On the eve of the release of your third album, "Grimshrine," how does it feel to finally deliver a full-length after nearly nine years, with only a 2020 split standing between "Necrokult" and now? What made this the right moment to return with a full-length?

"Dreadspawn Dominion" marks Temple Of Dread’s expansion from a trio to a five member lineup. How did that change the writing, arranging and decision making inside the band?

"Picenum (True Marchigian Black Metal Renaissance)" expands the geographical focus from the Sibillini Mountains to the wider Marche region. What made you decide that this was the right moment to broaden the historical and folkloric scope of Hesperia?

"Crowned In Grey Skies" suggests triumph under bleak conditions. Is the title about victory, endurance or something more fatalistic?

Congratulations for your new album. It is a masterpiece. It is your first full-length album since “Zerfall” in 2019, with “Jenseits” appearing between them. How did those seven years change Finsterforst creatively and personally as a band?

"Apocalyptic Steel" spent many years unfinished before its final release. How different is your connection to the album now compared to when it was first recorded in 2014? How does it feel to finally see these recordings reach the public after twelve years?

Charly, nearly four decades after their original release, “Product Of Imagination” and “Heresy” are returning in newly restored editions. When you listen to these albums today, do they still represent the definitive blueprint of what Paradox is, or do you hear a young band that was only beginning to discover its identity?

“Total Fucking War” sounds like a statement of intent more than just an album title. What does that phrase represent for Heathen Peace as a band in 2026?

"Of Beasts And Plagues" took shape across several years. How did that long creation period change the album as a complete work?Joe: Well, there were mainly 4 reasons it took so long. One was I had A LOT of technical problems with my studio software. I won't go into details, but at times it was a Nightmare mixing the album. The second was that I took extra time with writing the music, and was VERY picky about what I used. I really think that made it to where there are no "filler" songs on the album. ALL of them are well thought out quality songs. Hell, I even added a couple cool additions to songs on guitar while I was mastering the album! Three is when I first really started writing the album, we didn't have a full band, didn't add the drummer who played on the album until I had already written all the songs and recorded them to a metronome. So we spent a lot of time working together on the tunes before recording. Again, the extra time we took just improved how the drums came out on the album. And fourth, I took a WHOLE LOT of time in mixing: working on every tiny section of all the tracks. I would not accept anything but the best sounds possible, which seemed to take forever, but the result speaks for itself; the best sounding album Axemaster has ever had, good enough to rival anything out there.

The title song began seventeen years ago with the late Jim Durkin (guitarist of Dark Angel). Which element preserved its relevance, and what finally made 2026 the right moment for completion?

Congratulations for the new album. How does it feel to finally get this material out to the metal legions?

“Death Doom Punks” sounds like a mission statement more than just a title. Was this album about locking in your identity as a band once and for all?