Here is
one of the most popular bands in the black metal genre currently...and one of
the best I might add! Emperor have recently had some problems with members
being convicted...T'chort (bass) is serving 6 months for assault and Faust has
received 14 years for murder. Hellhammer (ex-Mayhem) has stepped in to replace
Faust on drums...an excellent choice! Guitarist Samoth and Ishahn (vox) still
face trial in the weeks ahead. Their debut album "In the Nightside
Eclipse" should be out in the meantime on Candlelight Records of Britain.
Also Nocturnal Art productions has released a limited 7" by the
band...avaible at the band's address for 8$ world. Well, this is a small one
but it still gives a little look into Emperor.....
Hello
again, Samoth. How are you this eve?
I'm depressed and
truly pissed of and my head is drowning in thoughts.
It is no secret that
several members of Emperor are to go to trial in Ferbuary. What has brought
this on and is there any remorse?
After Euronymous died, the police seriously started to haunt us and everything
collapsed. There is no remorse.
It seems that many
individuals in Norway's black metal scene are under investigation for various
acts of mayhem. Has this hurt the scene at all? Can you mention any god new
groups to look for?
Of course it will hurt the scene since several of us have to serve prison. Look
out for bands as In The Woods, Gorgoroth, Mysticum, Gehenna, etc.
Will Emperor continue
if its members are convicted?
We will be convicted, that's for sure. But it won't stop us. But it will of
course, cause several problems. Emperor is my whole existence.
What is the purpose
behind church burning? Do you really believe it will start a dark war?
It causes fear and sorrow and if there were a lot more people into our morbid way
of thinking, then we probably could start a dark war as well.
As for death metal, it
seems that a lot of black metal bands oppose it, while many of them played it
only while ago. What is your opinion of death metal. Didn't you turn down a
European tour with Morbid Angel?
I truly like some death metal bands, but they mostly sound the same and the
concept of death metal has been infected by humanism and so on. We did turn do
the Morbid Angel tour, but it has nothing to do with Morbid Angel, wich is a
fucking great band I truly respect. But we hadn't any keyboard player at that
time and had also just returned froma small shitty UK tour and we had just
recorded the album as well, and we weren't really into supporting Dismember
(who was the second band for the tour), so we didn't feel like doing it. Even
if we said yes. there wouldn't have been anything since some of us were
arrested a short time before the tour was supposed to start.
And on to the new album
"In the Nightside Eclipse". What can you tell us of the album? And
when?
It includes 8 monumental tracts of a souling black metal art. We still need to
do the final mix and then get the artwork finished before releasing it
(translation: may-july - ed.).
What can you tell us of
the mighty Emperor's lyrics? Are there any particula themes or topics that you
maynly stick to? Can you tell us of the lyrics/themes on "In the Nightside
Eclipse"?
They descripe our longing for the ancient epochs of time; for something
different. Our thoughts and emotions for the dark nature (wich truly ensouls
us), for unholy realms beyond, for the forces of the night, in the melancholy
and hatred inside us, the supreme powers and they all praise darkness and evil.
I know that all of
Emperor is Satanic/occultists. When did you decide that this was your path?
Wich rites do you practice/perform?
I have always been into heavy metal and was always seeking and attrected to
more extreme sides of it. Personally I practice no rites except from my music,
which can be seen as a rite.
It seems black metal is the new trend. Is this true? A lot of bands are
playing black metal these days.
It seems so, but there
are still lot of dark quality bands, but also far too many brainless bands with
no feelings or atmosphere...I don't really care - Emperor belongs to the elite
anyway.
How important is corpse
paint and the black metal "uniform" to you? (Spikes etc.)
Corpse paint, etc.. is not too important for me anymore, since everybody is
using it. We don't want to be just another band I the masses.
Your opinion on the
following people:
Aleister Crowley:
Dead
Quorthon: Genius
Anton LaVey: Intelligent
Count Grishnack. Doomed
Tom. G. Warrior: Fucked up
Euronymous: Dead
What is your biggest
source of inspiration for composing infernal Emperor material?
Thoughts and emotions.
When will the true
conquer?
To be honest, I think most of our conquering dreams will remain as dreams, at
least on this earth.
What's on yor turntable
right now? Best release(s) of '93
The depressing sounds of The Cure's amazing "Pornography" album. Best
releases of '93, Burzum "Det som engang var", Emperor
"Emperor", Morbid Angel "Covenant", Vangelis
"Conquering of Paradise", Inanna "Day ov Torment", and so
on.
Last chants...
I burn with hate...burn with me.
Emperor Horde/Nocturnal Art
productions
box 53
3812 Akkerhaugen
Telemark
Norway