Interview with Vocalist Maurice Wilson of Antrisch

April 12, 2021

Interview with Vocalist Maurice Wilson of Antrisch

By Mick Michaels

COSMICK VIEW: Hello, Maurice! Welcome to The Cosmick View. Thank you for taking some time out of your day to chat with me, it's greatly appreciated.
Maurice Wilson: Good day Mick, thanks for your interest. I'm looking forward to sharing some thoughts.
CV: Do you feel Heavy Metal music in general is viewed differently by fans in Europe compared to fans elsewhere, especially in America, and if so why?
MW: Well I think it is quite the same all over the world: Metal music had, has and will always have the most passionate and devoted fans. In comparison, one could maybe dare to say that European fans might tend to categorize themselves a bit more strictly than in (Northern) America, which means that there is a bigger tendency for fans to become assimilated to one specific sub-genre - if you're into Black Metal, than you are into Black Metal. If you're into Thrash, then that's your deal and so on. I have the…of course subjective, impression that Metal fans in the U.S. don't mind the genre specifications so much.

But to be honest how could one compare whole continents? There's so much diversity that I find it hard to generalize. I mean there is a lot of pagan-flavored, dark stuff brewing in the Appalachian region right now, but if you look at the metal scene in the big cities like Detroit, I'd guess you'll find a lot more Thrash or Metalcore just due to the fact that environment always inspires and resonates in youngster's minds. For Europe it's quite the same. Even if you just take a closer look at Germany itself you'll find differences in the sub-genre main focus, just because each environment breeds its very specific opposer/rebel.

The Latin American continent is a different story. In Europe it has always been said that South American fans are the most devoted and passionate ones in the world, but I think that's just a mentality issue. In Europe it's quite the same: just attend one metal gig in Oslo and another one in Rome or Barcelona and you'll know what I mean.
CV: What do you feel makes Heavy Metal music so alluring to the fans? What is it about the music that personally resonates so strongly with you?
MW: I think it has the strongest attraction to the pre-adults and teens, at that time it all starts. You're desperately searching for your identity and your place in the world. You're struggling with everybody around you and rebellion is your daily business. And then there's that noise which distracts most other people, which negates trend and mainstream and gives you a feeling of belonging, of being part of something bigger than yourself and the surroundings you're rebelling against. Metal has a strong form of totality in its attitude: join us - and you join for life. I think it's exactly like that. Of course, you grow older, maybe you change your outfit and hairstyle... but you never change the music.

My personal engulfment developed exactly from that background. I felt different, was disgusted by what "they" told me I should like or wear - even think. In my humble opinion it is also a question of your personality. If you tend to be a rather melancholic, thoughtful youngster rather than a cheerful party guy, the dark side becomes much more tempting.

CV: Has Metal splintered into too many sub-genres in your opinion, thus, making it harder for newer bands to actually classify themselves as one style over another? Is it confusing for fans as well?
MW: It is, I'd say. And in addition every new band feels the necessity to invent a brand new genre for themselves just to underline the fact that they don't want to sound like any other band...it's become obsolete in my eyes. Human beings want to control their lives and also their options, so they feel safe when they're given simple and manageable offers: Black Metal, Thrash Metal, Heavy Metal, Death Metal and everybody has a rough direction. I mean who on earth needs to be called Shoegaze? Sounds like a nickname given by some high school bully. And what's that "post"-bullshit? You don’t need a thousand made-up subgenres just because your interpretation differs in one thing.

CV: How would you describe the current state of the music business considering we are now living in a COVID aware, and maybe even feared world? Have things drastically changed long-term for artists and bands given the recent pandemic? What are your thoughts?
MW: Tough question and I'm quite fed up with that topic to be honest.

Well the digital market and its destructive power trip didn't start with COVID, so this whole tragedy for the traditional way of producing and selling music physically is just another stab wound in a dying man's back.

I think the biggest losers in the music business are the (smaller) festival organizers and the club runners who put every coin and every drop of sweat and blood into a money-wasting passion. These guys are all overrun by a tsunami of "cancelations” and "postponements". Those who run recording studios were hit the same way because of the contact restrictions, so I guess this whole story caused a lot of tragedies and victims - but, as so often, the wrong ones...

Maybe those bands who can afford it will try to liberate themselves from every form of dependence, for example recording studios and so on. We'll see what the future holds...

CV: What do you feel makes your band and its particular approach to songwriting work? What keeps the band together and making music?
MW: Since we started this project in 2020 I think it is a bit early to feel an urge to envision what holds us together. ;-)

On the other hand three of us had been working together in another band for quite a few years, so there's obviously been a change.

