Dødheimsgard‘s sixth album, Black Medium Present dropped in April. On this masterpiece, Vicotnik is joined by the nice abilities of Lars Emil Måløy of If Nothing Is, Tommy Weapons of Kirkebrann, and Øyvind Myrvoll of Dold Vorde Ens Navn. The intensely significant Black Medium Present will remodel you as a listener. Thus, it can truly change the ears with which you hear Vicotnik‘s previous victories.
We have been honored to have had the chance to talk with Vicotnik about Black Medium Present forward of its launch, his musical journey, and his numerous tasks.
Congratulations on the discharge of Black Medium Present! I have been ready for a brand new Dødheimsgard launch and anticipating the most effective for a really very long time, however Black Medium Present nonetheless fully blew my thoughts. So, again in 2019, you advised interviewer Marlon Crudo that you simply had possibly 60 potential songs for the album. Might you please take me by the inventive course of by way of songwriting and the way Black Medium Present advanced?
Yeah, I’ve to return to the final album, A Umbra Omega [2015]. It at all times takes a very long time, in all probability a few years, between the discharge of an album and an precise composition for a brand new album. It is not that I keep dormant within the meantime, but it surely’s simply a lot pondering, mainly, like the place to go subsequent — desirous about ideas. And, you understand, if one has mentioned all of it… If I’ve type of completed all that I can do inside my capacities… I do not need to be a type of bands that simply type of repeats or reenacts — I just like the phrase reenact — an album over and again and again. That simply looks like then you definitely’ve type of mentioned all the pieces you needed to say a very long time in the past. So, it normally takes me a few years.
However I knew one factor, and that was that the music “Architect of Darkness” from the earlier album was some type of start line for the subsequent chapter, you understand, being a bit extra sluggish and methodical and doubtless a bit extra atmospheric and evocative. So, I knew I had these 4 phrases. And I believe additionally one thing that is been weighing a bit closely on me is the type of the blackness, the bleakness, I suppose, of residing life. Life has loads of nice issues to supply. However then, you additionally lose lots of people alongside the best way, they usually’re type of caught in your thoughts. And in a means, instantly they’re a part of you. They are not a part of the bodily anymore. So, I actually wished to carry that type of notion to the foreground of the songs as nicely — some metaphysical substrate like an emotional darkness, relatively than a mythological or a made-up one. And from there, it is advisable to determine what sort of sonics or sounds correlate with that, you understand.
The following factor I’ll say — it isn’t factual, it type of was inspirational — I used to be type of pondering to myself: “What about all these melodies that possibly humanity has been buzzing to themselves for the final 50,000 years earlier than there have been recordings or earlier than there have been live shows and all that?” , you misplaced a baby to some illness, and nonetheless you are standing within the forest and gathering your wooden, and also you’re buzzing this unhappy melody to your self. And this melody, it affords some type of consolation. It type of speaks to you, your individual melancholy. So, yeah, that was what I used to be spinning round. The atmospheres we specific, we do not have a language for it, so we specific it by sounds. There’s one thing very alluring about that, as a result of it’s totally straightforward to think about that there have been individuals like 50,000 years in the past, not singing in like a tribal ritual or singing in a live performance or one thing like that, simply buzzing to themselves to supply themselves some consolation or some solace.
That makes loads of sense! As you simply mentioned, in some methods, you have been impressed by A Umbra Omega. You additionally defined that in an previous interview with Greece’s The Gallery. You acknowledged this album needed to be the sonic development of A Umbra in addition to the continuation of the exploration of psychological and emotional darkness. I do really feel the inside hyperlink between the albums. And while you return to A Umbra, you definitely hear similarities as nicely. However, total, Black Medium Present is a very completely different expertise. So, how carefully associated do you are feeling that the 2 of those albums are, now that you have accomplished Black Medium Present?
