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Sagas and Stories: "Fenrir the Wolf" (interview to Deneb and Ruxx)

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Hail, warriors and shield-maidens!


Gather 'round the fire as the tale of Fenrir, the mighty wolf, is about to be told. In the heart of Midgard, where the winds of battle echo through the halls of the brave, a song has been forged by CYGNUS—a tribute to the beast that brings ruin to the gods themselves. With pounding riffs like the hammer of Thor and melodies that soar as high as the wings of Huginn and Muninn, this anthem of chaos and power awakens the spirit of Ragnarok.


In this saga, the creators of 'Fenrir, The Wolf'—Ruxx and Deneb—reveal the fire behind the music, the might of the wolf, and the path that led to the creation of one of their most ferocious works. Let your ears and eyes be sharpened, for what follows is a journey deep into the legends of old, where chaos meets order, and only the strongest prevail.







About the Song:


What was the main inspiration behind composing "Fenrir, The Wolf"?


Ruxx: The story of Fenrir is fascinating, and what better way to bring it to life than with heavy, epic progressive metal.


Deneb: We have a kind of suite—songs that connect across several albums about Loki’s descendants, or Loki himself. In the past, we’ve talked about Sleipnir (in Fire and Tales), Lady Hel (in Death and Glory), and Loki was mentioned in Ancient Visions. Now, it’s Fenrir’s turn—the doom of the gods!


What emotions or messages did you want to convey with the music and lyrics of the song?


Ruxx: Fenrir’s strength is what defines him, so we paired that with powerful, pounding metal.


Deneb: I think the whole suite has a musical connection. There are certain harmonic patterns, like the major second in a minor scale or diminished fifths, that give these songs a shared concept. The odd and irregular time signatures are key too. As for the lyrics, we wanted to recreate that oral tradition atmosphere, like telling legends around a campfire, showing the majesty and power of these legendary creatures.


How does Fenrir represent the battle between chaos and order in Norse mythology, and how is this reflected in the song’s structure?


Ruxx: Fenrir represents pure strength and aggression, and we captured that in the riffs and breakdowns of the song.


Deneb: The song is a heavy metal track, with distortion from the very first second. Fenrir, being such a huge creature, had to sound strong and heavy (Moving slow, dont get me wrong, slow for metal genre), and that’s reflected in the main riff. The time signature changes, along with the fast, precise passages, represent both the chaos and the order that characterize this creature.


What musical elements make "Fenrir, The Wolf" stand out from other CYGNUS songs?


Ruxx: Although many of our songs are progressive, each one has its own special touch. This one, in particular, includes very intricate passages performed by both the band and the orchestra.


Deneb: The highly challenging sections are a real test. If you don’t pay attention, your fingers can get tangled! Hahaha! Those moments, and the main riff, make this song stand out from the rest.


What was the recording process like for this song? Were there any specific challenges in the studio?


Ruxx: The biggest challenge was making sure our "creature" (the song) was born healthy, without complications! Haha.


Deneb: There are always challenges in the studio, from getting the best takes for each instrument to refining the final details. The slow double bass drum part was a challenge. Also, even though I’m the bassist, I recorded all the guitars, including the solo. Andrés had some ideas, but we quickly discarded them because the song needed a more cerebral, prog-focused solo rather than something improvised. Other than that, everything flowed naturally!


What part of the song’s lyrics do you find the most powerful, and why?


Ruxx: The pre-choruses! I love them, its like the calm before the storm.


Deneb: I think the chorus perfectly describes, with key adjectives, the majesty of the wolf and his role in Ragnarok.


About the Video:


The "Fenrir, The Wolf" music video has a strong visual focus. What did you want to convey through the aesthetics and narrative of the video?


Ruxx: Elegance, sobriety, coldness, and aggression—everything that represents Fenrir.


Deneb: We wanted a minimalist video—no banquets, no drinks, no parties, no extras, no locations that distract from what really matters: the music. We also wanted people to see how this song is played.


Was there any scene that was particularly difficult to film? Any anecdotes from the shoot?


Ruxx: My in-ear monitors malfunctioned throughout the shoot, so I ended up guessing most of the time!


Deneb: Coordinating the team was complicated: some shots had just the band, others had the band with the flutist, and others were just me with two cellists, and this changed constantly. Also, the progressive section is always challenging, both to play and to film. As for an anecdote? There was a kitten at the shooting location that looked like a little tiger.


What’s your favorite scene or moment from the video and why?


Ruxx: The progressive section and the opening riff.


Deneb: My favorite moment is the progressive section and the final riff when the orchestra and the band play together. It’s a power-packed ending!


Norse Mythology and the Band:


What do you hope fans will feel or experience when they watch the video and listen to the song?


Ruxx: I hope they connect with both the video and the music. The visuals help frame the story 200%.


Deneb: I hope they enjoy it and feel the aggression we wanted to convey for those dark days that everyone has. And I hope they see how complex "Fenrir, The Wolf" is to play—it requires serious individual and group skills!


Is there any hidden detail or ‘easter egg’ in the video that fans should look for?


Ruxx: I’ll just say yes!


Deneb: I’m not sure if it’s an 'easter egg,' but Cole, our former member, is always present in our videos, even though he’s no longer with us. His horn and staff appear in every video, and this one is no exception. During the pre-choruses, I’m holding his staff so that he’s still with us.

There’s also an interpretation where Ruxx embodies Fenrir, which is why he’s chained, and I’m the one who locked him up, losing an eye in the process. We love adding these kinds of details as we create.


How do the visual style and special effects of the video tie into the Viking mythology that inspires the band?


Ruxx: There are small details from both the band and the orchestra that I encourage people to discover by watching the video multiple times.


Deneb: The band’s neo-Viking aesthetic is reflected in the Viking horns on our belts, the Viking-themed accessories, and the all-black costumes, which add the metal touch. The dark masks worn by the women contrast perfectly with the white stage. The chain around Ruxx’s neck, symbolizing Fenrir being bound, and the eye I lost in the video, visually tie everything back to the mythology.


If you could describe "Fenrir, The Wolf" in three words, what would they be and why?


Ruxx: Strength, Elegance, Chaos.


Deneb: Power, Chaos, Complexity.


What can we expect next from CYGNUS after the release of "Fenrir, The Wolf"?


Ruxx: Lots of shows and more videos!


Deneb: There’s more to come—more videos, more concerts, and possibly a sixth album. We just need to find the time to write and record it!



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Guest
Oct 04, 2024
Rated 5 out of 5 stars.

Excellent 🤙🏽

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The Winged Hussar
The Winged Hussar
Oct 04, 2024
Rated 5 out of 5 stars.

Thank you, chieftains! ❤️⚔️🐺

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