Radek: Wow, what an honour! But I feel strange in such bunch of great poets. :) I can’t tell you the exact meaning because there isn’t any. It is about atmosphere and feelings evoked by this name. Sixteen years ago (damn, is it really so long?) I simply tried to create a collocation which could describe our music. Melancholy. Sorrow. Dreaming. Kind of inner hope… That it is about…

PW: Návaz is your first release since ‘Relic Dances’ album and ‘Osameli’ EP of 2005-6. What has been going on with the band during that time and why the long break between albums?

Radek: Though it seems it’s about seven years from our previous “Relic Dances” album, it is not like we were working entire time on the new one. Simply we were supporting the previous album for some time and we were living our lives, you know – jobs, weddings, divorces, kids, flats, mortgages, earning money... :) So I guess it is about last two years we put brain to composing and arranging the new material. The album was recorded a year ago and then we were searching for an appropriate label…

PW: The line up seems like it is pretty constant since your last release with just a new drummer in the fold I believe? You have had quite a few changes though over the years and it must be rather tricky co-ordinating a band with seven members. What problems have you found in respect of this through the bands history?

Radek: You know, sixteen years is very long time. We spend a half of our lives composing music, we grow old. Some former members simply chose a family life, some lacked persistence, and, of course, there are – from time to time – human and musical conflicts. I take pride in we act like a family for almost ten years, actually in a certain way we are like a closed circle. If you spend years with somebody in the rehearsal room, in a van, on the stage, there is set a kind of link that people from outside cannot understand. I think it’s difficult to be – and stay – a member in such kind of a band. But back to your question – ye, we have some “newcomers” – David (drums) and Mirek (guitar) came in 2007. Actually there’s another one - Palo (violin) replaced Novi in 2008 who gave priority to her family and has two beautiful little kids right now. As I said – it is difficult…

PW: For someone who has just discovered the band through new album Návaz, how would you say you have changed since you started and progressed releasing four albums prior to this one?

Radek: Well, we grew from that My Dying Bride styled doom/death metal music in the beginning of our career, and more and more we look towards the fusion of our folk music and rock/metal, still with the strong doomy touch. It is noticeable on our last two albums – “Relic Dances” (2004) and the one – “Návaz”. That’s what we like and want to do.

PW: Moravia is in the east of the Czech Republic can you give us a brief insight into the region and what inspires you musically from there be it tradition, folklore or nature itself?

Radek: Moravia is the very eastern part of present Czech Republic. As for history, it is the oldest early-medieval Slavonic state unit. Unlike Bohemia, Moravia belongs ethnographically to eastern cultures, what reflects in music, traditions, language and temper of Moravians. The connection of our music and the land we live in is entirely obvious. We go from folk-memory, culture and heritage of our ancestors. You can find folklore motifs as well as verbal folk literature motifs in our music and lyrics. I think you can make music the best if it comes from the deep within. We could use Oriental or Celtic melodies but it would be bullshit when we come from Moravia. Simply we make music that goes from us. It is full of melancholy and mourning. You know, probably our music shows what people we are indeed. We like fun and to enjoy life as much as possible, but when we begin to play, to compose, we simply cannot play “merry” shit, we don’t feel the music in that way. Our folklore is the same. It is mostly about melancholy and unhappy themes. I guess it is so because people – our ancestors - used music as a kind of therapy after days full of hard work and misery, and if you live like that, it has to show in the music as well. Maybe all is connected – we, our land, our folklore, our feelings… Though I haven’t thought too much about that till now, it seems logical and probably truly… But – sorry for my excursion, I’m just too excited talking about these themes… :)

PW: Návaz apparently means “a traditional amulet made from hair, blackberry leaves, ash and other morbid ingredients.” Can you tell us a bit about the ‘morbid ingredients’ and the significance of the amulet? I take it this is what is portrayed on the album cover?

Radek: This amulet used to be made to protect in Náv, what’s a Slavonic term for underworld, in our mythology lying within the roots of the big oak tree by the way. When we thought about the title of the album, we were searching for the word which could „connect“ all songs together. And found very old - not used nowadays - word „Návaz“. A talisman. Substantive „Návaz“ is derived from the verb „navazovat“ what means „to connect something“ in our language. You say right, those old talismans were made by linking up flowers with hair, feather, bones, teeth etc. And we like we succeeded by this to get a secondary sense to the title of the album. “Návaz”, “the Join” in English – we join (link) to our past, to our roots. And this album is a talisman for all of you.

PW: Apart from the amulet is there any concept running through the album or story behind the tracks that you can share with us?

Radek: Ye, all lyrics were written by Hanka, our female vocalist, and there is a theme that connects them - respect for nature and female cult. You know, Hanka had to read tons of books kind of legends, myths, Slavic encyclopedias and stuff like that, because she is very conscientious being teacher of Czech language. So we go back to pagan times, when man lived in step with nature, revered a female cult and met nymphs in the wood…

PW: I love the vocals of female singer Hanka and was reminded of a mix of Siouxsie Sioux, Liz Frazer of the Cocteau Twins and Bjork. I wondered what training she had as a singer.

