Interview with Vardalv of Throne of Katarsis 2007

By Bradley Smith

You are about to unleash your new musical monument, An Eternal Dark Horizon.  Can you tell us about the new album and how it is a development from Unholy Holocaustwinds? 

Well, the new album are I the same vein as Unholy Holocaustwinds but we have developed as musicians since the recording of Unholy Holocaustwinds was done so I think that it is just natural that the way we create the songs has matured as we are getting to know each other better as musicians.

Unholy Holocaustwinds was recently re-released by Paradigms Records.  That is such a great packaging job they have done.  Can you give some back ground on your demo and what led up to its re-release and also how you feel about it musically as it is already 3 years old?

When we recorded Unholyholocaustwinds, it was recorded in not more than 8 hours due to lack of time, we just wanted to show a handful of people what  kind of material we were working on, but when we then brought 40 ex to the inferno festival 2004 it sold out really quickly and we  started to send more ex to distributors and Zines all over the world ,we were first contacted by Warfront Production from Germany who printed it in 400 exØ handnumbered Pro-copied  MC release , then we where contacted by Paradigms as they wanted to do a re-release on us.  I really enjoy listening to Unholy Holocaustwinds even today, it was so intense recording because both me and Grimnisse was practically rushing through these 8 hours and all of the instruments was on a first take basis, so everything is real and authentic.

Do you feel that the Traditional Black Metal scene in Norway is dying or dead?  Is one of TOK’s goals to bring it back?  What are some current bands that are keeping the old flame alive?  What do you think of some of the old masters that are still putting out albums like Darkthrone and Enslaved?

No, I don`t feel like it is dying, but there has been ups and downs in the Black Metal scene, there have been some newcomers in the scene that has no feeling in their music, they seem to have a wish that playing their instrument fast is enough to create black metal but that is in my opinion not the fact. there are more to it than that.  Feeling is everything in Black metal!  Furze, Sarkom, Ljå and Koldbrann are just some of the bands that are doing the real thing!  Darkthrone does what Darkthrone does best!  Enslaved are exploring some new sides of themselves and the are doing it well I think!

With black lotus calling off the contract, do you feel in retrospect that it turned out to be a good turn of events since it allowed you to get signed to a better label such as Candlelight?

It was a  good thing for us that BL called it off for us cause Candlelight are much more into our kind of music than BL was, and I think Candlelight  are in a better position to give us advertisements and tour support  etc., etc! We also got a better deal with them than with BL!

I know this has been addressed before but I really enjoy the way you guys utilize the Acoustic guitars.  It reminds me a lot of Immortal’s Diabolical Fullmoon Mysticism album and early Ulver.  What is your impression on the value of acoustic guitars?

Actually, I didn’t know to much about the acoustic guitars until the end of a rehearsal we had a couple of months before the recording of Unholy Holocaustwinds.  When Grimnisse showed me what his plan was, what can i say.?.......I was ecstatic, it just fitted into the rest of the work ,like matches to a church ...........

TOK consists of two permanent members.  Rather than enlist more members you guys have chosen to remain as you are.  What sort of artistic freedom does that allow you and how is your relationship with Grimnisse?

Me and Grimnisse wouldn’t have it another way, we are doing things perfectly together.  I do the drums and he takes care of guitars and the other stuff.  He presents me with some of his ideas and then we work out the drums and putting the different parts of the songs together.  One of the most important  aspects of TOK is that we have always seen the future for TOK in the same way ,so working with Grimnisse is a pretty necro affaire !!!............

I read that Music has had a large impact on your life.  How has it shaped you and when did the transformation first begin?

It is a lifestyle, almost everything is and are about music (Black Metal). I first started to listen to Black metal when I heard Darkthrone’s: in the shadow of the horns for the first time at a friend of mine (Thanx Eirik S), then I went to the local black metal shop (hehe. Thanx Kallen) and bought the record.  This took me to a level where I wanted to find out more about the extreme metal underground.

On a similar what sort of promotional plans do you have for An Eternal Dark Horizon?  Are you going to be traveling at all for it or having shirts printed or anything like that?  As an underground extremist do you think Merchandising is important?

I know Candlelight will do a lot of promotion for us in magazines and stuff, we have made some necro flyers ourselves that we will send to small  black metal shops and distributors around the world!  There will be some touring eventually ,t-shirts and some other type of merchandise will be ready when the album is to be released at the 5 of march in Europe.  Merchandise for me is very important, what would I wear if I didn’t have that ....

One of the main influences on your music has been stated as Nature and deep forests.  What sort of imagery and atmospheres does that conjure up for you and how does it influence you music?

The nature is among me where I live here up on the mountainside, it is relaxing and inspirational to take an afternoon at the top of it and just walk around to clear my mind, thinking about what kind of people that has wandered here before me, a lot of Vikings have actually been buried here, not far from my house, the thought of that Vikings have been fighting their battles in the fjords beneath the mountains has made quite many images in my head!

Another large influence on your music has been stated as Old Mythologies.  What sort of mythologies are you referring to and how have they impacted you?  What are some of your favorite mythological stories?

As we call it Norrøn mythology, it’s about the old stories of Vallhalla and Odin, but there are also the stories about trolls and stuff.  We have a lot of local stories that contains both trolls and vikings but you’ve had to be here to understand it

Satanism and its obvious stance on anti-Xtianity hold a strong foundation for black metal.  Do you have any philosophical roots attached to these ideologies?  How has religion in Norway affected you?

Xtianity pisses me off, weak people that cling to a hope for a better life after death!!!  Face the fact: you are born-you grow up- you die and rot, and are leaving the place for someone else!  Each man for his own belief!  I spit upon organized religion!!! 

Any other new or developing plans for Throne of Katarsis?  Any shows or new musical outputs?

I can  inform that Unholy Holocaustwinds will finally be available on vinyl. Warfront Production will release a limited set of Unholy Holocaustwinds on 10' MLP format. 650 copies will be made available, including gate-fold-cover with printed inner sleeve and an A2 size poster. Also the 150 first copies will be on colored vinyl and include a logo-patch.
Our full-length An Eternal Dark Horizon will be released 5 of March 2007. To get more information concerning gigs and releases; stay tuned at our website.

 

I provide you the space to leave whatever final Symbols of Winter you so choose.

Ø"Hail the true Black Metal scene! Spread the word of THRONE OF KATARSIS, and visit our homepage at http://www.throneofkatarsis.com for samples and info!

On behalf of THRONE OF KATARSIS,

the Unholy Norwegian Black Metal Cult;

Vardalv 6 of February anno 2007