Interview / HIRAES

HIRAES is a melodic death band based in Hannover. After the split of Dawn of Disease, all four instrumentalists—Lukas Kerk, Oliver Kirchner, Christian Wösten, and Mathias Blässe—joined forces with the powerful voice of Britta Görtz (formerly of Critical Mess, ex-Cripper).

The name "HIRAES" is derived from the Welsh word "hiraeth," which represents the nostalgia and yearning for lost places of the past or a home that may have never existed.

Recently, HIRAES released their highly acclaimed debut album, "Solitary," through Napalm Records. Decibel Warfare had the pleasure of reviewing it.

Britta and Lukas graciously took the time to respond to a few questions.

I would like to thank you for your willingness to participate in this interview. Can you take us back to the early days of the band? What inspired the formation of the group, and how has your musical journey evolved since then?

Lukas: Thanks for being interested in doing an interview with us. We founded in early 2020 just when the pandemic began. HIRAES came into being after the former band called Dawn of Disease disbanded. After this, the four remaining musicians wanted to continue and start a new band. I asked Britta – I knew her from several shows we played together with her former band Cripper – if she would like to be part of the band as a singer and she was totally up to it. So we wrote the first song, mainly via the internet, because it was not allowed to meet due to Covid, and in May we had the very first rehearsal. During that rehearsal, we all felt that the chemistry between us was right, and so we officially became a band.

One year later, in 2021, we released our debut album “Solitary” and played some shows to promote it. The real touring began in 2022 when we supported bands like Konvent, Implore, Crypta, and Evil Invaders on their tours. Since then, we played numerous shows and already this year we played supported Left To Die on a part of their European tour, had some festival appearances and the honor to be the main support act for Be’Lakor in their recent European run in August. Right now we have finished writing and recording our second album and are pretty much looking forward to the coming months.

Sweden has been a central hub for melodic death metal, producing iconic bands like In Flames, At the Gates, and Dark Tranquillity. How has the Swedish scene influenced your approach to songwriting and performance?

Lukas: In general, the band has many musical influences, but it is pretty obvious that Swedish melodic death metal has influenced us and is still influencing us. For me personally, it is the melancholic mood in bands like In Flames or Dark Tranquillity that really inspires me a lot.

Germany has a rich musical history. How has the local metal scene shaped your sound, and what aspects of your local culture do you infuse into your music?

Lukas: I would not say that the local German metal scene has a big impact on what we are doing. We always try to develop our ideas and create our own sound. But of course, the local metal scene in Germany is very vivid, and we are definitely profiting from that. There are so many concerts, and I have the impression that especially due to forced lockdown, etc., during the pandemic, people are really hungry for live shows and appreciate that bands – not only from Germany – play in their cities.

Germany and Sweden have their own distinct metal scenes. Can you describe any cross-cultural exchanges or experiences that have enriched your musical perspective and contributed to your growth as a band?

Lukas: Playing in both countries is always a pleasure for us. We have played in Sweden three times so far, and each show was a great experience. In Germany, we already have played many shows, and one similarity between Sweden and Germany is that the metalheads in both countries really give us the feeling that we are welcome and doing the right thing. I would say that this is something typical for metalheads all around the globe – if they like your music, they give you all the support they can. And, of course, this positive feedback helps us grow as a band. We always give 100% on stage but still try to improve in different areas – and all this we are doing for our fans out there!

Although your debut album was released in 2021, I had just recently come across it through a review by one of our writers. Let me say that I really enjoyed it, and I am happy for the new discovery. Let me ask you, how has the reception of your music influenced your approach to creating new material for a potential follow-up album? Have you already begun conceptualizing your next album? Can you give us a glimpse into the themes or ideas you're considering?

Lukas: We’re glad you like our music! As mentioned before, positive feedback from both fans and the press is really pushing us to continue what we’re doing and also to work on our music and our live performance. Right in this moment, our second album is in the process of mixing and mastering, and I would really love to tell you more about it – but I am not (yet) allowed to do so, haha. But nevertheless, stay tuned! News are coming soon…

As the band's lead vocalist, how did you discover your passion for melodic death metal, and what led you to choose this genre as the primary vehicle for your artistic expression?

Britta: Up until recently, I had a second band called "Critical Mess", that played technical kinda old school Death Metal. When I joined HIRAES I was really fond of adding a more melodic vessel to my creative output that complemented the raw and rather grim attitude of my Death Metal band. I love new challenges and HIRAES is definitely triggering a completely different nerve than any other of my previous bands. HIRAES music gives me as a lyricist and vocalist the opportunity to really connect with our fans through the lyrical message. That’s probably the biggest perk of Melodic Death Metal in general, since the melodies make the music probably a little more accessible to a larger audience than, for example, Death Metal.

