Hi OLTAS, first of all, thank you very much for taking the time to answer our questions and for accepting our interview invitation. It is a pleasure to have the opportunity to talk with you about this exciting new chapter of the band, the journey towards your debut full-length album, and the ideas, emotions, and creative vision behind your music. We hope our conversation will give our readers a deeper insight into the world of OLTAS.

With “World Killer”, OLTAS enters a new phase – while it also marks the first step towards your debut full-length album in 2027. Why did you consciously choose not to rush this process and instead give the music the time it needs to fully develop?

We chose this single-release strategy to gradually expand our reach. Also, our music is not, for instance, your typical doom... so people might need some time to grasp what OLTAS is all about in the end.

You describe your music as a balance between darkness and light, aggression and reflection. How important is this contrast to the identity of OLTAS, and how do you try to capture these opposing forces within your music?

This contrast is exactly what OLTAS is about. Nothing around us is black and white. There is more than meets the eye in all sorts of surroundings and environments. Also, we as band members are all different, and still we manage to be together for 10 years making awesome music! We try to capture these opposing forces through using different musical approaches throughout each song.

“World Killer” deals with the different threats humanity faces today, but you deliberately leave room for personal interpretation. What role does ambiguity play in your lyrics, and why is it important for you not to dictate a single message to the listener?

Dictating a single message feels presumptuous to us. We love the fact that people come up to us and ask what our music and lyrics are about, but they also often tell us what their ideas or feelings are. And that is an awesome way of getting into conversations with each other. So we don’t consider this as ambiguity but rather as showing there are more angles from which you can look at things.

"World Killer" addresses global issues, yet your artistic philosophy also seems deeply rooted in personal experiences. How do you combine individual emotions and stories with broader questions about society, consciousness, and the human condition?

I guess we try to alternate from one song to the other. It all depends on how the song speaks to us when the first demo version is there. And sometimes we, lyric-wise, try to reflect in a personal manner on the main theme of the song.

Your music is often described as Doom Death Metal, but your statements also mention spirituality and inner reflection. Which elements of the genre do you consciously embrace, and where do you try to move beyond the boundaries of that label?

We embrace the slow pace, tempo-wise, which suits doom. Also the heaviness and darkness that often come with the genre. We also love the sound and feel of old-school death metal, obviously. Moving beyond the boundaries comes through weaving in melodic parts, a bit of '80s new wave guitar sounds, and much, much more individual influences. And apparently we seem to write our songs in how pop songs are written, so that might throw us a bit beyond the doom boundaries?

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“World Killer” features guest vocals by Rachel Westerveld. What did her voice and emotional expression add to the character of the song? Was this collaboration something you had envisioned from the beginning?

Absolutely! I met Rachel some years ago and knew she did great things in classical music. And she is a very nice and down-to-earth woman to be around. But the idea to put in a voice like hers was there from the beginning. Just our idea of adding another emotional and surprising layer to this song.

The artwork was once again created by Arjen Kunnen, known for his work with artists such as Amenra. How important is the visual dimension of OLTAS, and how much do you focus on creating a connection between music, artwork, and atmosphere?

I came across some of his work and a friend of mine mentioned his name. So we got to know each other and immediately hit it off. He loves what we are doing right now and instantly knows what to create when I pitch an idea. That connection is very important to us. We hope that his artwork represents how we create and experience all of this at this very moment.

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You have mentioned that you want your music to create both an emotional connection and a sense of community. What does the idea of “community” mean to OLTAS within today’s metal scene?

For us as a band, it is very important to zoom in on community. Something the world is lacking in a lot of places! We love to interact with people before and after a show. You will never find us in solitary confinement backstage or leaving right after a gig. Also, constantly being in touch with other bands and venues and everything is something that makes it all worthwhile as far as we are concerned!

Especially within Doom and Extreme Metal, atmosphere often carries more weight than pure technical ability. What qualities does an OLTAS song need to have before you can say: “This piece feels complete”?

Good question! You already mentioned it. Of course we focus on getting better as musicians by challenging each other from time to time when we are creating. But atmosphere and how it makes us feel are much more important to us. Sometimes one or two notes or chords can really make the difference! We have sort of a running gag within the band; as soon as Peter (vocals) gets goosebumps or a big smile on his face, then we are close! We also focus on his head; when he starts to bang it with his eyes closed, we are good!

The journey towards a debut full-length album is a defining moment for many bands. What expectations, challenges, or perhaps fears do you associate with this album, which will become your first major artistic statement?

Well, as far as we are concerned, we are still very proud of our debut EP Illusion Of Control from 2021. That almost felt like a full-length. But we think we have shown a beautiful development over the last few years. This upcoming album is really meant to be something that will enable us to do more of what we love most: play live shows and festivals in Holland and all over Europe, meeting people and getting to play with awesome bands from all over the world.

How does the creative process work within OLTAS? Do songs usually begin with individual ideas that gradually develop together, or do you first build a broader concept from which the music emerges?

We usually start out with a jam or an individual idea. Sometimes Feike (guitars) has a rough demo and then we start from there. It varies a lot.

Your partnership with Argonauta Records marks the beginning of a new chapter for OLTAS. What does this collaboration mean for the band, and what opportunities does it provide that you may not have had before?

I think as a band that wants to take things further at some point, you have to look for people who can make that happen. Gero from Argonauta Records has built a great and recognizable name for himself with his label. He has a lot of connections and knows how the business works. This means that more people are able to find us and get in touch with our music.

The Dutch metal scene has a strong tradition of extreme and atmospheric music. How does your origin from Friesland influence your identity as a band and the way you approach your music?

The Frisian landscapes with their broad variety of vast skies and surrounding nature influence us from within. I think somehow we are able to get that same vibe into our music.

Many Extreme Metal bands see live performances not simply as a reproduction of their songs, but as an intense experience. How important is the live dimension for OLTAS, and how do you want to translate your atmosphere onto the stage?

The live dimension is what it's all about; we are not a band who will be in the rehearsal space forever. We translate the atmospheric part of our music by giving everything and putting ourselves out there completely. Also, we focus on being together before the show and making sure it's a team effort!

Looking ahead to 2027 and the release of your debut album, what is the most important feeling, thought, or experience you hope listeners will take away after hearing the record for the first time?

We hope that people experience being drawn into the music entirely while listening. The music has to be an experience rather than merely a collection of songs.

Before we close this interview, we would like to thank you for your time and for sharing your thoughts with us. What would you like to say to your fans who have been following OLTAS so far, and to those who will discover your music for the first time with “World Killer” and the upcoming debut album?

There are not enough words to thank the people who have stuck around for years. They are so important to us, and we hope they feel it that way too. For the people who join us on our journey as newcomers, we hope you feel welcome. And we hope you enjoy our music and live shows. Let’s meet!

See you all down the road, cheers!

Peter Kempenaar (vocals)
Herman Wagenaar (guitars)
Feike Wiegersma (guitars)
Remmie Grijpstra (bass, additional vocals)

(No drummer mentioned because we are looking for a new drummer as we speak!)

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