(interview done around may/june 2001)
I
guess a lot of you know this norwegian band which became somewhat famous in the
black metal underground after releasing a very great full-lenght album explictly
titled “Kill For Satan”... cool title, but I’m not convinced of course
that if a band shows to the audience a so satanic-ultra-evil-killer attitude
they are, behind their facepaintings, while speaking in interviews, at the same
level of imagery... exactly for this reason I’ve tried to send a bunch of
questions to the bassist vocalist Nag in a first time; then there were something
that I’d liked to deep and consequently send another handful of questions...
this time I’ve found something else insufficient in its explanation, but this
time Nag avoided to answer and definitely ignored all my mails. Read and judge
yourself.
Vanish.
…I think we can start this interview telling some necessary infos ‘bout the
band et similia… I mean you can give me a short bio for Tsjuder, and secondly
you can talk about various releases… and at last the main reason that led you
to form the band…
Nag.
Tsjuder was started by myself (Nag) and Berserk in 1993. We had both played in
different Death Metal bands and wanted to play something we thought were more
extreme. The main reason we started it was because we both listened to Black
Metal, and wanted to play it. Draugluin joined in 1994. Since then we’ve had
much people involved in the band, but it’s been Nag and Draugluin that’s
“been the band”. Berserk left after the first demo “Ved ferdens ende”
(95). The second demo “Possessed” (96) was much more raw and brutal than the
previous. Then we released “Throne of the Goat” (97), which is in the same
vein as “Possessed”, but faster and more aggressive. The next release is
“Atum Nocturnem” (99). It was supposed to be a recording only for a drummer
to rehearse, but At War rec (Ger) wanted to release it. It include 5 songs,
where 4 are on “Kill for Satan” (2000). It include 9 tracks of raw and
brutal Black Metal. This release have some Death Metal influences compared to
the previous releases. The next album will be more back to the “Possessed”
and “Throne of..” with more thrash influences.
V.
Now that you have an album out: are you completely satisfied with the result of
“Kill For Satan”? I mean, for the songs, for the contents and such things…
have you artistically gave vent to your rage against the christianity? Rating
from 1 to 10 to your point of satisfaction…
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N.
I’m very satisfied with the album. Of course there are things I would have
done different, but all in all it’s good. The content of our lyrics (which I
guess you’re referring to) has always dwelt around the same topic. I think
this album is a fist in the face of god, yes! I would give it 8 points. The next
album will get 10! Hehe. V.
An obvious question now, what point do you want to reach with your music and/or
with Tsjuder? Where do you want to arrive? N.
With Tsjuder I want to make the most raw, brutal and evil Black Metal ever. I
would also like to bring the real underground scene closer together. V.
On the Cd, on the totality of 8 songs, 4 of them have been written by ex-members
of the band…why have you decided to maintain this material even if the
respective owners are no more in the band? Who is that Trygve who wrote “Dying
Spirits”? For what I know is not an old Tsjuder member… N.
Diabolus Mort wrote 3 lyrics, which is a trilogy so we couldn’t drop out one
of those. Anyway the lyrics are very good and we made the songs while he was
still in the band. Trygve is a friend of ours. He has never played in Tsjuder.
“Dying Spirits” is also originally from the “Throne of the Goat” Ep. |
V.
Why Blod (also in Gehenna -V.) didn’t the drums on the album?
N.
He was supposed to do the drums, but it was a little bit hard since he lives
500km away from us. So, Anti Christian joined instead.
V.
Can you speak about the trilogy of the songs (“Kill For Satan”,
“Sodomizing The Lamb”, “Beyond The Grave”) that your old guitarist
Diabolus Mort wrote? What kind of concept is there behind the lyrics? What do
you mean with “the trilogy has been PROPHECISED…”?
N.
In short words, it’s when the Devil comes to the earth to rule. First
it’s a sacrifise to the Devil, then he conquers the throne, and then he
will rule forever. Diabolus Mort wanted us to write “..prophecised..”
since it’s the way he thinks it will happen.
V.
Are you proud of your country, both for his historical past (vikings,
etc.) and the importance and the influence that Norway has given to Black
Metal?
N.
Yes. I’m not proud of what’s going on today though (sincerely,
re-reading this intie I think the first part of this question was pretty
stupid -V).
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V.
Which historical Norwegian B/M bands have influenced you the most? Which is the
CULTEST Norwegian Black Metal band for you (just tell me the name)? N.
