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Phonecall-interview with Fenriz from Moonfog office
Taken from Gnosis Zine
Interviewer : Aaron
J.Klamer
Finally the long awaited interview with Fenriz
- by Aaron J. Klamer. Many thanks to the Moonfog staff for arranging this, and to Satyr for paying the phone bill that must
have come up in the 45 minutes or so.
Aaron J. Klamer: So, how are you doing today?
Fenriz: Pretty good, Ive been working since like all day, so looking forward
to go looking NOT forward to go to some band rehearsal later.
Aaron: Ah. A band rehearsal
for what band?
Fenriz: Its a band Ive been playing in since 88 called Valhall. We have like a couple of albums
out on Head Not Found that pretty much suck, but were back on track now with a new album! Which we havent got a deal for.
Aaron: Ive heard of that project, but I havent actually heard it
.
Fenriz: Now its more like Jimi Hendrix meets Black Sabbath stuff.
Aaron:
Really? That sounds cool.
Fenriz: Yeah, its not that well-produced and fat sounding like the rest of the stoner rock bands,
were more like thin and feeble.
Aaron: Which gives it more of a 70s feel, I would think.
Fenriz: Yeah, thats right, man.
Aaron: OK, so youve been at work - I heard
you work at the Post Office, is that true?
Fenriz: Yeah, but its not like you imagine, like "Post Office," its like this huge fucking building
you know, and you just have lots of people working there doing brain dead jobs and I get basically paid to listen to music.
Ive been listening to Sadistic Intent and Nile all day, man.
Aaron: Cool, that new Nile is pretty killer.
. . . All right, well I have some questions written down here, maybe I should get to those. So, this 'Preparing For War' thing
that just came out, that Peaceville put out Do you know anything about that? I mean did they collaborate with you at all on
that, or did they just put it out?
Fenriz: No aw, dude, its like, what can I say, I heard it like twice. This is all a collaboration between
Nocturno Culto and Peaceville. So he really put it together. They didnt put it together at all. Regarding the unreleased material:
Peaceville didnt have that, so they wouldnt be able to put it out unless Nocturno Culto would want to, you know.
Aaron: Oh, I see. So that has a mixture of released and unreleased stuff, is that the case?
Fenriz: Yeah, its not like a commercial release. I should think it will be interesting for at least
5 or 6 persons.
Aaron: think I would find it interesting, although Im not exactly sure whats on it. Is
any of the stuff thats on it available on other bootlegs or anything, or is it all totally never been heard before?
Fenriz: No, its basically some mixture of some sort of weird best-of, and unreleased and demo tracks
stuff, you know. The thing that everyone does is re-releasing well, everything. Im not against it, but I wouldnt want start
that trend you know, I wouldnt want to be the first one to do that re-release trend because its gotten a little bit out of
hand.
Aaron: Yeah, when they dont even sound any different than the original release, and they screw up the
artwork more half the time than they actually fix it. Like with the Mercyful Fate ones for example, some of those were kind
of bad.
Fenriz: Oh, no. They did that, huh? Well, Ive just got the original for Dont Break the Oath. I really
basically need just Dont Break the Oath, my original vinyl copy, and a couple of songs from my original Melissa.
Aaron: Yeah, Melissa was the one where they kind of screwed up the artwork a little bit. It looks a little screwy.
So, do you have any new stuff in the works?
Fenriz: Were working on a new album, its going to be called Corporal Punishment I think. Were gonna
have this action figure called Corporal Punishment [here Fenriz sang a short exclamatory ditty that apparently signifies the
arrival of Cpl. Punishment.]
Aaron: I can see it now!
Fenriz: Absolutely not, its just something that I thought would fit the Darkthrone ethic, to
have that title basically, and Im a little bit for it as well. Im not delving into politics, dude. No way, dude.
Aaron: Oh, I dont want to talk about politics.
Fenriz: So this album will be recorded in June next year.
Aaron: How is the material
shaping up? Is it along the same lines as
Fenriz: Well, you know we rehearsed a couple of songs, but I forgot though. Well get together, rehearse
them once again and then record them, and then I can tell ya! I think I went as far as I could with doing aesthetic drumming
on the Ravishing Grimness album, if you heard it its like totally for me, thats the sort of drumming I really want.
