Interview with Hváll of Vreid 2006

By Bradley Smith

Pitch Black Brigades is such a militant march of triumphant metal music.  How do you feel about it and how would you describe it in your own words?

-  A album of dark, militant and majestic metal!  Blackness comes in many shapes.

To me there was evident development between Kraft and Pitch Black Brigades and PBB has a more focused sound and style.  What steps do you feel that you guys between these two albums?  Do you think you were able to better establish your own identity?

-  More dynamic and a bit more straight forward on PBB.  The focus was clearer than on Kraft.  Vreid has definitely found its own identity, but that does not mean that the future albums will sound the same.

I caught you guys on your most recent tour with Enslaved.  When you played live in London you only got 20 minutes for your set.  Was this a shock to you and why did they do that?  I know I wanted to see more from you guys.  How was the rest of the tour?

-  Nothing is a shocking in this bandit business.  Of course it was ludicrous, especially with such a good crowd and all.  But we will back with a bigger attack later on.  London is king!

I noticed you guys were wearing Uniforms for your live performance.  It was really cool in my mind to see you guys all up there as sort of a musical militant group.  What sort of effect were you trying to achieve with these uniforms?

-  I want to people to see Vreid as a unit on stage.  A Pitch Black Brigade if you like.  Putting on the “stage clothes” sets the ambience, one feels ready for battle.

I know you guys did a video for Pitch Black.  Can you tell me some about it?  What does it feature and why did you choose that song to give the visual treatment to?  And where can we view this video?

-  It is a pretty necro video with footage of us at our rehearsal studio + authentic footage from WW2 battle in Norway.  The song is the best on the album + the lyrics suits the video concept.  You can see it at www.vreid.no or at a TV station if our label finally has managed to send it out there.

There is obviously a clear link between Vreid and Windir but do you think that people make too big of a deal about it?  I mean musically the two bands are pretty dissimilar especially when it comes to atmosphere.

-  Make whatever deal they want.  Windir was brilliant, Vreid are brilliant.  I love em bothJ

It has been pretty bad recently for metal musicians dying.  I know this issue must strike home pretty hard after the loss of Valfar.  How has his death affected you and the rest of the band?

- Losing your best friend is devastating.  The rest is personal.

Can you tell me a little about the events surrounding picture you guys used for your cover art and how you relate to the images it conjures?  I know it has something to do with your county when it was bombed during World War 2. 

- Yep it is a picture taken by a British pilot during the largest air battle in Norway during WW2, which happened in our home county Sogn & Fjordane.

Lyrically Pitch Black Brigades appears to deal with the issues of war and its consequences and dictatorial regimes and all sorts of grim subjects.  What sorts of events inspire you?  Do you guys watch a lot of history shows and war documentaries?

-  I have always been fascinated with history, both local and international.  The wars and dictatorial regimes from the last century have always interested me.  I have also studied philosophical history to learn more about these issues, and of course I have seen a lot of war documentaries.  Hail BBC productionsJ

Since we are on the topic, what do you think of all the war we have going on in the world right now such as Iraq, Afghanistan, Lebanon, and so on?  What about North Korea getting Nuclear Weapons?  A lot of fear and uncertainty is bred by that situation as well

- History always repeats itself.  New wrapping, same shit.  Man is greedy and foolish.

In several interviews I have read with Vreid alcohol was mentioned quite often.  I think a lot of people don’t understand how great it can be.  What are some Vreid’s favourite and most recommended alcoholic beverages and what sort of effects do you think they achieve on a person’s life?

-  Local made moonshine mixed with coffee is the all time favourite, yet I have become more of a Cognac and Whiskey lovers the latter years.  Alcohol will kill you!

What does the future hold for Vreid?  Another tour in the near future?  When will start on your new album?

-  We just started the recording of our 3^rd album last week. I have great hopes for this album.  It will be heavier and more atmospheric than the previous 2.  Not a new direction, but a different approach in some ways.  It will be a concept album based upon a collection of Norwegian poems from the WW2.  This means that all lyrics will be in Norwegian this time.  But also an English version of the lyrics will be available.  The release will be in May-June 2007.  In January we are doing our first US show at the Heathen Crusade Metal fest.  Looking forward to that.

Any last words before we inhale the Red Smell?

-  Thanks for the interview man, but beware the red smell, you might actually like it!