Gorgoroth is probably the Black Metal band that have influenced me the most. I
think Darkthrone and Gorgoroth are the most cult (in the past). V.
On an interview appeared on My Heart Bleeds For You #0 an interlocutor of mine
stated that the Norwegian Black Metal bands of the ‘90s have done all the
possible in their career, but now they all are over, they have nothing to say
more… do you agree? N.
No, I don’t agree! It depends on what a band want to do. I’m sure Darkthrone
is able to make an album similar to Transylvanian Hunger or Under a funeral moon. V.
What do you think nowadays about the most boring Norwegian bands Emperor and
Immortal, also in terms of
coherence? N.
I don’t think those bands are the most boring. We have other bands as Susperia,
Borknagar, + + + V.
Don’t you think that for play Black Metal and/or defining himself a black
metaller the player should have a certain knowledge in occult matters or anyway
it needs to be under the influence of a certain state of mind? |
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N.
Of course! This is the essence of Black Metal (An idiot too could answer so
-V.)!
*V.
So tell me Nag, on what kind of occult matters/readings/writers are you into the
most and why? A song from the album is titled “Necromancy”, can you
illustrate me clearly its text? Do you practice any (not only necromantic, I
mean) ritual? Have you ever read about the medieval magick? What do you think
about Crowley’s & Church Of Satan’s (quite obvious) beliefs?
N. Necronomicon has always fascinated me. I’ve been reading a lot off stuff, but I think horror books, and demonic possession is the most interesting. Those deal with subject that I can relate to. The lyric “Necromancy” was written by Draugluin 7-8 years ago. You will have to ask Draugluin, or just read the lyric yourself! (So I have to conclude that that lyric is quite obvious to interpret… -V.). I’m not practising any rituals any more. I used to do it many years ago, mostly from Necronomicon. Of course I’ve read about medieval magic. I don’t care about Church of Satan. Crowley has many good books.
**V.
You have just stated you had practised some Necronomicon rituals, so I have to
conclude that you believe in the real existence of this “vanished book” or
what? What rituals have you practiced in the specific?
**V.
What do you think of H. P. Lovecraft as a writer, and (in this case, supposedly)
occultist?
**V.
Can you explain your (personal?) point of view towards the Crowley’s thoughts
about the Magic(k) (if you know about that)?
It
would had very interesting to deep such different Necronomicon beliefs and
legends, but why these three questions have remained unanswered and why our
“evil” hero has ignored all my e-mail then so?!?
*V.
Can you explain me on what your “certain state of mind” consists, so?
N.
Demonic Possession.
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V.
Euronymous stated that Death/Black Metal was (it STILL is?) music for people
able to kill, you in your specific case are/should be able to kill someone? What
kind of person? Why? In what circumstances? N.
Yes, I’m able to kill, but it depends on the circumstances of course. If
someone would have done something towards my brother or close friends, the
revenge would be brutal! V.
Should you be able to KILL FOR SATAN? N.
Since you’re referring to the album title I must say that it’s a ritual, not
going around and kill people for Satan. I would not take a gun and shoot someone
and say it was for Satan (There’s no
answer here, sorry -V.). V.
Are you SATANISTS in Tsjuder? If this yes, can you explain what do you mean for
Satanism? N.
For ME, I don’t believe in
Christianity, therefore not god nor the Devil. For me Satan is the opposite of
good and light. I believe in Demons, spirits, ghosts, beasts, etc. If you would
like to define this Satanism, it’s ok for me. (I’m not going deep into this
question since it would have been like writing a book). *V.
Something strange in this answer… anyway I think it’s too easy say a such
thing in order to avoid to deep the matter… the readers (and not me… -V.)
can though you aren’t convinced of what you’re saying… please don’t
avoid to talk about this topic… |
N.
What I’m trying to say is that there are many different definitions of
Satanism. I despite Christianity and it’s weak values. I do not believe in it,
and is therefore not a Devil worshipper in the “christian sense” of the
word. I
believe in many other dark and evil things, that has nothing to do with religion.
I really don’t fucking care if people thinks this is Satanism or not. I
seriously don’t see any reason why people should think I am not convinced
about what I am saying or not (Simply because every fucking one
is able to say he’s Satanist without explaining why -V.). I am
fascinated of the dark sides of the human soul and this is what Tsjuders music
and lyrics is about.
V.
I read in your web-site that you (in the very beginning of the current year)
refused to play in a gig with Death Metal Bands… why this? Aren’t you Death
Metal fans or what?