Aaron: The more simplistic
Fenriz: Although, I would want to suck a little bit more you know, playing out of beat a little bit
more. But basically, Im not kidding dude, because I have to Ive been doing this for 10 or 9 years now. Ive been restraining
myself sort of. Cause my natural way of playing would be
Aaron: To not suck?
Fenriz: Yeah, well I used to play like technical death metal. Like Death, that shit. But I cant
do that in black metal. So what I did was I always tried to do the opposite. But this time it was hilarious you know, I never
heard an album with that boring drumming in it. So Im thinking maybe I should loosen up a little bit on the next album; play
a little bit faster again, and do some drum breaks actually, maybe well have some leads even this time.
Aaron:
Yeah, I was going to ask you about that, how theres no leads on that album.
Fenriz: Well, theres really no major leads on albums like Transilvanian Hunger or Panzerfaust either,
theyre just some noise
Aaron: Yeah, theyre not really leads, theyre more like lead noises. So, you think
you might get a teeny-weeny bit more technical with the drums next time. Possibly.
Fenriz: Maybe. But you know, Im really kicking myself for thinking this way. I dont know.
Aaron: You damn rock star!
Fenriz: The fans seem to find it boring Im not sure of what Im doing, dude. Im not sure. My god, Ive
gotta stop, hehe. Ive gotta get off that bandwagon, dude.
Aaron: I like the drumming on
Ravishing Grimness, personally.
Fenriz: Whoo-hoo! I like the drum sound, dude. Because Im going for like, old Motorhead drum sound.
Or actually just anything organic in a way, you know. Im a big OK, as I just said you know I love to listen to Nile. I understand
that my sort of drum production wouldnt work with Nile but in the sort of black metal that we do, like old school, I prefer
having those heart thumps, bass drums and shit like that.
Aaron: Me too. That synthetic, clicky digital
drum sound is getting really old. OK, I was gonna ask you about live performances. I know you hate to play live, at least
with Darkthrone, Ive heard that and I was wondering when the last show that you guys played together was.
Fenriz: Mmm Hmm, that was like on the Easter that major fuckin Easter night or what the fuck do you
call that. I dont know what you call it over there, but its the main Easter holiday day in 96, that was it.
Aaron: 96, wow. Thats a long time.
Fenriz: [sighs] Feels like it was yesterday. Because it was such a horrible experience for me. You know,
it was like the hours spent in hell. I was backstage basically from one oclock til quarter past eleven doing zilch. And I
had like one half a Carlsburg, which I dont even like that much, just before going on stage, because I had to stay in control
and not be drunk and shit. Dude But well tour again, you know
Aaron: Will you? Thats what I was going
to ask next.
Fenriz: Yeah, Nova Scotia area, if we get Urkel on backing vocals.
Aaron: Urkel?
Fenriz: Yeah. We want Urkel.
Aaron: Only if you get Urkel.
Fenriz: Yeah! We want that annoying Donald Duck black metal vocals that are like really in now. And
I wont be playing drums, Ill be having a drum machine that goes "plbbbbbbb" just fast you know And Ill have some you know,
theyre probably pretty old now, but the people that you know put voices on that Disney movie Cinderella you know the mice
"nah nah nah," that shit.
Aaron: They probably are pretty old by now.
Fenriz: Yeah. But theyll do some female choirs, I guess.
Aaron: They could! It
sounds like you guys are taking black metal in whole new directions.
Fenriz: Hmm no, I think it just the way that sort of stuff sells, you know. I forgot about the synths,
dude, but I dont know whos gonna play them. I heard Stevie Wonder was able to do something new.
Aaron:
That should be interesting. Stevie Wonder, Urkel, the mice from Cinderella
Fenriz: Mmm Hmm.
Aaron: Anything Else?
Fenriz: No. Im pretty miffed since you know that Newman from Seinfeld he turned us down, and Larry
Hagman turned us down!
Aaron: Oh, no!
Fenriz: Dude, it would be so cool to have him playing bass, you know.
Aaron: That
would!
Fenriz: He is the evil one.
