This past summer, we received the debut album Without Idols of Hungarian group Napsorvadás for review. From the first listen, we recognized it as something quite special. The album blends several currents of post-industrial music into a whole, and still retains an essentially focused vision. Sonically, it delves into dark ambient as well as industrial, but it is neofolk that defines the album. The resulting album invokes the spirit of the classic apocalyptic folk era in no uncertain terms. Of course, with such an interesting album at hand, we had to find out more. Sörös Gergő was kind enough to speak with us and tell us a bit about his band.
The original concept of Napsorvadás was, as Gergő explains, quite straightforward:
– It surfaced in my mind as a pure, no frills neofolk band. You know, some guitar chords accompanied by almost nonexistent low-key synth, drums and effects, he says. He mentions as reference some of the very cornerstones of neofolk: Death In June’s seminal But, What Ends When The Symbols Shatter and Rose Clouds Of Holocaust.
However, pretty soon it became obvious that not everyone involved in the original formation of Napsorvadás shared the same vision. Ultimately, the differences proved irreconcilable, and said member left – a mutually amicable split, Gergő points out. Nonetheless, as part of this maturing process, the concept of the band also evolved, and during the preparations and recordings of the album grew to include a wider part of the post-industrial spectrum, as can be heard on the album. Calling it “pure” neofolk in a narrowly musical sense is stretching definitions quite a bit.
Still, the quintessential inspiration remains the same: 90’s neofolk and all the weird, experimental music linked to the 90’s apocalyptic folk/neofolk scene.
– The now defunct World Serpent family still means so much to me, regardless of whether it be Durtro, L.A.Y.L.A.H., United Dairies, New European Recordings, Tursa, Threshold House, etc. I’m still enthusiastic about their artistic legacy, undoubtedly and irresistibly, Gergő says, stressing that he doesn’t really care about all the drama and chaos that led to the ultimate downfall of World Serpent. The music still lives on as potent and inspiring as ever.
However, Napsorvadás isn’t content with just emulating the bygone days and rehashing the old, classic sound, Gergő is quick to point out. The primary aim of Napsorvadás is to work on their own ideas and express them through their music, which Gergő says is a crucial thing to the the band: to walk their own walk. Napsorvadás may at times pay tribute in musical form to their sources of inspiration, as they do on the song A Balance Of The Coil (A Walk Through The Streets Of Twin Peaks) on Without Idols, and may even to some extent expand this aspect of their sound in the future, but the primary goal is still to carve their own path.
Still, Gergő admits that it’s hard to overlook the significance of the labels that solidified what neofolk is:
– The labels World Serpent or similarly Eis Und Licht had such a strong impact that it is impossible not to rely on their heritage or build something completely new within this genre, he says. He mentions iconic acts such as Coil, Current 93, Death In June and Sol Invictus as essential inspirations from his formative days, artists that opened up a new world for him. Two Hungarian acts he gives special mention to are Actus and Scivias, who have particularly influenced his vision of what a live neofolk performance should be like.
For Gergő, that era of the neofolk/post-industrial scene is not only a source of continuing inspiration, but also a time of personal significance. His own recording career within these styles of music started during towards the end of this classic era – his old project Cawatana released their first album on Eis Und Licht in 2003.
– These years were magical. I look back on them with nostalgia and respect, even with longing. This motivates me still today, this shows me the way.
At the same time, Gergő firmly states that Napsorvadás aim is not to guide the scene back to this bygone halcyon era or anything of the kind. First and foremost, Napsorvadás write songs for their enjoyment. And if they happen to strike a common chord with someone else, to have an impact, Gergő is grateful. As he puts it, he’s just some guy into music who just hopes he can give something back too – Napsorvadás being one element of this.
Gergő harbours no illusions about the state and future of the neofolk scene. Neofolk, especially of the traditional kind, has been pushed to the sidelines, to the margins of the margins; sometimes even with openly hostile effort. This is, of course, nothing new, as Gergő points out. Neofolk has always been met with opposition. But still, it is a disagreeable state of things. As is the general downward spiral of the world, where people tend to focus on all the wrong things, taking us ever further away from any pure ideal that neofolk might try to represent.
