Lucem Fero | Interviews | Darkthrone

New Wave of Black Heavy Metal - Fenriz pays tribute to the golden eighties era with Darkthrone's twelfth album F. O. A. D.

By Anthony Morgan

After seven albums under Norwegian label Moonfog Productions, a reunion with Peaceville Records seemed imminent for Darkthrone. A celebrated act, their 1992 opus A Blaze in the Northern Sky was hailed a cornerstone in the Black Metal genre. It's great influence has been wide and far reaching, and spawned a host of copycats. Back in 1994 though, their fourth album Transilvanian Hunger was dogged by a racial issue that wouldn't go away. Using the phrase “Norsk Arisk Black Metal" on the back of their CD cover, the word “Arisk” was misinterpeted as “Aryan” (when it actually meant “Norwegian”). Darkthrone's apology further encouraged the flames, and later into the saga group and label parted ways. In 2005 though, all differences were set aside.

Twelfth album The Cult Is Alive became the first full length Darkthrone had issued since the 2005 reunion, a predominantly Punk affair. Immediately after the final track for The Cult Is Alive was recorded, writing began for the album's follow up. That song proved to be Fenriz's “Raised on Rock”, and the duo entered Necrohell 2 studios once more as soon as Nocturno Culto had penned his first contribution for the album. Eighteen months later, album recording had concluded. Late July 2007 saw the release of New Wave of Black Heavy Metal, lending a glimpse as to what was to come. The EP's CD version sported alternate recordings of “Wisdom of the Dead” and “Canadian Metal”, a cover of Testors “Bad Attitude” and an exclusive new track entitled “Hedninger Fra Helvete” (Heathens from Hell).

Darkthrone's thirteenth opus saw the light of day in October 2007, dubbed F. O. A. D. An acronym for “Fuck Off And Die”, the name itself still proves that Fenriz's venomous loathing for all things popular still hasn't been laid to rest. Even though it still holds Punk leanings, F. O. A. D. contains slightly more Metal elements than its predecessor. Fenriz sings the praises of such acts as Venom, Celtic Frost and especially the legendary Mötorhead, a sign of where his heart lies nowadays. Holding a deep hatred of the modern album sound, Darkthrone has opted to use a primitive approach commonly associated with demos from years past. Fenriz calls it “old Metal with old sound”, a description which seems rather apt.

2007 proves to be Darkthrone's twentieth anniversary, and with that in mind Lucem Fero interviewed Darkthrone member Fenriz via email. Eccentric to say the least, the man's answers were short yet strange. A known recluse, the musician wishes for the fans to collect their own thoughts and opinions upon each release - in other words, think for themselves. He shares his feelings on Darkthrone's F. O. A. D., and how that musical beast developed. Those Fenriz admires in both Punk and Metal get warmly saluted, those being an eclectic mix of both known and unknown names. Also, we get to read his thoughts on Darkthrone's twenty years as a musical entity, the influence of A Blaze in the Northern Sky, the Transilvanian Hunger controversy and a host of other topics. With all that in mind, it certainly can't be said that the Darkthrone drummer makes a tedious interviewee.

Hello Fenriz. In general, how are you today? Alright?
I'm hung over. I did six interviews after work yesterday, and then that was followed by a party at my place prior to the Deathhammer gig. I stopped going to gigs, but sometimes I have to somewhat.
In order to start things off, could you give us an introduction to Darkthrone's thirteenth album F. O. A. D.?
As in?....
After having created music for over two decades, how difficult would you say it is to keep things fresh musically?
It's real easy, but creativity comes and goes. I was burnt out in 1995; I had made six albums in a two year period back then, or something. It took me ten years to come out of that writers block, but now I'm back. I wrote five out of nine songs on F. O. A. D, and have already written my songs for our next album.
How would you describe your musical contributions to this album?
My songs are Metal, Punk and Black Metal. They're like “In the Shadow of the Horns”, but without that gay nineties Black Metal part which was during the end of that song.
How do you feel you've evolved over the last few albums as a musician?
I'm not a musician, and I haven't rehearsed with ambitions as a drummer since 1993. I am me. I'm an artist, and a political dissident in the Metal world; I fight against narrow minded fucks, and people in Metal studios who make identical plastic sounds. We learnt from our mistake on our first album! When will all the idiots learn?