Aaron: He is! Speaking of playing bass, on the albums
after Dag was kicked out, who plays bass on the albums?
Fenriz: I think they sort of does it really matter? [laughing] Were not talking about bands like Watchtower
with what we play here, you know, I mean my mother could play bass on those albums, lets face it, man! [laughing]
Aaron: [laughing] Well, I didnt say it really mattered, I just was kind of curious!
Fenriz: I dont really even fucking remember. I think it says on the albums. But it doesnt really
matter.
Aaron: Maybe just whoever happened to be free at the time?
Fenriz: Yeah, dude.
Aaron: I wanted to ask you about Eibon. I know that Phil they just
had to cancel their tour because he broke his ribs
Fenriz: Oh, no
Aaron: Did you hear about that?
Fenriz: No way, man. Well, I just heard from him like last time was like three weeks ago, I think.
Aaron: Thats about right after that is when they canceled their whole tour.
Fenriz: Oh. Well he didnt tell me, man, because when he called me we were rehearsing for Eibon, just
before going to the studio, so the time was probably a bit short. He didnt tell me that, anyway. So he canceled the Pantera
tour now?
Aaron: Oh yeah, it got postponed until like February.
Fenriz: Oh, bummer.
Aaron: Yeah, apparently he broke two of his ribs and it was
just impossible for him to sing? I was hoping you knew how it happened.
Fenriz: Maybe some weird boxing incident.
Aaron: Maybe?
Fenriz: But he is into that, big time, you know.
Aaron: Oh, he is?
Fenriz: Yeah, yeah, and hes training. Hes a great metal personality, man.
Aaron:
He is!
Fenriz: Yes, he is, man. Im really impressed by that guy. Anyway, I dont know, were always planning
that things are going to go difficult when it comes to timing and stuff like that. Were not in a hurry. Our music is not like,
if you delay it one year its not going to be hot anymore. Were just basically trying to do like "tough" music.
Aaron: Well, the reason I brought up him postponing the tour is that I thought possibly you might have some time now,
or somebody might, to write some more material because I know youve been trying to squeeze that in where possible.
Fenriz: Yeah well weve basically done half the album.
Aaron: Oh, youve done
half of it now?
Fenriz: Yeah, we recorded lets say we got 40-45% down. So its still in schedule I think. Probably
its going to be released in a year, something like that. Its gonna be tough. Its not going to be real fast, its not going
to be real extreme or gory or anything, its gonna be pretty straightforward stuff.
Aaron: Right. I like
the song on the Moonfog compilation.
Fenriz: Oh, thats good, man. Its sort of an indicator.
Aaron: I would like to ask
you some questions about some of your older albums. Which album sort of achieved what you were going for the best, or what
had the most feeling for you at the time?
Fenriz: Hmm. Its so hard to say because there has never been any fucking routine to our work at all,
its been like really different every time. And weve been in different situations in life through each and every album, different
locations recording, stuff like that .. so every album has its own special feel. Everyone will probably tell you this, you
know, if you ask them about that.
Aaron: Yeah. I guess that wasnt the greatest question. [laughing]
Fenriz: [laughing] But you know, its cool, we really tweaked the sound to our liking on the Under
A Funeral Moon album, actually. We were like, a lot of money into production and we just used 1/3 of the money because the
sound was way too nice and too well-produced. So we had to just fuck with this guy. Make him turn the knobs to that fucking
air-conditioned cold shit sound we wanted. And we succeeded.
Aaron: Oh yeah, that has a real great necro
sound to it.
Fenriz: Yeah!
Aaron: I was reading an interview with Nocturno Culto in Descent
Magazine, and he says that you had no relationship to the music you played on Soulside Journey. And he says "we are not happy
with the first album. It was not the sound we wanted. It was not our music." So I was kind of wondering, whose music was it?
Fenriz: [laughing]
Aaron: You know, like why were you playing it if you felt no
relationship to it.
Fenriz: It was Autopsys music. [laughing] No, I think he was talking about like the sound and what he
thought about it later. But Im thinking if you ask him now, I mean were ten years down the line from that album you know,
its easy for us to sit back and just fucking enjoy it. But we had to sort of disown it at the time to make a point, you know.
