Please tell us a few words about the new release, about the music on it as a whole or a few words on each track in part. How are you happy with the final release?
RUIN is a 5 track EP and our third release. We started in 2002 with a 6 track demo called "Skruvmejseln Utsiktstornet" for which no one really cared. Then we released another EP after some years of trouble in 2012 – therefor it is called "The Desolate Years". With RUIN we are very happy, if you could call it so, because it is a dark, depressive, and very unhappy recording. But it is much more focused and refined compared to the previous releases. 

How would you describe/label the music on it? Does it sounds like anything we might have heard before?
We call it Athracite Metal, because it is a mix between Black Metal and Dark Metal. Of course there are certain influences, Immortal, Satan Slaughter, Mayhem, Dark Axe of Evil or even Dissection to name some of them. 

Where was it recorded and how much time did it take you to record it? Any interesting stories from the recording/producing the material?
It was recorded in Svalbard in Norway during the dark frostbitten winter in the Studio of Aarznel (Keys), who did the whole production work, mixing, and satanic blessing ritual. We gathered for about 3 weeks, drank a lot and recorded all the tracks over and over again just until they sounded "right" – which means grim and ugly. Maybe there was some animal slaughter and sex, but I can't remember exactly cause I was quite high.

What can you tell us about the cover artwork? Is there a link between the artwork and the lyrics? What are the topics of your lyrics?
The cover shows a combination of a dead bird's wings, frozen forests and scratches. So everything on it is dead and destroyed, just like we wanted it. With the lyrics it is the same. They are all in German this time, because I moved to Berlin some years ago and found that German sound more grim and aggressive. The topics are the decay of the human race, a world lying in ruins, the power of depression, desolation and other very dark elements of life. 

What do you expect to gain through this release? What are the band's aims at the moment?
Honestly? World domination. But first we want to the music to be heard, loved, hated or rejected. Any reaction is good. We will continue to write new songs and maybe we will shoot a music video – but we would need to get some real looking corpses first. 

Is there a special format the material is released in? Or is it released in multiple formats? How many copies were pressed?
RUIN is currently a download-only EP, but we're planning a vinyl edition, which is not financed yet. 

Where and how will you promote this new release?
We're sending out promo material and links to webzines, magazines, bloggers and keep posting our stuff on facebook and myspace etc. 

Where can we order it from?
RUIN is available at Bandcamp for free with the option to pay for it. Also the 2 previous releases are available there. So feel free to grab a copy: https://znafelriff.bandcamp.com/album/RUIN

January 2015