As Gergő puts it, what we do is wish for things, instead of doing. It is of course better to wish for something authentic than to not wish for it, but it would be best to experience it.
– The truly pure, authentic values fade to be memories. Books, music, fine art are soaked in emotions, wrapped in a robe of passion. We keep on grabbing them just to feel their slow but firm disappearance, leaving emptiness and disinterest behind. Pathetic and sad at the same time, but most of us live like that, he describes the world he sees around him.
These musings all tie in directly with Napsorvadás:
– This is the essential meaning of the name Napsorvadás (which in English roughly translates to “sun wilting” or “wilted by the sun” -ed). Regardless of the heroic battles, radiant reason and values showing guidance, everyone but a few are doomed to failure. The Sun wilts with the weight of the world on its shoulders, but it finds strength again and again, its brilliance shines full of life, Gergő explains. So despite a certain pessimism, he does not descend to utter nihilism: the sun will rise again.
Even though Napsorvadás is a new group, it is far from Gergő’s first musical project. Commenting on his own career, it becomes obvious Gergő has a heavily self-deprecating, humorous side to him:
– I never was and never will be a musician in the classical sense of the word, and my singing is an atrocity. Yet this is the only thing I’m really interested in, thus I carry on treading this path for quite a while now. My ineptitude, or rather laziness becomes apparent with regards to playing the instruments properly or doing the vocals.
Without going into an exhaustive list of every project and band he’s been involved in, Gergő says he is extremely proud of them all. He also doesn’t deny his past career is heard in Napsorvadás, despite it not being a continuation of any past group or project. The one project he’s been involved in he wants to mention specifically is Gerhard Hallstatt’s legendary Allerseelen. Gergő has never been officially a member, but has been privileged to play live with them on a few occasions. A significant time for Gergő personally:
– During this time I gained insights into so many new areas and made very important and meaningful acquaintances throughout Europe. It was simply a wonderful time for which I’m eternally grateful.
The only lyrics printed on the cover of Napsorvadás debut album Without Idols are those to Medizin Nach Mitternacht, written and performed by aforementioned Gerhard Hallstatt. Gergő expresses gratitude for Hallstatt leaving his mark on the album; it brings a sense of continuity to it, linking Napsorvadás and Without Idols to a longer continuum and context within post-industrial music.
His own lyrics Gergő does not wish to go into too much. He says that to him, the music always comes first – but the lyrics aren’t unimportant, either.
Another of Gergő’s most important collaborators is Varga Gabór of Sturmast, whose sole album Ibis Redibis Nunquam In Belli Peribis was released on the iconic label Cold Meat Industry in 2007. Gergő calls Varga one of the most important pillars of Napsorvadás. Interestingly, there are two generations of Varga’s to be heard on Without Idols. Gabór’s newborn son provided vocals (of a kind!) to the intro of Awakening Snowdrop – pay close heed when you listen to the track next time, and you’ll spot them. Gergő chuckles, that it will be fun, and hopefully delightful for both, to speak of this with his friend’s son in the future.
Looking to the future, Gergő mentions there have been some discussions about Napsorvadás playing live. However, don’t wait with bated breath: Gergő mentions that several things must fall in place for this to happen. He would like to take the stage again, but I get the feeling that for Napsorvadás, it’s not a question of any stage in any circumstances. It must be the right stage, the right setting, with the right people. And that, of course, is something one can respect: do it right if you do it at all.
Apart from that, the plan with Napsorvadás is to eventually work on more material. Gergő doubts the approach or style will change radically, but he does hope to have more guests on future releases.
– We will keep on doing what we do in an authentic way. The path will remain narrow and difficult, I have no doubt about it, he sums things up.
But that’s the way it goes. Easy solutions and the easily trod path are seldom the ones that grant the highest rewards.
Visit Napsorvadás on Bandcamp or Facebook
Images via Sörös Gergő
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