What type of vocal takes would you say Nocturno gave to this album? Can you hear a specific style, or specific vocalists?
I don't know names of vocal styles. Please enlighten me.
Darkthrone's 2007 EP was named New Wave of Black Heavy Metal, so what were the motives behind this name?
Everyone asks this. I was walking in the forest, and thinking about the songs that should be on the EP. I think they sound a bit like Darkthrone, a bit like Mötorhead, a bit like New Wave of British Heavy Metal, a bit like Heavy Metal, and a bit like Punk. To me, those songs sound like the New Wave of Black Heavy Metal. I always kid around with expressions and titles, and my friends knows that. I don't need to make boring titles, and after twenty years in the business I have to show that I have a brain. New bands can have boring titles, but not old bands haha.
Is the name New Wave of Black Heavy Metal more of a mockery of the hefty amounts of genre tags that seem to be materializing on a daily basis nowadays?
Not at all. It's also a tribute to my favourite Metal style at the moment, which is New Wave Of British Heavy Metal. 1979-1985 may rest in peace, but we meet again NWOBHM! We meet every day, and now we meet with Darkthrone too.
The EP included the exclusive track “Hedninger Fra Helvete”, so what can you reveal about that song?
Just listen to it. The title means “Heathens From Hell”, and the lyric is a rather good poem. It's Ted's song; it's very eclectic, and is the last time we will play “fast” in a looong time. Mötorhead's top speed is our top speed now.
In what ways did the EP versions of the songs “Canadian Metal” and “Wisdom of the Dead” differ to the versions that surfaced on F. O. A. D.?
“Canadian Metal” only had different refrain vocals. “Wisdom of the Dead” has a new mix, new vocals. Also, the refrain is sung by Czral of Aura Noir! Hail!.
The EP included the cover “Bad Attitude” by the Testors, and you said that you may have been influenced by Eric Anderson of New Bomb Turks. Why did you decide to cover this track, and how would you describe Darkthrone's version of the song?
When Ted mentioned we should do a couple of cover songs, I was against it. In a relationship it's give and take though, so I said ok. Guess who'll choose which songs to cover though? Me! Again, I covered a very primitive Punk song. I don't believe in covers, other than attract people's attention to very great bands. I chose to cover Siouxsie & the Banshees, and Testors. If I made one new Testors fan with our cover, then my mission is complete. We made many new Testors fans... We play the song pretty much like the original. We don't fuck around.
To those who haven't heard them, how would you describe the Testors and also New Bomb Turks?
Yes! Testors is an American Punk band; they're not extreme Punk, but more classic Punk. They're influenced by the fifties Rock N' Roll, the sixties Punk vibe and the early seventies Punk vibe. Also, they're influenced by a bit of the English breakthrough in 1976-77. An extremely great band, New Bomb Turks are even more primitive than Darkthrone. They keep it real, and played live in the studio on their Destroy-Oh-Boy! (1993) album. This meant that when the solos were played, only bass guitar backed it up. It's just one guitarist, and one bass player. Also, they have a very wild and intense vocalist too. It's total soul.
Darkthrone's thirteenth album was named F. O. A. D., an acronym for “Fuck Off And Die”. What were the group's motives in writing a song with such a matter of fact title, and whom who would you generally like to "fuck off and die"?
Fools with stupid nineties Metal collections must think again; seventies, eighties and noughties is where the best Metal can be found. Also, Metal producers should fuck off and die with their Metal studios. They give away a very likeable sound to everyone. The title F .O. A. D is the most typical expression of the eighties Metal scene though, and makes us who belong there feel like coming home! That's the intention of that title.
Why was the name F. O. A. D chosen to represent the album as a whole, and who came up with it?
I come up with almost every title for Darkthrone. It's my job, and passion.
The album name has a somewhat Punk vibe to it, so what Punk elements do you feel this album incorporates?
