If GREEN DAY were Black Metal – An Interview with WELTENBRANDT

Zur deutschen Version geht es hier.

The story of this interview actually begins back in July. Shortly after Rockharz, a request for a review of the current WELTENBRANDT album Transzendenz Schatten Romantik flew into my e-mail inbox. Although there is hardly any time for a review at the moment, I always listen to everything that is sent to me. What I got to hear was simply monumental! Even before I could get annoyed that I wouldn’t be able to publish anything about it, the words “Next live show: 23.08.2024 Wolfszeit Festival” jumped out at me at the end of the email. This once again confirmed to me that there are no coincidences and that everything happens as it should. If you’re going to be in the same place, you might as well meet up for an interview!

In the daily report on the second Wolfszeit day you can read what I thought of the WELTENBRANDT gig and here’s the interview with singer and songwriter Berni!

Thanks again to lightinmirror.de for the wonderful pictures!

Shieldmaiden’s Voice: If you had to describe WELTENRBANDT in three words, what would they be?

Berni: Transcendence, shadow, romance.

SV: What are songs, albums or artists that have influenced you significantly?

Berni: This is perhaps not surprising, but definitely HARAKIRI FOR THE SKY, ELLENDE and ALCEST. WOODS OF DESOLATION and WALDGEFLÜSTER were also a big influence in the past. But I was also very influenced by post-rock, especially bands like EXPLOSIONS IN THE SKY. And, just so I’ve said it, American Idiot by GREEN DAY! That’s one of my most important albums ever! I got to know it for the first time when I was 14 and it really captivated me: simple chord structures, catchy melodies and I basically do the same thing only in Black Metal. 

SV: What themes or motifs are particularly important in your music?

Berni: Basically, it’s about not being able to cope with the outside world. The music is an attempt to put into words and sounds the emotional strains that I go through, the lack of understanding of the outside world.

SV: How does this manifest itself on the current album Transzendenz Schatten Romantik?

Berni: Mainly because there is a certain heaviness to all the songs and at the same time they also have a kind of uplifting quality. It’s important to me to find a balance between these aspects. I don’t just like the cheesy Post Rock melodies, I don’t just like the depressive stuff, I want to have the whole spectrum in my music.  

SV: Why is the album so worth listening to?

Berni: In contrast to the first album, Transzendenz Schatten Romantik simply has a much wider musical range. It’s an emotional rollercoaster ride, so to speak. That actually sums it up very well!

SV: The scene has also grown a lot over the last few years, you mentioned a few bands yourself at the beginning. What makes WELTENBRANDT and the new album particularly unique in this context?

Berni: Our songs tend to be short and concise and the melodies are very catchy. The production is very suitable for the music we make. It’s good, but not too good. It simply has substance, which is something I usually miss in this genre.

SV: Considering that you were only the second band today, there were a lot of people in front of the stage. What do you think people should take away from your performance?

Berni: That they feel understood! They should have something they can let themselves fall into. WELTENBRANDT is not a band that you listen to in the gym or anything like that! Just let yourselves fall and I’ll catch you again. That’s what it’s all about!

SV: Can you give an overview of what the songs on Transzendenz Schatten Romantik are about?

Berni: It’s actually the usual Black Metal themes: Depression, melancholy and that’s really all it is. 

SV: What are the special highlights that fans of Post Black Metal can expect on this album?

Berni: There are numerous guest appearances: J.J. from KARG and HARAKIRI FOR THE SKY, L.G. from ELLENDE, P.G. from GROZA, as well as two good friends of mine, namely Silvano from REGNUM NORICUM and Jeanny from ANHEDONIQUE. Guest vocals like that are always highlights on an album for me. It also adds an extra layer. When I wrote the album, I didn’t explicitly think about the highlights. 

SV: It’s the second WELTENBRANDT album. How did it come about that so many well-known people are already doing the honors?

Berni: J.J. wrote a review of the first WELTENBRANDT album Schöpfung for Slam magazine in 2019 and gave the album 9.5 out of 10 points. He then asked me if I would like to write a song for KARG. Of course I said yes, but on the condition that he would also do a song for me. I then simply asked the others. We were the support act for GROZA in Vienna in 2022 and that’s how it developed. I also asked L.G. from ELLENDE about it once. The other two are friends of mine anyway. 

SV: If I’m not completely mistaken, you’re the brains behind WELTENBRANDT and there’s no fixed line-up for the live shows, is there?

Berni: There is no fixed line-up in that sense, but there are people who are almost always there. 

SV: But doesn’t it make sense to establish these people as permanent band members?

Berni: That was the original plan. But the first drummer worked as a paramedic, so it was always difficult at the weekends. The studio drummer, HEIDNIR himself, works shifts and rarely has time off. It was never planned that the whole project would degenerate like this. I’m very blessed and I’m happy that so many people are involved. Things grow over time. 

SV: On the subject of “growth”: If you had to set goals for WELTENBRANDT, what would they be?

Berni: I want to take the band as far as it can go. The best thing would be to be able to make a living from the music at some point. Of course, I can’t say whether anyone will be able to do that. But I like dealing with the music and everything that goes with it, which consists of sending out merch, asking for reviews and doing interviews. I really enjoy doing all that! I’d like to make a living from it, which is unrealistic of course, but I’ll give it a go!

SV: Regardless of whether you’ll be able to make a living from it one day, what’s coming up for you in the near future, i.e. in 2024 and 2025?

Berni: We still have a few concerts planned. On 19.10. we’re playing together with THORONDIR and REGNUM NORICUM in Attnang-Puchheim, on 25.10. we’ll be at the Mammut-Fest near Augsburg, on 26.10. we have a gig in Lower Austria and then on 03.01. in Upper Austria.

SV: What’s the best way for fans to support you?

Berni: The best way is through the usual channels: come to one of our concerts, share our content on social media and buy our merch. 

SV: In light of today and the way the gig went, what message would you like to get across to your fans?

Berni: All realities are changeable!

Finally a creative final word! If you’ve become equally big fans of WELTENBRANDT after reading this interview or listening to the new album, then take a look at their Bandcamp profile. I can highly recommend the hoodies from my own experience!