DARKTHRONE. These Vikings manage to play original and brutal music! In other words they rule!! Most of you have their great demos. They have an L.P. out by now ("Soulside Journey"). I have not heard it yet, but I'm sure it will be godly!! After reading this interview, write them to: Noise Solutions, Norway for L.P. and tape orders. Write to: Peaceville Records, P.O. Box 17, Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, WF12 8AA, England.
When did the band start?
Darkthrone formed in December 1987, after playing with other people from early 1987.
I've seen demos you have released and I can see a big progress of your band. In "Cromlech" your music is absolutely brutal - how do you manage this?
It's natural to progress, but we had to because our previous releases gave us a bad reputation. Our goal was always to get a record deal, so we rehearsed to get better. Of course, we all bandmembers started writing songs. We had better and great success with our "Cromlech" demo. You will also see a big progress from the Cromlech demo to our first album.
Tell me more about your music and lyrics.
We play well structured music, no verses, no chorus. We play horror soundtrack and if we play this with other instruments (cello, flute, French horn) it would be labelled as classical music. But we play death metal sound, so it sounds like death metal. We also have influences from Paradise Lost, Carcass, Morbid Angel, Autopsy, Black Sabbath and Nocturnus. Still, we have very original song structures. Lyrics: I could talk for hours about this, calling it this or that, but it's not right, so I'll just say that my lyrics are satanic poetry.
Your debut L.P. is going to be released soon. Tell me more about it and your record label.
It's called "Soulside Journey" and the release date is 28 January 1991. It is 9 songs, one bonus song from our second demo on the CD. 3 songs from Cromlech demo is on the album and the rest are new songs. It is recorded in the same studio used by Entombed. The sound is heavy. Our record company Peaceville is great. Hammy is very cool, and all the guys have been nice to us. A dream label!!
What's your opinion about Christianity and religions generally? (True Satanism is not a religion.)
Satanism is just a kind of "religion" because dogma and ceremony are involved. I am a Satanist and that explains why I think Christianity and other monotheistic religions are pleasure minded madmen. The last years "Satan" or the force of darkness in our easily solved souls has reached us from what we are. This concerns the Christians mostly, because they now escape from their previous beliefs. Christianity is not what it used to be, but still the suckers say they are Christians. They are liars and confused people, scum on the earth.
What do you think about bands who use occultism as a way to be more popular?
Wannabands. It's better than being right hand path believers, but if people are to be punished, they deserve to bow for the real Satanist!!
Do you like pagan mythology? (Scandinavia has a rich mythology.)
I know!!
What about the Norwegian scene? (Bands, zines, fans.)
It sucks!! No one likes death metal here.
Do you know anything about the Greek scene? (Bands, zines, etc.)
I know lots of people in the scene there. Must be cool.
The future of Darkthrone.
Tour, get better musicians.
Any last message?
Thanks, Morbid for the great interview. Hail Satanas!