Interview Morsrot

Morsrot, the first Maltese band to storm Wacken Open Air, are carving their path with bold creativity and relentless energy. We spoke with them about milestones, challenges, and their evolving sound.

1. First of all, congratulations on making history as the first Maltese band to play Wacken Open Air! How did it feel stepping on that stage, representing Malta on such a massive platform?

It was very exciting! Definitely a highlight of our career so far. It was a massive opportunity having our first global stage appearance be of that size and calibre. I'm sure all the other bands who participated feel the same.

2. Looking back at the Wacken Metal Battle victory in Malta, what do you remember most about that moment and the journey that led to Germany?

Celebrating the win was definitely highly satisfying after all the preparations we had made to make sure we secured that spot. We had a lot of setbacks following the day of the performance, but the journey led to us finding our new drummer, recording our first music video for 'The Bund' and hitting our first international audience with a bang at Wacken. Everything happens for a reason.

3. Your new single “Primrose Path” has just been released. What inspired the track, both lyrically and musically?

Well, musically 'Primrose Path' is one of our first more experimental songs and, while that attitude has always been there for us, listening to a lot of the windmill scene coming out of the UK really brought that side of the band out. We really wanted it to be more of an emotion portrayed through music and it’s the first time we’ve done something more artistic like that. It was a lot of fun for us to put together. Lyrically the song ties in very heavily with the title so if you know what a primrose path is, there you have it.

4. The band has often been described as hard to box into a single subgenre. How would you personally describe the Morsrot sound, and has that sound evolved since your early days?

Our sound is constantly evolving, which is why we never subscribe to any of the sub-genres. Too constricting. We just call ourselves metal and run with it. We focus a lot more on the writing of the music, which we leave as organic as possible. From our experience that’s what has produced the best and most unique results!

5. Being Berlin-based but carrying Maltese roots, how do these two cultural influences shape your identity as a band?

There are definitely traces of Malta following us everywhere we go. Given the lack of touring opportunities and the scarcity of bands passing through, being from such a small country can be discouraging - especially when seeking a global audience. The scene is small, with a tight-knit community that supports every band to come out of the woodwork, so that was definitely a confidence boost. But Berlin is a playground for creativity and unrelentingly so. The opportunities are endless. Definitely the perfect place to be doing what we're doing.

6. Metal audiences can be tough to win over. What do you think sets your live shows apart and helps you connect so strongly with crowds?

Energy is what it's all about for us. Connecting with the audience on that level is the most important part of our show. We're there to have a good time and the audience feels that, so they do the same.

7. “Primrose Path” feels like a bold step forward. Would you say this single marks the beginning of a new chapter for Morsrot’s sound?

We've been heading down this road for years now but like we said our music is constantly evolving. We have periods of time where we’re writing stuff like "Primrose Path" and others where we’re writing pretty much singer/songwriter music. People never know what to expect from us because we never know what to expect from ourselves. That's what keeps it fresh and exciting. So to answer your question, maybe.

8. You’re still a young band, yet already achieving milestones many acts dream of. What keeps you grounded and focused as things accelerate?

Just treating everything as what it is. We are still young, we are still finding things out about the band but we worked hard for this and we still work hard for this. We're not out of the woods yet and even when we are, the music is priority number one, always has been. We love what we do but it takes a lot, we know that, and getting cocky isn't gonna get us where we wanna be any quicker.

9. Working with Nick Grima Management must bring both support and expectations. How has that partnership influenced your trajectory so far?

Nick does his job very well and cares about us, not only as a band that he signed, but as a person who genuinely looks out for our well-being, wants us to do well and wants to be there when we succeed. We respect Nick and he pushes us when we need it, we appreciate everything he has done for us so far and we’re excited to see what else he has up his sleeve.

10. Europe’s underground metal scene is thriving. Which bands or movements do you feel most aligned with, and who inspires you today?

We have a plethora of band names we could list for you but what really inspires us is an artist that had something to say, and says it with passion and great music. Having a cause or message tied to what you're singing about instantly elevates any project and we aspire to be more like bands that speak their minds and are unapologetically themselves.

11. Looking ahead, can fans expect an EP or album to follow “Primrose Path”, or are you focusing on standalone singles for now?

Stand-alone singles are fun because we can get them out much easier, so you can definitely expect more of those. Although we do have an album just waiting to be released so keep your eyes and ears open, we're not done.

12. Finally, after Wacken and this powerful new single, what’s the ultimate goal for Morsrot in the next few years?

Play, play, play, grow, grow, grow by any means. We just want to keep making music and keep making sure as many people as possible hear it around the world. We are so excited for what's coming and we're just getting started.

Morsrot

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