Yeah, I believe it is a place to begin. “Architect of Darkness” is the second to final music. But it surely type of picks up the place that album leads to a means. And that album additionally ends with type of an odd determine of piano notes, and I believe that additionally pertains to Black Medium Present. However I actually knew that I did not need it to be that chaotic this time. I knew that I wished the entire thing to be extra immersive, and I type of wished to dial again on the notes per minute and all that stuff and simply let it sit for some time, you understand — simply let the core type of emotion of the melody have the flexibility to get inside you, I suppose. I would like the listener to type of be a part of the album, not listening to music however truly be inside it. I wished it to be actually immersive. That is why I at all times inform those who ask me to ship the album: “Okay, on one situation: You need to have 75 minutes for your self, no distractions, nothing like that. You’ll be able to’t do the dishes, and please have a good headset and quantity… And simply keep there for the subsequent 75 minutes!” That is the most effective whole expertise of this album, I believe.
Sure, I’ve listened to this album a bunch of instances by now, and that is the one technique to take heed to it. You’ll be able to’t actually take heed to any of your music, I do not assume, within the background. And, to me, Black Medium Present did really feel like a digital actuality expertise. I do know that you have talked about that being too self-critical has made issues troublesome at instances so far as Ved Buens Ende is anxious. Was {that a} problem in any respect right here, or did issues simply circulation?
, I am in all probability higher at making sophisticated music, however I actually did not need the core to be sophisticated this time. It is really-really arduous to make music that you may belief on only a few notes in a way. After all, this album could be very layered-complex, so it has loads of complexity layer-wise. However I actually wished to chop again on all of the chaff, mainly. And I type of translated that act of slicing again on stuff as honesty or authenticity, as an alternative of over-ornamenting all the pieces on a regular basis. Then, you are type of hiding one thing. You are placing all these layers of filters in entrance of what is on the core. So, I actually wished to dial all that again this time. It was actually arduous, you understand, as a result of, as a human being, I am used to going again to what I am accustomed to. Sooner or later, you need to educate your self find out how to make new customs, I suppose. And it takes a very long time. However as quickly as you nail that first theme that basically correlates with what you are making an attempt to do — such as you spoke to it and it speaks again to you, and you’ve got dialed the quantity full up, and also you’re listening again to it — then you definitely simply know. : “Yeah, this is it! That is the place!” Then, instantly, you’ve a blueprint, I suppose. And it is simply, you understand — go from there.
You had talked about that you simply wished to do the lead vocals on A Umbra Omega. After all, Aldrahn did a implausible job, however I used to be delighted to know that you’d be dealing with vocals on Black Medium Present, particularly given your efficiency on Dold Vorde Ens Navn‘s Mørkere [2021]. So, how was that for you this time round?
Yeah, you understand, I like it. It brings you even nearer to the… typically it’s fallacious calling it a product, however the finish product, I suppose. It brings you nearer to that and the entire course of in itself, you understand. It additionally provides me a bit extra leeway within the sense that I haven’t got to contemplate so many issues. Like while you’re a duo or when you’ve at the very least given some proportion of your band to someone else, you additionally must handle that particular person within the sense that he additionally has to determine how the result goes to be. And when that is type of out of the image, when that is not prevalent anymore, then you definitely’re in a position to type of full your imaginative and prescient. It turns into extra of a whole-hearted effort within the sense that now you cowl all of the bases. That additionally makes the strain of it huger, which is good as a result of it ought to have strain. Whenever you do creative issues, if it is too straightforward, then you definitely’re doing one thing fallacious.
That is for positive. How was it working with the staff on Black Medium Present?
It is nice! I’ve an excellent bunch of fellows, they usually contributed of their very personal particular methods. And Lars [Emil Måløy], the bass participant, has labored very tightly with me. He has additionally contributed loads of layers. So, there are loads of contributions from him. And the opposite guys, they possibly do not supply that a lot content material, however they modify bits right here and there and add bits right here and there. Ultimately, it was all useful. We did it a bit in a different way this time: After I made them the type of outlines of the songs, we completed them by training them within the rehearsal room. So, then, we might additionally type of talk about each half after we stopped on one thing, met a hindrance. Then, we might go house, after which come again, after which have our plans for motion. So, a stunning bunch of fellows! I at all times say it, you understand, I’ve the most effective band! Any individual may dispute it, however I do not assume so. They’re the most effective!
