Welcome to the Morbid Reich...that´s the title of a new Vader´s album. We´re bringing up to you this long-awaited interview with the “main brain“ of the band, Mr. Piotr "Peter" Wiwczarek. So, welcome...

Welcome to the Morbid Reich, that´s the title of your new album. Could you present the material to our readers?

No words can really describe music. The best way is to listen to and define in Your own. I may but close up the subject a bit. „Welcome To The Morbid Reich” was recorded in  between April and June in Hertz Studios in Bialystok. This is exactly the same studio in the East of Poland, where some previous releases were created. We have recorded 12 songs in a session divided into four parts. There are two bonus tracks among them and those are all classic covers. The new album was released by Nuclear Blast in Europe and USA in August and September, so it’s still pretty fresh piece of extreme Metal. How is it compared to previous works? You need to find it out in Your own tho’....

What is the main theme of your current lyrics?

There is no really main theme on the album. However I could say, that there’s plenty of thoughts  about „Gods powers in human hands or minds” in many different aspect collected in lyrics. To feel, to behave or to act like a god - You can find it all on the new album. To BE a God is also included... All stories are like thrilling fiction but each one is inspired by very real events or documents indeed. I am responsible for almost all lyrics this time. I never ever had so much to say, I guess. There’re two songs written by Harry Maat but even they were pretty transformed by myself. Life and all included is what gives us wings to create and I was given huge wings during last two years. 

Why have you chosen this title?

Not because of early demo title nor any connection with 3rd Reich, though there are links with that part of history on cover art and one of the songs... It has but nothing with supporting hatred or totalitarianism in any kind. I realize of course, that interpretation might be different...but that’s why we have brains to use for. I can’t take responsibility for stupidity, can I? „God let us choose”..even christians believe in that. The genesis of Morbid Reich comes back in 80’s, when I was yet teenager Metal Head. I was always kind of outsider and felt good in „my own world” created by my strong imagination. Morbid Reich was a name of such a land, asylum, where I was  escaping if I wanted. Dreams were always big factor in my whole life.

One of the songs is called “Return to the Morbid Reich“. What does the return mean to you personally? 

As I just explained above: there is no musical nor lyrical connection between those two records. Both are products of times and both are Vader. How could I forget about all those years of life, experience and progress of technology? Vader is strong rooted in the past but we live and create here and now! Generations are following us for almost three decades because our Voice and Spirit never get old. „Return To The Morbid Reich” symbolize some problems of the world and us -as the world’s settlers- which never disappear. It is my return to the asylum... My mental escape from this „eden”. 

There are two instrumental songs on the album, I hope I´m correct. What´s the meaning of it? One of the song is introduction but it´s not very typical feature of Vader´s music, to play instrumental songs.

I love introductions!! I like this kind of expression and we use it quite often on the records or live performances. It is like a soundtrack and there is not a special meaning of using it. I asked Sigmar, who did awesome work for us on „Impressions In Blood” or „The Art Of War” EP- to compose main, opening motiv in Richard Wagner style. Intros to „I Am Who Feasts..” and „They Are Coming” were created by Spider. 

I´d like to ask about the artwork. What does it represent? Is it something like a gate to the Morbid Reich?

The cover Art was painted by Zbyszek Bielak parallel to recordings of the album. There were just few covers in history of band, when the Artwork was created for actual Vader work. Usually I used a work already made, because I saw the art fit perfectly to my vision of the album. Not this time! I was talking to Zbyszek pretty often during our session in studio. He received rough samples from studio to listen to. The whole Idea was generating on the spot. The style is also different. No more computer work!!! The cover is total „analog” in quite elder way. Black and white..plus red. The look is very mystical and powerful. It provokes with symbols and hypnotize with symmetry. Welcome to the Morbid Reich!!!!

Are you preparing a video clip as well?

We’ve recorded the whole Metal Hammer show in August and we’d like to use shots in the video clip to „Come And See My Sacrifice”. It’s gonna be made in live style but with original studio track. There’s is an idea to create a fiction picture to other track from the album next year. We will see... However „video clips” is not priority, because there not too many opportunities to show it up.

You´ve been in music for more than 25 years. What does music and especially VADER mean to you? Could you imagine that you would do something different?

I could if that’d be necessary. Vader is my life tho’!!! There is not too many Extreme Metal bands, that play professional. The band is our job and we can focus on music and touring only. I was always dreaming about it. It took time since Vader started to exist and..the price is high. We have no private life and we live like mariner-far from Families and Friends. However, I wouldn’t change it !!! 

I´ve read that VADER was the band which placed your country on the international death metal scene. What do you think about it after all those years of success?

The biggest success is, that Vader is still strong on Metal scene today! We have die hard Fans all over the World and They are in age 6 to 66. Seriously!!! I met old Friends visiting our shows with kids. We influence other bands and keep Fire in Their hearts...That is the biggest Vader success !!!!!!

What other kind of music do you like besides death metal?

I am pretty much open to different styles in music. What I listen to depends on mood, of course, and on my shelf  You can find Suffocation next to J.S.Bach or Budgie next to Edith Piaf. I love movie soundtracks and old march music too! I swallow all, what brings me a „goose skin”...

What do you think, actually, about Polish metal scene in general? Is it growing or developing in a way or not?

It is growing indeed! Vader was representing Poland for many years. It is us, who shown to the West, that Extreme Metal is same popular behind Iron Curtain. Now there are more killer hordes from our land, who invade the stages of the World like Behemoth, Decapitated or Hate. I just mentioned few....‘cause there’re more. Some even say about „Polish scene” or even „Polish sound”. That is big progress since 80’s, isn’t it?

What about your side-projects? Do you still have time to work on it?

Not much. However PanzerX is not dead! We plan to record debut full length and - first of all - to play live. The time will come....but not yet.

Will we see you here in Slovakia this year or in the near future?

I believe in that! We start a big tour with Gorgoroth in Europe in November and I am sure, we’ll visit Slovensko. We’re gonna focus on new album and add some old shit to the set as well. Will be HELL indeed!!! 

Thank you very much for your time and this interview!

THANX for support Metal!!!! \m/ See You on tour..... \m/