Venturing out to new chartered territories of musical prowess Germany’s own NOCTE OBDUCTA introduces an intensely filled album with their latest release Nektar Teil 2: Seen, Flüsse, Tagebucher. Having the chance to get the in-depth scope reserved front man vocalist Marcel explains the concepts that went into the recording to the solemn overtones and why the group prevails to be like none other.

Jussi: Congratulations of the success of the current release. Wanted to say this album gave me a greater understanding of how intense metal music can be also beautifully passionate yet dark at the same time. What ideas came into play when recording of this album considering it was the second of Nektar 1?
Marcel: Well, we recorded both albums at the same time, and due to years of line-up problems and so on, there was lots of material. As part 1 only features really old material mainly from around 1994 - 1996 (worked on it again in 1999 and 2000), and as these songs belonged to the most important stuff for me, I wanted part 2 to reflect the time when I started writing that stuff. So part 2 is kind of a diary, written some years later. The second part of this diary deals with a time many years later (again) and warns of being aware of tomorrow, not only yesterday.

Jussi: Being the main creative mastermind to the musical side of creation to NOCTE OBDUCTA, do you find it a challenge to be ahead of yourself musically from the rest of the group? Or is it a collaborated effort?
Marcel: It is a kind of challenge, yes, because I have to keep things going in many ways, but it has nothing to do with being better than the rest. It’s just the fact, that we’re NOT a democratic band when it comes to music and lyrics, and NOCTE OBDUCTA is my baby. Ideas, changes and so on are welcome, but it’s me, who decides. The other members also have their bands and projects, so nobody has to cry...

Jussi: How would you describe NOCTE OBDUCTA as a band?
Marcel: Uh... six guys with their own feelings and their own way to express their feelings musically on the base of what I call my life?

Jussi: One of the noticeable things about some bands from Germany (Mandrake, Paimon and others) sing their lyrics in English, why is it that some bands such as yourselves keep with the straight forward German singing? Unless breaking the language barrier in English might take away from the originality of what NOCTE OBDUCTA stands for or is there another viewpoint? (personally I find that singing in ones own language adds mystic)
Marcel: The lyrics are a VERY important part of NOCTE OBDUCTA, and I will NEVER achieve the richness and expression of a native English speaker, so why trying? I think in German, I dream in German, and so I write in German. Things were different with the former band Desîhra and also the first lyrics for NOCTE OBDUCTA between 1993 and 1996, when lyrics were both English and German, but that’s past. And yes, maybe it adds mystic, but I didn’t chose my mother’s tongue for the sake of mystic.

Jussi: What are some of the different elements that make NOCTE OBDUCTA a different musical mix than most of the traditional black metal bands out there in the scene today?
Marcel: The fact that we never cared about what anybody wanted us to play and the fact that we listen to very different styles of music. Well, and we’re interested in just expressing ourselves and not the “ideals” of a certain scene-crap.

Jussi: With Nektar-Teil 2, was there a different musical approach as far as the overall recording of this album? If yes, please explain?
Marcel: Not really... playing our parts tighter and not making mistakes has become more important than back in the early days...

Jussi: What makes this 2 part musical series different from the past recordings considering with Nektar 1 & 2 seem deeper in depth as far as an overall theme of music?
Marcel: Perhaps... nothing?

Jussi: Was there anything different that you wanted to do with this second album part to Nektar 1?
Marcel: Yes, part 1 is kind of “naive” lyrical-wise (not primitive!) on purpose, and similar to that is the first half of part 2. The second half of part 2 offers some different views to one subject, that nevertheless doesn’t exclude each other.

Jussi: How long did it take to record both albums?
Marcel: All in all about two months or a little less including the mix and the master.

Jussi: Is the band content as far as how Nektar 1 & 2 came together through production and recording?
Marcel: Yes, Vagelis did a fantastic job! Of course there are always things you want to change, I am not quite happy with the arrangement of a certain part in Atme, and today I think the drums on part 1 sound a little bit too modern sound-wise, but all in all it’s a fantastic result.

Jussi: What is one to expect upon listening to this album for the first time?
Marcel: Hm... being puzzled? Or perhaps strained? A lot of things happen on these albums, so it might take a time to find to the inner soul of them, but until now the reactions were overwhelming, so it can’t be too hard, I suppose.

Jussi: Do you find that the German metal scene might branch to newer levels that might mark a place where avant-garde black metal will succeed even surpassing the ones of Scandinavian influences?
Marcel: Hm... no, I guess it’s harder to sell that stuff, because for example NOCTE OBDUCTA always points out, that this is a band without a certain image, glorious ideals and all that dogmatic bullshit. “Say sells” you say, but you can replace “sex” with “evilness”, “racism”, “violence”, slogans”... hard to find something like that in what they call “avant-garde black metal”... stupid expression by the way...

Jussi: From a lyrical standpoint, where do you draw your influences?
Marcel: From everything. Dreams, wishes and landscapes as well as conversations, friends, things you read, hear and see and more and more “ordinary” facts of my past, kind of diary-stuff.

Jussi: Would you describe yourself as a deep thinking of various subjects?
Marcel: Yes.

Jussi: What are some of the things that motivate you musically?
Marcel: I guess it’s just my way of expressing myself and many aspects of my life as well as coping with things that bother me.

Jussi: What would you say is your best feature about you Marcel?
Marcel: Hahahaha... that’s a question others have to answer.

Jussi: What musical gear do you like using when performing?
Marcel: When it comes to guitars and basses: Fender.

Jussi: What makes you mad or irritated? (besides music journalists asking you stupid questions)
Marcel: People. And very often myself being fucking lazy.

Jussi: Current news to report of the band?
Marcel: Current line-up (since January 2005) works very well, and we’re working on our next album, which will be very, very varied... but don’t ask “when will you start recording?”. I don’t know... perhaps spring 2006.

Jussi: Marcel, just wanted to say thank you for taking the time out for this interview. Also thank you and the rest of NOCTE OBDUCTA for putting out a powerful album.
Marcel: Thanks too.