Do you ever happen to write songs that eventually never make it on an album? In other words, what makes a 'piece' an album song?
Oh yeah, that can happen. Not very often, but it does happen. I remember I scrapped two songs, for reasons unknown. Thing is, when I compose a song, it can either just pop out out of nowhere almost, or I usually compose the main frame to work within, and then I can spend alot of time on HOW to play the riff etc. And as a guitarist, it's fun to find solutions along the way.
With Darkthrone albums there is always a strange sensation of going both forwards and backwards at the same time. Musically speaking, the great bands of the past seem to be the most relevant influence on Darkthrone. Yet, Darkthrone always sounds fresh and rejuvenated, relevant and at least two steps ahead of most other bands (while still sounding 'old' and classic). What is the secret that gives Darkthrone such power when most other bands with 'similar attitudes' only manage to sound 'retro', irrelevant and superfluous?
Could be a simple answer: freedom. Well, in fact, the answer IS freedom. At least we experienced freedom since autumn 2004 when we got our own studio. The strict frames we had to work under in the early 90's were very much self-inflicted, since the darkness and evil meant everything. Nowadays freedom has taken over a large role, and we worship music (and just some small versions of little devils etc).....ey? Ahh, anyways, whatever, music is supposed to be fun doing and if it's not, you can very well just leave it be.
In the most recent albums, while the explicitly metal component of Darkthrone's music has remained very high and upfront, another influence seems to have taken foot and has become a consistent part of the sound. I am referring to the (for lack of a better description) 'punk/hardcore/crust' element. I remember a time when the two 'genres' were deemed incompatible (despite the fact that they had some elements in common) by most and most 'experiments' done to fuse the two 'genres' gave some rather dull results. Yet again, Darkthrone pulls it off as if it were the most natural thing in the world? From the point of view of the 'men at work' what makes these two 'genres' blend? Are there parameters to follow, things to be avoided etc? Or is it just a matter of 'it comes naturally'? Is there a risk that at some point in the blending process the 'song' stops being metal and becomes something else?
It comes natural for us. You see, I KNOW that the so called "punk etc" was something most of the metal music in the 80's had in the first place. Celtic Frost for example, was full of punk/rock riffs, and everybody should know this, Venom as well. I would say Darkthrone mix things up with pure heavy/rock stuff. One big, and hugely appreciated fact for Fenriz and me is that we are free people and don't consider making music to fit into the contemporary shit we see too much today. But we know that if people put on let's say F.O.A.D. album in 15 years, it will be even better hahaha, I know, but I am sure of this, and this is largely because we CARE about sound. Sound with personality. Many will just laugh in our faces because of the sound and untraditional vocals that we have today, but to quote a line from the album Hate Them: Let's see who stands when the smoke clears.
Do you believe that all these Black Metal 'features', 'featurettes', documentaries etc released these last years have actually made the situation worse? I mean, is there relevance to them? Do you see them as a chance to set the record straight and express thoughts and ideas otherwise distorted by the media, or do you see them as yet another pretext to allow the general masses to indulge in this 'cool' fad?
All this focus on Norwegian Black Metal is a bit shameful. And all the things happening here in Norway in 90-93 is sooooo over used and totally uninspiring, and it's a fucken shame. Music, and metal, is universal and there are great bands everywhere on the planet. What really happened here in Norway and how the general feeling that we had, is something only we know, and all attempts of portraying it is feeble and weak. I must give give credit to "until the light takes us", cause they actually dug deep and devoted ALOT of time to make that film happen. Nobody has given it so much effort. Lot's of the documentaries are just there to make money about things they do not know shit about. Sorry, but it really pisses me off heh. The healthy "competition" we had in 91-92 was great, but suddenly in all expanded like a plague. It turned out to be, and still is, a popularity contest, and we wisely keep a HUGE distance to that. The circus has expanded and some bands just desperately need controversy to get recognition. We focus only on music.
Whatever happened to Zephyrous? Are you still in contact with him, and if yes, is he still anyhow involved with music? Would he have a place in Darkthrone today considering your current musical direction?
