Interview: Skognatt (2021)

Skognatt is an excellent one-man project from Germany, playing atmospheric black metal with a sound influenced by bands like Burzum, Katatonia, Gehenna, etc. The latest EP, "Rain Eternal," was recently reviewed on this blog. Jim talked to composer Danijel to get some insight into the project and his influences.

Greetings Danijel! For those who don't know Skognatt yet, can you tell us a little about your music and your journey so far?

Greetings Jim! Well, I started Skognatt in the winter of 2014 because I wanted to see if I can come up with interesting material within the Black Metal realm as I always wanted to do this since I was a teenager. In the beginning I wanted to just compose the music and find a suitable singer but as all the people I asked were too busy with their own projects one day I tried it on my own, so the first EP was finished.

Can you tell us a little bit about the feedback so far for your latest EP "Rain Eternal" and whether you are content with the end result of the recording?

I had mostly positive feedback but some reviewers also felt that it was quite mediocre and lacked in originality and fresh ideas. I think the EP is quite reduced and I know, no matter what you release there will always be people who like and those who don't, so I don't care too much to be honest. I'm happy how the songs and the overall feeling of the EP came out and that's why I released it. So at the moment I'm still happy with the end result but that might change in the coming years.

I read in an interview where you stated that you prefer writing EPs to full-lengths. Why is that and what are the chances of seeing a full-length manifest?

Yes, that's true. I have released quite some albums with other projects and bands and as I'm a freelance musician I find it quite exhausting to work on full-length albums. Also, I have the feeling that the album format has lost it's appeal except for some bigger bands of course. I have released an album with Skognatt in 2018, it's called 'Ancient Wisdom' but I don't think I will release another album in the future...time will tell.

Can you tell us about some of your biggest musical influences and what bands got you into metal and how your tastes have evolved since then?

Well, it all started with Metallica in 91 and then soon discovered the second wave of Black Metal through a friend. I have always been more into the atmospheric and melodic bands like Gehenna, Arcturus, Ulver, Fleurety and such but also loved stuff like Emperor, Mayhem, Enslaved and Burzum. Very important to me were also bands like My Dying Bride, Anathema, The 3^rd and the Mortal, Katatonia, Opeth and Empyrium. I'm trying to follow some of the bands and also like how some of them evolved but the feeling of the 90's albums is mostly unmatched. Apart from metal I'm really into Queen and some scandinavian Prog bands like Anekdoten, Landberk and White Willow. I'm also very much into ambient music and instrumental guitar music but I could go on for ages here. ;)

How would you classify the music of Skognatt? Would terms like atmospheric black metal be accurate? 

Yes, I think Atmospheric Black Metal is quite fitting because my music is very atmospheric and has influences from Black Metal. I'm not one to think that I'm reinventing the wheel with my music, so I'm focussing on the atmosphere and the feeling I would like to portray with it.

Do you find that an environment can have an influence on the artist's psyche that somehow seeps into the music? Does your environment inspire you?

I think that's absolutely true. I live in Bavaria and have grown up here and in my hometown you could always find lots of green and many woods surrounding it. I try to spend lots of time in the woods and find nature to be very inspiring and healing and I think I'm quite a laid back person which can also be heard in the music I think. It would be strange if my music would be super aggressive because that's just not me. On the other hand I think my music is also pretty inspired by the second wave which came from Scandinavia, that's why I chose the name Skognatt.

What kind of themes do you explore with Skognatt?

The main theme has been nature from the very beginning! The first EP has explored winter and the last two are quite autumnal as I think. My album 'Ancient Wisdom' is a bit of an exception as at that time I read quite a lot about indigenous cultures and how their view on nature and life was. I found it very interesting to read that for example some tribes thought of three past generations and seven generations ahead when they had to make important decisions.

Do you find playing this kind of music liberating and therapeutic in a way?

Easy answer: Yes! I think, I'm quite a sensitive person and as I said earlier, quite a laid back person but sometimes everything gets too overwhelming and I just need to let it out and as music has always been a big part of my life this is just my way to cope with it.

What are 10 albums you can’t live without?

Opeth – Blackwater Park
The 3^rd and the Mortal – Tears laid in earth
Queen – Innuendo
Landberk – Indian Summer
Gehenna – First Spell
The Cure – Wish
Dead Can Dance – Toward the within
Katatonia – Brave Murder Day
Deine Lakaien – Kasmodiah
Espen Jorgensen – On the great alkali plains

Lastly, what are the future plans for Skognatt and how can people get in touch if they are interested in obtaining your merch? Thank you very much for your time!

Well, at the moment I don't have any concrete future plans. I guess there will be another EP when I have enough new material but I just released an EP, so can't tell when this is going to be. For people who are interested in my music, it's available via Bandcamp as well as a CD-R version of the new EP. (https://skognatt.bandcamp.com/)

Thank you as well for taking the time to do this interview, it was a pleasure to me!

EP review: Skognatt – Rain Eternal (2021)

Skognatt – Rain Eternal

Germany

Self-released

Skognatt is a solo project from Augsburg, Germany, playing atmospheric black metal and are here with their latest EP offering “Rain Eternal.” The music has a very calming affect synonymous with how one’s brain receives tonal signals from the ambience of rain. The title is self-explanatory in that sense, as the music successfully conjures a nostalgic mood that reminds us of bands like Burzum and Xasthur. The two aforementioned references are the immediate progenitors that come to mind while listening to this project. It definitely has a bit of that “depressive/suicidal” atmosphere akin to some bands in that style, albeit with cleaner tones. Simplicity is the key to the quality of Skognatt’s music, but so often people will mistake simplicity as a lack of originality or ideas, although, I can confidently assert that is not the case here, as “Rain Eternal” is compositionally rich, textured, and full of sombre cadences that will take you on a journey far beyond. This whole EP channels a deeply melancholic aura, while also showing a certain level of maturity and distinct traits that’s all its own. “Rain Eternal” is a highly addictive and fully realized work that comes highly recommended for fans of atmospheric black metal. Favourite track: Rain (HT)