Following the release of EP “Stillstand und Heimkehr” via Prophecy Productions/Lupus Lounge, we had a little chat with German atmospheric black metal band Eïs!

The Offering: Tell us a bit about the background of the band.

Eïs: Phuuu, well… we have a history of more than fifteen years, including all previous incarnations of the band. I guess it’s not the best idea to repeat all that. Basically we’re a German melodic black metal band, as you will have noticed, four guys being crazy for this music, constantly releasing albums and  playing gigs wherever we can. Probably it’s best if readers being more interested in the band’s background just read a previous interview or the wiki article.

TO: Is there a particular band or artist that inspired you to become a musician?

Eïs: Not exactly, I got into playing in bands through the second Summoning album, but didn’t write any music back then. As an active musician and composer, I’m very much influenced by the Norwegian, Swedish and partly Finnish black metal scene of pretty much the entire 90s, particularly bands like Emperor, Satyricon, Arcturus, Covenant, Troll… stuff like that.

TO: You recently released the EP “Stillstand und Heimkehr”, how did you approach the songwriting?

Eïs: Different from our normal approach – together with our drummer, I just locked into the rehearsal room, with no material being prepared upfront, and we did all you can hear in two days, including drinking of course. That’s one of the reasons why the EP sounds very direct and emotional, maybe spontaneous.

TO: What was the inspiration for the lyrics on this EP?

Eïs: Very sad personal experiences of the past year. I guess it’s best for all involved if I don’t go into detail too much. Probably everybody being a little sensitive for music and atmosphere will notice how desperate, depressed and dark this recording is. The rest is up to your imagination.

TO: Are you working on a  new full length album?

Eïs: On two actually. I’m slowly, but steadily working on a very demanding – both concerning composing and conception – album I wanted to do before the current on, “Bannstein”, but I wasn’t very inspired back then. Time for another try. The second one will be a very classical, mellow, melancholic black metal album with songs I wrote during night time when I was living in a hut in Norway last year. You’ll hear clearly where that was done.

TO: What do you enjoy most about writing music?

Eïs: Good question. The thrill of chaneling your inmost feelings and thoughts into something audible for other people, and slowly getting rid of it myself as well. It’s also kind of an orgasmatic experience to write riffs and melodies which touch me a lot, it’s like a child of yours being born, each time. Apart from that, performing songs is always such a please.

TO: If you could collaborate with any musician who would you choose?

Eïs: Only one? I guess Tony Martin. I cherish his voice so much, he’s clearly one of the best metal vocalist of all time, maybe the best one for me. Not that “cult” as Dio, Ozzy, Lemmy and the likes, but he has that really touching extra in his voice.

TO: Do you have any touring plans?

Eïs: We’re playing a lot of single gigs and festivals this year, like Metal Frenzy,  Dark Easter Metal Meeting, Barther Metal Open Air and so forth, and as there’s something new coming around the corner every few weeks it’s a good idea to look that up on our Facebook profile or so.

TO: What are your expectations for the future of the band?

Eïs: We don’t have that high expectations, just recording the music we love, play the songs we love to play, and growing constantly, a little. I’ve learned to be alright with not too much in life.

TO: Thank you for the interview!

Eïs: Thanks for the support!