There's much more Punk on The Cult Is Alive, and this one has more Heavy Metal in it. The Punk elements have been with every Darkthrone album except Soulside Journey, our first album. We learnt from our mistake on that album - for that one, we went to a Metal studio. Arrrgh. Our Punk element is our nasty demo sound quality, which we have always had. Also, many of our non symphonic riffs have a Punk vibe to them. We are Metalpunk; it's a small genre, but important none the less. Venom, Mötorhead and Celtic Frost were the most important Metalpunk bands in the eighties, and thus the most important period.
You mentioned that you hear elements of the group Poison Idea on F. O. A. D, so what elements of Poison Idea do you hear upon the album?
I only hear it on the last riff of “Pervertor of the Seven Gates”.
When you speak of Punk music, what specific Punk style or Punk bands are you speaking of? Why do you particularly enjoy them?
Raw Punk. Metalpunk like Warfare's Mayhem Fuckin' Mayhem album from 1986 is extremely important to me. I enjoy many British Crust groups from the eighties. Also, I enjoy Amebix, Sacrilege, and Axegrinder. The first Onslaught and Bolt Thrower records etc. is the style I like, but also Punk in general. There's the Discharge bands (many!), and the early American bands from seventies...and then there's the original sounding bands from the eighties; Rudimentary Peni, Gism (thanks Jack), Beyond Possession, Cryptic Slaughter, Septic Death, Crumbsuckers, Adrenalin Od and English Dogs etc. Metalpunk is alive. My friends are almost all fans of both Metal, and Punk.
The name Fuck Off And Live Forever was mentioned in interviews as a possible album title, so why was this title abandoned?
That was bullshit, and a rumour.
How would you say the recording process materialized in Necrohell studios compared to The Cult Is Alive?
It was exactly the same!! haha!
You recorded two tracks at a time for both The Cult Is Alive and F. O. A. D., so what is the reason behind this?
It's less stressful, and makes it easier to keep shit fresh! I love it! It's the only way.
In recording F. O. A. D. you've opted for a demo sound which you have described as an architects dream, so what qualities do you feel a demo sound offers?
It offers a personal sound. Albums tend to have a typical sound, whereas demos often have (in the eighties at least) very untypical sounds! We want unique!
You've spoken out against the “modern album sound”, so what weaknesses do you feel that specific sound has?
The “modern album sound” is an instant gratification, whereas I want our sound to be an acquired taste. They're two completely different things. I hate most of Sepultura's sounds from the nineties, but I love Sepultura from the eighties!!!!!!!!!
In what ways is this album “the soul of a lifetime of Rock and Metal”?
Every inch of it is. It's the result of all the thousands of bands I've liked throughout my life!!!
In what ways is this album “old Metal with old sound”?
Do you have to ask? Just listen. It is old Metal with old sound. My riffs are all so old, and draw on nothing which came after 1985. That's with the exception of the Poison Idea riff, but that band has an older style than the time during which they recorded too hahahaha.
You said the album “sounds like a war between Atlantis and the rest of the planet”, so can you expand upon that?
No! Expanding explanation destroys magic! One must think for oneself, and with only my short strange messages to go by! That's soul.
What can you reveal about the album cover art for F. O. A. D., such as who painted it and what inspired it?
Dennis Dread drew it, so google him. He also makes the hand held magazine Destroying Angels. The cover idea was mine, and was based on the cover of our Thulcandra demo (the graveyard element). My idea was to include a person on the cover with spikes and mohawk hair, and Ted said that he should have a helmet. The main idea was that this person should have a patch on his jacket with a new and upcoming band! We chose Deathhammer from Norway, and they sound like the first Kreator album (1985's Endless Pain).
What's your favourite track upon the album, and why?
I don't have favourite tracks. That's for outsiders, whereas we're in Darkthrone (insiders).
Is there anything written or recorded for the next album? If so, what can you reveal about them?
We record the first tracks for our next album in thirteen days from now, which'll be a Saturday (October 27). My song is called “Hiking Metal Punx”; it has one Mötorhead style riff, one NWOBHM / Speed Metal riff and also a Punk / Iron Maiden style riff. It's the way Puke from Sweden would do it, I guess (check out that band, who are my fave Swedish eighties Punk band).
Are there any hints as to which direction the next album will go in?
It may be more Punk again, but Ted says he writes more Heavy Metal now. It'll be exciting - for me, at least. HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
You've spoken critically about internet forums in the past, so what are your reasons for this?