Radek: Well, nothing special. She has no schools or anything like that, she just comes from a “musical family” and got some lessons in the past. Now she studies piano and wants to give kind of music therapy lessons in future. Btw Bjork is one of her favs so she is very happy for your comparison.

PW: The other huge aspect that one really notices is the utilisation of non metal and more traditional instruments, the weave of the violincello and the dulcimer so beautifully played on tracks like ‘Zlatohlav’ (Golden Head). I believe you had a leading Moravian folk musician and dulcimer ensemble join in for the album. Did they find it easy working with a band who have ‘heavier’ aspects to their music than they are probably used to? Were any other traditional instruments used?

Radek: Actually there was no problem due to our decent pre-production. Unlike the previous recording, when we asked complete folklore ensemble to guest and it earned some troubles, now we spoke just to a couple of professional musicians (and friends of ours) and made kind of “virtual“ folkish orchestra. Misha Liparova recorded dulcimer, backing vocal in “Prisaham“ and took the part in female choirs. She is a very talented young girl studying musical conservatory. Mirek Kolacia, a string magician kind of I’ve never heard before in folk music, recorded violin solo parts and violet. The third one was Jura Dorosinski, bassplayer of folklore ensemble Valassky Vojvoda, who played a string bass. The studio sessions with them were fine and easy as we met and rehearsed with all of them before, so it was kind of “red light on and… ok, it’s done“, simply professionals, nice work...

PW: ‘Slava’ was a song that instantly jumped out at me, is this a traditional song that you have covered?

Radek: Nope. Slava is written by me and Hanka, like the entire album. To tell the truth, in the beginning it was just fun kind of “we can do easily what those Korpiklaani styled folk-metal acts do” what took us only few hours in the rehearsal room. Ii is funny how quickly it became a hit playing it live.

PW: The album has been out a week or two now I believe, sure you have had plenty of reviews in, what has the reaction been like? I can perhaps see the odd person not understanding things but would be very surprised if anyone has criticised the music?

Radek: All seems pretty fine. To tell the truth we were little bit tense as “Návaz” is our first album released worldwide, so for most of fans and journalists it’s the first contact with our music. But they like it what makes us very happy. Of course there are some, especially German “true metalheads”, who haven’t got a clue what our music is about, but what can we do except a broad smile…

PW: I noticed that you have contributed tracks to various cover albums for Led Zeppelin, White Zombie (which strikes as a complete contrast) and Masters Hammer. I guess between the lot of you, there are some very varied tastes. What do you all like?

Radek: Good music above all, but know it could sound like a cliché. Our range is extensive, from ambient, folk, classical music to the most extreme genres of metal. And it is the point – though me and Hanka are the main composers, the resulting shape of our music is kind of intersection as each bandmember takes his part. For sure there are some bands we all agree on – Gaate, Opeth, Orphaned Land, Mono, Madder Mortem, Porcupine Tree…

PW: I also was wondering if there are any other bands from your area that you perhaps share a mindset with and you could tell us to check out?

Radek: Ye, there are some, but definitely not in metal genre. :) I can reccomend Iva Bittova (excellent singer and violinist), Zuzana Lapcikova & Emil Viklicky folklore-jazz projects, Tomas Kocko (amazing folk music), Tara-Fuki (two girls singing with cellos)…

PW: I wondered what one could expect from a live show? I see you have a few coming up in the Czech Republic and guess you play the odd festival show. It must be difficult for you to play further afield in say a place like England, is this a possibility or is it simply not economically viable for you?

Radek: No problem, we have played abroad before, for example in Germany, Belgium, The Netherlands, Austria, Switzerland... You know, music is the universal language so we are not afraid of that people cannot understand our lyrics. To share our feelings and emotions with audience. To emit the energy. To receive it back amplified hundred times. This is our live show is about. We like to make an intimate even mystical atmosphere. No big pose. Only contact with audience through our music. There are moments when people dance, when people sing. And others when they just close their eyes and dream carried away. Then we feel our message is being delivered…

PW: Are the creative juices flowing, are you anticipating following up this album a bit quicker than the last and do you have any ideas for it in place already?

Radek: Just now we focus on promoting “Navaz“ album, but we are eager to start to compose new material. Ye, there are already some melodies in my head. As always, I cannot tell now if the new album will be harder or softer, in one way or the other, I’m just looking forward to enjoy the composing and arranging process once again… There is also idea of pure acoustic folk album and some other projects, so to tell the truth, there is all the time some challenge to work. :)

Well that’s about all I have to ask apart from saying thanks a lot for a very enjoyable album, anything else you would like to add?

Radek: Thanks for your support and nice chat. Hope all open-minded music fans will enjoy our music. Dive into the Stream, Listen to the Elegy!

For more on the band check out http://www.ssoge.com
http://www.myspace.com/ssoge

Interviewed by Pete Woods

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