Interview with Ramnsvarturh of Nattkvad 2007

By Bradley Smith

I just got ahold of your tremendous Demo 2006 from HDG Distro. What sort of process went into this recording and what do you feel it represents?

I’m glad that you got our debut demo CD from Marcel, and that you like our music.  We recorded the demo CD in 2006, in a studio here in Norway, called Stovner Rockefabrikk.  The demo CD features 4 songs, all the lyrics are written in Norwegian.  The song titles are: 1 "...I Mørkskog" 2. Fanget I Svarttjern 3. Det Spøker 4. Fra Avgrunnen.  The song "Fra Avgrunnen" is a synth song composed by German Vinterriket.(www.vinterriket.com)  He made the song, and I did the lyric and wrote the vocal lines.  We also participated with "...I Mørkskog" on Brutallica Magazine’s compilation CD, that’s also a goal for Nattkvad, to participate on compilation CDs.  I like compilation CDs a lot, and I think it’s a great way to promote the music worldwide.  I think Nattkvad’s music is somewhere in between Norwegian Black Metal and Heavy/Thrash Metal, I call it Norwegian Extreme Metal.

I noticed your demo is being distributed by HDG Distribution. How did you get involved with HDG distribution? That’s Marcel Banzinger’s new label who used to write for Vampire Magazine correct? Did you guys have a relationship from back in your early days? Will you work with him in the future?

Yes, that’s correct.  Our demo is distributed by HDG Distribution, Marcel Banziger’s label.  Marcel wrote for Vampire Magazine, I must say that Vampire Magazine is a very good webzine, I would recommend every reader to check out:www.vampire-magazine.com  I was the vocalist in Nebular Mystic back in 1999-2000 I recorded two demo CDs with that band, "Taakeriket" and "Frostlagt" and played some gigs, the biggest was in Germany, at "Under The Black Sun Festival."  I had much contact with Marcel at that time, so when we recorded the Nattkvad songs, I dropped him a mail and sent him the songs.  He liked the songs, and I released the demo CD together with Marcel/HDG Distribution.  I must say that we are very satisfied with HDG Distribution, for us it has been a perfect label to release our demo CD on.  Marcel is a very serious man to work with, and his dedication into Metal is super, so I appreciate all his good work for Nattkvad.

Based on the music as well as some words of yours that I have read it would seem that Nattkvad’s influences range from traditional Norwegian black to a wide variety of other metal bands. What do you consider Naatkvad’s music influences and what do you think about when incorporating such a wide variety into your compositions?

Yes, Nattkvad`s influences range from traditional Norwegian Black Metal to Heavy/Thrash Metal.  I like many different bands, everything from Heavy/Thrash to Black and Death Metal, that’s why Nattkvad`s music is very wide, cause I listen to very much different music in the Metal genre, and also that every member in Nattkvad has his different music taste.

Nattkvad is obviously not your first band as you were a founder of Forlorn in Silence. What is the status of Forlorn in Silence? What sort of differences are their musically between the two projects and how do you approach song writing differently for each one?

I was the founder of Forlorn In Silence for many years ago.  Forlorn In Silence recorded the first demo CD back in 1998, by me and Morphanus (Now in Nebular Mystic).  We did a demo that consist of two songs, we got a deal with Norwegian Oskorei Productions, for one full length album.  The full length album was recorded, I still like the songs, but the sound quality turned out so bad, that we never released the album.  We got a very shitty sound engineer, that fucked up everything.  After that, I wanted to take a break with Forlorn In Silence, I and Morpphanus started Nebular Mystic, and recorded the debut demo "Taakeriket" After the second demo "Frostlagt" and the live show at "Under The Black Sun" Festival in Germany, I left the band, cause of some "fights" inside the band.  I then took a break with music, where I found out that I wanted to start Forlorn In Silence again.  I recorded a 7” EP, that are limited to 500ex, (250 on black vinyl and 250 on red vinyl) I still have some 7” EP`s for sale.  After the EP I asked TheUnborn to do the vocals, and we recorded a CD demo in 2002 that got very good critics worldwide, after that we have not recorded anything new with Forlorn In Silence, cause of some line-up problems, but things seems to be better now, so we will start to practice as fast as possible with FIS.

To me your music though deadly serious in some respects also seems to maintain a certain lightness and fluidity to it mainly based on the melodic leads you use. When composing the music what sorts of themes do you like to interweave and how do you view the music on its different levels?

I listen to much different bands in the Metal Genre, so therefore I’m inspired by many different styles when I make music.  I never plan what song I will make, I don’t go around and say to myself that now I shall make a fast or a slow song.  I write down that what feels natural at that time.  The music I always have listen mostly to is Heavy/Thrash Metal and mid-tempo Black Metal from the 90`s, so I naturally get inspiration from the bands I listen to.

I know from other interviews that you primarily view Nattkvad as a studio band but you said you would certainly do a couple of live shows in the future if everything is right. What situation would have to present itself in order for Nattkvad to perform live? Where in Nattkvad’s career would you like to be in for this performance and what ideally would you like the live show to consist of in regards to appearance?