So as to not confuse people, or confuse them more, with the direction we took or something. I dont remember. Because we basically
didnt have any plans or strategies at that time, we just blurted out whatever we thought, you know?
Aaron:
Right, and the Soulside Journey material was what ended up coming out?
Fenriz: Yeah, well basically we were deep into that whole horror twist on the death metal.
Aaron: Like Autopsy?
Fenriz: Yeah, but we even more .. where Autopsy would be a little bit more grinding, wed go like,
we would be inspired by Nocturnus for instance, horror riffs
Aaron: Really. I never would have picked
a Nocturnus influence out of there.
Fenriz: No, but it is, dude.
Aaron: I believe you! Well, I like Soulside Journey.
I was just kind of curious you know that statement sounded odd to me, but when you explained it it made more sense.
Fenriz: Well, with the disowning and shit it makes sense, dude. But still you know, wed probably do
it in another studio today, but at that time it was so We didnt really know where to go to record it you know, the only fucking
link we had with another death metal band was, except for Cadaver it was basically the Nihilist guys. So they were kind enough
to take us in and help us into Sunlight Studio. But that also resulted in us getting that fucking normal
Aaron:
Swedish death metal sound, yeah. I was kind of curious how old were you during Soulside Journey?
Fenriz: Oh I was like about 18, I guess
Aaron: Wow. I figured you were pretty young.
So how old are you now?
Fenriz: Im like, 28. Ill be like, 29 in a couple of weeks.
Aaron: Well, happy
early birthday.
Fenriz: [sarcastically] Ooo dude, thanks, hehe.
Aaron: I know that means a lot
to you.
Fenriz: [laughing] You changed my world, you saved my fuckin day. [laughing] Zephyrous was probably
16 back then. I started playing with him when he was 13. But he was like, born old. He was like an old man when he was 13.
Strange dude.
Aaron: Was it a conscious decision to inject more of a Celtic Frost influence into Panzerfaust?
Or did it just come out that way?
Fenriz: Oh well you know, I probably thought you know, lets just fuckin explore that. But Im not sure
if its that cool an idea because thats like a huge stigma you know, like oh, they did a Celtic Frost, you know. I hear people
say with Immortal At the Heart of Winter, its like people say, ohhh, Immortals doing Iron Maiden, you know, stuff like that.
And that stays with you man, that stays. Probably we shouldnt have done that, man.
Aaron: No? I love
that album. I think its my favorite one.
Fenriz: Its also like, Maniac from Mayhems fave. Its fucking its like, way out there. Theres no
system between singing and music and shit like that.
Aaron: It has some killer riffs on it, thats what
I like about it.
Fenriz: Mmm, thanks dude!
Aaron: I was sort of curious if you know what Zephyrous
and Dag are up to these days?
Fenriz: Dag, well hes probably playing jazz you know, because he just wanted to continue playing more
technical while we didnt want to play that Goatlord technical death metal material anymore. Like in early 91 we just basically
we had it, man. We were just listening to that primitive stuff and we felt so wrong playing that fucking 14, 16 part drum
riff system you know, even though we made it. So we just made something we got fed up with it. We changed of course and he
wouldnt want to play that he didnt have the feeling for the primitive shit. He would just have the feeling for the technical
stuff. So hes probably playing jazz.
Aaron: But you dont have any contact with him, or
Fenriz: No, I dont.
Aaron: You havent heard anything concrete.
Fenriz: No, not really. But I think hes back in our home not town, but home place, so you hear something,
but I dont know what he is doing. Zephyrous is not doing any music as I know. Hes just trying to have a life or something.
Aaron: Yeah? Is he married?
Fenriz: I think hes married. So you know, hes not smoking crack or anything! [laughing]
Aaron: [laughing] Thats good! Thats something. Its an accomplishment. Wanted to ask you a little bit about Goatlord,
because Ive heard some weird rumours that the female vocals on that album are actually done by you and Nocturno Culto, but
I dont believe it.
Fenriz: No, its done by me.
Aaron: It IS done by you?
Fenriz: Yeah, yeah.
Aaron: Wow!
