Lunar Shadow are an extremely talented metal band from Germany. They have the uncanny ability to blend the most melodic and beautiful songwriting with a metal sound that can cut that beauty into shards. Their new record Far From Light showcases their talent with eight precision-like songs with a total run-time of over 60 minutes. The album is certainly a journey unto itself. Lunar Shadow’s guitarist Max “Savage” Birbaum was nice enough to speak with Slickster Magazine about the new record, and taking the Far From Light journey with his fans.
On the song “Hadrian Carrying Stones”:
I don’t want to go too much into detail here, I don’t like to explain my lyrics. I’m of the opinion, that the listener should find its own meaning, piece by piece. All I’d like to say is, that the person of Hadrian here is basically not a real, historical figure, but more of a symbol and a metaphor, to build a fortress inside your mind against life and its corrosion.
On the melodic heaviness of the band:
When I started to play guitar, I was around 10 or 11 years old, my role models were bands like the old In Flames, At The Gates, Gates of Ishtar or Unanimated, bands, that are very important for the sound of Lunar Shadow. I had my guitar tuned down back then too, simply, because those bands did the same.
Then I heard “Storm of the Light’s Bane” by Dissection. It’s probably still one of the most evil and sinister albums on this planet and they did not tune down their instruments. That was the moment when I saw, that if they managed to do this just through brilliant songwriting and melodies, I could do the same, from that moment on I always kept my guitar in standard tuning.
I would not say that it’s a viking-style, but something regressive, yes. Something old, forgotten, that time has laid its veil upon. Sunken cities, barren plains, something far away. Things like that appeal to me and form my music. Escapism is an important aspect of every sort of art, at least to me.
On the many textures, melodies, and sounds on Far From Light:
Many of the songs featured on Far From Light were already written when we recorded our first EP back in 2015. I intentionally held them back, because on our first release I wanted shorter songs, that were more direct. I kept the long, more epic pieces for the album. I usually write a small part of a new song, often for hours, like in a trance, then shut down my laptop and listen to it again the next day with some distance. If I then still like it, I can continue to work on it.
We made a good choice with our studio, our producer S. From Sulphur Aeon is incredibly competent and he has a very calm aura, that helped us through the often long days of recording. We took much more time with this album to work out all the small details, the drum fills, the vocal harmonies. It was a long and hard road, I attended almost all sessions, because I wanted to make sure, that I liked the recordings and that the songs exactly sound the way I wanted them to sound. After the recordings were finished I felt exhausted and empty, I didn’t touch my guitars for seven months and just recently started to play a little again.
On the influence of the band’s home country of Germany:
Not at all. There are german bands of course, that may have had a certain influence, like Atlantean Kodex or Running Wild, but we are also influenced by bands from other countries as well. Besides I think, that we don’t sound very “german”.
The infrastructure in Germany has certainly helped us, it’s a good place to live, if you’re into Heavy Metal, the concerts, the festivals, the fans. But it did not directly influence our sound.
On the soaring guitars and vocals on the record, especially on the song “Gone Astray”:
“Gone Astray” is certainly the most personal song on this record. It’s about someone, who is very dear to me and who is gone now, love that is lost, yourself, that splinters after that. It’s an attempt to move on and to even therapy myself. Writing the lyrics was very difficult, I often had to leave the studio room when we recorded it, because I could not stand it. It’s an incredibly sad song, but there is also much love in it, that’s the way I listen to it. But these are only my personal references to this song, things I link to it.
Generally speaking it is a song about loneliness. As already mentioned above, this one is a fine example of a song, where the listener can put his own memories and thoughts inside and get something in return.
On the journey the listener, and band, take together during a 10 minute song:
That’s quite a nice way to put it, yes. It’s indeed a journey. Dive into the atmosphere of a song and let it take you away. To the icy vales of “Cimmeria”, only enlightened by widespread campfires, to the heathers in “Hadrian Carrying Stones” or the nautic madness of “The Kraken”, until water fills your lungs. I feel the same, when I hear those songs.
What bands are you most influenced by?
I have to mention the Swedish bands of the early 90s here, old In Flames, Dissection and At The Gates. They forged my love for twin-guitar leads. Judas Priest, the best metal band that ever will be, because of their attitude and greatness, old Manowar because of their epic fire, Blue Öyster Cult and Wishbone Ash because of their dreamy, distant music.
What current bands are you into right now?
I love Dark Forest and Wytch Hazel, they have wonderful british vibes, I also like Ghost, because of their courage to do something unique. Borrowed Time were an awesome band, sad that they called it quits. Stone Dagger did an awesome EP, just like Vulture’s Vengeance from Italy.
Forteresse released one of the best Black Metal albums last year, just like Murg or Diabolic Night.
What is one album that your fans would be surprised that you own?
Remains of my elementary school days probably, like a Papa Roach-CD.
What is the first record you bought with your own money?
I cannot remember, to be honest. Might have been “Painkiller” by Judas Priest, one of my earliest possessions.
What was the first concert you ever went to?
Same here, I’m not entirely sure. Might have been Amon Amarth back in 2004 on their “Fate of Norns” tour.
What’s next for Lunar Shadow?
We right now focus on the few live dates that we are going to play in the next weeks, after that I won’t hurry anything. I started writing on some songs, I’ve got some ideas where I want to go and new things I want to try. Time will tell.