Interview with Masteriis 2011

By Bradley Smith

 

Being somewhat unknown within the metal scene at large, can you give me some of your Personal  background?  What were some of your musical influences, how did you get into black metal, and what are your personal goals within the realm of music?

 

Masteriis consist of me, Ramnsvarturh(Vocals) and Morphanus(Guitar/Bass) we do the drums and the arrangements together. I usually do the lyrics, while Morphanus make all the riffs etc, we work out the final results together. My musical influences consist of many several things, not only music, but course, music is the main influence. I also get a lot of inspiration for my music and lyrics by Norwegian nature, but in some songs, like "Into Infinite Darkness" and in our brand new song "Pain In Silence" I use my own personal sorrows for inspiration. We have been listening to Metal since a very early age, but I became more into Black Metal after visiting the "Helvete" shop in Oslo. Today, I listen to different styles, from Metal, Ebm, to Black Metal. My personal goals now are to release more CD`s and LP`s. I like LP`s a lot, and I`m a big collector myself. 

 

You had some pretty developed projects earlier in your career in the form of Nattkvad and Forlorn In Silence.  What happened to those bands and why did you abandon them?  What did you learn in them that you were able to bring into the present day with you?

 

Yes, I had Forlorn In Silence, Nebular Mystic and Nattkvad. Forlorn In Silence released a very limited demo, after that we recorded a full-length CD. We had a contract with Oskorei Prod(Norway), but because of bad sound quality, the CD was never released. Forlorn In Silence has also released a 7`EP(250 on red and 250 on black vinyl). I released two demos with Nebular Mystic "Taakeriket" and "Frostlagt" the band is still existing, but not with me on vocals. They released their debut CD "Necrotic" in 2005. Nattkvad released the debut demo CD in 2006(500ex) by me and Marcel Banzinger HDG Distribution. I still have planes to release more music with Nattkvad, but Masteriis is my main priority now. Think both of us has learned a lot by having different projects through the years, I think about studioworks/live and song arrangements/lyrics. All this things will help us to form Masteriis as a better band in the future.

 

Can you inform me on the birth of Masteriis?  How did it happen and who is involved?  How do you feel it is an extension of your previous works and how is it different?  What is the concept you have for Masteriis and how would you describe its music?  What sort of atmosphere do you want to create with the music?

 

The birth of Masteriis, was for about two years ago. We released the debut demo CD in 2010, the demo was released in 250 hand-numbered ex, and consist of two songs "Dødsdom" and "Into Infinite Darkness" The demo received good critics. Masteriis Line UP is: Ramnsvarturh(Vocals) and Morphanus(Guitars/Bass) All the drumwork, we do together. Masteriis is much faster, all in all it sounds better and more professional than the older projects we have done together in the past. The guitar are more "thicker" and it sounds more "powerful" the bass are more "heavy" with more "punch" and the drums sounds more powerful and tighter. I`m also more pleased with my vocals than before. I`m much more pleased with the whole music picture now, and both Stian Aarstad(ex Dimmu Borgir) and Henning Bortne has done a great job for us. My lyrics can be built on the same team, but it`s not a rip-off from other work. We want to create a Norwegian atmosphere with Masteriis. I hope the listener get a bit of a 90`s BM feeling when they listen to Masteriis.

 

Your Dodsdom EP was just released on Ewiges Eis.  How did you get involved with that label and what do you think of the job they have done with it?  Is this a long contract you have with them or is it only for this EP?  Don’t you have a split EP that is coming out on Ewiges Eis as well?

 

Ewiges Eies released our debut MCD in 500 hand-numbered ex. I got in contact with Ewiges Eies in 2010. We sent them the two promo songs from our demo CD, and after that we started to work for the MCD. Ewiges Eies is a very professional label, we always get fast answers, they have always done everything that was promised and we get a good promotion from them. So I`m very pleased with the work they have done for the MCD. Kogainon has done a great cover/layout. I will recommend all the readers to check out: www.platten-firma.de  They have many good releases both on CD and LP. Our plans is to release a split CD with a German band on Ewiges Eies, but at the moment we are working with a new 2 track CD that will consist of the song "Frostlagt" and "Pain In Silence" This CD will be limited to 250 hand-numbered copies, and we will release it by ourselves. But we will of course still do the split CD on Ewiges Eies, the two track CD we release by ourselves, is just extra promotion.