Fenriz: Yeah I can do pretty like you know, voices you know
Aaron: Yeah
Fenriz: I could just I just turn into John Cyriis from Agent Steel, and then I just turn it sweet, but
you can also I could also fuck a little bit with the I had like a small 4-track, you could go like 3 notes
Aaron: Pitch control?
Fenriz: Up or down, like if you put the tape to go you know, like
Aaron: Change
the tape speed?
Fenriz: slower or faster, stuff like that so I did a little of that, too.
Aaron:
So there was a little bit of pitch shifting involved?
Fenriz: Little bit of pitch shifting, but not you would be amazed of how girly I can fuckin sound, man.
Aaron: Yeah. I can do a lot with my voice too, so I totally believe you.
Fenriz: Yeah man, cool man!
Aaron: It just sounded like it really sounded like
a woman! I mean, you were trying to make it sound like a woman, I assume?
Fenriz: Yeah, sure sure, I didnt want to be like fuckin
Aaron: Yeah, well you definitely
succeeded, I mean Ive gotta give you major props for that.
Fenriz: Alright, props to me!
Aaron: Props to you! Also, I was wondering how Satyrs
guest screams on that came about.
Fenriz: How?
Aaron: Yeah, I mean was he just in the studio and you decided
Fenriz: Yeah yeah, well he was in my fuckin living room, and hes just I want to scream on this one,
and I was like Oh, OK scream your little heart out, man.
Aaron: Go ahead, knock yourself out.
Fenriz: Hehe.
Aaron: Thats pretty much what I figured. What was the reason for
using Vargs lyrics on Transilvanian Hunger? Was there a specific reason? I mean did he want
Fenriz: Yeah, it was pretty specific, because Im thinking, I wasnt sure, I was almost thinking that
he was put to jail because I couldnt fuckin believe that he fuckin snuffed the man. So I was ... basically I was thinking,
Well, hes in custody now, and you know its gonna be a long time for him not being able to communicate, so if he wants to do
some artistic stuff, nows the time! We were just going to release .. the album was in the making, needed lyrics you know,
so I just offered. Yeah, you wanna do some lyrics? And he was like, OK.
Aaron: So he was in custody at
the time?
Fenriz: Mmm Hmm.
Aaron: Oh OK, I didnt know that.
Fenriz: So that was like, perfect timing. He wrote like 5, so the fifth one was put on the Panzerfaust
album.
Aaron: So, have you kept in touch with him lately, have you talked to him?
Fenriz: Well we basically, he went more political, I went more musical and we just sort of
Aaron: So there was no connection anymore.
Fenriz: fell apart. We fell apart.
Aaron: That makes sense. Hes definitely
gotten more political.
Fenriz: Yeah, Ive definitely gotten more musical. Ive been burying myself in music since that time,
dude. I have a collection of so incredibly much wimpy music you wouldnt dare to dream of it, man.
Aaron:
Wimpy music?
Fenriz: Wimpy music.
Aaron: Speaking of involving yourself in music, you mentioned
youre working on some Valhall material do you have any plans to continue anything with Neptune Towers, Storm, or Isengard?
Fenriz: No, well I dont. Well, I can tell you one thing. The only sort of riffs that I really want to
make I dont want to make music, I just want to make riffs now, and I just make basically riffs like Hellhammer you know, like
rock based Motorhead fucking boy, my favorite riffs are like Motorhead, D-D-DAAAAH Venom you know that sort of shit you know,
not really that melodic, just like really fuckin tough shit. So what Im basically writing for Eibon is the same thing Im writing
for Darkthone, which would be the same thing I would be writing for Isengard if I needed that outlet. But you know, Ive been
wanting to do like some hardcore, or more like grind hardcore shit too, but Im figuring theres a lot of bands out there who
can do that shit way better than me anyway. Ill just have to stop my artistic flow and get my ass out in the record store
and buy some more. Because Im doing three projects now, its enough. Because I was burned out like, back in 94 or 95, and Ive
been burned out ever since. And Im feeling guilty all the time because Im not doing enough. Someone needs to just say Just
fuckin chill Fenriz man, youre doing enough.
Aaron: I know, I feel the same way. Im in three bands myself,
and its like
Fenriz: Oh, fuck
Aaron: a struggle to keep involved with them and you know I still,
when Im not doing something I feel like I should be writing music or doing something you know, even though it takes up all
my time.