I agree! However you do even have a couple of of the most effective bands! So, you have spoken about the truth that it is liberating to self-produce. Did you encounter any challenges with that whereas making Black Medium Present?
Yeah, much less problem although than final time. Final time, I did all of it, you understand, like recording each observe. I haven’t got a studio, so you need to arrange wherever you may. This time, I rented a studio and an engineer, which meant I might be extra producer than engineer. And final time, it was all the pieces — the recordings, the blending, the modifying, throwing away layers, and yeah. So, I skilled final time that that was an excessive amount of. And I additionally assume that even when you do not know it particularly, inadvertently one thing suffers from it since you’re spreading your self too skinny. So, I did not need to do this this time round. And it is at all times good to vary a little bit of the tactic as nicely. That additionally affected the product in a different way than the final album. However, you understand, there’s at all times a problem for those who’re not comfortable — such as you’re nearly there, but it surely does not really feel proper while you pay attention again to it. And I expertise that loads. After which, you do not at all times know what it is advisable to dial into to make it proper. You simply must type of discover after which discover it.
You have mentioned that you simply’re extra of a studio particular person — you are feeling extra comfy within the studio than performing stay for probably the most half. However you have completed loads of unbelievable stay reveals. Do you’ve any ideas about taking this materials on the street?
Yeah, yeah! No, I am actually trying ahead to that. I’ve this thought that this music, as immersive as it’s when listening to it on headphones, will be capable of translate right into a stay setting. So, I am actually trying ahead to only packing the viewers in there and overlaying them with this Black Medium Present of sound. Yeah, I am actually trying ahead to that, truly. The final album was in 2015, so it can even be on a sensible stage — nice to get some new stuff into the set, proper?! And I believe we’re additionally cracking the code a little bit of being a stay band. I’ve at all times appreciated the solitary existence of being within the studio, and clearly doing festivals and stuff like that — that is type of the alternative of the solitary studio existence. It is a social factor as a lot as the rest.
I wish to ask a query concerning the Dødheimsgard observe, “Stemmen fra evigheten,” from Peaceville’s Thirty fifth-anniversary compilation, Darkish Aspect of the Sacred Star [2022]. Clearly, that is an outstanding music! You had used some unused materials from Kronet til konge [1995] on that. And I observed that towards the tip of Black Medium Present, you mentioned “Dødheimsgard” [on the seventh track, “Det tomme kalde morke”]. That was the primary time you had completed that since Kronet til konge. Did you need to make listeners assume again… as a result of since then Dødheimsgard has lined an unlimited quantity of territory?
Yeah, I believe the riff that ended up on the Peaceville compilation — that is only a riff I at all times remembered. It is like one-and-a-half riffs, after which the remainder is added there. So, I believe that is simply happenstance, you understand. Paul [Groundwell] actually wished us to contribute, and he wished to take a music from the Black Medium Present album and put it on the compilation. And I mentioned, “No, no. Not an opportunity. The album must be full. I do not need to take away one thing from it, put it on a compilation, and current that earlier than the album even.” So, that was type of blasphemy to me. And he mentioned: “Alright then. Then, you’ve a job to do!” After which, I mentioned: “Okay.” So, I wrote the music.
Yeah, I believe by mentioning the phrase you are truly proper. And there’s a lot of nostalgia on this album. It is not like pondering that all the pieces was higher earlier than type of nostalgia. It is not a sour-old-man kind of nostalgia. However there is a love, and there is a unhappiness there, you understand, as a result of it holds an excessive amount of. That area and that time period, it simply comprises a lot and all the non-public adjustments alongside the best way as nicely. And to be right here 30 years later and nonetheless be capable of have this vessel of expression… So, I say one thing like: “We journey in direction of Dødheimsgard.” It is an limitless journey, and that additionally type of correlates nicely with the 30 years which might be already gone. And it additionally type of inadvertently speaks about the truth that the journey hasn’t ended but. We’re nonetheless touring in direction of Dødheimsgard. So, I suppose that is the that means of that specific line.
