Sonntag, 2. Oktober 2011

Absurdly Wrong Release Dates

In his constant aim to be regarded as a part of the early-nineties Black Metal scene—probably due to the popular misapprehension that the degree of integrity and honesty (vulgo: “trueness”) could be calculated by the means of mere numbers—Kanwulf dates the time of the foundation of Nargaroth on either the year 1991—the same year he dates the appearance of the Orke EP to, as well—or, more frequently, even 1989. Kanwulf was, which might be of some interest in this context, born in 1975 and was thus at most fourteen years old back in 1989. The appearance of the “original” Herbstleyd demo, Kanwulf usually dates to the year 1993 and invented around it the following story:

I recorded the demo in my kitchen, and it was very dilettantish. I was naked and under drugs as I did it. So that’s why the side A of that demo sounds a little bit stupid.

Kanwulf in Black Light magazine, 2001

However, at least the release dates seem to be wishful thinking rather than anything else. Every single one of Kanwulf’s former intimates reports that Kanwulf didn’t get in touch with Black Metal at all before 1996, that he was rather belonging to the Gothic scene until then. Also, among the people who actually were involved in the cult at the beginning of the nineties, I know not a single one who ever heard of Kanwulf, Nargaroth, Orke or Herbstleyd before 1996/-97, and none of them ever heard of anyone who did, either. Quite remarkably for a rather small yet well-interwoven milieu like the German Black Metal scene of the early nineties … After all, it can be safely assumed that if the term Black Metal was familiar to Kanwulf at all before 1996, it was from marginal notes in Zillo or other Gothic magazines, and almost everything he fabled into the seven years before can be safely regarded as a pack of lies.

That he recorded the ‘Orke’ demo in ’91, it’s all a lie, the demo was recorded in ’99. And he was a Gothic and now claims that Nargaroth existed since ’91 or ’89. That’s a lie, I’m in the scene since the old days and know that he lies. […] I have a thousand contacs worldwide and pretty much know what I am talking about.[2]

Marcel “Darkmoon” Spaller (Sombre Records) in a letter dating from May 16th, 2005

It was not before aforementioned year 1996 that the Orke EP—within certain circles occasionally regarded as a “cult item” and therefore often dealt for horrendous amounts—was truly recorded, where, according to numerous reliable voices, 1999 is far more likely than 1996. In the light of all this, it, of course, isn’t overly surprising anymore then that Kanwulf himself was occasionally in doubt about whether this “’91” EP was limited to 300 (expressed, for example, in The Gate magazine) or 150 copies (expressed, for example, in Strength through War magazine).

Also remarkably: The alias “Kanwulf” descends from the Franco-Canadian Fantasy TV series Highlander, in which it denotes an “immortal” Viking warrior. (The name “Nargaroth” descends from the table-top Fantasy game Warhammer, by the way.) This character first appeared in the fourth season of the series, which, according to the Internet Movie Database, was first aired in autumn 1995 (Canada) or summer 1996 (Germany), respectively. A little surprising in this context is the fact that the name “Kanwulf” already appeared on the “original” Orke and Herbstleyd demos (see: “’91” Orke demo, “’93” Herbstleyd demo), which, according to Kanwulf, were released a whole two or four years before the series was first aired. (Or rather three or five years, considering that Kanwulf was very unlikely known to the series before it was aired in Germany.)

(Addition, February 26th, 2008: On the official Nargaroth Web site, which is on-line since early 2008, Kanwulf himself meanwhile admitted that both the names “Kanwulf” and “Nargaroth” did not come into being before 1996 [see this screenshot of the document, as it cannot be referenced directly] and thus—taking into account that the names already appeared on both Orke and the Herbstleyd demo—indirectly concedes that all pre-1996 releases were fakes and all of his earlier statements regarding this matter lies. Consequently, the official discography, as published 2008, now correctly starts with the 1998 Herbstleyd LP and leaves out the earlier fake “cult” releases entirely. I leave it to the reader to decide what share this document had in Kanwulf’s suddenly awoken “honesty” regarding this and some other matters.)

In the light of all this, Kanwulf’s mantra-like repetition of his feigned conviction that Black Metal perished in the year 1996 at the latest surely doesn’t lack a certain hint of irony. Following, a handful of more or less randomly selected statements of Kanwulf concerning his “substantial share” in the early-nineties Black Metal and his so “deeply felt grief” over its demise:

Black Metal is dead. What arises now is a rotten culture that serves self-portrayal. Where are the warriors of the old days? Have I been a sleeper for ten years? Are they dead or held captive in cells by the authority? Or did they resign and withdraw?[3] (Cothurnus, 1999)
These disputes are mostly started by people who have nothing to do with the Black Metal from 1990 to 1994. Then Black Metal started to become popular, and these oh-so-humanitarian hippies brought their opinions and ideas into the music. […] But what right to they have to do so? When in 1990 to 1994 the second form and generation of Black Metal arose, the one that I favour, these people hadn’t got anything to do with it and listened to some other Metal shit.[4] (Cothurnus, 1999)
This third generation, which from 1996 on began releasing something […], that didn’t have to do anything with Black Metal at all anymore.[5] (Magacinum ab ovo, 1999)
In the eyes of Black Metal maniacs from the old days, I was the warrior from the long forgotten time. (Black Light magazine, 2001)

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