Fenriz: Yeah, and youre working, or this is like your own zine shit? Your fanzine?
Aaron:
Oh, its for a website.
Fenriz: Oh, its a website.
Aaron: Yeah.
Fenriz: Well, youre keeping busy, man.
Aaron: Oh, yeah.
Fenriz: Thats good, man.
Aaron: I have a radio show I do every other week too,
a metal show.
Fenriz: Oh, dude. I would like to do these things you know, but theres no time, man. You work like,
full time as well?
Aaron: Yup, and Im finishing my Masters degree.
Fenriz: Oh, dude, aaa!
Aaron: Im busy as hell!
Fenriz: Im warning you man, Im warning you. Fuckin, Ive been on that fuckin road. How long have
you been on that road, man?
Aaron: Past couple years? Two years?
Fenriz: Yeah, well you better watch your fuckin ass, man.
Aaron: Make sure I dont
burn out?
Fenriz: Suddenly its fuckin BOOM! And then you dont feel all that peppy any more.
Aaron:
Yeah. I think I can kind of see it coming.
Fenriz: What my problem is, and I know its that there was a period in 93 I had like a job situation
where I couldnt listen to music. And then all the bands came into my head you know, I was oh, I have to do this project, I
have to do this, and I want to start a magazine, and all this, you know, every fuckin day Im thinking of like three new projects.
Then I found out when I went back listening to music, these ideas basically stopped! Because I was concentrating on the music
and the job. So Im basically not using my brain, but at least I wont be burned out!
Aaron: I get to listen
to music at my job too, so that helps.
Fenriz: Oh, thats good, because too much silence just that makes you way too creative.
Aaron: I also wanted to ask you about a band or project called Aghast? It featured your wife, or something like that?
Fenriz: Oh yeah, yeah, dude, yeah. It was like my ex-wife and that Hagalaz Runedance you know, Samoths
wife.
Aaron: Yeah I heard some of that, it was kind of neat.
Fenriz: [here Fenriz says something to somebody else in Norwegian I think hes calling from the Moonfog
office] Sorry about that, I was just discussing some Eibon shit.
Aaron: [laughing] I was going to say,
I hope you were talking to someone else, because
Fenriz: [laughing] Yeah, suddenly I start talking like Enochian to you.
Aaron:
Yeah, kind of lost me there.
Fenriz: [laughs] Tongues, tongues, speaking in tongues.
Aaron: So, have you
heard Aghast at all?
Fenriz: Yeah, they recorded it on my fuckin 4-track.
Aaron: Oh, they did!
Fenriz: Yeah, they were fooling around a lot with that. That was just a one-off album. I think my ex-wife
just well, she left and she started you know, more like, painting. I think shes going somewhere in that direction, I think
shes stopped doing music. That stuff was on like, Cold Meat Industries I think?
Aaron: Yeah, yeah. I
have a song from it on a Cold Meat compilation. It was pretty neat, I liked it. Do you have any idea what sort of equipment
they used on that?
Fenriz: Hey you Americans, you always like that fuckin ambient stuff. I can't believe it. You like,
you walk around, and digging Mortiis! Like it was some totally evil thing to do, and everyone over here is like, well, we
dont really know you know, were thinking maybe hes not using the right synth sounds or anything like that. I know you were
asking for like, what kind of instruments they used for the Aghast, and that was basically just, I just had to help them out
with like, I had like just one fucking expensive synthesizer which you could really delve into.
Aaron:
Im not really that into Mortiis myself, because like you said Im not that sure about some of the synth sounds, but I do like
a lot of the ambient kind of stuff. You have gone back and forth through the years with Norwegian and English lyrics, and
I was wondering if there was any particular reason for doing it one way or the other at any particular time, or if you just
play it by ear.