And, you understand, in one other lyric I additionally say one thing about an handle in Oslo. Within the first music, “Et smelter,” I say like: “Dronningens gate.” This was the place Elm Road was, and the rehearsal place was proper there on Skippergata. So, it was mainly the hub of the second technology of black metallic. So, there are a couple of references there, even for those who take heed to the riffs. Among the riffs are actually like ’91/’92 kind of melancholic black metallic. It is simply packaged and offered in a distinct method. So, it type of co-exists. It is the current and the longer term, and it is type of co-existing with the previous.
Listeners ought to positively really feel that! I am amazed by the Doedsmaghird observe, “Then, to Darkness Return,” from the Peaceville compilation as nicely. Once I first heard about Doedsmaghird, I used to be fairly surprised as a result of you’ve so many tasks happening. I used to be so comfortable to listen to about it! However I used to be like: “Woah, how is Vicotnik going to steadiness one other band?!” So, I am actually curious to know the place the inspiration for Doedsmaghird got here from and what we are able to anticipate from the brand new album.
I am actually comfortable concerning the query, truly. Not many individuals, I believe none, have requested me particularly about that. And the concept was, like timeline-wise, that we made Satanic Artwork in 1997. And in 1999, 666 Worldwide got here. So, the preliminary thought was: “What if there got here an album in 1998? How would that sound?” … “What would that doubtlessly sound like?” might be a extra sincere rendition of the query. And I went from there, you understand. I had to determine what was the methodology with the intention to type of seize this. I knew that I could not be my 46-year-old pondering self. I wanted to type of join with no matter spirit exists inside me, you understand. So, I believed: “Okay, I believe this materials must be improvised, mainly. No preparation, no riffs pre-prepared, no lyrics pre-prepared. Simply ebook the studio and make no matter you make there. Do not be too over-conscious about unhealthy takes. Do not do loads of retakes. Do not sit and edit. Do not do that. Do not do this. Simply type of enter into the unknown!” — as a result of that is what we actually did within the ’90s since we did not have any studio expertise and the technological potentialities, they have been additionally slim, you understand. So, I wanted to recreate the setting to ensure that the 1998 thought to not be a pressured thought, however truly one thing that is kind of channeled from the period itself. However, in fact, there will even be loads of references to this Dødheimsgard album within the Doedsmaghird stuff. It is a spin-off, mainly. But it surely’s a spin-off that will get its personal life! However nonetheless, it isn’t a knock-off of Dødheimsgard as a result of there’s a stable thought behind it.
Is {that a} full solo venture?
It began as a solo venture. So, I did do the songs alone. Then, I received Camille [Giraudeau]. We simply began speaking. And I believe truly I used to be going to hitch one in every of his bands. However after some time, I mentioned: “There is not any time for it.” After which, he mentioned: “Nicely, do you’ve one thing I might be a part of?” And it is as straightforward as that. I mentioned: “Okay, I will ship you one thing.” So, he got here in, and now we type of share the tasks. So, it went from a solo factor to… I view this as a type of twin band now. And we even have one other man from Canada referred to as Olivier [Côté]. He hasn’t performed any devices on the album or something like that, however he is been my go-to man for the final, I do not know, 12-13 years, one thing like that. I ship him loads of stuff, loads of lyrics. And it isn’t that I would like affirmation, whether or not it is good or unhealthy. I simply want someone that I do know can talk about the content material with me. And doing that, it additionally deepens and broadens the content material for me as a result of then it isn’t simply these traces within the lyrics. Then, it is the entire topic round it, an entire dialog, maybe much more dialog. Each sentence finally ends up packing much more. So, yeah, I think about him a member of the band as nicely, and I hope he’ll contribute extra riffs and stuff like that subsequent time round, each of them. However I believe additionally, for me, it was actually vital that it began out as a solo venture so I might type of set what it was presupposed to be earlier than we have been cooks.
I have a query that is going to take issues again in time. So, you have been born in Oslo, then you definitely moved to Stockholm, then you definitely moved to India, then again to Stockholm, and then you definitely lived in Askim for some time. I like your work with Askim‘s Manes. “Thamuz” [Gunnar Håkonsen], who was additionally in Manes performed with Malfeitor, which was pre-Strid. Strid is additionally from Askim. Clearly, you are in Strid now — you’ve been for fairly a very long time. Had been there ever any ideas about probably hooking up creatively with “Ravn Harjar” [Edvard Rødseth] again within the early ’90s?
