Raum Kingdom: Guido Segers Interrogates Guitarist Andrew Colohan
From the Green Isle comes Raum Kingdom. They make bleak blackened doom that has little to do with any of the further stereo types that might pop up when you think of Ireland. The band released a refreshing album of material, that feels like a new wind breathing through what we know in this style. Inspired by the likes of Amenra and Neurosis, the band promises to be an interesting new act on the horizon. Time to check in with the guys from Dublin. Guitar player Andrew Colohan is keen to tell us more about Raum Kingdom.
How are you guys doing?
Hello, yes we are all in good spirits, form and health and delighted to be doing this for The Sleeping Shaman.
Who are in the band and how did you get together, did you guys play in other bands before?
There are four of us in the band, Me (Andrew) – Demons Bow, Dave – Chant, Mark – Rattle and Ronan – Devils Bow. We have been close friends for a long time, big lovers of music and over the years have been in different projects with each other. The time came when we could eventually play together and this happened. We hope that real life can be kept at bay so we can continue with this for as long as we can.
As far as I can gather your band name might be derived from the ‘Petty Kingdoms’ of Norway, of which one was called Raumerike. Is that correct?
We have never heard of that place before, So sorry to say, but no. Sounds nice though. Norway seems like a nice place. We were settled on just Raum but the name was taken so we added kingdom. It doesn’t really come from anywhere as such, it was just trial and error.
What inspired you to that name?
We had ideas and a concept from the get go and even as we were progressing through creating the songs we didn’t have a name, but the more we tried to find something the more it eluded us. The name eventually was found through trial and error as everything else was taken. Raum Kingdom is supposed to stimulate the imagination of a place or earth with different values, principles and laws.
What can you tell us about your record, how did the recording and writing process go?
We had a blast writing this music and still are enjoying writing. The process is we basically say “That’s too many notes”. Strip what we can back to the core, do a little shuffling and testers. When it fits the theme of what we want and are about, we take it from there. Recording is when we polish off everything, as we don’t know what it will truly sound like until then.
What is the general theme of the record?
We didn’t intentionality set out to have a theme for the EP, but if we had to say there was one, it would be pain with a pinch of hope.
When I listen to it and also follow the lyrics, it feels like a story or like a stream of consciousness from one person. Do you feel that would be in there?
Yeah for sure each song has its own story to tell.
What is in your opinion the best song on the record and why?
We all have different opinions about that and it changes with each of us as time passes, but it might be good to say that “This Sullen Hope” could be generally considered one that we all go “Yeah that’s what we want and what we are about as it has everything in it”.
The record seems to be generally well received, what makes Raum Kingdom stand out in your opinion?
We’re still a bit blown away at how good the response has been, none of us really expected it. I don’t think there are a lot of bands out there trying to do what we are doing.
What is the sludge/doom scene in Ireland like? What hidden gems does Ireland have to offer?
Being such a small nation and an Island, the scene is rather small, that’s not too say the ideals are small. It can get repetitive very quickly here. There are few gems we know of. Fuckhammer, Okus and Weedpriest, just to name three. Some vile stuff happening there.
Are you going to tour for this release?
We would love to gig and tour and we will as much as humanly possible with the hopes that the numbers and tempo will increase in time. We are having our EP launch on the 05th Sep 14, Fibber McGee’s in Dublin Ireland, with a few other shows and surprises happening.
What future plans do you guys have?
As a unit we have many hopes and aspirations, but we gotta keep all that in check and be real. We are loving what we have at the moment and we are enjoying every moment of it. We are currently writing, gigging and hopefully playing in other countries soon. But we just gotta wait and see. There will be an album within a year called Raum Kingdom II.
Anything you would like to share?
In the absence of will power, the most complete collection of virtues and talents is wholly worthless.
Now read Guido’s review of their self-titled debut and you can download the 5 tracks from their Bandcamp page.
Band Links: Facebook | Bandcamp | Twitter
Interviewed by: Guido Segers
