WNTC Talks to Karl Nov

Once again did another round of Q&A with Mr. Willetts before I'd heard all of Those Once Loyal. This goes more into the creative process of creating Bolt Thrower songs and I hope to witness it in action one day. Thanks again Karl!

Describe the lyric writing process with Gavin? How does he assist you (aid in structure of vocal lines/lyric ideas etc.)?

Karl: Well its been a bit different with the lyric writing process on the new album Those Once Loyal, Gav had already got a lot of ideas together before I rejoined back in November 2004. Heíd written all his ideas for words/song titles/themes down in a series of textbooks that I took away and looked through whilst listening to the demo versions that Baz had recorded. I took many of the ideas from these books and used them as a basis for the lyric writing fusing some of Gavís ideas along with mine. Once we had decided on the structure of the song I worked on the timings and structures of the lyrics alone and then took my rough workings to run through with Gav to make sure they worked properly, once the basic timing patterns where in place I then started to work out the lyrics around this framework, checking with Gav and editing them around several times until we recorded them, even in the studio final adjustments where made.

You mentioned you wanted more variety on the next album vocally meaning what exactly?

Karl: I am happy with the vocals recorded on the new album, they sound raw, somewhat reminiscent of the vocals on the 4th Crusade. I feel that it is a good entrance point for my return, but maybe on the next album I can achieve more variation a little in the style of For Victory vocals.

The album has a lot of the classic Bolt Thrower elements: For Victory's epic style songs, the blast beats of the late 80s/early 90s, a sophisticated tweak on the exotic Cenotaph riff, the ongoing appearance of the World Eater riff, the return to some familiar lyrical content etc., did this just happen or did it evolve as you got back into the swing of things?

Karl: We knew that this release more than ever had to be a big one, so we understood to record a classic BT album it needs a fine balance of all the essential BT ingredients plus a little bit more. I feel that we have delivered just that. It was important for there to be change of tempo and variation, along with Bazís renown killer riffs! There are many references to previous BT albums within the lyrics, to help tie the thread of continuity throughout our career as BT.

Initially, the lyrics to Last Stand of Humanity were more of a biting commentary on a certain type of ideology; I was a little surprised to hear they were scrapped. What happened?

Karl: I think I showed you the rough draught version 6, I swapped the lyrics around from another song as the fitted Last Stand much better! I had to chop the line out you mentioned because it just didn't fit. I have kept it though and it may make an appearance on the next album!

I'm intrepreting British valour in Those Once Loyal, was this a tribute to the steadfastness of the British people in the face of the July terror attacks?

Karl: Not directly, but I like the association and that's the beauty of words and language it can be interpreted in any manner. The main focus of Those Once Loyal is a tribute to all those whom have put BT in the position we are today, this includes EX Band Members, Crew past and present, individuals such as John Peel and most importantly all our supporters across the world whom have stayed loyal to BT.

My favourite lyrics of yours/Gav's are those that are told from a specific point of view. Where you feel like the narrator in the song trapped in some sort of hellish battlefield scenario. Salvo and the excellent Anti-Tank (Dead Armour) really trigger intense visuals while I'm listening to them. What goes into writing these types of lyrics; do you approach them like stories, films or something else entirely. From a writer's perspective, I find it really cool that you can call forth certain things so vividly.

Karl: I try to evoke the personal human experience of war and all the associated feelings that go along with this issue within the lyrics, especially songs such as those you mentioned. Anti-Tank is a real story of how an Anti-Tank unit held back the enemy advance until all the retreating units had cleared the area, the unit got annihilated in the progress, the medals of honour that these guys posthumously should have received where instead given to their commanding officers, all heroes die, kind of says it all. I approach each song differently some tell a story some provide general commentary (without preaching or moralising) about the world we live in today. The songs kind of challenge the listener to think about their own opinions of warfare.

I also like the well-researched tactical style lyrics like those on The Killchain. How does writing lyrics for The Killchain differ for something like Anti-Tank (Dead Armour)?

Karl: I was reading in the papers about the chain of command on the digital battlefield, which is called The Killchain, from the point where a suspect target is located, and logged into the computer which can indicate the status of the target, to the point where a button is pressed and the target is eradicated. I had the image of the night vision Apache helicopters media footage from the war in Iraq in my head at the time. This method of warfare is so clinical, so different from how war used to be waged.

How do you think you've grown and/or changed as a vocalist since the 90s?

Karl: I've been away for such a long time that it feels like doing a new band again, it's all so fresh. I think that I am more confident in my ability as a vocalist than I was back in the 90's maybe a little more mature in my outlook which will no doubt reflect in the lyrics that I write. Maybe I have become a little more realistic than idealistic in my attitude towards life.