around our necks so that we live like androids; totally submitted to them - those fucking vermin hidden under the great elitist spheres that want to enslave us - turning us into puppets of the system manipulated and controlled by their dirty hands. Black metal has always been a music that has fought against all this; breaking everything established like its damned and infamous doctrines. Take off the blindfold and start seeing the shit they want to feed us and poison us with. Start thinking for yourself and don't let them think for you and mark your path. It is better to be a hungry and free wolf... than a fed and subdued lamb.