From Black Forest to Black Metal: A Decade of Thron with PVIII

From Black Forest to Black Metal: A Decade of Thron with PVIII

An exclusive interview with Patrick Hagmann (aka PVIII), founding force behind Thron and Fear My Thoughts

Ten years ago, Patrick Hagmann—known to many as PVIII—felt the pull of metal calling him back. After years exploring progressive and avant-garde sounds, he returned to the genre that first lit his creative fire. What started as a casual collaboration with longtime friend and vocalist SAMCO quickly evolved into Thron: a black metal force rooted in the borderlands of Germany, Switzerland, and France.

Now, with their fifth album Vurias dropping October 31st via Listenable Records, Thron marks a decade of sonic evolution, atmosphere, and fury. In this exclusive interview, PVIII reflects on the band’s journey, the legacy of Fear My Thoughts, and the realities of creating extreme music in a shifting world. From pandemic-era releases to dream collaborations and the challenges of international touring, PVIII opens up about the passion, perseverance, and friendships that fuel his art.

Where is Throne based, and what’s the local metal scene like there?
We’re based in the very south of Germany, right on the border with Switzerland and France. I was born and raised in the Black Forest region and still live there. Two of our members are from Switzerland, and three—including me—are from the German side of the border.

The local metal scene here is actually amazing. We’ve got legendary bands like Destruction, Celtic Frost, Messiah—those are the old-school classics. But there’s also a ton of newer bands coming up, and we have a lot of shows happening regularly. Zeal & Ardor and Schammasch are from this area too. It’s a very vital, active scene.

Let’s talk about the new album, Vurias. Is there a concept behind the title?
Not really a concept, but there is a story behind the name. It’s based on the Latin word Furiaz, which means fury or anger—something that reflects the mood and lyrical themes of the album. We changed the “F” to a “V” to mark our fifth release, using the Roman numeral V. Musically, it’s more progressive and atmospheric than our previous work, but also more refined and fully realized, in my opinion.

Tell me about the single “The Serpent’s Path.”
I think it’s a great opener. It builds like an intro, setting the stage for the rest of the album. It really showcases the full palette of our sound—atmospheric sections, acoustic guitars, and the fastest blast beat we’ve ever recorded. It’s a gateway into the world of Vurias.

And the second single, “The Hunter and the Prey”?
That one’s quite unique. It starts off with a ritualistic, Germanic, almost archaic vibe—like something from the Stone Age, musically speaking. Then halfway through, it shifts into a more urban, technological sound with synths and rhythmic changes. It’s a contrast between the primitive and the modern, the rural and the urban. That duality is central to the song.

You’ve got some cool guest appearances on the album. Let’s talk about Zingultus from Nagelfar and Endstille. How did he get involved?
Zingultus is a cult figure in the German extreme metal scene. He was the vocalist for Nagelfar—the German one, not the Swedish—and they were one of the first black metal bands here in the ’90s. Later, he joined Endstille. We played a few shows together and got along really well. We’re the same age, have the same day jobs, and just clicked.

When we were working on a track with German lyrics, I immediately thought of him. I texted him and asked if he wanted to be part of the new Thron album. He said, “Of course—I love your band.” It was super easy and really cool to have him on board.

And Norman Lonhard from Triptykon also contributed, right?
Yes! Norman’s a longtime friend. He was the drummer in my old band and played in Triptykon. He lives in a neighboring town, so I asked if he wanted to be part of the album. I love his drumming—he’s one of the best, in my opinion. All the guests on this record are friends. No strangers. It’s about bringing in new perspectives while supporting people we know and respect.

You mentioned Norman and Martin from Fear My Thoughts are also involved in the new album. What are your thoughts on Fear My Thoughts? They weren’t black metal, but they were awesome.
Thank you! I actually founded Fear My Thoughts—I started the band and eventually ended it. I was the main songwriter for 13 years. SAMCA, the vocalist of Thron, was the original drummer for Fear My Thoughts. I’ve been playing with him since around 1995 or 1999.

The band went through a lot of changes. We started as a punk/hardcore project because I was a bit burned out on metal at the time. It was just a fun thing at first. Then it evolved into chaotic hardcore, kind of like Converge, and later into melodic death metal. Eventually, we shifted into progressive rock territory. So yeah, there’s a lot of history there—it was a huge part of my life.

Did Fear My Thoughts ever make it to the States for shows?
No, unfortunately not. We talked about it, but it never happened. The costs and risks were just too high. Looking back, we probably should’ve done it then—because now, it’s even harder. Touring the States has become nearly impossible for many European bands.

Would Thron be interested in playing in the U.S.? Is it even possible?
Absolutely—if a booker reached out and said, “Let’s do a few shows or a tour,” I’d be in. But the reality is tough. I know bands here in Germany who’ve lost tens of thousands of euros trying to get U.S. work visas. Some had already rented backlines, booked flights, printed merch—and then got rejected. They went bankrupt. It’s a huge risk.

Personally, I’ve been to the States a few times. I have friends there and I love visiting. But bringing the band over? That’s a whole different challenge.