No, the factor was that within the ’90s, they have been full, you understand. And so they have been the correct guys there. I believe I used to be the correct man for that when individuals in Strid began dying, mainly. Then, I believe I used to be type of the pure man to ask, contemplating my and Edvard‘s in depth relationship through the years and stuff like that. However, no, I had no want to play that. I simply had a want to adore it and never be part of it. But it surely turned type of a pure factor when individuals have been dying off.
It looks like you moved to Oslo round Easter 1993. Manes’ Promotape 1993 is dated to November. Did you return to Askim to file that?
, Askim is just one hour away, and I suppose transferring to Oslo was a gradual factor in a way as nicely. Once I first began coming right here, I stayed for a couple of weeks. After which, I went house, and, you understand, I used to be fully broke. I used to be a child, and I did not have a job, and nobody wished to offer me a job both. So, I lived within the rehearsal place. I went forwards and backwards, and I additionally studied again then. I attempted to type of make everyone comfortable in a way, you understand, not stop faculty and all that. And by ’94, I believed: “Oh, fuck this!” I went to Oslo, and I stayed. And so, I used to be nonetheless broke, however that additionally makes an attention-grabbing life-style, you understand — like residing in a rehearsal room and going to bars and making an attempt to get individuals to purchase you drinks and hooking up with girls simply to get their fridges and stuff like that.
And talking of bars, you developed a friendship with Fenriz at Elm Road. It is not the place you met him although — that was at Stovner Rockefabrikk, the place he was recording Valhall materials. That is a terrific story! So, I used to be questioning: Is there any risk that Fenriz may make an look with Dødheimsgard sooner or later… as within the previous days?
, I’d by no means need to trouble him about that. Possibly he would say sure, truly. However, you understand, I believe he would relatively I did not ask the query. So, I believe I will sit that one out till he knocks on the door and says: “Hey, Yusaf, might I do one thing with you guys?” Then, I will be open for it, you understand. Fenriz — I do not see him that a lot anymore. Now, we have gotten semi-old individuals. So, everyone type of lives of their components. And if we see one another, there’s one thing taking place like an area pageant or one thing like that. However, yeah, an enormous supply of inspiration. And it was such a cool factor to get one in every of your foremost inspirations to hitch your band again within the day and soak all of it up, I suppose.
I am excited to listen to your visitor look on the subsequent Den Saakaldte album, Pesten som tar over. Readers ought to know that they received their title from the title of a Ved Buens Ende music that you simply wrote the lyrics for. However, yeah, I believe it is cool that you simply had the very particular abilities of “Sykelig” [or Mikael Siouzios, Den Saakaldte’s founder] and Niklas Kvarforth residing in your condominium on the identical time. So, was there ever any speak about becoming a member of that band within the very starting? It type of looks like you have been concerned, however I wasn’t positive if that was correct.
To start with, Mikael requested me to do bass in Den Saakaldte, however I actually did not have the time. And, you understand, typically I believe that folks fall in love with concepts, however, in the long run, I believe they have been higher off getting someone else that would decide to it as a result of dedication is such an vital factor in artwork. , if it is uncommitted it isn’t even artwork anymore. So, yeah, there have been preliminary plans for it, and I used to be already in a state of affairs the place I used to be serving to him and Niklas out, you understand. I suppose they have been each working from one thing, in order that they ran to my condominium, they usually stayed there for 5 – 6 months. So, yeah, sooner or later, you additionally must say that you simply reached your restrict, mainly. It is vital to be sincere.
Sure! And it was actually nice that Niklas participated on the opposite facet of the 2009 break up that you simply launched with the opposite Manes from Trondheim [Pro-Gnosis-Diabolis 1993 / Solve et Coagula]. So, you have been concerned in loads of different tasks that I additionally actually love like Endwarfment and Aphrodisiac! Aphrodisiac — that was you, Svein Evil Hatlevik [“Zweizz”], and Carl-Michael Eide [“Czral” / “Aggressor”]. After which, Kristoffer Rygg [“Garm”] contributed a music to your album [Nonsense Chamber, 1997]. So, that was superior! You have additionally labored with Svein Egil in Dødheimsgard, in fact. Again within the day, you carried out stay with Fleurety as nicely. Was that only a one-off factor or have been you extra concerned within the band?
