Robex Lundgren virkblogg.

What´s the name of your band? Ancestors Blood.

How was the band formed? Under the name Lost Wisdom by Raud(A.T.H.) as a one man band.

Can you tell about your band? 3 demos, 1 EP, 2 full-lenghts, split EPs with Hunok and Profezia. More detailed info can be found from our website.

Where are all band members from?/Who does what in the band? Originally we are all from a local town called Laitila.

A.T.H. - Vocals and guitars K.S. - Drums A L H - Bassguitars E.Heinonen - Keyboards   What was the ambitions of the band when you started? -To create a unique selfsatisfying music by myself. Since then to express our tribute to heathen beliefs and commemorate ancient times with magic and rituals.

Could you explain your music to someone that haven't heard you? Some people have mentioned that we have similarities to old Dimmu Borgir, Satyricon, Summoning, Gehenna, Covenant, Troll etc. and I consider those references as a great compliment indeed. You may check out and decide for yourself by visiting here: http://heidenshart.bandcamp.com/album/a-moment-of-clarity

Where was your first gig? In 2007 at Turku Finland as supporting act to ROOT/IN AETERNUM/FLAME.

Where was the latest gig? In the Netherlands at 2014 "Veneration of the dead II.

Who writes your songs?/Who writes the music who writes lyrics? I write all the lyrics and mainly the music. E.Heinonen is another composer.

Who has the best since of humor in the band? We all share the dark sense of humor.

What's good/bad with the band?/What genre do you feel you are? Naturally since we are different persons in life we have many different opinions about music we create but there's nothing we can't conclude. I don't feel the need to categorize us in any genre but if it must be said I think black metal comes close enough eventhough I call our music esoteric heathen metal because of our lyrical and musical path.

Why did you pick that particular style?/What are your songs about? I didn't choose this, it comes naturally because it's a part of my life. The way I live manifests through Ancestors Blood. Songs are from my personal view of life, Finnish mythology and history, culture, nature, shamanism, legends, folktales etc.

Do you write your own material or mainly covers? We have always created our own material and only played one or two covers.

Have you made any albums?/If yes what are they? "Return of the ancient ones"(2008) and "A moment of clarity"(2013)

Do you have any clips on YouTube? There are couple of live clips with live recording and visual audio:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TS_N3BIZwgE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NrNkegYg0NY

How old are you?/What got you started in music? 30 years old. I've always loved music and always had a strong ambitions to create something of my own, not just playing great covers of other bands.

At what age did you start playing? Fourteen or fifteen.

How old were you guys when you first stood on stage? First time ever that I was on stage I was propably nineteen, can't really remember but with Ancestors Blood I think I was twenty-three.

What year was the band started? 2002.

Best/worst gig you've played? Can't really name any worst gig since everyone of them has been an eyeopener to do things much better until now. Best ones are the last ones; in Germany and the Netherlands.

What places will you be playing in in the imidate future? We don't play live anymore.

Where have you played from then till now? We've played few club gigs in Finland and couple of times abroad in festivals(Germany and the Netherlands).

Witch band is the best you´ve seen? There are way too many good bands I've seen to decide the best one.

Is it always the same songs live? Yes and no. For example we've always finished our set with "Rise of the spirits of ancient heroes".

What has been the best/most promising gig so far? Best ones are the last ones; in Germany and the Netherlands.

Have you had any bigger tours from start to now? We've been a part of a tour for other bands but never toured ourselves and propably never will.

How big crowds do you usually play for? As big as they get.

What are the plans for the rest of the year? To complete the new album.

Where do you usually play? At our rehearsal place.  

How do you get psyched up for a gig? By alcohol.

What are your goals with your music? To inspire yourself to think, thus selfawareness enhances and the power to evolve yourself for higher achievements in your life.

When did you decide to go all in for the music? We never did and we never will.

Is it easier to get your inspiration from older bands or from bands more modern? Some bands can be viewed like whiskey; the older the vintage, the better the taste.

What are your sources of inspiration? Music from movies and games, personal view of life, Finnish mythology and history, culture, nature, shamanism, legends, folktales etc.

What's the first step when making a new song? To find the right kind of mood which bursts in to an idea and that idea usually forms the basics for each new song I create.

How do you feel about the downloading of music instead of buying albums? If you can't find and therefore buy the album you desire but you can download it by using the right channels then I would think it's a good option. I myself buy vinyls, cds and tapes from time to time because I prefer my stuff in physical form.   What would be your dreams for the band? -To achieve the album that I am totally pleased with.

Besides your own music, what genres and bands do you listen to? Nils-Aslak Valkeapää, Sibelius, Wagner, Bach, Jaco Pastorius/Weather Report, Rush, Goblin, The Black League, Manilla Road, Motörhead, Mercyful Fate/King Diamond, Paradise Lost, Candlemass, Saint Vitus, Irwin Goodman, Johnny Cash, Tony Bennet, Frank Sinatra, Tapio Rautavaara, Dio, Saxon, Ennio Morricone, ZZ Top etc. The list is almost endless.

What do you hold most dear? My family of course.

What would be your greatest fears for the future? Losing everything I've sacrifised to achieve in my life.

When you are on stage, what do you fear most then? I have no time to fear since my mind is someplace deep and dark.  

Have you been part of any other projects? I am involved in a project called Akolyytti.

Have you been in any other bands? Kadotus.

What do you work with outside of the band and the music? I work in a local metal firm.

What would you do if there was no music? Same as I always do; read books, play videogames, go jogging, personal meditation, watch movies etc.

How important are your fans? They support the efforts we make and at the same process support everyone we collaborate with so I'd say their support is indescribably important.

What's the funniest/most memorable thing a fan has done for you? One guy has made a patch of Ancestors Blood by himself(dedication I truly respect).

How often do you rehearse? At least once a week.

Where do you rehearse? We have a local rehearsal place in an old bulding which used to be a dairy.  

Name 2 of your own songs you like at the moment? "Legend of horizon" and "Metsäpirtti (part I)".

What do you feel is the best live band you've seen? There are too many bands that I'd need to mention instead of saying just one particular band. Let's just say that perhaps the most personally gratifying bands I've ever seen live when they were in Finland were Motörhead, Heaven & Hell and King Diamond.

What drives a band that isn't all that famous and renowned to try to make a living on their music and to keep playing? I'd think that propably because we aren't making music as a living we have more greater ambitions in life as in creating music.  

Do you have any webpages? www.ancestors-blood.com

Any pearls of wisdom for all other bands out there? Be humble but not weak.

Describe your show, visually and musically Just plainly raw and atmospheric as we can be with our music consisting from past to present era.

How do you view the musicindurty of today? It is what it is.

What advice would you like to give other bands? Be true to yourselves.

What are the biggest obstacles for a band? Other people not like-minded but there are usually no obstacles unless you create them yourself.

What is best/worst with playing the clubs? There are no real guarantees if things will go as supposed to be but usually all goes more or less as planned or agreed.

Tell us about upcomming gigs and why we should be at them? No reason because we don't play live anymore.

How would you describe your sound in one sentence Spiritual.

What is your favorite crappy instrument? Davis guitar.

What was one of the most quarrelsome times for you in the band? 2010-2011.

Whats your Pre-show ritual? Calm before the storm mixed with alcohol.

Do you have anything to add?I thank you for this interview opportunity and wish you success on your journey. Let the flames of our ancestors burn forever in our hearts.