The Obelisk Questionnaire is a series of open questions intended to give the answerer an opportunity to explore these ideas and stories from their life as deeply as they choose. Answers can be short or long, and that reveals something in itself, but the most important factor is honesty.

Based on the Proust Questionnaire, the goal over time is to show a diverse range of perspectives as those who take part bring their own points of view to answering the same questions. To see all The Obelisk Questionnaire posts, click here.

Thank you for reading and thanks to all who participate.

The Obelisk Questionnaire: Rob Garven of Cirith Ungol

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How do you define what you do and how did you come to do it?

“It’s not who you are underneath, it’s what you do that defines you.” Quote from the movie Batman Begins.

Describe your first musical memory.

When I as a small child my parents bought me a drum to play with.

Describe your best musical memory to date.

When I look back on the recent years, the memories I have, are burned indelibly into my consciousness. They are filled with endless flights to distant destinations, meeting new friends, and playing at venues that once were only a dream back when we started. One moment however is seared into my mind. We played the “Chaos Descends Festival” out in the forest near Crispendorf, Germany. The festival is named after one of our songs, and set in a scenic rural location that was surreal. A beautiful yet haunting valley, set between two small mountains with a lonely river snaking between them, and small narrow gauge train circling the area. I remember looking out from behind the drums, while pounding out our song “Chaos Descends”, seeing the trees and stars, and hearing the huddled masses humming out the refrain, louder than our amps. I could feel a direct connection to the earth elementals, and all those fevered souls in attendance, rhythmic swaying in frenzied unison, with the pulsing of the molten metal we were laying out before them! The feeling I experienced was beyond description, and will remain as long as I draw breath!

When was a time when a firmly held belief was tested?

The cowbell.

Where do you feel artistic progression leads?

Artistic progression leads to the “Dark Parade”.

How do you define success?

“A Churning Maelstrom of Metal Chaos Descending!”

What is something you have seen that you wish you hadn’t?

The first hair metal band…The horror…..

Describe something you haven’t created yet that you’d like to create.

A perfect “Cirith Ungol” shirt.

What do you believe is the most essential function of art?

The most essential function of art is its reflection of reality.

Something non-musical that you’re looking forward to?

Sharing time with those I love.

https://www.facebook.com/cirithungolofficial
https://www.instagram.com/cirithungolband

http://www.metalblade.com
http://www.facebook.com/metalbladerecords
http://www.instagram.com/metalbladerecords

Cirith Ungol, “Velocity (S.E.P.)”