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| Photo by SUNNY SHOT ME DOWN |
Formed in 2021, Iskariot have been steadily shaping a dark and introspective vision of extreme metal, marked by constant evolution and a strong sense of atmosphere. In this interview, Simon Ruhmer, drummer of the band, looks back on the origins of Iskariot, the motivations behind its creation, and the musical path that led from their first EP Sabaoth to the more defined and heavier identity of Zelot. He also shares insights into the band’s influences, songwriting process, and their perspective on the current metal scene, while outlining their ambitions for the future.
Asmoh Uccen: What circumstances and motivations led to the creation of Iskariot in 2021?
Simon Ruhmer: The circumstances were a bit difficult at the time. Daniel and Simon had previously played in a rock band that unfortunately broke up after many years. But after the breakup, it was always clear to us that we didn't want to stop making music, but wanted to continue. Daniel and Andreas were playing together in the black metal band Dysthemia at the time. Since we were already friends and enjoyed making music, we thought we'd just give it a try.
Asmoh Uccen: How do you personally describe the essence of Iskariot’s sound and atmosphere today?
Simon Ruhmer: In contrast to the early days, the atmosphere today has become much darker and heavier. This is due to our development and the type of music we produce today. When it comes to sound, it's usually not that easy. We're currently on the right way, but we're still in the phase where we want to improve ourselves.
Asmoh Uccen: Which musical or non-musical influences have most shaped your identity as a band?
Simon Ruhmer: The musical influences are always a bit difficult because we are three different types of people. We agree on some bands and genres, but we don't always see eye to eye on others because we all have our own tastes. This brings certain influences to the songs that harmonize very well with each other. But if you want to focus on bands, the most influential ones are Agalloch, Harakiri for the Sky, Alcest, Dornenreich, Dissection, etc.
When it comes to non-musical matters, we are shaped by the events that occur in our daily lives, whether these are the feelings or experiences of individual members.
Asmoh Uccen: With time and experience, how do you now view your first EP Sabaoth?
Simon Ruhmer: Sabaoth was the beginning of a long journey and therefore, compared to Zelot, different in many ways. We had a certain idea of the genre, but this was changed again and again by different ideas and influences. We also improved our playing, and in particular Daniel developed his skills in mixing and mastering.
Asmoh Uccen: During the writing of Zelot, what aspects of your music naturally evolved compared to your earlier material?
Simon Ruhmer: The beauty of music is that the more you rehearse and experiment together, the more you find a common harmony after a certain amount of time. At the beginning of the band's history, we went to the rehearsal room and just tried out things that came to mind and that we liked. When you listen to our first EP Sabaoth compared to Zelot, you can clearly see that we have found the direction we want to go.
Asmoh Uccen: How does collaboration within the band influence the final shape of a song?
Simon Ruhmer: We are now a pretty well-coordinated team when it comes to songwriting and finalizing songs. Daniel and Andreas are the key members in this regard. They come up with the main idea based on the guitar riffs. Simon adds a suitable drum beat based on the atmosphere and style of the guitar riffs. Once the instrumental part of the song is complete, Daniel looks for suitable lyrics to complete the song.
Asmoh Uccen: From your perspective, how healthy and dynamic is the current metal scene, both locally and internationally?
Simon Ruhmer: Locally, we would describe the current metal scene as very healthy. The large number of concerts, especially small ones, clearly shows that there are some new, young, and up-and-coming bands again. The young bands also cover a wide range of different genres, which in turn keeps the scene alive.
Unfortunately, we don't have any international experience, so we can't say much about that.
Asmoh Uccen: As Iskariot moves forward, what direction do you feel drawn to explore next, and does that include a full-length album?
Simon Ruhmer: Our goals are quite simple. We will, of course, continue to work on our songwriting and write new songs so that we can present a complete album in the future. Furthermore, we want to play as many concerts as possible, both nationally and internationally, to bring our music closer to the people.
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