Yeah, I used to be a bit extra concerned. To go to the start of the story, I believe like Svein Egil and Alexander [Nordgaren], they have been my first associates in black metallic exterior my very own metropolis. So, they have been type of the primary journey someplace else to satisfy like-minded individuals. Now, you are taking it as a right as a result of you may simply go to a bar or you may go to a live performance, however there have been no bars, there have been no live shows, there have been no individuals within the faculty that wore your T-shirts and stuff like that. So, this was type of the primary time connecting with individuals in that style. So, yeah, I received a bit concerned with Fleurety within the sense that they have been presupposed to go on a tour. I believe everyone’s actually comfortable that tour did not occur again then, however we have been presupposed to, at the very least. We practiced loads of their materials on the album and demos and stuff like that as a result of I used to be presupposed to go together with them as a stay guitarist. There have been additionally talks about me becoming a member of them as a guitarist to type of add up the amount of riffs and act as someone that thinks a bit in a different way than Alexander so we might type of inventory our arsenal a bit extra. However then, I disappeared to Oslo and, you understand — no cellphone, no handle, nothing. I wasn’t the simplest man to come up with for the subsequent yr, in order that type of blew away.
I talked to Alexander and Svein Egil a couple of weeks in the past, truly. We have been out, they usually have been speaking about making a brand new Fleurety album, and I mentioned: “I am launching myself to a contributor on that album!” — as a result of, for me, that may type of be like coming full circle with these guys, so I actually need to do this. So, I mentioned: “I am doing vocals on one observe, and I am doing bass on one observe, and there is no discussions right here, you understand.” And so they mentioned: “Okay, so let’s sit down and speak about how we will do it.” So, yeah, I believe that is going to be nice, a extremely nice expertise.
That may be really-really cool! You have made loads of wonderful visitor appearances that I’ve actually loved! For instance, I am actually keen on Doedsvangr‘s Serpents ov Outdated [2021]. So, I wish to ask you about Slavia as a result of not lots of people know concerning the particulars of that implausible band. You and Ghash each appeared on Energy and Imaginative and prescient [2007]. Is there something you’d prefer to share about that have?
, I’ve by no means heard it. I by no means heard the observe. Yeah, Jonas [Raskolnikov Christiansen, “Jonas aus Slavia“], I received to know him fairly late in his life, I suppose. However, yeah, we turned actually shut. He was actually depressed at the moment. I had this big-ass condominium in the midst of Oslo, so he simply began coming there. We might sit for hours and discuss. There was some type of actual closeness to it and a few type of vulnerability as a result of I knew why he was there, and he was open about it — about why he wished to share my firm and all that. And that type of morphed into me type of doing the vocals for him as nicely. So, the vocals, whether or not I heard them or not, that is actually what it means to me — the bond we had in that interval when, I suppose, we each have been dumb in a way and we might supply companionship… in fact, aided by heavy ingesting, however, yeah, you understand.
You had talked about the potential of a brand new launch with Strid. You mentioned that it would by no means occur, however you have labored on it. And you’ve got carried out new materials. You additionally mentioned one other Ved Buens Ende file. And also you talked a few potential Dødheimsgard compilation since you’ve loads of unused materials. I heard you made an entire “Supervillain 2,” which you simply threw away, however it will be superior to listen to bits and items of it… or the entire thing! There’s additionally Dold Vorde Ens Navn — trying ahead to no matter you are doing subsequent with that. So, are there any plans for future releases, other than what we have already mentioned, that you simply’d prefer to reveal?
, we’re presently engaged on Ved Buens Ende. So, that is type of the subsequent venture that has probably the most quantity of focus. And I am simply ending up with the Doedsmaghird album. I’ve a couple of final takes on vocals. I used to be truly doing them proper earlier than I used to be talking to you. And I am going again, doing these final traces after our dialog. After which, Haavard has been writing Dold Vorde Ens Navn music. And, I suppose, while you’re hooked up to individuals like that, these individuals must be your foremost precedence. So, no matter different tasks you’ve by yourself, these have to attend.
