IS THERE METAL AT THE BOTTOM OF THE GLASS?

This is something I have been thinking about over the last few days, can creative prowess be found after Beer?  Personally I think not, I cannot say that in all the years I have been writing lyrics and music.  Have I ever found the muse upon me,  however I guess it is different for all writers.  Yes Beer is great as a recreational pursuit, but this Troll does not wish to be in an alcoholic haze.  Especially where writing songs is concerned,  I feel that a clear mind it is what is needed when writing.  That way ideas can be stored temporarily until it is time to start the writing process, although I am not the most methodical of writers or musician.  I do feel I have better results when not drinking, Beer is a reward after playing not during!

  I did once record one demo under the influence of Beer, I have not done it since.  A series of mistakes and errors occurred and lead to a messy demo, we did manage to salvage songs good enough to release but it is something I haven`t done it since.  So sobriety is the order of things.

SOMETHING OLD SOMETHING BLACK CAKE AS EARTH

The new unamed song is coming along, I am getting used to playing the riff and have also written more of the story.  I am at the stage were im thinking is worth breaking away from the story and just write the lyrics?  I see though that there is no rush as the song will be shelved for a future release, I do like a long gestation period of writing songs, my reasons for posting today is that the origins of what we are and where we are from.  That whole rooted thing and in this case that of the trolls that I have been writing about over the the last two years, the main theme has been the trolls and other beings protecting their ancient homelands that are being plagued by humans.  The earth is what they are they are part of it and it is part of them, and the trolls know their place and their history in all that they do.  I try to convey this in the songs something that has evolved over time and that is ancient, in the context of Gloomy Glum Troll who draws magics from the earth taking what he needs to make these draughts that have been crafted over long periods of time, in this song I hope to put as much information as possible to put across the meaning of how this world works among the trolls and their allies.  How they use the resources that are around them, so it looks like it could be a long song but it is still very much in the primary stages of development.  I do tend to edit as songs progresses.
 It will be interesting to see how all this evovles over the next few months.

MIDWINTER

This time of year is one that I really like, the dark the low light, snow frost it is a sleepy time.  But it holds something special for me!  There is the wonder of the past, as I am a believer of stories of troll`s.  What were their beliefs and customs and philosphies of this time of year, what sort of stories were told?  I find this interesting to add depth to my own stories and lyrics, the above picture is of the burning yule log from 22nd December and the rebirth of the sun.  Did troll`s hold a similar belief?  The atmosphere of midwinter is of sharp contrasts the sounds, the general look of the earth.  Wonderful colour golden shades across the moors a rough and rugged landscape, the sky a mix of dark shadows and light washed looking. Looking at the whole broad spectrum of folklore and tales that can be yielded at this time of year, of troll`s and other fantastical creatures written in a midwinter setting.  A lot of my own songs and tales reflect on this time of year, often using the northern lights as a familiar back drop which is again fascinating.  As troll`s go about their activities, and are also inspired by the magical light that hangs from above, hopefully more songs will be written in the new year.
Happy New Year
Onnellista Uutta Vuotta 

AUTUMN 

As we are in this part of the year, I like to think about it more now.  It is my favourite time of year I enjoy the low sun and the light of this time of year, looking out over the heather it looks like a giant crumble stretched out before me rich colour golden browns on a vast and rugged landscape, I find it all inspiring from a song writing perspective although the muse is not upon me at the moment.  I am the sort of writer who needs ideas floating around my head for a few days before I can create stories, I cannot force ideas there has to be something there to start with,  I have one writer who said that this is a ruff Quote "the reason for writers block is that writers do not want to right anything bad" or words to that effect, and I have to agree.  Not that I am the best of writers but the process of writing lyrics is a nice thing to do and if I have ideas the autumn is a great time of year to do so.   I do like to play and record this time of the year.  There is something special about Autumn and recording especially with Folk Black Metal, the whole atmosphere I  feel is very good. My songs are coming along well at the moment I went through a bad patch of being in the woods but have come out playing much better,  The picture below has inspired some of my songs.  From and environmental point of view although I will in time to include more Troll Tales from this area

ORN TROLL

This tells the story of Orn who was the troll wife of Uffwggsar, she came from The Raasvoarsberg Mountains.  She was very striking in her look tall with long brown hair, she had deep green eyes.  She was betrothed to Uffwggsar during a time of great conflict between the witches of the far western reaches of the mountains, Orn was not involved in battle her skills lied in spells and magicks.  She could produce strong intoxicating draughts and was very powerful with these gifts that she had procured over time,  she is around six hundred and fifty.  These spells have been used in battle between the folk of Midvaard,  this leaving them in a deep trance for a long time.  While the troll`s take down buildings to hinder Guthwyn and is men, she lives in Moorsfest with Uffwggsar in a cavernous dwelling below a massive Sitka.

UFFWGGSAR

This is one of the forest troll`s who accompanied Glorsorn on his many battles against Midvaard, He is one of the elder troll`s in these tales Uffwggsar.  Lived on the western edge of the great forest Moorsfest, he was very strong and fearsome and fought in many battles over hundreds of years.  He is aged roughly at about nine hundred, He had long flaming red hair like the setting sun.  With him at all times he carried two immense hammers that were made by the great blacksmith Grimmodhrtroll, in the cavernous mountain smithies.  He was tall with a long snout and tail and piercing dark brown eyes, as well as fighting alongside Glorsorn he lead many campaigns himself.  Some from minor skirmishes to major battles fought on the plains south of The Raasvoarsberg mountains,  when not in war he lives in relative seclusion, occasionally meets with other troll`s and Glorsorn for seasonal festivals.  He hunts with great skill and is an excellent archer as well,  he lives with Orn his troll wife.  Who comes from the far north east range of Raasvoarsberg.

The setting sun and the snowy trees, help reflect the images in the stories that I am trying to tell.

Troll`s playing guitars

I would like to talk about the whole thing of playing Folk Black Metal, when I am playing my songs I become the character MgtrolL in developing my vocals and to playing my bass.  I find that I must be completely focused on the music and lyrics, so that I am MgtrolL the music is trying to describe something otherworldly.  So getting the right pitch for performing must be right, it takes quite a lot to sing and play like this!  The world is one of fiction so it is good to let go and be absorbed in the story telling, massive old forests, and ancient lands and troll`s.  It takes a long time to get the music to a level that I am happy with.  As dexterity when playing his hindered by my clumsiness, so I have to really work at this constantly.  Being dyslexic is part of it  when playing even though the song structure is very simplistic it still takes time to get it right.  Also editing songs and music to make sure it is of a quality that I am happy with.



The whole thing with troll`s I find this such a excellent form of subject matter for discussion, it is great to write about such things.  I like the process of creating this world with its fantastical characters,creating the geography and the landscape to make it all more believable.  I am still in the process of working on this.  Which is good as it is an evolving process that I shall work over time, other character and story lines will appear Which will in turn help write new songs and music.