Interview with Kristian Herkman (Vocals).
Hello! "Trust Betrayal" seems to explore various aspects of trust in different contexts. Can you share some specific experiences or inspirations that led to the exploration of this theme in your lyrics?
Kristian: Covid-19, war, climate change and having small children serve as a starting point considering fears that translate into dysphoric lyrics. All news and documents drill into the mind and they need to be managed somehow. Writing lyrics is a good way to get them out of mind. Many of the song titles like Pestilence, Oblivion and Corporeal Abhorrence of Entrails are from the original 90's versions of the songs. The song titles also served as an inspiration for the lyrics. Oblivion had some inspiration from David Attenborough's book. Narcissist was also from some books I read about the subject. Corporeal Abhorrence of Entrails had inspiration from the lyrics of Carcass and some Netflix documents.
The album's lyrics touch on a wide range of subjects, from technology to human nature. How do you go about balancing the diverse lyrical themes while maintaining a cohesive musical identity?
Kristian: Our music also has diverse themes and styles, so the lyrics go along with that. The lyrical themes in Trust Betrayal deal with the subject of trust. It is best to set up some guiding rules for yourself when you start creating something new. And in the end you can look back and bend those rules. I like it when you can find patterns in songs of an artist. Like Chuck Schuldiner was usually using congruent song structures in the songs of Death.
"Wings of Chrome" pays tribute to the NWOBHM scene. Could you tell us about some of your favorite bands or moments from that era that had a significant impact on your music?
Kristian: Iron Maiden and Judas Priest are my favorites. In fourth grade I had an Iron Maiden shirt before I had heard the band and somehow I thought that it is like growling death metal. The first time I actually heard Iron Maiden was when I bought "Best of the Beast" CD and I was totally blown away by the magnificent melodies they have.
Can you share your experiences working with Tim "Ripper" Owens and how it influenced the songwriting process?
Kristian: I sent him an email and we agreed about doing the vocals to our song Pestilence. He recorded his vocals to the raw mix of the song and sent us the tracks. It was so unbelievable to have your idol singing the lyrics you've made. He is such a great guy and I like his style. Those screams are the best. Having Ripper on the album also increased the screaming approach on my behalf.
How does your personal perspective on trust in relationships translate into your music, and what message do you hope listeners take away from it?
Kristian: If you care about anything, you need to have trust in people. But the album sheds light to the situations where you just can't have blind faith in everyone. People are individuals and they have to take care of themselves. And there are some people who just don't care at all about anyone else. I hope that people keep their mind open and don't just repeat the things that other people say. You can make a difference and still belong to your community.
How do post-apocalyptic themes resonate with the current world, and how do you envision them influencing your future music?
Kristian: In Finland you currently hear a lot about climate change. Artificial intelligence is another thing that is on the rise in the news feeds. Since "Terminator 2" I have always liked post-apocalyptic movies so that is something I naturally bring to my lyrics. Recently I have made some songs about historical subjects. It is good to know where our civilization has come from in order to understand where we are now and where we are going.
How do you see the balance between nostalgia and modernity shaping your artistic identity?
Kristian: I think that most of the old stuff has now been used so we are writing all new material. The history and nostalgia is still part of our music though. There are traditional speed metal riffs in our new songs as well. Not so long ago I was at a gig of one new thrash metal band. They played and sounded perfectly but they were missing the raw humane danger in their sound. That imperfect humanity is something we must remember to keep in our sound. Old-school speed metal has that nostalgia of the times when you discovered something.
The album title, "Trust Betrayal," carries a strong message. Could you each share a personal anecdote or experience that relates to the theme of trust and betrayal in your own lives?
Kristian: I once trusted that I could handle my car with the speed I was driving. It appeared not to be the case when after a downhill the road changed from asphalt to sand. Me and my friends ended up upside down and the car was done. Remember to drive safely!
Can you explain the significance of "Oblivion" and "Artificial Sun" in the context of the album's overall narrative?
Kristian: Oblivion is about the change of our living environment. It is in the middle of the album after the themes of fear and human nature. Things have gone quite wrong at this point of the story. People prepare for a nuclear war. Artificial Sun is the grand finale where scientists have no other choice than to finally make fusion power work. Otherwise, the smog filled world is doomed since no one wants to downshift their current standards of living.
As you continue to evolve as a band, what can fans expect from Arched Fire in the future?
Kristian: You can expect shivering thundering new metal music with philosophical lyrics and marvelous themes. Stay tuned!
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