It was about time to talk with Klabautamann, this interesting black metal entity for my webzine.

1.First of all, hails from Croatia and welcome to Kraykulla Webzine. Could you tell a bit more about musical entity called KLABAUTAMANN for readers who didn´t hear of your opus yet?

What is the meaning behind the name?

Hi there! Klabautamann started out as a teenager fun project back in 1998. That’s when the name came up. It’s the misspelled Version of Klabautermann, which is a ship’s kobold usually appearing as a sign of bad fate. It’s a rather stupid and comical name, but we stayed with it anyways – even after we became more serious about the band, haha.

2. As I understand, you are a one man black metal band, did you play live yet, or are there any plans maybe to play live with session musicians?

You’re right, since Flo left a couple of years I’m the only remaining permanent member. When it was still the two of us, we did play some gigs with guest musicians, which was a really good experience. Currently I don’t have concrete to play live again – but I still have the desire to do so some time, so who knows?

3.Your new sixth full length album is coming out in May. How was the writing and recording process? How do you write songs? What comes first, riffs or lyrics? As I understand, it is a concept album, what is the story behind the album? What is the main difference behind this opus and previous ones?

The guitar parts and arrangements are done before the lyrics. We’ve always done it like that and I still do it that way. After the songs assume shape, I browse through the lyrics by some friends of mine and myself and see if there’s anything that fit’s the songs musical idea. For me it’s important to create an intense atmosphere.  That’s why for me more  important than the meaning of the lyrics is the sound of them and the feeling they create.

In a few short words the album is about everything in life being limited, numbered. It’s a deeply personal topic for me, as it refelects my personal losses of the past years. There have been very sad experiences for me, but the one thing I could take way with me was the following: it’s the finiteness that makes our time to precious. Don’t waste it!

4.How did the cooperation with Zeitgeister come about? Is there going to be physical release or only digital?

Zeitgeister is a small label operated by some fellow-musicians – like Christian, Jan and Flo from Valborg – and me. We’ve released stuff there earlier and as it’s our own label we can do things exactly the way we want. So it was a natural choice. The digital release as well as CDs are already available, the LP version will come out beginning of May 2022. It’s a really high-end version in a beautiful gatefold coming with full-size booklet. You can order all this on klabautamann.de

5.How is the underground music scene in the place where you live?

There are some really cool bands like Steorrah, Valborg and Shredhammer, but due to corona there hasn’t been much live action. Jack Slater and Pavor are also great bands I can really recommend from around here, but I think they stopped playing together a while ago.

6.Are there any notorious or creepy urban legends in the area where you live?

There’s the legend of the Loreley, which is a huge rock face localized about a hundred kilometers up the river Rhine from here. It’s named after a girl who was raped by a priest and took her life by jumping from that rock into the Rhine. After that sailors were distracted because they saw a beautiful girl sitting on the rocks and combing her hair. That way they didn’t notice under water rocks in the river. Their ships crashed into them and sank.

7.Let´s talk about horror. Do you love horror movies and literature? If you do, what are your favorites? Mine are old Hammer horror movies and found footage, also golden era slashers from early eighties. Horror movies vs horror literature? Do you read? What books do you like?

I used to be into horror stuff when I was younger. Stephen King’s „Pet Sematary” and „The Shining” are still two of my favourite books. In terms of horror movies I don’t really have any favourites, though I remember enjoying Evil Dead and Braindead a lot.

I do like to read, usually it’s biographies, adventure reports (being an enthusiastic mountaineer), or stuff related to psychology, buddhism or minimalism. I guess my favourites are currently Arnold Schwarzeneggers Biography „Total Recall”, maybe „Touching the Void” by Joe Simpson and „The Happiness Trap” by australian psychologist Russ Harris. It’s difficult to say though, because there’s so much good literature out there!

8.I read somewhere that black metal isn´t black metal if it is not Satanic. Do you agree on that? I personally don´t.

Well, at least that’s not my definition. When I was a teenager I was a lot into all that satan stuff, but when we started with Klabautamann back in 98 that phase had already been over for some time. When I listen to music nowadays I do not care if there’s a pentagram or an inverted cross – for me it’s all about the music.

9.What are plans for immediate future? Classic for the end, is there anything you would like to add? Thank you!

First I’m really excited about the vinyl release of „numbered” – and after that there’s not so much planned as per now. I do already have a new topic for the next album, and some firends like Marlon – who played drums on „numbered” – have already expressed interest to participate next time! Really looking forward to writing new songs, though it might take a while as my little son is currently the most important thing in my life, so the rest has to wait.

Thanks for the interview, take care!

And for all that are into prog rock / metal, with a  dark and melancholic atmosphere, a lot of odd beats and a hint of black metal – check out our stuff on klabautamann.de !