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21th of June I had the chance to met a couple of great bands
at the Maximum Festival Tour '999 in Hungary. The list of the bands was
SIX FEET UNDER, VADER, ENSLAVED, CRYPTOPSY, NILE and THYRFING. The show
went extremely well. Grutlje Kjellson (vocals/bass) of ENSLAVED was enough
cordial and narrated me the latest news and happenings around the band.
Read this and be sure to check their "Blodhemn" album before
it's too late.
Your new album called "Blodhemn" is slightly differs from
the others. What was the reason for it?
- Actually I think all our albums differ from each other, because we're kind of develop our music all the time. That is natural. You know it's
no point making 10 equal albums, is it? Another reason might be the influences
our new members Kronheim and Dirge Rep brought to the band.
What was the reason for Harald Helgenson to leave the band?
- He was kicked out mainly because of his alcoholic problems. He just
drank far to much and were not able to rehearse or even to show up on our
rehearsals.
You consider yourself as Viking Metal but many 'zines call you as
"Black metal" band. What do you think about it?
- People will always do what they will. Still, I think it is totally
wrong to call us Black Metal, because Black Metal is satanic music and
we're not satanic! Anyway Viking Metal is not a music category, it's just
a name we put on our music years ago. So ENSLAVED=Viking Metal and vice
versa.
The lyrics of your whole albums are dealing with vikings and ancient
Scandinavian mythology. What is it for you? Is it only tribute to the past
of your nativeland or you consider yourselves as pagans?
- You know pagan is just a name the christians put on all the believers of ancient religions in the lands they conquered. So we are definitely
not pagans! We are believers of the ancient religion called Åsatru. Hail
Odin!
Describe us the situation in norwegian underground nowadays.
- I am afraid I've got no idea what's going on!!! I'm just into ENSLAVED and the other older bands like GORGOROTH, GEHENNA, MYSTICUM, DARKTHRONE
etc. etc.
There's a lot of viking bands in Norway (EINHERJER, STORM, etc.).
What do you think about that? It seems to me that it can turn to the new
trend.
- Those bands are really not my faves, I do like the persons behind
them, but I definitely don't like their music. You know, it's just a matter
of taste! The guys are cool but, yeah, you know...
What can you say about the bands from the countries that have nothing
with vikings (Poland, France, Finland etc.) that call themselves "Viking
Metal"?
- I think it's wrong of them to copy or to take part in our heritage!
They have their own heritage and ancestors and their history is just as
proud or even prouder than ours! One of our main goals with ENSLAVED is
to get people just as much into their heritage as we are in ours. Just
think about the history of Poland, Finland, Greece, Hungary, Italy and
of course the Celtic history! Come on! Wake up! Most of the people in Europe
have a great history and mythology! Study it!!! Find your roots! Find the
path of your Forefathers!!!
What can you tell about the future for ENSLAVED. What about the new
album. Will you release it in 1999?
- Our next album will be recorded during Jan/Feb 2000. It will of course be different to Blodhemn and it will the best ENSLAVED album so far. It
will probable be released in the spring/summer of 2000.
The lyrics of your all albums are in norwegian and ancient icelandic
(vikingligr veldi) language. What is the reason for it?
- The reason is mainly that we express our feelings/emotions much better in our mother tongue.
Tell us some words to the end.
- If we have any fans I would like to hail them! Keep on supporting
us. Support the Army of the Northstar!!! Also try to dig into your own
proud history! You will enjoy it, just as much as we do! Believe me. Keep
up the spirit! Hail the Ancient Ones!!!
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