Fenriz: Well, I wrote English lyrics consistently for many years. And then when the black metal feeling
topped it was just an old idea from a band, you might not remember them, but they were fucking great, thrash death metal band
from Norway, never released anything, called Vomit. Two of the guys were actually playing in Mayhem back in 87, 88 Those guys
were just like, they were at a Darkthrone gig in 89 and they told us, "hey, you guys should start singing in fuckin Norwegian,
no one does that," you know, and I say, "well, why dont you do it?" and theyre like "no, we quit!" and Im just thinking, Im
having this idea in the back of my head for years then. Cause I didnt really do this .. that was like in 89 and I didnt write
a Norwegian lyric until, what was it, like 92 I guess? Then it was like "OK, well do it," you know, it was a good feeling,
and the lyrics were being Norwegian but that quickly went into a sort of trend; that wasnt good. People started pulling in
Norwegian words that were not really great to sing. I was really careful with that lyric I wrote because it was basically
the first Norwegian lyrics for black metal. Ill have to say that! Again, I set the standard. [laughing] My minions serve me,
hahaha! Oh, sorry. [laughing]
Aaron: [laughing] Got a little carried away!
Fenriz: [laughing] Im like Darth fuckin Vader here! No, so I was pretty careful about what kind
of words I put in it, and I thought it would be perfect, but people started to write that really didnt have so much training
in writing good lyrics, and it all went pretty silly. So I basically, I do and I stopped writing lyrics in 95 again and I
just started in 99 I guess. Or late 98 I had to write lyrics again for Darkthrone. But then the new lyrics are not the same
as before. Ive dropped all that more pretentious poetic stuff. Because thats what you tend to do when youre evolving as a
writer. You have to drop off the pretentious stuff. Although I like pretentious stuff you know, theres a lot of good lyrics
out there thats been written by younger people, but Ive dropped that so my new lyrics are just like fuckin painful and pretty
basic and its really hard to write them. Thats the thing, Ted [Skjellum, otherwise known as Nocturno Culto Aaron] now is saying,
"well, were gonna do TWO more albums, man!" And Im like going, "how the fuck am I gonna do the lyrics for that?" Im using
up all the fuckin words that mean something to me, and its pretty boring when people always repeat themselves. Like King Diamond
singing about his Grandma, or the way Ronnie James Dio was going on about swords and rainbows and dragons, you know. You cant
really do that for long, thats really getting old really fast. I gotta do something new, but I just want to write about my
fuckin mental condition, or what the fucking sort of real hell.
Aaron: Well, those are probably the hardest
kind of lyrics to write. And the more simplistic you go, I think, the harder it becomes to write lyrics. Because you have
to choose each word all the more carefully. I was reading in a Norwegian newspaper, something about this band A-ha? They released
some video that has like necrophilia and grave desecrations or something? Did you hear about that?
Fenriz: Everyone HAD to hear about it, because it was all over the front pages well, if you live in
a cave, you wouldnt have really got that, but for me its totally uninteresting. They were like this band that had a couple
of hits in the 80s and they were the only superstars from Norway, and blah blah yadda yadda yadda, you know.
Aaron: So theyre basically a pop band, right?
Fenriz: Yeah! Yeah they are, but you know, cool that they have this its cool that they piss people off
by having that video, you know, a lot of people are gonna see it and a lot of christians are gonna get angry and shit like
that, but its all so routine, you know, they knew what they were doing. I dont even know why they were doing it, they were
probably just being told by someone, "this is cool to do now," and they were going "OK, well do that," you know
Aaron: Calculated controversy.
Fenriz: Yeah, yeah. Dont buy the album, man! [laughing]
Aaron: Oh no, Im not going to!
[laughing] I wasnt like "oh, necrophilia! Im gonna buy the album!"
Fenriz: That would suck major.
Aaaron: Oh yeah, Id be in for a shock. I also read
something about this guy Martin Schoyen, who owns the worlds largest private collection of handwritten manuscripts including
parts of the Dead Sea Scrolls and some other things he wants the Norwegian state to buy his collection, and hes going to use
the money he makes to set up a trust fund to support freedom of speech, human rights, and developing countries. Have you heard
about that?
Fenriz: No? I really dont watch the news, man.
Aaron: Yeah, I dont either. [laughing]
Fenriz: I can survive like Ricki Lake, short, like 20 minute long fuckin sitcoms. I can deal with that.