Generally we have a strict division of work which allows every member to concentrate on his particular share. It works like clockwork as we say in Germany. Mr. Scott is the main composer, Mr. Шмидт is our recording engineer and optimizer while I myself contribute the lyrical concept and add the vocals. Mr. Дятлов delivers the drum work. Since we all have grown older and maybe a little wiser, it's become a lot more focused and goal-oriented process without being grinded by personal conceitedness or other energy-sucking internal struggles.

CV: On a more global view, how do you see your band’s music and songwriting separating itself from just being another Heavy Metal act?
MW: At least not by inventing a new genre! Haha!

Concerning that question, I should mainly focus on my core competence, which is the lyrical concept. I think what makes one difference is that we deliver a concept to the full extent, meaning that our lyrical cosmos differs from common Black Metal related topics and is always linked to our super-ordinate central theme: historical expeditions to the most extreme (concerning landscape, geography & climate) parts of the world and the impact on the human mind and psyche.

Musically we brew Atmospheric Black Metal with Djent-typical ambient parts and sound-scapes and slight portions of Doom - imagine the atmosphere of the 90s second wave BM wrapped in a modern sound. The music itself has a strong narrative character and combined with the tale-telling lyrics we create sort of a "Black Metal audio book" so to speak…too bad that it's all written in German.

CV: Can an artist truly be unique? Some would argue there is no such thing as being unique; that it’s nothing more than a compounding of influences making an artist who or what they are. Would this then say that artists today are destined to be just copies of those who have already come to pass?
MW: I strongly disagree. If you define yourself and your music only through the limited amount of notes and riff combinations, then you're absolutely right; but in my point of view there are more levels to what makes an artist unique than just being a slave of probability calculation. There's no riff on the whole planet that hasn't already been played in some garage by some random guy somewhere out there. But due to the fact that this guy puts all his inner life, his personal driving force and his individual package of experiences into that riff it becomes unique - even though it might be played by someone else, too. Uniqueness - to my mind - is based on character quality and inner attitude.

And when it comes to influences... where should we start? Everybody is inspired and influenced by someone who did something remarkable before him and it's the same story with that person. And it goes back like this further and further. Of course, nobody would say that Darkthrone are just copycats of Howlin' Wolf, but they're all part of the same evolution.

CV: Are there life lessons to learn being in a Heavy Metal band that you feel cannot be taught elsewhere? If so, what are they?
MW: Well, to be honest, the Metal scene in itself consists of people, just like the society they're trying to refuse. It's people. Wherever a "we" is forming, there's that automatized evolution of a specific micro-cosmos that emerges from basic human needs such as a feeling of belonging, being accepted by others, gaining recognition/appreciation. So the mechanics behind it are all the same, nevertheless if it is Metal or something completely different.

Still, there's maybe a wee insight that can't be found elsewhere: the darkest appearance is not as dark as it seems at first sight - a second look is often worth it.

CV: What do you feel makes someone a "rock star? Does being a rock star automatically make one iconic or are the two completely different in your opinion?
MW: I think a lot of iconic artists weren't considered rock stars. This is more or less an artificial term that is used by outstanding people trying to imagine what's going on. Again, it's about psychology and what the human mind already carries within itself. Rock star is a projection on the surface.

CV: What's next for you? What can fans expect to see coming as the world looks to surmount a new normal laced with a load of restrictions?
MW: First and foremost we're facing the forthcoming digital release of our debut EP called "EXPEDITION I Dissonanzgrat". As long as we're trapped in the COVID restrictions, we're working on our next output. No further plans, for the future is blurry.
CV: Thank you again Maurice for spending some time talking and sharing with our readers. It was a pleasure. I wish you all the best and continued success.
MW: Thank you for asking interesting and relevant questions without having a lot of material, highly appreciated. All the best & cheerio!

Check out Antrisch at :
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Antrisch/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/antrisch.band/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUasqg1lg_mQRNpj5lDQlWg

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My name is Mick Michaels...I'm an artist, music fan, songwriter, producer, show host, dreamer and guitarist for the traditional Heavy Metal band Corners of Sanctuary. Writing has always been a creative outlet for me; what I couldn't say in speech, I was able to do with the written word. Writing has given me a voice and a way for me to create on a multitude of platforms including music and song, articles, independent screenplays, books and now, artist interviews. The Cosmick View is an opportunity to raise the bar and showcase artists in a positive and inspirational light. For me, it's another out-of-this-world adventure.