Dutch Black metal act Wurgilnō, a one-man band led by Peter Savelkoul (Consanguineus), is gearing up to unleash its second album Krijtland on June 11th via german label Fetzner Death Records. This comes after the acclaim of its debut album De Doden Rusten niet in vrede. In this interview, Consanguineus sheds light on the forthcoming release.
Serial Metalbum : Can you tell us about the inspiration behind the title of your new album, Krijtland ? What is the significance of this name and how does it reflect in the music and lyrics of the album ?
Consanguineus : The title "Krijtland" is another name for the region where I live; the south of Limburg in the Netherlands is also often called "Mergelland." This is because the hilly land in the south mainly consists of marl, which is sandstone. When I was searching for a title, I had a conversation about it with a colleague. I told her that I wanted to name the album "Mergelland" but hesitated because the predecessor of Wurgilnō was also called "Mergelland." Then she suggested the name "Krijtland." It also symbolizes the rich history of our region, a history that is millions of years old and is captured in the sandstone or chalkstone. For instance, the Mosasaurus was found here and was named after the river Meuse (Maas) that flows here. It is a region where the first farmers settled at a time when the rest of the Netherlands was mainly swampland, where the Romans built roads, villas, and cities. Where the Norsemen had a camp for their raids, and Spaniards and French fought for domination. The legends and myths of strange creatures in the night, robbers who flew through the air on goats in the name of the devil, and so on. Plenty of inspiration to make an album.
Serial Metalbum : How would you describe the evolution of your sound and musical style on this album compared to your previous works? Are there any new or experimental elements you've explored this time around ?
Consanguineus : In terms of sound and technique, I am in constant evolution. The production for this album was also more intensive since the debut album was initially intended as a demo back then. For this album, I sought a consistent guitar tone and didn’t change it as much as on "De Doden rusten niet in vrede," in an effort to find my own sound. I am always looking for new techniques simply because I find it really cool to discover new things in that area. In this album, I also worked more with self-made soundscapes, such as in the intro of "Kop op het Blok" and the middle of "Krijtland." Simply put, more time has been invested in this album, which is not a problem since I record everything at home.
Serial Metalbum : Can you give us an overview of the main themes addressed in Krijtland ? Are there specific messages you want to convey to your listeners through this album ?
Consanguineus : The songs on this album are inspired by myths, legends, and stories from the province of Limburg, both the Dutch and Belgian sides. For instance, "Kop op het Blok" is about a fair where, as popular entertainment, a goatrider is beheaded. "1928" is about a mining disaster in that year, where on Friday, June 13th, 13 miners were killed, and it was believed to be the work of the Devil. "De lijdensweg van Entgen Luijten" is based on the story of the last convicted witch in the Netherlands, which happened 1.5 kilometers from my house. "Voor de eeuwigheid gehangen" is a song dedicated to one of my own ancestors who was also convicted as a goatrider and had to be hanged until his body fell from the gallows. There are no hidden messages in the lyrics; they are stories from times long past.
Serial Metalbum : How did the recording process for Krijtland go ? Were there any particular challenges or memorable moments during the creation of this album ?
Consanguineus : I have the advantage of being able to do everything from home. I've set up a kind of "studio" in an attic room where I do all the recordings. This is a comfortable way of working for me; when I have time, I write and record riffs. There are, of course, also disadvantages to working alone. At one point with this album, I experienced a significant writer's block and went an entire month without producing anything, neither music nor lyrics. At those times, you miss the feedback from other band members. While working on this album, I bought three new guitars but kept returning to my old trusty Epiphone Les Paul, which still plays the best.
Serial Metalbum : What are your plans after the release of Krijtland ? Do you have any upcoming tours, future collaborations, or other projects you'd like to share with your fans?
Consanguineus : At the moment, all my time is devoted to promoting this album, which is often busier and more intensive than creating the music. Additionally, I am working on a project called “Vergankelijk” with the singer from the Belgian band Nether, a Doom/Black project about the transience of the human body. We are currently working on the first album, which will be released sometime at the end of the year. I have also remixed old unreleased tracks from Mergelland, which will be released as a limited edition tape in August. The debut album of Wurgilnō will soon be released on CD in South America, together with the “Angst” EP. There are plans to perform Wurgilnō live, but for now, they are just plans. On August 1st, a new track from Wurgilnō titled “Blokbreker” will be released, but only on Spotify and other digital channels.
To order : Fetzner Death Records - Bandcamp
