The Swedish black metallers Lömsk are an interesting band. So on the occasion of the release of their new single “Furia”, Joanna Gona spoke with them for Metalwar.
Jo: Welcome and thank you very much for accepting the invitation to give this interview to Metalwar!
Usually my first question is by introducing the band members, but I know you’re staying anonymous so I’ll ask this:
A veil of mystery surrounds you, regarding your identity, why this anonymous approach, are you trying to convey a message?
Lömsk: The anonymous approach comes from our desire to create something otherworldly—something beyond ourselves.
We wanted to make the experience more immersive than just four guys in black t-shirts and jeans playing music.
Black metal has always had a theatrical side, and we’ve taken a new approach to that spectacle.
Jo: Lömsk the name of your band, it’s in Swedish so can you tell us what it means?
Lömsk: Literally, “lömsk” can be translated as sly, insidious, or treacherous. It originally started as a placeholder or working name for the project, back when the vocalist and lead guitarist first began brainstorming ideas for a black metal band. Over time, it just stuck. The metal scene is saturated with similar sounding band names, Lömsk felt distinctive and unique.
Jo: Act I (not Spetälsk), your last EP (congrats, it was amazing and very atmospheric l can say) a few words about it, what’s the story behind it?
Lömsk: It all started with the vocalist and lead guitarist tossing around ideas and creating a demo to help recruit members for a full band. Most of those early ideas eventually evolved into what became our first EP.
Jo: What are the themes and topics that you typically sing about?
Lömsk: The themes range from personal experiences and hardships to philosophy and our views on the state of the world. We’re not ideological in any specific way—it’s more about being a dark mirror to the world around us.
Jo: How does your creative process work when you are making new music?
Lömsk: It always starts with the music—usually a couple of riffs that fit well together.
Then we arrange them in a way that best serves those riffs or that particular song, essentially carving the track out of those melodies.
It’s a pretty iterative process. Not every member writes on every song, but everyone gets a chance to provide input and feedback until the song feels complete. Vocal rhythms and melodies are kept in mind during this stage but are usually written later on.
Jo: I’m not going to ask who writes the lyrics because there will be no names so I will answer for you, that it’s a collaborative work…right?
Lömsk: Actually, to maintain a consistent style and thematic thread throughout the lyrics, they’re currently written solely by the vocalist. It’s been easier that way, especially since he’s heavily involved in the songwriting and already has a vision for the rhythms and melodies early on.
That said, there’s nothing stopping other members from contributing lyrics in the future—it’s just how things have worked out so far.
Jo: Can you tell us about the inspiration behind your album artwork?
Lömsk: We wanted to evoke a sense of drama and tension, and we’re all drawn to the history and aesthetics of the world wars. The artwork was a collaboration between us and Misanthropic Art.
Jo: In what ways do you feel your music reflects the time we live in?
Lömsk: As I mentioned earlier, the lyrics draw on personal experiences and our worldview, but they’re written in a deliberately vague way to allow listeners to interpret them for themselves. It’s a dark reflection of our times and our history—the story of humanity and its folly. What that entails is up to the listener to discover.
Jo: Would you agree that it is very important to learn, study and understand old music and music history?
Lömsk: The creative force behind Lömsk has found great inspiration in classical music and its history.
I wouldn’t say it’s essential for everyone to study it, but for us, it’s been an important source of inspiration.
Jo: Are there any musicians who inspire you? What qualities do you admire about them?
Lömsk: In the metal world: bands like Deathspell Omega and Funeral Mist inspire us with their masterful arrangements, tension, and structure. They’re fantastic musicians making phenomenal music. Blut Aus Nord has also been influential for pushing the boundaries of black metal with their experimental sound and haunting melodies.
Outside of metal, classical composers like Erik Satie, Brahms, and Chopin have inspired us with their incredible melodies and chord progressions. In our opinion, classical music has more in common with rock and metal than people often realize.
Jo: What are your future plans?
Lömsk: We’re currently working on a full-length album, though there’s no official release date yet.
We’re in the process of writing and recording as we speak. More details will be revealed in due time.
Jo: Where can we find you?
Lömsk: Our music is available digitally on all major platforms such as Spotify, YouTube Music and Apple Music.
https://open.spotify.com/artist/4aH7h0J7Uq44QrVpPsL661?si=hUO4Z452ShiCJ32xSuNxlw
We also run our own Bandcamp page where fans can purchase both digital and physical copies of our music, as well as merchandise.
https://lmsk.bandcamp.com/
interview – text: Joanna Gona