 

Do you feel any pressure from the fact that you are a black metal band from Norway?  Do you think that the old scene is dead and that the new scene is its own entity?  Or is there really any scene left at all?  Do you see yourself as an outsider to what is going on in the metal underground within Norway?

 

No, I don’t do that. Masteriis will always release what we think and like best, if others like it, it`s great. I have never thought so much about the "scene" I just listen and create music/lyrics I like. Before it was more demo`s, tape trading and fanzines, that I miss a lot. I`m still fan of cassettes, but sadly I have not found so many good ones the last years. I don’t see us as some kind of outsiders to what going on in the metal underground today, as I mention, we create music we like.

 

I know it might be a touchy subject, but since it happened recently and it is the 10th anniversary of 9/11 here in the USA I was curious to know your opinion on the Oslo bombing and campground shooting there in Norway.  In your opinion, how has it changed Norway as a whole?  What do you think of his motivations?  Is that sort of action ever justified?

 

First of all, Masteriis is not a political band, and we do not support Anders Behring Breivik in any ways.  I think such actions can never been justified. As we all know, we had a bombing and mass shooting on 22 July 2011, he bombed the government building in Oslo, I think it was eight innocent people that died cause of that. After the bombing, he went to a place called "Utøya" and killed 69 people, mostly kids/teenagers. On 24 August 2012, The Court in Oslo found Breivik sane and guilty of murdering 77 people. He got a prison sentence, with a term of 21 years in jail, but I don’t think he will be a totally free man anymore. After the shooting and bombing, I think it was a bit different here in Norway, especially in Oslo, but today I don’t see much difference.

We have talked about nature in the past.  What is your view of nature and what role does it play in regards to your musical creations.  Do you think we as humans are doing enough to protect our environment?  Do you support the ideals of Eco-terrorism?

 

Yes, I have. As you know I get a lot of my inspiration for making music and writing lyrics by our beautiful Norwegian nature and landscapes. I also like to take nature photos and film in the nature. Nope, I don’t think we as humans do enough to protect our nature, sadly, I think the nature will be more and more destroyed in the future. Eco-terrorism can attack people or things that threaten the environment or nature/wildlife. Something I can support, something not.

 

I take it you like art, and I can assume that you like Edvard Munch.  Is this true and what are some other artists you enjoy?  What do you look for in an artist that appeals to you?  Also, what do you feel is Norway’s contribution to the history of Art?  I mean, what are some of most notable Norwegian artists in your opinion?

 

Yes, I like art, music is art. Edvard Munch have done so many great pictures. I see a lot of sorrow and sadness in his pictures, that also gives me inspiration to write music and write lyrics. I work at the Munch-museum, so I have plenty of time to see the pictures and get inspiration. Theodor Severin Kittelsen, is also one of the most popular artists in Norway, Kittelsen became famous for his nature paintings, and for his illustrations of fairy tales and legends, and especially trolls. I also visit the Viking Museum now and then.

 

So what can we expect from Masteriis in the near future?  A full length album?  Does Masteriis plan to do any live shows?

 

We have not planned any live shows at the moment, but I`m interested to play live with Masteriis in the future. The first release now, will be the two track CD(250 hand-numbered ex) we release by ourselves. We will also do the split CD on Ewiges Eis. After that, I think it`s time for a full-length album.

 

Since this is the first Masteriis interview I am aware of I’ll leave any final Words to you.  Please pass on some words of enlightenment to us uneducated heathens.  Heh heh.

 

Thanks a lot for the interview Brad, we really appreciate that a lot, and thanks for the good critics and all support you have given us, Thanks!!!! Hope the readers will check out our MCD "Dødsdom" and our new two track CD, which will be ready in some weeks. If you are interested, please contact me at: ramnsvarturh@live.no or masteriis@hotmail.no  We also have some Masteriis T-Shirts for sale, they are limited to 40 copies, and numbered. We will also participate with the new song "Pain In Silence" on Slowly We Rot Magazine`s compilation CD. Think we have the magazines in some weeks. Again, thanks for all you support. Ramnsvarturh.

We have also an official Masteriis page at facebook, please check it out, and a homepage www.masteriis.com