I hate it so much you can't believe it. King of the internet forum? I laugh my ass off at that. Drop dead fools.
Since you're critical of internet forums, what are your opinions on news sites which allow user comments such as Blabbermouth.net?
I've never seen this Blabbermouth, but I want to kick it's teeth in. Listen to Razor and drink beer instead.
How do you look upon your now defunct side projects such as Isengard and Neptune Towers looking back?
Hmmmmm, very good question!!! Neptune Towers is still just a pointer to the master Klaus Schulze. Isengard... I don't understand why people like it so much. The thing with Isengard is that what people like are the elements I don't like. That's the Folk Metal element, but I hate Folk Metal. I like the stuff with Isengard that's other types of Metal such as Doom and Death...
Will Neptune Towers' third album ever see the light of day, or are you still largely dissatisfied with that album? What about the album do you dislike?
Good research, man! It simply wasn't good enough, and is now lost on a tape somewhere.
Are there any of your old side projects being resurrected in the future? If so, which one and why?
Who knows, or dares to dream?!? I use everything I make for Darkthrone now. I think I had a lot of shit music in my head during the early nineties, so I let go of it through albums. Those parts of my brain were emptied then, so bye bye to that.
What do you feel is the strongest Darkthrone album thus far, and why?
You know this is an impossible answer. It's not our most commercial album (Transilvanian Hunger), nor is it Panzerfaust (1995). Also, it isn't Total Death (1996), Ravishing Grimness (1999), Plaguewielder (2001), Hate Them (2003), Sardonic Wrath (2004), A Blaze in the Northern Sky (1992), Soulside Journey (1990), or Goatlord (1997). It's like Mötorhead; fave albums are stupid to mention, and that's because they have many songs which are important. This focus on albums is bullshit. I think songs here and there are what it's all about. Maybe our best one is Under a Funeral Moon. Whatever.
What do you feel is the weakest Darkthrone album thus far, and why?
Total Death. I didn't get to choose the production to be the way I wanted.
If you had the opportunity to re-record Total Death, what would you change in order to improve it?
I would massacre my own songs on that album, and then replace them with a Beherit / Slaughter (Canadian Thrash band) sound.
A Blaze in the Northern Sky is commonly cited as a classic, influential record in the Black Metal genre, so what are your thoughts upon that?
I just did an entire interview with Norwegian national radio based on that question yesterday. That album has a lot of Death Metal riffs on it, but all the fools don't hear it because of the following: it looks like Black Metal, and the sound is Black Metal. It isn't pure in any way though, as we seldom do pure albums. We didn't have totalitarian thinking in this band, other than on Under a Funeral Moon. Totalitarian thinking is bad, but maybe good for certain albums. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHHAHAHAHA.
What mark do you feel A Blaze in the Northern Sky has made upon the Black Metal genre?
It helped in creating a stupid follower trend! Fools! Don't follow us, but follow the ones we follow! Venom, Mercyful Fate, Hellhammer / Celtic Frost, Destruction, Bathory... this is the law.
In Black Metal, there seems to be a new breed of Black Metal groups emerging which others have dubbed “Darkthrone clones” (who adopt A Blaze in the Northern Sky as a blueprint for their sound). What are your thoughts upon these “Darkthrone clones”, and what would you say to them if you ever met them?
This has existed since 1992. Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. This is ultra boring, but Tangorodrim is good.
What Black Metal artists do you enjoy nowadays, and why do you enjoy them?
I enjoy Black Metal bands that hail the old gods from the eighties. The newest style I ever liked was Ved Buens Ende, and also the new group Hellrealm which is in the style of Von. Other than that, I only like the eighties sound such as Vomitor from Australia. Orcustus is great, so check out their forthcoming album.
Even though it's an age old question, could you give me your thoughts upon the controversy surrounding Transilvanian Hunger looking back?
As Kerry King would say; extreme times call for extreme measures.
Do you feel that it gave detractors of Metal music an opportunity to admonish Darkthrone as a racist group, when in fact Darkthrone are not such a group? What are your thoughts?
