What can you tell me about "Monument of Death"? It seems that it was really well received in the underground...

I have just gotten home from a European tour with my other band, Carpathian Forest, while the album was released, so I havent heard so much from the press yet. We took the promo with us on tour, and played it every night in all venues throughout Europe and there was a lot of good reactions from people who wanted to know what band and album the sound engineer was playing. To me that's a really cool reaction.

Which is the fascination with suicide that the lyrics and music seem to have in Blood Red Throne?

Its not just suicide, but the theme Death in general. I mean, we are obviously a Death metal band, and I try to make that obvious through my lyrics and the way we present the band vision wise. I want us to be slightly different, and that's why I chose the photos, showing us in various situations of Death, all from suicide to murder. To me, Death Metal should deal about just that, Death!

Why did you form Blood Red Throne? What did you want to express that you could not in Emperor, Satyricon or Einherjer among other bands in which you played?

Well, the basic need I had to form Blood Red Throne, was that I started with Death Metal, and I felt I needed a change in style and start playing the music I enjoy the most, and which I personally feel, I do best. I quit in Emperor years ago, due to reasons that should be familiar to most people interested in that band, while I quit Satyricon and Einherjer at the same time, as I wanted to spend more time on my own bands, and my son. If I wanted to play Death Metal, then the above mentioned bands wouldn't cover that need.

Is Blood Red Throne a way to show Tchort´s most brutal side?

Yeah, I guess so. Its atleast the most brutal band I am in now, and also the most brutal music that I have ever written. I think its good for me, to have 2-3 bands playing different styles, as it covers the need I have to use different parts of my personality when it comes to songwriting.

What is the "Death Mix Promo 2000"? Was it only a promo or was it an official release?

Deathmix 2000 is a promo demo we did, to spread our name and music in the music industry. It was sent to a few magazines in the underground, a few commercial magazines, some radio stations, and some labels, as we were aiming for a record deal. We got a lot of airplay and some very good critics, as well as having some of the songs featured on various compilations. It also lead to different deal-offers from labels, but as I wanted to sign with Hammerheart, we waited until they showed us interest, and signed with them.

How were the tracks in "Monument of Death" composed? Were they constructed around your riffs or did each member bring their own parts?

Død and I are the ones who write the music in BRT. We make the songs seperatly, and that gives us an extra advantage I feel, since we write very different riffs and use very different song structure, from eachother. It makes our album varied I believe.

Are there any parts in "Monument of Death" that you composed years ago or is all the material really recent?

Much of the material I used for my songs, are years old. I made my first Death metal demo in 91, and much of the material is from that period. I feel it fits well with the riffs I make these days. It also gives me a pleasure to see that the music I wrote when I was young wasn't a waste, since it gets very positive response now. I believe that most the music that Død wrote for Monument Of Death, are newer stuff.

How would you compare Norway´s extreme metal scene in 2001 compared to the early nineties when you started playing?

Kinda hard for me to say, since I wasn't involved in much more than the local music scene when I first started out. It was in 92 when I joined Emperor that I started to get a overlook of the extreme music scene here. I feel that a lot of that "feeling" and atmosphere that surrounded the bands and their music back then, is lost, but there are a lot of bands now, that kick ass! I think the 90`s had its era, and that we will see a different and more modern style from Norwegian extreme metal bands. Maybe more progressive and experimental. That's my tip at least.

Are the members of Blood Red Throne influenced by old school death metal or are there any new bands that you would like to mention?

All the members of BRT have different influences, but there are some bands that we are all into, like Cannibal Corpse, Deicide, Death, etc. I like some old school stuff, like Autopsy for example. I know Død holds Death as his favorite, while Freddy holds Suffocation as his personal favorite. I am not so much into new bands, but I like the Severe Torture album a lot.

I read that the first 1000 copies of "Monument of Death" were released with a "Suicide kit"...did you have any problem with that?

No suicides so far... hehe I think that most shops will not accept this version, so I guess it will be sold mainly through mailorder from the label. I think it's a cool way to celebrate our debut album and I am glad they accept my idea. I am also looking forward to see the vinyl version that have the same layout as the promo did.

Can you tell us a brief commentary on each of the bands in which you played?

Green carnation, my first "real" band. We released a Death metal demo in 91/92 and split up when I joined Emperor in 92. I stayed with Emperor until early 95, and I recorded the In the nightside Eclipse with them, as well as their first tour. I joined Satyricon in 96 and stayed for almost 3 years, doing some festivals and concerts with them throughout Europe. I joined Einherjer to help them out on their European tour with Cradle Of Filth. I joined Carpathian Forest in which I still play. So far, I have recorded 2 albums and a 7" with them, and I have recently done a European tour with the band. In 98, we reformed Green Carnation, and released a Doom metal album last year, and the new one, being released in November now. That's pretty much the bands of importance I have been involved with, except Blood Red Throne.

Something that you would like to add?

I would ask fans of quality Death Metal to check out or album, Monument of Death, as I think it has something new to offer the scene, and also to thank you for your interest in the band!

Interview by Federico Marongiu

Monument of Death - CD (2001)