01) Hello Midgard. How are the things in Ouija? Why have you decided to raise Ouija from the dead?
Everything is ok here, right now we are preparing the new stuff, it will be released at the end of this year...Regarding the return of OUIJA has been something natural when I listened to Map’s new songs I found a lot strength and darkness in them, for this reason, together again, we decided to return with a new project.
02) Ok before we will focus on new stuff I would like to ask you first about the past. From the point you are here today what kind of mistakes you see now that led Ouija to be split-up back then?
That is a very complicated matter to explain now, at that time, we were very young and crazy, everything happened very fast for us, by different reasons the band was divided, the line-up change was not good...so an atmosphere of uncertainly was created, that unleashed the dissolution of the band. But it is a past history, the most important is the present; we have come to back awake the beast again... the beast wasn't dead, it was only asleep.
03) The time when the debut album was out “Riding Into the Funeral Paths” was some time ago. What would you say about that record today? Are you still under a big enthusiastic feeling or would you change some bits?
Our first work; "Riding into the funeral paths" was released in 1997 under the Spanish label Repulse Records, with this work the band reached a big status in Spain and in the rest of Europe, of course with a lot fans in South America and even in the United States, this album was very well received, I remember a lot of excellent reviews from world wide.
And of course, I am as thrilled to create new stuff with OUIJA as I was at the beginning, if you lose this enthusiasm is better not to go on with it.
04) Is the new mini album continuation of what you did in the past or you treat it more as a new chapter in Ouija’s history?
It is a combination of our new sound with the old one at the same time, but the essence is the original, but of course the new technologies in the new recording have helped to get a more compact and up-to-date sound...but we always try not to forget our past and fuses it with the new compositions...if you lose your roots; you lose everything. That's not be a new chapter it is just the continuation.
05) Let me ask you about the word ‘ouija’ and its purpose. Do you really believe in that type of occulitic practices that this table is able to communicate with the spirits of the dead?
OUIJA is a name that all the band liked, and the meaning is as follows: from the French and German words for "yes", oui and ja, also known as a spirit board or talking board, is a flat board marked with letters, numbers, and other symbols, supposedly used to communicate with spirits… Years before, I practiced with this board and I believe that if you do it correctly, you can get really fascinating results, but it is not a game; you always have to show respect to the unknown.
06) You have did progress with line melodics in your music, the sound is way much clearer which makes the music a little bit more artificial, it lost its natural sharpness. Yes, the music is more mature, yet too melodic I think. Why have you decided to skip most of the raw parts from the past?
When we compose the new songs, we don't follow a pattern, every song have its own spirit so we try to look for and use the best ones, in my opinion the new material is more complete and even darker than the old stuff, but everyone should feel free to come their own conclusion about our work, you always have to accept all the reviews.
07) Ouija is reborn now so is that means that it will be your priority now? What about Spellcraft? Most of members are from Spellcraft anyway so how you are going to divide duties?
No problem with it, we can divide and continue with both ,OUIJA and SPELLCRAFT are different bands with different history too, each one follows its own way; but they are close bands at the same time, all of us are friends since our childhood...remaining united; it is the most important.
08) What are the plans now? Are you going to focus to release second album or to promote this four new songs on ‘Adversary’?
We are preparing our new work, I hope that everything goes well and at the end of this year we have prepared all the stuff and recorded too, we are recording in the same studio because the result of the mini-CD has been very satisfactory for us and for fans, fanzines, etc... this is our plan by now.
OUIJA is going to play a few times just in carefully chosen festivals, we will fuse our old songs with the new stuff so that our fans also enjoy of our classic hymns.
09) As for plans I must also ask what are your expectations now from Ouija? What are your goals?
The future is uncertain for all us, this world is totally rotten...so I don't like doing any plans for the future; the future will speak…
My only goal is enjoying the present, without forgetting my past, if you do a lot plans, any of them won't have success sure, this is my theory about that and generally it never fails, it is better when life follows its course.
10) Would you call yourself as Satanist? Or more as anti-christian? What does it mean to you in your everyday life?
This is a complex theme to explain and everyone has to have their own concept about what Satanism is. In sum, you have to take ideas and acts which make you stronger. Nobody has to control your thoughts neither to tell you, what is right or good like every fucking religion does (Christianity, Judaism, Islam, ect). Otherwise Satanism will turn to be like them. Be free! Find your interior force for being yourself, your own god to command your life towards the chosen path.
OUIJA always will be an anti-christian band, we hate this doctrine, we have grown with it, you know that Spain as your country are very religious...then our repulse to the cowardly and bastard christians is bigger.
11) How would you refer to condition that Black Metal can be only a real Black Metal when it is done by Satanists?
As I said before, my opinion about that, is totally clear...But I know that you do this question because nowadays the scene is totally full of idiots fighting for being the more Satanists hehehe, for me is quite a funny topic...Don't you think the same?...if they are happy with it; better for them hehehe, that is just a theme for teenagers.
12) What can you tell from your personal point of view about the view you see everyday, the view we call life? What is your opinion of world, people, our civilisation today? Do you feel a part of it?
It is very difficult to answer this question with in a few words, it would be a neverending text. We live in a world full of lies, controlled totally for the politics, religion and other hidden organizations even more dangerous...you watch the News everyday there are wars just because of religious and cultural motives or because the country has valuable natural resources. The mankind are in a total decline, I think, the man is the only animal that doesn’t have predator so the predators are ourselves.
Besides, a not very distant day "Mother Nature" will punish us, we'll feel its whip and if you don’t believe me just have a look at the last natural disasters around the world.
And if I'm part of this world, I don't know; this world is part of us.
13) Are there any bands that you would like to play live with? Or maybe some of those split-up? What’s are your biggest music fascinations and inspirations?
All bands, no problem with it, we have played with different Spanish and European bands, but the essential for us is that they feel what they do, be honest and true; it's the most important.
And my music fascinations and inspirations are several, but I only listen to metal music; from old heavy, thrash, death to current black metal…we were influenced by bands like Dissection, Morbid Angel, Accept, Sacramentum, Slayer, Kreator, King Diamond, Carnage, Sabbat and so on…it would be a neverending list...
14) I must say that ‘Adversary’ apart from the sound that is not my cup of tea, has something that attract to listen to it. Even I am not a fan of melodic Black Metal I must admit that it does sound modern but it is still rotted in the traditional early stuff.
Thanks so much for your words all a pride for us, you have explained it very well "Adversary" is a work with a modern sound but without losing our primitive past and essence, we adore the Black Metal scene in the 90s and it will always be reflected in our music
15) And with that words I would like to thank you for your time. Keep the glare of burning chruches sky high!
Thanks again Waldemar for your support and interest in OUJIA, and of course I'll keep the cross burning and their holy temples too hehehe…HAILS TO THE POLISH BLACK METAL HORDE; THE BLACK BLOOD JOINS US.
Interview by Waldemar with Midgard in May 2011