Interviews About Albums: Nuclear Winter - Seagrave (2023)

In this new interview, we sat down with the Zimbabwean Melodic Industrial Metal/Death Metal project Nuclear Winter to ask some questions about his new album "Seagrave". 

1. What can you say about this new EP/CD?

My main aim with this album was to make something slightly heavier than my previous album and also keep it more straightforward musically. To make the mixing process easier I also just kept the sounds for each instrument quite similar throughout the album. From here though, what I do next may lean more towards a black metal sound - but time will tell.

2. What is the meaning of the EP/CD name?

There are quite a lot of references to the ocean in the lyrics and the perils that can come from it. Some of the songs are about loss, with the last song being about someone not returning home from the sea. So Seagrave worked well for the overall theme of the album.

3. Which one is the composer of the CD/EP?

The production of this album was a full solo effort - including the artwork.

4. If you had to pick one song, which one would you pick?

The song which was released as a single - 'The Glimmering Landscape' is perhaps my favorite song from the album. It's a fast, high-energy song which I think is a great introduction to the album.

5. Is there a special message in this EP/CD? If there is what it is?

No, there's no specific message that is being put across, but the overall theme revolves around detriment and life's hardships.

6. Are there some lyrics that you'd love to share?

Some of the lyrics are a little abstract but I really like Thy Shadows Fall, which is quite a dark song that conveys a sense of loss and decay, and the inevitability of death.

Come from the influence of an unseen star,

beneath dark birds that fill the air.

Like those who did not hear or care.

We could not fathom what they meant,

save only that they seemed

to thin the blood along in our veins.

I see the stars at mortal wars.

In shadows danger lurks for those who stray.

I warmed both hands before the fire of life.

They are not long - the days of wine and roses.

Within its vital boundary of the mind.

Then thy shadows fall.

The garden hardens and grows cold,

and nothing gold like the fire in the night can stay.

Only the faint moonlight on the stairs.

All that has been, was visible from the graves forgotten here.

Down through these earthly mists, a vital breath of more ethereal air.

Thy shadows fall.

The garden hardens and grows cold, and I feel nothing.

The garden hardens and grows cold.

Gold like the fire in the night can't stay,

and we forget each other.

Only the faint moonlight shall remain,

and think that I may never live to trace their shadows.

7. Which inspirations have been important for this album? Like musically or friends, family, someone you'd love to thank especially?

I actually found it quite hard to make this album because I wasn't really inspired or very motivated to make it. The thing that I kept thinking though was there was no excuse for me not to be recording and making a new album lol. I also decided I must aim to not spend more than a month on each song. This was definitely a good idea because it made me just focus on getting ideas done without second-guessing myself too much. After I'd completed the songs I asked some friends to have a listen and let me know if they thought anything needed tweaking. Some of the suggestions were very helpful so I'm pleased they were able to give some constructive criticism.

8. Something to add?

Just to say thanks for this interview and I hope to do this again once I have something new done.