rozhovor_2016-07-08_Satyricon_en - HELLMAGAZINE
Hlavná ponuka:
ROZHOVORY
Having had the opportunity to talk to somebody as influential as Frost is a privilege. I was lucky to be able to talk to Frost of Satyricon not only about their re-released album Nemesis Divina which has become one of the most important record in the world of black metal.
Hello Satyricon. It´s an honor for me to be able to talk to you. I can´t start without asking how are you doing?
I’m doing very well, thank you. Busy working on preparing Nemesis Divina anniversary shows and creating a new album...so things are as they should be.
Re-release of Nemesis Divina is out. How does it feel?
It feels great, and perhaps a little weird, to celebrate the 20th anniversary of an album that has a particular significance for us and which has had a massive impact on the musical world that we’re a part of.
What did lead you to make this happen?
Nemesis Divina did establish Satyricon as a major player on the scene, and manifested many of the qualities that still constitute Satyricon – a conquering spirit, a will and determination to go all the way with our endeavours, a unique expression. It is also undoubtedly an album that many people have taken to their hearts. Now on the 20th anniversary of Nemesis Divina it felt right to honor it’s significance.
What was the process of making of this re-issue?
We wanted the re-issue to sound, look and feel like the original, only slightly better and more timeless. I feel that we have actually amplified the elements of the original and given them a little more clarity, and that’s about all.
Did you record any parts of the songs?
No – the intention wasn’t to change what we could do better today, but to emphasize what the original was about and make it shine just a little more. The faults and flaws of the album are parts of its spirit and nature, and if we go in and alter the performances, we take away the very heart of the old recording.
How long did it take to prepare the re-issue to be released?
Some work was involved (making subtle changes can sometimes be more difficult than more apparent ones), but what truly took an effort was to find all of those old pictures and graphical work from 20 years ago. Things weren’t stored on computers back then – everything from pictures to mastertapes were made and stored physically, and over the course of many years physical objects tend to get lost or ruined.
How did it feel to go through the archives and looking for the pictures and stuff used on the re-issue...lots of memories came to your mind I suppose.
Yes, no doubt. It all brought forth memories from a very exciting and happening time. We had never really done a proper photo session before the Nemesis-session, for example – I came to remember that was a big deal back then.
Can you share any interesting moments from the studio when you were recording the album back in 1996?
I remember that we really did put our hearts in the performance, as we felt that the material had a huge potential. In the period leading up to the recording, while we were creating and rehearsing the material, I strongly felt that there was an intensity and an energy in it that by far superseded earlier Satyricon material, so I worked hard to reflect that feeling in my drum playing. Today I realise that I paid way to much attention to the aggressive elements of the material and failed to see many other qualities that the music definitely had. I tried to perform Mother North as aggressively as I could, for instance, which didn’t go down too well with the rest of the band. First later did I realise that with all of the arrangements in place, the song was actually grand, epic and melancholic, and needed much more than aggression and intensity. Well...you live and learn.
If you were about to record the whole album again, would you change anything? If so, what would it be?
Changing anything wouldn’t make sense. The album represents what Satyricon was about in 1996, and no matter how much better it could have been done, it’s very nature comes from how we worked back then.
How have you as musicians changed and evolved for the long 20 years from the Nemesis Divina release?
That’s hard, if not impossible, to quantify or describe. Changing and evolving is anyhow what we naturally do constantly – it’s bound to be that way if creativity and a quest for improvement is part of your life’s blood.
During the 20th anniversary show in Oslo back in February this year, you were performing the entire Nemesis Divina album. Can your fans expect the same also during the summer festivals shows?
Yes; we will be performing the Nemesis Divina album in its entirety on several summer festivals this year.
I´d say the show in Oslo was one the most special shows you´ve done so far. How was it?
We felt a deep sense of excitement, anticipation and – eventually – enthusiasm and gratitude. I think it was a very rewarding show to do, but necessarily also very demanding. Most importantly, the band and the crowd clearly got to share a strong and loaded moment.
You´re performing different songs during your shows. According to what are you choosing the songs for the setlist?
Many factors go into that equation. It’s a mixture of what feels relevant, what type of crowd we have, what we feel like at the moment and so on. We always try to make set lists that make sense for both band and crowd in the given circumstance.
You´ve started working on the next album meanwhile. Can you reveal any details?
The material is very diverse and difficult to describe in short, but I can say that it feels and sounds creative, inspired and loaded with spirit. I am really excited about the material and how everything will end up.
Your listeners can hear and feel the different directing of your music. Comparing to the previous work, self-titled album Satyricon sounded differently. What can we expect from the new record you´re working on?
Something quite different from that again. Each album that we make has a sound and expression of it’s own.
Are you going to perform some “samples“ of the new album also during the festival shows?
We have thought about it, but have no specific plans. We will simply have to wait and see what happens...
Can your Slovakian fans expect you to perform in Slovakia in a close future?
I expect we will come back when we go out a European tour the next time – is was a fine experience when we were in Bratislava the last time.
Anything you´d like to add?
No, let’s get our focus back on the music itself, shall we?
Thank you so much for your time and this interview! Take care and enjoy the summer!
Added: Dominika Nováková
Added: 08.07.2016
