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Swden is not actually
filled to the core with bands with their own identity. Maybe we have some
original outfits in our neighbour country, but at least 90% of them are crap!!
Sometimes you really get the feeling that something IS really happening over there.
I got exactly this feeling when I listened to Katatonia's 1st. studio
recording, namely "Jhva elohim meth". So now you don't have to wonder
why I asked Blackheim some questions.
Somekind
of biography?
Me and Lord started the band from the very beginning in 87/88. We made some
songs in the vein of Bathory's "Under the sign.." We didn't record
anything professional exept just a couple of rehearsals. The the band split up
due to several problems concerning the line up. Katatonia fell into a dead
zone. In early '91 me and Lord gathered up again and started to create the new
sound of Katatonia, so it's not wrong to claim Katatonias birth around '91. We
were very keen on keeping the band alive, so we continued as a two piece. In
early July '92 we entered the studio Gorysound to record our latest
compositions, the "Jhva elohim meth" demo. In early december '92 we
recruited a bassist called Israphel and started to compose new songs which
ended up on our debut album entiteled "Dance of december souls". The
album was once again recorded in Gorysound around early April. It's just about
to come out (late June/early January) on No Fashion rec., so everyone: check it
out! Currently we're officially still a three piece band, but we're checking up
some guitarists right now, hoever nothing is sure yet.
You deal with a pretty
different sound compared to most other Stockholm bands. Why do you think these
band copy eachother, instead of striving for an own identity?
Well, I think the studio Sunlight is resposible for that. Ofcourse you can get
another sound if you really want to, but there exists a typical Sunilght sound
and metal bands want it. Also some of the bands aren't out for originality,
they just want this trendy, brutal fucking Entombed sound. I can't see no other
theories (I think it's wrong to claim Studio Sunlight for this. Claim the
stupid bands instead!!!...-ed)
The concept of
Katatonia seems to be walking the paths of the deepest sorrow. Is this
something that deals with your personal lives, or is it much improvised?
The whole concept around Katatonias existance is based on the elements of
sadness. We all contribute with our different tragical aspects of our own
experiences. Katatonia is the musical source which we supply with the most dark
sorrows ever. Every feeling is often transformed and can often, but not always,
be expressed through music. Ofcourse our souls are just as mournful as our
concept. If something is improvised it's not negative. Nothing is not
improvised just for the sake though.
Euronymous earlier
record shop "helvete",recently moced from Oslo and over to Sweden
(Eskiltuna). Any cluess about who's running it now?
Yeah, it's the guys Jon of Dissection and Make of The Black.
Would you fight (and
die!!) for your country during a bloody and barbaric war?? Have you, or are you
about to serve the military system in Sweden?
I would have in the real ancient days. When thunder was worshipped. My national
and patriotical views aren't that strong anymore. The military service and
system sucks. Where's the swords and armour? (Buried by time and human
greed...-ed) See what I mean?! Fuck this disciplin of todays normal minded
bureaucrats. The viking lust is gone, and therefor, I'll never do the military
crap...
I don't know how it it
in Sweden, but here in Norway we get loaded with this christian shit since we
are about six years old. Do you really think a six year old kid can decide what
path to choose? For as long as you are loaded with holy words nearly every day,
you can't really believe in anythin else, or....?
I'm not sure, but I don't think the Swedish children are loaded with christian
crap as much as you Norwegians seems to be. What can I say? (Hmmmmm...-ed) It's
great advantage for the christian race. They'll get more if they pervert young
and innocent souls with their own spirit like that!! (Who said
weakness????...-ed) In situations like these there's no need for love, only
arctic hate is the cure...
Five bands in
Norway/Sweden?
Norway: Emperor, Enslaved, (old) Darkthrone, Burzum and Carpathian Forest.
Sweden: Opeth, Dissection, Unanimated, Ancient and of course the mightiest
ever, Bathory!
Does Katatonia consider
themselves as satanists and blackmetallers?
No! Infact we're never claimed to be satanists. Personally I just can't let
anyone stand above me. I suppose we're not blackmetallers either.
(Suppose??...-ed) Remember Katatonia is not a blackmetal band. (Ok...-ed) Our
lyrics are not satanic and our music have more or less departed from blackmetal.
Completely. (First of all, I don't think you can say that B.M. is a music
style, and also since you are not satanic or anything I can not really
understand the image with corpse paint and the pentagram in your logo.....-ed)
The only thing I could consider myself is, a supreme overbeing.
Maybe it's just a rumour.. but I've heard something about the Norwegian
"Black metal mafia" have something against you. Anything to add??
What?? Exactly who in
this "mafia" have something against us?? I strongly doubt ot, but if
this should be true, we're very into war...
In the past months,
Norwegian BM have had a huge amount of free promotion in different medias.
(They were even piblished in some big Swedish papers + Kerrang and some
others!!) Do you think this has contributed to grow the BM-trend even bigger??
Very likely yes!!!
Have you ever been to
Norway? (If you have), how's Norway different from Sweden concerning people,
landscape and bands?
Unfortunately I haven't so far, but I'll sooner or later. Well, I guess the
landscape are more mountain based in your land. I'll find out about the
bands/people when I make my visit.
Personally, I value
anicent poems in the Nordic mythology very high. Especially all EDDA poems and
the King saga's from Snorri S... What's you opinion about this? Don't you think
we should take more care of our ancient culture in the future??
The Nordic mythology is our mythology. We should bring back the lust and
desires. swear to serve the riddle of steel. We're vikings for fucking sake! We
must take revenge on this christian humanity! Almost no one seems to care about
our pastorigin anymore. However we're not obliterated from this world yet
(Yet??? NEVER!!!!!!-ed) I urge every dark soul of the Scandinavic race to rise
and show some immortality, hail! (and kill!!!...-ed)
Any question you'd like
to asnwer, but noone ever asked you??
Yes! I didn't hear any voices...Should I have? I didn't hear anythng...I didn't
see anyone...I didn't see anyone... Am I blind? I feel love, a great deal of
hate... What am I? I can't indentify myself with a superior species... What am
I ???????..... You're human....
Well, it depends, but
anyway it was great to view KATATONIA and Blackheim in this first issue of
"A 1000 Years". May your swords drink the blood of your enemies......
To contact Katatonia, you better
use this address:
KATATONIA
c/o Nyström
Hagagatan 17 L
113 47 Stockhoml
SWEDEN