“Our band was established on the Summer Breeze Festival” – interview with Imperium Dekadenz

It is an electrifying occasion to perform in the 25th year of a festival. It is even more glorious if you are celebrating the 20th anniversary of a band’s founding. The cherry on top is if your band was established on the same festival grounds. We are talking about Imperium Dekadenz, a black metal band from Germany that shared some insights about live shows and music with us.

Good afternoon! How are you doing? 

Pascal Vannier: It’s hot — too hot. Besides, we’re doing fine, so looking forward to the gig. Some press now. Afterwards, the signing session — always a busy situation. 

Christian Jakob: It’s always good to have something to do, so you don’t have to be bored. And you know, waiting for the show is always a good kind of pressure, you know, and if there’s something to do, it’s always nice. So, doing this interview is a pleasure.

You’re playing in the 25th year of Summer Breeze and it’s the 20th year of the band. So, lots of exciting things going on. Can you share with us your impressions of Summer Breeze so far? 

Christian Jakob: I’m here since this afternoon. I built up my tent and meet a lot of people, so I wasn’t on the infield because I had no time yet. But we are big Summer Breeze fans; one important fact: this band was established at the Summer Breeze Festival in 2004. We met in my car in a grey hangover morning. We listened to some black metal stuff — we just lived 4 km away — and, yeah, we decided to have some rehearsals together. It started all just with an idea. We are here playing at the Summer Breeze Festival. 

Pascal Vannier: Summer Breeze and Imperial Dekadenz, we have a connected history, and it’s cool to see what happened in 20 years of Imperial Dekadenz, but also Summer Breeze. Because if you remember Summer Breeze 20 years ago, it was so much smaller, so our band got bigger and Summer Breeze got very big. The first time I was here was in 2001, the ticket for three days was around 16 euros. 

Christian Jakob: It was not in this place. It was in a small village. So something completely different. 

So since you’ve also attended Summer Breeze and festivals as metal fans, do you have any crazy memory that you want to share, that happened at a festival? 

Christian Jakob: We have, but we cannot share them. 

Pascal Vannier: No, no. We used to be very extreme partying people. Things that happened were private and too extreme to share with the audience. If we can find a headline, it would be for Rock and Roll. 

You have been performing and being in a band, as we said, for 20 years. Have you ever dealt with performance anxiety? 

Pascal Vannier: It depends. Some years ago, we played for the first time at a big festival; then, for sure, you are nervous. Depends, I can’t say. 

Christian Jakob: There’s a bit of pressure all over the day, you know, and you start in the morning. And it gets more and more as you get closer to the show. Let’s say, the last 15 minutes, so you’re feeling like in a machine. Everything happens, but you cannot control it; and now you’re in that machine, and there’s no chance for escape. But it’s something positive, so, and if the show is over, you have to experience it to have this feeling that’s just great. 

Into Sorrow Evermore was published almost one and a half years ago. So, I wanted to ask you: What do you hope that the fans take away when they listen to it? 

Pascal Vannier: Emotions, inspiration and individual emotions. I cannot say, “Take this emotion, take this.” Each and everyone who, uh, who has listened has had individual reactions. 

Do you have any rituals before going on stage? 

Christian Jakob: Yes, yes, we have. But, um, it’s a secret. It’s only for the five guys going on the stage. There are no girlfriends. There are no other people. It’s just the five guys going to the stage — there’s a small ritual. It’s just for us. 

Thank you guys for taking the time to do this interview with me. Is there anything else you do want to add to our viewers and readers of the website? 

Christian Jakob: I heard you are from Finland. We’ve never played there. If you know somebody who promotes shows, it would be nice to be there. A country untouched is a country to go. 

Pascal Vannier: We would love to play maybe for a weekend — two or three shows.