Interview with Ancient VVisdom singer and songwriter Nathan Opposition

Ancient VVisdom are an occult rock band similar in style to The Devil’s Blood and Ghost. They’re kind of like a cross between Alice In Chains, Folk Music and 70s rock. Their newest release, A Godlike Inferno, is one of the best albums of 2012 thus far and has been getting rave reviews. Recently singer and songwriter Nathan Oppostion took the time to answer some questions for me about the band, Satanic lyrics and more. Read on to find out more and then pick up a copy of A Godlike Inferno fast!

Congrats on the recent signing with Prosthetic and re-release of A Godlike Inferno. How has being on Prosthetic helped the band so far?
Nathan: Thanks! Prosthetic has a lot of great bands that do not necessary fit with AVV, so at first I was hesitant but after meeting with EJ and Dan in LA and seeing their enthusiasm about AVV, I knew it was the right choice. They’re supportive, good people whose interests are in the interests of the bands.

A Godlike Inferno is probably one of the catchiest rock albums of the past few years and would have had “hit album” written all over it if not for the Satanic lyrics. Are you at all frustrated that you won’t get much airplay due to this or do you not care?
Nathan: Well thank you! I didn’t really write the songs for any specific reason other than writing what I feel is rock and roll. I wrote these songs for me, especially in content. Rock music has lost it’s edge when it comes to content. AVV is writing the new age of modern horror rock music like Roky Erickson before us. people just don’t get that yet, but people are kinda slow, so I don’t blame them, they know not what they do. It’s a different perspective and people always hate that. Also another thing, people see me as this very serious, dark, introverted person, but that’s not who I am at all. They hear my lyrics and are scared or something or they write me off and call it corny before they really listen to what I am truly saying. The Satanic theology has been twisted and contorted into something that it’s not. Everything has been regurgitated and mashed up into what it has become. I defy it all. As for airplay, fuck airplay.

With bands like The Devil’s Blood, Ghost and yourselves all getting a lot of attention are you worried that combining Satanic imagery and lyrics with more accessible rock music will turn into a trend?
Nathan: Oh of course it already is. Am I worried about it? Not really because the true will stand out amongst the weak. The strong in will shall always stand alone in a crowd of copy cats. Bands that put real thought and efforts into their works will be recognized and the rest will be forgotten in time.

Are there any plans to have Ancient VVisdom’s lyrics go beyond it’s occult lyrics into any other subjects or is that the subject matter you’ve decided will permeate all of the albums?
Nathan: I write about life mostly. I plan to write about love and death. I have a song that I wrote that is sort of a rock ballad about artist appreciation titled “The Master Magician.” It sounds like a church hymn, but instead of giving praise to God or Jesus, giving praise to the artist, the musicians of the world. So yeah I write what comes to mind really. What comes to mind at the time it happens, then you catch something.

Obviously with downloading and file sharing bands haven’t been able to support themselves as easily in the past. How do you feel about downloading without compensating the artist? Pro or con and why?
Nathan: Real music supporters will purchase the album. The others will download it for free and probably come to the show to hang out and watch the band. So I don’t know, it’s out of control anyway. The whole fuckin’ thing with this internet is out of control, so you really have to think of sAVVy ways to present your band so people care to support you. If the people truly respect and enjoy the music they will support the band. And then there are the trend hoppers.

Check out the song: “VVorld of Flesh”

What do you think would be fair to artist and fans in regards to purchasing music?
Nathan: Band makes record. Band sells record to appreciative individual.
Band gives them a hell of a show and talks to the appreciative individual. The appreciative individual goes home happy. Band goes home happy.

What are the plans for another album? A Godlike Inferno has been out for a while now, are you going to wait a while before releasing new material due to the re-release?
Nathan: No, no time to wait. We are working on it this month actually, 10 or more songs on an album titled Deathlike Inferno. I have a ton of songs written. It’s only a matter of slipping the noose and releasing them to the world.

Thanks for the interview, anything else you would like to say?
Nathan: Thank you, it was a pleasure.

Check out the song “The Opposition” here.