N.
I don’t know where you’ve got this information, but I don’t think it’s
on our web-site (I took this info from the Tsjuder web-site, but later me and
Nag had a talking on which he explained that they didn’t play with Hypocrisy
since they thought the whole audience was for Hypocrisy, but honestly this is
not the same thing that his web-site let suppose -V.). The only gig we’ve
refused to play was with Extol. This since they are Christians, and we have
nothing to do playing a gig with them!
V.
Hoping to appear irritating: why the decision to play “Chainsaw” Black Metal
and not Death Metal? Is Death Metal not obscure, scary, occult or satanic enough
for you? Are you another bunch of sons of the TREND?
N.
I must admit that I was laughing of most of the blab la blab la Black Metal
names myself. There are lots of ridiculous names. It was Nornagest of Enthroned
that once said to me that Tsjuder play Chainsaw Black Metal. I agree to this,
and we just decided to put it on our album. When it comes to trend: We used it
more to stay away from the trend. I don’t find Chainsaw Black Metal trendy. We
don’t play Death Metal, Tsjuder play Black Metal!
*V.
…You’ve misunderstood the question, I was asking you the reason why you
don’t fit yourself in Death Metal… can you give me an answer, please?
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N.
Several years ago black metal was created as a reaction against the commercial
death metal bands that wrote lyrics about the pollution problems. It was a
reaction against the new death metal trend. (strange to think about that today
with bands like dimmu borgir and cradle of filth) There was created a new type
of metal that might origin from death and thrash metal (Hmmm… -V.), but
still it is unique. This once new creation is the music that Tsjuder plays and
will always play. I listen to a lot of death metal, but this is simply not the
same type of music that we play (You know Death Metal -instead of Black- is
not a trend nowadays, so this is an answer for a question that I haven’t never
asked you -V.). V.
What do you think about the teen-ager (so-called) Black Metal bands? N.
Depends on what you mean by this (I was referring to that kind of idiotic
bands that say things similar to “Reading the Satyricon I’ve
learnt a lot about Satan! Yeah! 666!” -V.). Lets just put it this way;
it’s VERY few new bands I listen to now days. V.
What do you think about those ‘zines that asks ordinary questions and those
bands that give ordinary answers? N.
Well, I think I’ve answered most of the questions you’ve asked me before in
other zines (I can say the same thing for your answers… when you say that
you started to play Black Metal only because you wanted to play it, that’s an
ordinary answer… -V.). Anyway, I find it more interesting to read about
things that concern the band, and not only the trend, Euronymous, Norwegian
scene, etc questions. Of course it also gets more interesting when the answers
are better, and not the same as what everyone else say (Right… -V). V.
Are you satisfied with Drakkar Prod. and your deal with them? Don’t you think
it’s a bit “restrictive” to be tied to a such small label able to print
only 1000 Cd’s for an album? |
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N.
We are satisfied. There are things that have taken a little to long time, but
that seems to be a problem for all labels. Drakkar is a small underground label,
and this I have nothing against this. I don’t feel that Tsjuder have nothing
to do on bigger labels as Nuclear Blast, Napalm, etc. Anyway, Drakkar is growing.
By the way, our album was printed in 2000 copies, and 3000 more are in the press
right now. For the next album they’ll print 5000 album in the first press.
Evil Horde records from Brazil will press 1000 copies, and Drakkar Vinland will
also press 1000 copies. I’m not sure if those are included in the 5000 or not.
V.
To the absurd…what would you do if a day someone would give you the
opportunity to do the support-band for a worldwide tour with Morbid Angel?
Don’t you’d like to gain FAME and lot of DIRTY MONEY?
N.
First of all I would be very surprised. I would really like to play support for
Morbid Angel, but I don’t think Tsjuder would fit into that job.
V.
The very end…Have you ever walked alone into a forest, after dark? Can you
tell me any interesting anecdote concerning such things?
N.
I don’t know where you live, but right outside my window is the forest, so yes
I’ve done that more than once! Anyway, I feel stronger and more supreme. I can
truly feel there are more here that most people deny.
V.
Thank you for answering my interview Nag…
the space below is yours.
V.
Check out www.tsjuder.com for updates.
Contact
Nag
- Nag@tsjuder.com
Draugluin:
Halvor
”Draugluin” Storrøsten
Københavngata 14a,
0566 Oslo/Norway