However I’ve all these sorts of songs and bits and items that weren’t tied to metallic in sufficient sense to current them as Dødheimsgard. , Dødheimsgard has all of those different influences, however on the core it is nonetheless metallic and that is type of what binds all of it collectively. However then, I even have loads of music that type of fell out of that class. And I used to be pondering to myself that it will be cool to type of piece an album along with loads of the fabric is already recorded. It’ll, in fact, want some love and a focus and lyrics and vocals and stuff like that. However, sooner or later, it will be nice to make use all the pieces that you have thrown away through the years. I used to be additionally a bit interested by an thought of smashing A Umbra Omega and Black Medium Present collectively and utilizing all these recordsdata to make one other product from it. So, I am truly not recording something. I am simply structuring all the pieces in a distinct method and in a distinct presentation and seeing what comes out of that, mainly. So, I like all of this type of pondering earlier than I do one thing as a result of if the thought sample is completely different than the thought sample for every other venture, then the tip consequence will probably be completely different as nicely. The method will type of dictate the place we are going to find yourself in a means. So, for those who at all times select completely different approaches, that is a means to make sure that your merchandise turn into completely different, or your finish outcomes.
You simply talked about that Dødheimsgard continues to be metallic at its core. After A Umbra Omega, you advised Decibel that you haven’t any want to name Dødheimsgard something aside from black metallic… and neither do I. Is that also the case for you?
Yeah, positive. why?! As a result of I’m black metallic. And since I used to be there. I am one of many originators, particularly if we’re speaking about type of the avant-garde facet of black metallic. So, it does not actually matter if it sounds sonically completely different than what black metallic was 30 years in the past. I am nonetheless a consultant from that period, mainly. So, that is why, for me, black metallic… After all, it is a musical style. You’ll be able to break it down — you put on this-and-this garments and you’ve got this-and-this sound and you utilize this-and-this instrument. However that is a much less attention-grabbing side of black metallic. The extra attention-grabbing side of black metallic is what it’s culturally. And for those who’re speaking about what it’s culturally, then you may’t isolate it from the place it was and in what time it was and which individuals have been concerned — all these those who have been there within the sense of the place all of it occurred, just like the epicenter, and promoted it or created some content material for it as the unique supply of it. All these persons are black metallic. We’re culturally black metallic individuals. That is why I’ve no want to name Dødheimsgard the rest than black metallic as a result of it comes from black metallic — the actual factor, the actual black metallic, not the style, not that you simply put on this-and-this garments, that you simply play this-and-this-instrument, not just like the generics of it, however the actual-actual factor.
So far as Black Medium Present goes, you mentioned some time again in a earlier interview that it isn’t impressed by literature or mythology. After all, the product is extraordinarily literary, philosophical, poetic, and so forth. So, I’m actually curious, possibly not with Black Medium Present however typically, as to what evokes you lately. You have talked about Ibsen in regard to Dold Vorde Ens Navn, for instance.
I’d say that Black Medium Present is just not mythological, but it surely’s positively philosophical. And I tied my feelings to various things. For instance, “Halow,” is a play on phrases in itself — like a “low” and a “halo” tied collectively, which is type of a distinction, two phrases which might be, in some sense, opposites. However I additionally tied the lyric to the idea of “behind the veil of ignorance,” which is a philosophical idea — the way you deem your type of place. How might I clarify it? It is like, you understand — it is measuring the honesty of your decisions, mainly, measuring the honesty of what you are feeling. So, the type of the observe is that you simply give an individual all of the instruments on the earth, all of the type of cash on the earth. And this particular person, to illustrate he is a wealthy man, you say that now you may distribute all this cash everywhere in the world the best way you see match. This man will give this cash fairly in accordance with the place he’s himself in life. If he is profitable, he’ll put some huge cash in that a part of the world. He’ll type of have a bias, you understand. Then, you do the experiment once more with the identical particular person. You say: “Okay, now you need to distribute the cash or the products or no matter all over the world, however you do not know the place you’ll find yourself your self.” After which, you see this particular person’s thoughts altering about how he distributes as a result of now he is uncertain the place he finally ends up. In that course of, he wants extra empathy. And so, I tied this lyric additionally to the idea of behind the veil of ignorance. There’s loads of philosophy on the album, truly. I wished the experiential, what you’ve skilled, these notions, to return first after which attempt to attract philosophy out from that as an alternative of type of placing philosophy there simply by itself.