That’s correct, Nattkvad is first of all a Studio band, and I want to record as much as possible with Nattkvad.  I will rather spend more time for recording, than do live shows.  I have always liked to work in the Studio, that’s what I think it’s the best time with music, to work in a Studio with ideas and record and listen to the final result, it gives me a big "kick."  But don’t misunderstand, the live shows I did with Nebular Mystic were great.  I think the best concert we had in Norway, was when we played support for Ancient in Oslo.  I felt that everything was right that evening.  I think it’s also a bit early for Nattkvad to think about live shows, as I said, I’d rather use my time to make songs, and think about the next demo and the debut album and do as much promotion as possible.  When we have recorded more songs, then I think it’s better to start thinking of a live show.

Do you think that since you are from Norway you are going to get an easier road to a record deal than someone from another country based on the high quality of your country mates? Basically do you think that there is a belief out there that if a band is from Norway they will of course be higher quality than a band from another country? What bands from Norway these days do you enjoy?

I know it was like that before, I remember that almost every Norwegian Black Metal band got a contract before, much because they where from Norway.  I don’t think it’s so hard to get a record deal, but to get a good record deal it’s much harder.  Many bands are so proud that they have a record deal, but when you see the deal, it’s just crap, for me it would then have been better to release the CD myself.  It’s too much rip off contracts out there.  I think that Norway has the most interesting Black Metal bands, and I must say that I’m more interested to hear a new Norwegian band, than a band from another place, but when that has been said, I must also say that I have listen to much Compilation CDs lately, and I have found many great bands from around the world.  The last Compilation CD I bought was Metalmessage, I found great bands from Norway, Germany to India on that Compilation CD.  Anyway, Metalmessage from Germany release great compilations, check out:www.metalmessage.com

Norwegian Mythology and nature plays a central role in the lyrical themes for Nattkvad. What do you think is so compelling about Norse mythology? Why do you have such a strong connection to your country and what about its mature inspires you?

That’s right, I think Norway has a very strong and interesting mythology.  We have great landscapes and nature. That plays a central role in my lyrics.  It also inspires me to make music and write lyrics.

I noticed also that you said feelings of isolation/desolation and other imagery that induces them are important to you. Why is that imagery important and what sort of internal feelings do they conjure up that make you feel a fondness for being alone?

In Nattkvad I always write lyrics and music alone, and I must be in the right mood for it.

As with a lot of bands within the extreme metal underground do you as well feel a strong anti-Xtain sentiment? Being as you are so interested in Norse Mythology how does it make you feel when your countrymen were forced to convert to Xtianity at the point of a sword?

First of all, I must say that I think we have many great Viking Metal bands here in Norway. I now want to mention a small part of the Viking history, this is an interview, so I can of course not write to long, I try to keep it short. The Viking period here in Norway is from ca. 793 to ca. 1066. In the year of 793 the Viking pirates sailed across the North sea to a Christian monastery at Lindisfarne in the North-East England, and stole its treasures, murdered the monks. -Most people lived on their farms. The Viking houses were usually built of wood, but also on stones or blocks of turf. Everybody wore jewelry, rings, bracelets necklaces and brooches. -Men worked on the farms or as craftsmen/traders. Women did all the household jobs. -Sometimes a man had to fight to protect his family. -Weddings, funerals and religious festivals were celebrated with a big feast. - The Vikings had their own religion and worshipped many different gods "The Norse Myths" - Odin was the wise and mysterious "All father" the ruler of gods. - Thor ruled the skies, storms and thunder. He had iron gloves and a magic belt and his hammer as a weapon. - Loki was the trickster god - Freyja Goddess of love and war. Runes was the Viking alphabet. Vikings that dies in war comes to Valhall, and they shall there fight for Odin when Ragnarok comes. It makes me sick when I think of how much the christians destroyed with their religion, our buildings were destroyed by them, they burned them, and built their churches on the ruins.

Are you going to be recording a full length album or are you working on another demo?  How far along are you with in your song writing process for the next release?  Any labels interested?

We are now working with another demo, I don’t know how many songs we will record for the new demo yet, at least one new song is completely finished.  The cover for the next demo, is almost finished.  Twilight 13 Media from Romania do the cover for the next demo CD.  Check out:www.twilight13media.com for his great artwork.  We will use Panser Studio here in Norway for the new songs.  I have always liked the sound you get in Panser Studio, also many other Metal bands from Norway use that studio.  We will also re-record the song "Det Spøker" from our debut demo, to get a better sound quality on that song.  "Det Spøker" is my favourite song on the debut demo, so I think the song deserves a much better sound quality, therefore we will re-record it.  We will enter the Studio early this year, but at the moment, I don’t know the date yet.  The demo has been sent out to several Magazines/Labels and Radio Stations, we have received both good and not so good critics, some labels have showed their interest, but I don’t want to mention any names, cause nothing is for sure yet.  I really want to come back to that later, when things are more for sure.  Nattkvad has also been at a radio show in Holland, where some of our songs from the debut cd was played.

Last Words are for you…..

Thank you Brad for your good support, and good luck with Nocturnal Cult.  Every reader out there can order our demo CD by sending 6Euro to:

Nattkvad, P.O.Box 20, N-2006 Løvenstad, Norway. MSN and MAIL:: nattkvad@hotmail.com also visit our official homepage at: www.nattkvad.com Thanks again for this interview, now I need a beer!!! Cheers!!!