By Chris Forbes Chris Forbes:: How is everything going? what are your plans for the rest of 2001? Alan (Primordial): Things are going ok here, we are preparing songs for a new album to be recorded during the Summer sometime. Negotiating to get on some festivals during the summer which is proving difficult and trying to organise some tours for after the album is released. Chris Forbes:: how did you join the band? do you think your a good singer? do you get at all nervous before a show? Alan: I joined the band in 1991, I was the only person to answer an add in the local Metal shop looking for a singer and there you have it. My singing has improved over the years and I would say that I am a good singer in the field that Primordial exists in, compared to an Eric Adams or Rob halford then no not really but for what we do I try to push each facet of the vocals, each style within the band...from the clean to the Black vocals...something seems to work right !. I don't usually get nervous anymore before a show but every now and again it happens. Chris Forbes:: do you like being on hammerheart? how did you end up with a deal from them? were there any other labels interested? Alan: Hammerheart is fine for us, we grow together. I knew Misanthropy was dying and we needed another label and Hammerheart was the first to offer and the first to know so nobody else ever knew we were free actually. Chris Forbes:: what do you think of the internet? do you surf the web at all? Alan: The internet is of paramount importance, having virtually killed off mail and the old underground ways it is essential for every band. I only really use the internet to answer mail, sometimes I surf the net but not that often. Chris Forbes:: do you guys have a web site? if so, what is the url? what can people expect to find when they go there? do you think having a web site is a must if you are in a band? Alan: Yes we do, our new site is at : www.hammerheart.com/primordial you can expect a stylish and attractive looking site with a lot of input from me and a lot of info on there and regular updates. Every band needs an internet site in this day and age. Chris Forbes:: how did you come up with your band name? was there any other names being considered? Alan: We were called various other names (Forsaken being one...) and then I wrote lyrics for a song called "Primordial beginnings" and we had been searching for a new and original name. And Primordial fit into the concept of the band and was quite an original name. Chris Forbes:: any chance of you doing any live shows now that hammerheart has a us office (hi maria)? do you have many fans in the us? Alan: I would like to come to the US, the cd has sold quite well in the States and a tour there with for example Opeth or Borknagar or even Enslaved or something would be a good idea. I have heard touring the States is hard work to say the least as you won't get a tourbus or the usual shall we say "luxuries" you do in Europe but it depends on the label and time and what tours are coming to the States and if it seems worth it. I think we have a small but growing fanbase in the USA, it's hard to become established there it's such a fucking big place. Chris Forbes:: what would you say to somebody who has never heard you and asked you to describe the band? do you feel your an original band? Alan: To somebody I had never met I would say we are Dark, Passionate, Melodic Metal with an Irish feel. Atmospheric and Epic yet also Melancholic and subtle. Tragedy and Might.I feel we are an original band yes, or as original as you can be these days. Chris Forbes:: do you all get along as a band? do you guys hang out at all doing non band things at all? Alan: We used to get along really badly in the past but now we are older and much more focused and united and these days we get along fine. Sometimes we do socialise together. Chris Forbes:: what is a typical day like for you? do you like where you live? Alan: I don't really think that would be of interest to our readers, who wants to hear about my day to day habits and then put on the cd ?...I live in a cave in an enchanted forest and battle evil wood nymphs and harvest magic mushrooms...of an average day. Chris Forbes:: what merchandise do you have for sale? Alan: We have some new shirts available from Hammerheart right now, album cover of Spirit in gold on a crimson shirt and silver print on a black shirt, rather nice indeed. Keep watching they may appear on the site very soon. Or mail Hammerheart about them. promo@hammerheart.com Chris Forbes:: any last words alan? thanks for the interview. Alan: Thanks for your time and your effort, hope to see you sometime on the other side of the Atlantic... Blood and Iron Copyright 2001, BallBuster, The Official Int'l Underground Hard Music Report