Yeah I have contact with him, and deep respect for him. He's not involved in music, due to a working accident etc (yes, we are the working class), but a place in Darkthrone? why not? He is more than welcome
How do you perceive the metal scene today? Is there anything interesting that catches your attention, or do you think of today's metal scene as dead/sick and unable to offer good music that can stand the test of time? Is there hope in the 'underground'? Actually, is it even legitimate to speak of an 'underground' scene in the age of 'myspace/facebook' etc?
Here's the good news for ya all: there IS still an underground that is alive and very well. Good bands everywhere, and the album that really grabbed my attention in 2010 is the swedish band GHOST, and they released a debut last year "opus....", it's so good actually that I have made it my album of the year 2010. But still, there are much shitty productions (meaning over-produced shit). For one reason or another, many bands really think that having clean and "fat" productions makes them a better band. I would like to see more bands DARING to dig out their own path production wise. That would be awesome and much more interesting. Take GHOST as an example, premium rock/heavy album with a production that has soul in spades!!!
Tell us a bit about the Darkthrone rehearsals nowadays. Do pieces come together as the outcome of a good, improvised jamming session? Do you guys sit down and discuss previously thought out ideas before you pick up the instruments? Any random cover versions when you guys jam?
Rehearsal and recordings of usually two songs is all happening in two days. I make sure the studio is properly set up for recording before Fenriz arrive. We have one song each that we learn from each other at the time. Rehearse until we feel the song is spot on then go into recording. My one guitar and Fenriz' drums are recorded simultaneously and therefore get the raw feeling to it. You hear us play live actually. We record every song in one stretch and we're proud of that. Straight after we're done with that, I record the second guitar, then to the next song. Later in the night we record bass and Fenriz' vocal. I do my vocal back home and add some more guitar/solos etc. Pure and simple. The mixing part comes next and usually files are being sent back and forth a bit before we totally agree. Pew, that was a lot of rambling. No cover songs no.
Darkthrone today has the perfect blend of punch, rawness and dynamics in their home studio sound. Can you tell us a bit about Necrohell 2 and how it is set up?
Nah, we use pro microphones on bass, vocals and guitars, and we use cheap mics on the drums, to get the raw sound. UGH!!
Since always and I am sure the case is still like this you guys always had a very clear vision and very accurate plan of action for years and years to come, Can we have a preview of what we are to expect from the mighty Darkthrone in the coming months or even years?
Well, currently we're working on the x-moonfog catalogue, now owned by Peaceville/Snapper. We have already recorded two songs for the next album. That was back in March last year. So hopefully we'll be back in the studio in the autumn...maybe. We have a slight vacation from new stuff right now.
The two of you live at a considerable distance from one another, so it is obvious you cannot meet often to jam and come up with new songs as often as many bands do, however this has never affected the quality or the actual essence of Darkthrone, not only, the Darkthrone beast keeps growing new fangs and claws with every year that passes, do you think that this actual distance can be one of the contributing factors to the Darkthrone spirit? (Just to disprove the old saying united we stand divided we fall)
To put it this way; if Darkthrone from the start was a touring band and we always had to see each other's faces, we would not keep up in all these years. Seriously. We need the distance, not a shrink like Metallica hehe. Also, the distance always keep us on the toes when it comes to the songs we write.
Two is a company, three is a crowd, or so they say, your thoughts about it
Well, yes that is true. After all these years we understand each other easily and there is very seldom any argument. Darkthrone has been with us since we were young and all our adult life. I will die together with the band. Because of the distance it WOULD actually work with three in the band. But that could not be the easiest thing for a "new" member. Think of two stubborn adults that think they know it all hahaha.
In the past the two of you contributed both as guest members on individual tracks and also as full time musicians recording whole albums with various bands and projects, some that are musically related to Darkthrone and Black Metal others that are pretty different. Feel like sharing with us how these came along and if there is more currently boiling up? And speaking of these, how was it like to be on the same stage with Tommy G Warrior at Roadburn?
Yeah, done some stuff over the years. Only because I like doing music. To meet up with Tom and really talk to him several times has been a real pleasure. Much respect for him. He is a solid person. Also I have been in the band Sarke for over two years now, almost three or something. And as I write these words, the master for the new album is done. It will be released early March.
OK that was it, thank you very much for taking time to answer all our questions. Last works are yours
Ok, I know I can seem like a bitter person once in a while, but I really love everybody.....right?