People hate us all the time, so it's common. Doing popular things such as big flashy music videos, like those Nightwish does, kills Metal. Extremeties, on the other hand, don't kill Metal in the long run. The racist thing isn't even an issue in our world, namely the Metal world. In the Metal world, Jesus has no power and it's truly global. Fight the narrrow minded fools!!!
Looking back, are you regretful of any offense you may have caused Jewish citizens?
“They” don't care about Darkthrone, I'm sure. I'm surprised if they use the word Jews about themselves, and that's because a limiting term like that is - bottom line - racist.
Why did Darkthrone decide to leave Peaceville Records following Transilvanian Hunger?
Our contract was up, and I guess they wanted us to leave too. I don't know. I wanted to go to a smaller label though, and that's as I was reacting against every single other band that always grew and grew. I wanted an opposite direction, an uglier and uglier sound and a smaller label. Everybody just expands. Try thinking differently, you know.
Looking back, how would you summarise Darkthrone's time with Moonfog Productions?
It was ultra boring, but they're a solid label.
Why did Darkthrone opt to sign with Peaceville again after ten years apart? Were there any bridges that had to be repaired initially?
That's a question for Emo bands. I have to go help a guy to move, and help him wash his fucking floors now. I don't have time for this Emo question.
Can you pinpoint the exact moment you thought “I want to be a musician”? Where were you when the thought dawned on you, and what age were you? Also, why did you decide to become a musician?
Musician is a rude word for me. I'm not a musician; I'm me. I hate musicians, namely the ones that go from band to band. They're just hired hands. They love their instrument, whereas I hate playing guitar and drums. I live music, and not the musician. I just wanted to make albums, even when I was a kid. I never wanted to play live, and have never had a dream to be on the stage and all that shit.
How did family and friends close to you react when you informed them? Were they initially supportive, or did they think it was a phase? How did their reaction make you feel?
It wasn't like that for me, and I'm not a family person anyway. I stick to myself, and do what I want.
As a musician starting out, which musicians did you particularly idolise, and why?
That's a better question. No, I didnt idolize; I'm against idolizing completely! I write autographs, but I feel nothing because it's wrong wrong wrong. If I say that now though, it always starts a big discussion. I just want to be left alone, so I sign the autograph and then they leave. I idolize an artists brain, and not his face. I love the way Vinny Appice (Dio, Black Sabbath / Heaven & Hell) plays drums, but I've never seen his face! This is true! I get insane when I hear him play on Mob Rules (1981), and The Last in Line (1984). I don't even know what he looks like though.
In what ways did these musicians influence you in your earlier years?
Sweet Freedom (1973) by Uriah Heep was my main inspiration when I was three to nine years old - I played it to death. After then, it was Kiss, AC/DC, Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden.... this was my identity when I was young. They are my identity now also, and they influence me today. I make riffs, and think in this style too.
How do you feel Darkthrone in 2007 differs to Darkthrone in 1987? How do you feel the band differs from twenty years ago?
Not much. Actually, the songs we make now are closest to our song “Snowfall” from 1988! We make music now that we could've made in 1988 if we'd actually had the know-how at the time, and the experience.
How do you feel your perspective has changed over those twenty years?
Everyone changes - only Rain Man doesn't change. I have a lot more hate, a lot more albums and a lot more serious music interested contacts now.
What do you feel you've learnt as a person and as a musician over those twenty years?
I learnt to see falseness, and I learnt to see truth. I know when people are in a phase, or if they really care about music.
Where would you like to take your career in the coming years?
Right here where I am now. No is my favourite word. I could be world famous like Dimmu Borgir, but I prefer the underground / demo sound that we have. Thank you to everyone that understands Darkthrone, and the choices we make - and sometimes have to make.
Are there any dreams and goals you have yet to achieve?
I only had one single dream in my life, and that was to get a record deal. I got that in 1990, and after that I had no ambitions and no goals. My only goal is to follow my heart, and where it takes me. That leads us to true freedom.
What message do you have for the people who've followed and supported Darkthrone over the last twenty years?
Support real Metal! Support Deom's Gate, and Alpha Centauri!!!!!!
Thank you very much for the interview Fenriz, and I wish you and Darkthrone all the best with F. O. A. D. Do you have any final thoughts which you would like to share?
Listen to Inepsy, and open a beer.