Please tell us about the history of your band and its members.
Aspidium arose out of a solo project of our frontman and guitarist Kurt “Jason” Kelderer beginning of 2017 in Abtsgmünd. Jason already has played bass guitar for many years in several bands, but in none of them, he was able to realize his personal ideas of music. Hence, at the beginning of 2017 he started to put his emotions into songs and to fulfil his musical visions, his manifest. The foundation of Aspidium had been set. At the beginning planed as mere solo project, Aspidium evolved to a German/Italian band project with the entry of Benni Leiter from South Tyrol on the guitar. 
In the course of 2019, new songs for the second album were created also as a solo project. With the entry of Susi Hartmann playing bass guitar and Thomas Altmann on the guitar last autumn and with our new addition at the beginning of 2020, Emil Herrmann on the drums, the former solo project has been developed into a powerful line-up.

How would you describe your style? Which bands influenced your music?
Aspidium is unconventional and does not like to be put into a box. Rules, stereotypes and preconceived opinions are there to be broken. Thus, Aspidium combines German lyrics with uncompromising Black’n Death without any blinders. Socially critical lyrics that put their finger on the weak spots of our time, without the stereotypical thinking attached to Black or Death Metal, characterize Aspidium. But of course there are artists and bands like Dimmu Borgir, Gaahls Wyrd or Hypocrisy whose music appeals to you personally and therefore influences your own creativity to a certain extent.

Why should a metalhead buy your demos / albums?
Our music is especially dedicated to those metalheads out there who have a passion for pure and uncompromising Black Metal without being lost to apathy to the problems and weak spots of our time. 

What have you released so far and how were your releases received by public / media?
Since the foundation in 2017, Aspidium has recorded two full-length albums. The debut album called Manifestum was released 2018 and despite the fact that our music does not fit in a preconceived box of genre stereotypes, our debut was generally well received by public and media. For example, we are very pleased that the Legacy reviewed Manifestum with 11/15 points and the webzine Metal Temple even gave us outstanding 10/10 points in all review categories. The upcoming new studio album Harmagedon will be available on April 18, 2020.

Do you play live as well?
Of course we do. What would be Metal music like without experiencing the special atmosphere of live performances? Now that we have accomplished to complete our line-up, Aspidium is ready and eager to conquer the stages and present the new song material live. In May 2020, we will play some exclusive release shows in South Germany. For specific event dates please follow us on Facebook or refer to our website www.aspidium.de. Further events are still in flow and will be announced on our social media channels as soon as possible. So stay tuned!

What should labels / zines / promoters know about your band? Why should they be interested in it?
How many Black Metal bands do you know who stand out from the pigeonhole of the Black Metal genre with socially critical lyrics? Our vision of music is mainly based on the principle that boundaries and prejudices are the biggest obstacles to your own development. We are all dedicated metal musicians who want to create their unique vision of metal music and lyrics without any kind of blinders. All labels / zines / promoters who are open minded enough to deal with that kind of “contradiction” and interested in straightforward Black Metal are warmly welcome.

What plans do you have for the near future as a band?
We are just about to release our second studio album called Harmagedon, which was recorded by Lukas Flarer at the Sound Control Studio in Meran, Italy and will be available on April 2020. Hence, we focus on the release and promotion of the upcoming album. 

Where can we listen to your band and where can we buy your stuff?
Our entire selection is available under the following links:
Homepage:      https://www.aspidium.de
Bandcamp:     https://aspidium.bandcamp.com
Facebook:       https://www.facebook.com/aspidiumofficial
Instagram:      http://instagram.com/aspidium_official
YouTube:        https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwAN28iiNjklYk74wYBgdFg
Backstage Pro:   https://www.backstagepro.de/aspidium

February 2020