Yeah, the album is unquestionably an insanely profound expertise. It’s very overwhelming. And the lyrics — they’re masterpieces in themselves.
Thanks. I wished to make them actually fundamental, so I used to be a bit frightened about that. Will I be capable of type of do this and on the identical time keep some type of expectations?! However I believe that the music needed to replicate the lyrics and vice versa. So, once I was dialing again on the core melodies, I actually wished to do the identical with the lyrics. And once more, I suppose I translated that as authenticity and honesty, being nearer to it, not including loads of filters in entrance of it. However truly taking them away, going nearer to all the pieces that I wished to convey and utilizing much less concealment, mainly.
I used to be questioning about the truth that you’ve a pair songs on the album which might be in Norwegian solely, some which might be in English, and others which might be a mixture of the 2. It creates a terrific type of richness. It has a deep impact on the listener, psychologically talking. Within the assertion from Peaceville, the phrase “confusion” was talked about as type of a precondition for mental honesty. Was the mix of languages meant to foster a useful sense of confusion that possibly helps individuals turn into extra in contact with themselves?
Yeah, you understand, once more, I’ve to return to the type of concealment factor. I am a Norwegian-speaker, and as quickly as I converse English, I am placing a filter on my type of language. I additionally reduce myself in a means as a result of clearly I am higher at pondering, talking, and writing in Norwegian. Whenever you’re type of making an attempt to be that type of bare in a way and sincere, the English language did not actually work on all ranges. I actually needed to redo all these components that I felt did not work in English. So, I did them in Norwegian. So, yeah, you may say that there was an actual large sense of confusion. However, you understand, I believe I ended up with the correct resolution. So, it was extra work, it was extra battle, it was extra ache, extra confusion, extra irritation, all that stuff. But it surely was all value it as a result of I felt that the phrases turned more true — they rang more true to me.
I’ve to say that I do not need readers to get the fallacious impression about your English lyrics as a result of they’re simply implausible as nicely! As nice as they are often!
Thanks very a lot.
Your albums are at all times past genius! So, when Black Medium Present comes out, I actually hope {that a} ton of individuals will purchase it as a result of…
, I’ve no ideas about that. Clearly, you need all the pieces you do to achieve success. However, for me, it is already profitable, like listening to you, that is type of my biggest reward, you understand. And a few man advised me: “I listened to 90 minutes of your new music, and it made me cry.”
It made me cry! I did not need to say that, but it surely actually makes me cry… each time.
Then, I will let you know like I advised him: “Your tears make me comfortable.” Your tears are my reward right here as a result of which means you are not simply listening to music. We’re sharing this expertise. And it is an expertise. It is not solely like the sensible notion of listening to music. Then, it may be no matter, you understand. So, that is a deeper reward for me than if it sells 100-200,000 information. Not less than, I do know the individuals who adore it — they actually adore it!
And such as you mentioned elsewhere, when somebody actually grasps one in every of your information, it turns into a pal for all times.
Yeah, I believe so. And I am actually confounded by the quantity of individuals that also writes me every so often and sends photos of A Umbra Omega and says: “Yeah, it is nonetheless on every day spins.” It is like 8 years previous.
It is as nice as something will be, and this file too!
Thanks. Thanks a lot.
Clearly, I can‘t thanks sufficient in your music and likewise in your time. Is there the rest that you simply’d like to inform readers?
Keep tuned for extra and do not forget that the Doedsmaghird album and Black Medium Present are related. So, for the entire expertise, you may even have to attend six months for the Doedsmaghird album to be launched and that will probably be type of the totality of it.