Hell Sweet Hell by Fear My Thoughts turns 20 this year. What do you think of that album now, looking back?
It’s wild—it’s been two decades. I was around 30 when we made that record. It was the first album with Norman on drums and SAMCO on vocals. Before that, SAMCO was our drummer—a great one, very punk/hardcore, very straightforward. Norman brought a whole new level of technicality and jazz influence.

It was also the first time we worked with a professional producer: Jacob Hansen, who’s now huge—working with bands like Volbeat and others at the top of the scene. We recorded in Denmark, which was a big journey from southern Germany. We spent three weeks in the Danish countryside, totally isolated. It was intense, but transformative. That album opened a lot of doors for us—connecting with bands like Exodus, Hypocrisy, Kataklysm, and others.

What about Isolation from 2008—the final Fear My Thoughts album? How do you feel about it now?
That one was a big shift. After Vulcanus in 2007, our singer left. We had a choice: find someone with a similar voice or go in a completely different direction. Norman, our other guitarist, and I were honestly a bit tired of metal at that point.

We were into more progressive stuff—bands like Porcupine Tree and Tool. So we asked our friend Martin Fischer to join. He’s also a guest soloist on the new Thron album, by the way. We knew fans might not like the change, but we didn’t care. We had to love it ourselves. We’re artists, and we wanted to grow.

It was a bold move, and yeah, for many people it was too much of a departure. I get that. But I still stand by it. I still like that album.

You’ve got three members of Fear My Thoughts on this album. Have you ever considered doing a reunion show?
Yes and no. The bassist from Fear My Thoughts is actually my neighbor and work colleague—we’ve known each other for over 20 years. And all the other members? We’re still friends. We go to shows together, hang out, grab drinks. There was no falling out or drama when the band ended, which is a great foundation for a reunion.

But our second guitarist doesn’t want to play live anymore. He doesn’t play in bands—just for fun at home. And honestly, if we ever did a reunion, he’d have to be part of it. He was an integral part of the band and a key songwriter. Without him, it wouldn’t feel right. I don’t want to do a reunion with just two original members. That’s not my thing.

Back to Thron—your drummer J also plays in Forgotten Tomb and Malphas. How did he end up joining Thron?
J lives about an hour away in Bern, the capital of Switzerland. We’d played together at various festivals, and when our previous drummer Chris left, we immediately thought of J. He’s one of the best drummers around—whether in Switzerland, Germany, or even Europe.

So I messaged him: “Do you know my band Thron? We’re looking for a drummer.” And he replied right away—he’s a big Thron fan. He said, “Of course I’ll join.” It was that simple. We didn’t ask anyone else.

How has it been working with Listenable Records on these new albums?
Really good. This is our fourth album with Listenable, and they’ve always impressed us with their promo work and support.

I know the music business is pretty messed up these days—especially label politics. A lot of newer labels operate on a pay-to-play model. You have to pay just to get signed, then cover your own studio costs, CD or vinyl production, and you still only get minimal promo.

Listenable is different. They still operate with ethics and real support. You get signed, you get an advance, and they handle proper promotion. It’s more like the old-school way of doing things. I have nothing but good things to say about them.

Thron is celebrating its 10-year anniversary this year. You guys formed in 2015—what goes through your mind knowing it’s been a decade? And what’s kept you rooted in black metal all this time?
Yeah, it’s kind of crazy. I’ve been listening to metal since 1989, but for a few years before Thron, I was playing different styles—more progressive, psychedelic, avant-garde rock. Then in 2015, I felt the urge to return to metal.

Thron started as a friendship project. I wrote a few songs and sent them to our vocalist, SAMCO. He recorded vocals, and we thought, “Cool!”—but we had no big ambitions. Now, 10 years later, we’ve released five albums. It doesn’t feel like a decade. Sometimes it feels like we started just four years ago.

Looking back, I started Fear My Thoughts 30 years ago when I was 20. Now I’m 50 and still doing this—and still loving it.

Let’s talk about Pilgrim, which came out in 2021—right in the middle of the pandemic. What was it like releasing an album during such a historic moment?
We weren’t sure at first. We had a lot of conversations with Listenable Records about whether to release it or wait for the world to stabilize. But no one knew when things would get better. So we said, “We’re sitting on this album—let’s just release it.”

Unlike many bands, we don’t rely heavily on touring to promote our records. We’re older, we have families, jobs, responsibilities. Touring constantly isn’t realistic for us. So we figured, if we’re not touring anyway, let’s get the album out.

And it worked. Pilgrim was a success. We sold a lot of records. I think people had money to spend—they couldn’t go out, couldn’t party or attend shows, so they bought music. I actually predicted that. I said, “People have money and nowhere to spend it—they’ll buy records.” And they did.

Any message you’d like to share with Thron fans reading this? Maybe even Fear My Thoughts fans too?
Absolutely—thank you to our American fans. The U.S. is our second-biggest market after Central Europe. Spotify stats show a strong following there, and I’ve heard from people in the U.S. metal scene who really like what we do. We’d love to come over and play, but right now it’s just not possible. Still, thank you so much for the support.

And to Fear My Thoughts fans—if you’re still listening, that’s amazing. We don’t market Thron as an “ex-Fear My Thoughts” band because it’s something entirely different. But I appreciate everyone who’s stuck with us. Thank you.

(Interview by Ken Morton)

Thron on Instagram