In a musical landscape where folk and black metal converge, Alburnum emerges as a unique project driven by the creative vision of Daniel B. In this interview, Daniel reveals the origins of his solo project, the challenges he faced in a conservative area of the Netherlands, and the significance of exploring hidden emotions in his music. With an organic and authentic approach, he strives to delve into profound themes through melodies inspired by nature and a variety of influences.
Serial Metalbums: Can you tell us the story of Alburnum? How did the band come together? What is the meaning behind the name "Alburnum"?
Daniel B: I live in a very conservative area of the Netherlands and always had trouble finding bandmates or places to rehearse, so starting a solo project gave me a lot of freedom to do whatever I wanted. R.v.R. has been a good friend for years, so asking him to perform session drums was an obvious choice. He’s also a great singer and his added clean vocals developed our sound even further. Check out his other projects under the banner of Chronos Defied!
“Alburnum” is the Latin word for sapwood, which is the soft wood under the bark of a tree. It’s a literal reference to the themes of our music, but also a metaphorical one. It’s about exploring and processing emotions hidden under the surface, invisible to the outside world.
Serial Metalbums: How would you describe your music? What sets your style apart in the folk/black metal scene? What are your main influences, both in folk and black metal?
Daniel B: I take inspiration from similar bands in the genre like Windir, Agalloch and Drudkh, but also a lot of Irish and Scottish folk music, classical music and movie soundtracks. Classics like Maiden and Priest are always in the back of my head too.
Compared to similar bands, I try to avoid using keyboards and synths to make things sound more epic. Instead, it’s a nice challenge to use real instruments and see where they fit into the arrangement of a song. Of course I love bands like Windir who use lots of keyboards, but for my own songs it sounds too cheesy and stuck in the 1990’s. I prefer a more organic and natural sound.
Serial Metalbums: Can you tell us about the genesis of "The Withered Roots of Reality" ? How did the creative process unfold?
Daniel B: Our debut EP ‘Buitenlucht’ (Outside Air) started out as a more depressive / minimalist style of black metal. The folk instruments were added pretty last minute, yet that’s what really stood out to a lot of people. So I decided to really go for it the next time, and write a fully “folk” album right from the start.
Writing and recording the first EP taught me a lot, so it was a lot easier and less stressful doing it the second time. Of course it was still a lot of work, but I like to challenge myself. We did the drums and electric guitars at Wessel’s (Laster) studio, then I took a week off to record all of the vocals, acoustic guitars, accordion and mandolin parts at home. That was exhausting, but I’m very happy with the result and would do it again gladly.
Serial Metalbums: What concepts or stories did you want to convey through this album? How did the creative process unfold?
Daniel B: The album is mostly about my personal mental health struggles, told through metaphors of nature and various elements of folklore. Trying to fit in with modern society, wishing for simpler times even though life wasn’t easy back then either. There’s a lot of depression in the lyrics but I don’t consider it a DSBM album at all, rather the opposite. It’s about overcoming these struggles and fighting for your right to exist.
I try to avoid the cliches like Tolkien or fantasy themes, vikings etc. There’s plenty of great bands that write about those things, but to me it’s too boring and unoriginal.
Serial Metalbums: How have you felt about the reception of the album so far? Were there any reactions that surprised you?
Daniel B: Reactions and reviews have been very positive! Of course it’s always subjective. I read one recently where the writer said he felt “out of breath” after some of the songs. Well, that’s exactly what I was going for with the faster tempos and intense melodies, so mission accomplished. You can’t please everyone.
Serial Metalbums: What are your plans for the future? Are you already working on new material or planning a tour?
Daniel B: We have enough demo material for at least two new releases. One shorter EP and a longer full length, but I don’t know in which order yet. Hopefully we’ll have something ready within a year or two! No live shows yet because we’re a two piece and both very busy with work and other things. If we get a good offer we’ll definitely consider it, of course.