I cant fuckin deal with the news though, man. Well, maybe today because I just drank like 3 beers yesterday, so I COULD watch
the news today, but I would suffer you know, I would get depressed anyway. But I havent heard about what you were saying.
I was thinking maybe when you were mentioning Sea Scrolls and shit Im thinking maybe he wants the Norwegian state to buy it
and he wanted to give all the money he got from that to like Israel or something like that. I thought you were going to you
know, sort of put me into a sort of political direction.
Aaron: No, no, no. I just thought it was kind
of cool that he was going to use the money for freedom of speech because you know, if some people arent standing up for that,
its not going to get stood up for.
Fenriz: Hmm well, I can say basically whatever I want you know, but the distribution just falls
out. I did that once before.
Aaron: Right, yeah!
Fenriz: Dude, what a bitch. But that was just me blabbering again, you know, I change views every fourth
night, so you cant really trust it.
Aaron: [laughing] Alrighty. OK, Ill just wrap this up with
Fenriz: Cant touch this!
Aaron: Ungh! You sort of got into this earlier, but I was wondering if you still follow
the black metal scene at all, or metal in general, and what sort of new bands have you been getting into lately? I know you
mentioned Nile
Fenriz: Yeah well how new is Nile, you know Well everything I like, really you know, thats just basic,
but obviously I could support different stuff you know, I could support Impiety from Singapore.
Aaron:
Oh, theyre good. Ive got Skullfucking Armageddon.
Fenriz: Yeah, thats the shit you know, Euronymous would be all over that band if he was around now.
And the little I heard from Sabbat from Japan was really cool.
Aaron: Yeah, Ive heard very good things
about them.
Fenriz: But man, I think theres just so fuckin much out there, but basically Im basing my whole
life on the 80s sound because that was so close to me. I still you know, I can dig lots of grindcore but I have a problem
with people making stuff that means more to me than Terrorizers World Downfall album, or you know Repulsion?
Aaron: Horrified?
Fenriz: Yeah. I even got a huge tattoo on my arm here that says Repulsion.
Aaron:
Sweet, I love that album.
Fenriz: Yeah fucking hell, it sounds like a tank.
Aaron: Theyre from my home
state!
Fenriz: Ohhh! Cool! You know, people nowadays, they like to have tanks on their albums, and theres one
band now, Panzerchrist but they dont really sound like a tank! You know, its pretty close, but Repulsion! Now that sounds
like a fuckin tank.
Aaron: That bass alone sounds like a tank!
Fenriz: [laughing] Yeah, dude! Fucking hell, I have been listening to that album like millions of times,
but its easy, its only 28 minutes long.
Aaron: Yeah. Ive put that one through the old tape player quite
a few times myself! And Terrorizer as well. Alright!
Fenriz: Alright, but new stuff man, Im up for it man. As long as people dont forget about bands that
are still keeping it real like Sadistic Intent and shit, you know.
Aaron: I havent heard them.
Fenriz: Should man, theyre like fuckin theyve been playing as long as Darkthrone.
Aaron: Where are they from?
Fenriz: From L.A.! Doing like that Dark Realm record store and they just put out Dark Angel-We Have
Arrived. Theyre busy, man. They have been like low profile all these years since 87. And you know, we would be that too if
it wasnt for luck or timing or something like that. We just did a fuckin crazy thing, changing to black metal, but we basically,
we did that because we needed to. We needed to play what we were listening to. And suddenly, we were fucking lucky because
we had an album with a fuckin painted face on it, and everyone else has stupid covers with drawings of monsters and everyone
pays attention to us. That was not a fuckin plan, that was just fuckin lucky for us.
Aaron: I guess! Alright,
well thanks for taking the time to call me
Fenriz: Thanks, it was super sweet, but your time is more precious than me, youre more busy than me,
dude.
Aaron: Yeah, actually I took the morning off work to do this interview.
Fenriz: Fuckin hell. Sorry man.
Aaron: No, thats OK.
Fenriz: It should be the other way around, but you know
Aaron: Ah, I have
paid vacation time, its no big deal.
Fenriz: [laughing] OK. Sweet man, anytime!
Aaron: Alright, thanks a lot! Talk to ya later. Bye.
Fenriz: Cool hey!
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