As a band led by a female vocalist in a genre traditionally dominated by male voices, how do you believe your unique perspective adds depth and complexity to your lyrical themes and overall musical identity?

Britta: That is a difficult question to answer. I don’t think I add a female perspective lyrically – I think that I am adding my personal perspective and I happen to be female. But I would never generalize that. Plus, my lyrics don’t aim at gender topics.

Lukas: Of course, many bands in the metal sector have male singers, but one can see that more and more bands have female vocalists. I am not a person who first looks at who is singing in a band. I first get myself an impression of the whole music and then take a look at the single musicians. For our musical identity, it is just great to have Britta in our band – she is such a charismatic and sympathetic person that has the ability to transmit her energy on stage to the audience right from the very first second.

There are a lot more bands today led by female vocalists than 2-3 decades ago. Who are some of your early inspirations? And which bands today that caught your attention?

Britta: Truth is, I started paying attention to gender in music after I started being in bands because all of a sudden I was confronted with these kinds of questions. I never had any female idol in particular, nor did I pick a male idol because of his gender. It just never mattered to me and still doesn’t. I speak to many women and girls at shows and to many, seeing a woman on stage performing is empowering in some way, which is a good thing! When I started in the early 2000s, there were 4 or 5 women in extreme metal that I knew of. Now there are so many, and it fills me with great joy to see the metal musician scene becoming more diverse.

With your European tour ongoing and nearing its conclusion, how has the live audience's reaction shaped your perception of your music and performance style?

Lukas: The tour just ended, and we are far beyond overwhelmed about the reactions. It was such a great experience to support such a kind and professional band like Be’lakor and warming up the audience for them every night. Nearly all shows were sold out, and we did not expect that it would be so awesome! We really value the feedback from the audience and will take that with us as an inspiration to work out our live shows and the presentation of our music even more than it is the case right now.

Touring can be physically and emotionally demanding. How do you find the balance between maintaining your energy on stage and taking care of yourselves offstage?

Britta: It can be really challenging sometimes. Between being sleep deprived and sweating your ass off every night, you need to somehow still manage to maintain in shape. I try not to eat too much junk food, take a nap in the van whenever I can, stay hydrated, and limit my alcohol consumption. But no matter how tired you are – stepping on stage and being cheered on by the crowd is a super potent energy boost!

Lukas: I totally agree with Britta. You can be tired as hell, but the very moment you walk on stage you forget everything about it and just enjoy the energy of the audience. Sleeping is of course a rare thing on tour and just as Britta stated: it’s always good to take a nap whenever you can, haha.

What do you miss the most about home when you are on the road?

Britta: My bed. Apart from that, nothing really.

Lukas: There are seldom moments where I really miss something, because touring is such a great experience. And thanks to modern media it’s always possible to have a video call with your family at home which makes things quite easy.

The European tour has taken you through various cities and cultures. How does the experience of connecting with diverse audiences affect you personally and creatively?

Lukas: Personally, it’s always great to meet people from different countries that think alike and to which one feels connected due to metal music. I really love to talk to fans and have a chat with them, talk about their passion for music and what motivates them to come to our shows. Creatively it does not have a big impact on me because my sources of inspiration lie in different areas.

Touring can be a significant source of inspiration. Are there any specific moments or encounters during this tour that you think might find their way into your future compositions?

Lukas: There are so many impressions that can be inspiring during a tour such as different landscapes of different countries, special feelings, our moods, connecting with the fans, the feeling of being together with the band, the performance on stage, etc. As the end of the tour is not that far away, I first have to sort everything and see what kind of inspiration I can take out of it.

Any plans to tour the rest of the world or at least North America?

Britta: I wouldn’t call it plans, but ideas. Especially North and South America are on our bucket list. Keep your fingers crossed!

Collaborations have become increasingly popular in the music industry. Are there any artists, within or outside the metal genre, that you would love to collaborate with in the future?

Lukas: There are many artists that I would collaborate with, and it’s really hard to name single persons or bands. I would find it very interesting to work with Peter Tägtgren as he is a very creative person.

Individually, could each of you share your cherished melodic death metal album? The one that engrosses you from the very first note to the final culmination, leaving an indelible mark.

Lukas: For me, it is “Shadows Of The Dying Sun” by Insomnium. I really love that album and it never gets boring to listen to it.

Looking beyond the current tour and potential new album, what broader goals do you hope to achieve as a band, both in terms of musical evolution and your impact on the metal scene?

Lukas: Our major aim is to make music, be on the road, and have fun with each other. Playing a big nightliner tour and some big European festivals would be great for the near future. We keep our fingers crossed for that!

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For more on HIRAES, visit the following links: Instagram | Spotify | Bandcamp | Facebook