UNHOLY BLACK METAL » Interview with DIMMU BORGIR for Petrified zine 1994

- Main
- Mission
- Bands
- Links
- Kontakt

## Interview with DIMMU BORGIR for Petrified zine 1994

INTERVIEW WITH SHAGRATH FOR PETRIFIED ZINE

Here is a Boring question, but can you tell us when you formed Dimmu Borgir? Who are your current members?
SHAGRATH: Dimmu Borgir grew from a solo-project that started in ‘92. In the winter of ‘93 it had a complete line-up. The band is still young, but it will grow old with time, and those who have heard our material can not deny that we ‘ve got our own identity.
Members are: Erkeksetler Silenoz, Tsidakv, Brynjard Tristan and me- Shagrath.

What have you released until now?
SHAGRATH: We have released a 7″ EP - Inn I Evighelens Morke, and a CD/LP called “For all Tid”. We have also recorded a lot of reh tape’s.

Can you tell us about your 7″ EP for Necromantik Gallery Prod.?
SHAGRATH: The 7″ EP contains the exclusive track “Inn I Evighetens Morke”. The cover has a pitiful picture of a sunset. I choose this picture just because it is a sunset, it matches the title of the single “Into the Eternity of Darkness”. So if you got 6 us$.. Order this item!!

How about your NO COLOURS release ? Will it contain some of the same tracks as the 7″ EP?
SHAGRATH: The last track “RaahjOrn Speiler Draugheimens Skodde ” on the single, will also be on the debut album. The album is beautiful and ugly- dark as Norwegian winter nights, full of tears and pain, but also the grimmest hate. If you want this masterpiece, well, then you should order it from : No Colours Records for 20 USD).

Is Dimmu Borgir considered a Satanic/Dark band or a Viking band? What is your opinion on those forms of Black Metal?
SHAGRATH: We are not a “Viking” band, personally I think this has become too much of a trend. And I don’t believe in the old Norse beliefs as Odin, etc.. Well the reason that I don ‘t agree with this Viking thing, is that I never heard of a Viking that watches TV, listens to music on his stereo, and washed his clothes in the washing machine. My point is that the world has changed so much, that it no longer is possible to reverse it. Thereare no Vikings…

Your music is very mystical, atmospheric, and truly dark. What influences your music?
SHAGRATH: First of all, we are not influenced by any other bands. Our main inspiration is of course the pain of our own depressions, and the depths of
the Norwegian Forests. This is reflected in both our music and our lyrics. As you may know, all our lyrics are in Norwegian, and even if its sad, that message won’t get through to those who don’t speak Norwegian. The lyrics are not possible to translate, because some of the lyrics are about places in Norway. It would not only he very hard to translate, but it would also give people the wrong impression of what we really mean.

What is your opinion of your Norwegian Black Metal scene?
SHAGRATH: I think the Norwegian Black Metal scene is the most powerful and brutal in the world. Not only have we got the best Black Metal bands, but we have also brought our evilness to life. I haven’t heard of any other country in the world where Black Metalters have burnt churches and killed like they have in Norway. And this is something I am truly proud of.

Do you support the Satanic activities that have occurred in Norway?
SHAGRATH: Of course.

What are some of your favorite bands?
SHAGRATH: Carpathian Forest, Strid, Darkthrone, Satyricon, Celtic Frost, Destruction, Mercyful Fate, Gehenna, old Bathory, Venom and many others.

Zines?
SHAGRATH: Slayer is of-course my favorite ‘zine, because it is the most professional one. But I also like: Orcustus, Daemonium Aeturnus, Val-Galdr and Nordic Vision.

What other bands do members of Dimmu Borgir play in?
SHAGRATH: Tjodalv plays in OLD MAN’S CHILD, Brynjard plays in Kosmos ROst, and me Shagrath are working in two other projects.

Can you tell us about OLD MAN’S CHILD?
SHAGRATH: They will soon release a split CD with VED BUENS ENDE on “Ancient Lore Creations”, their second curse will be out on your label “FULL MOON PROD”. All the members of OLD MAN’S CHILD are very good friends with the members of DIMMU BORGIR. We have known each other for many many years now.

And Kosmos ROST?
SHAGRATH: Kosmos ROst is a project with Brynjam from Dimmu Borgir and Draug Aldrahn from DOdheimsgard. They still haven’t recorded anything yet, as far as I know.

What ever happened to FIMBULWINTER? Is it still alive?
SHAGRATH: Fimbul Winter split up because the members moved too far apart, it was impossible to rehearse. But maybe in the future, we will enter the studio to record some tracks. Wait and see!

What is the purpose of such “beautiful” but sad, dark and truly ugly music?
SHAGRATH: The main purpose is to push everyone who listen to our music, to the extreme limits of depression, and hopefully so far that they all, with time, kill themselves.

Are there any bands that interest you outside of Norway?
SHAGRATH: Well, I think the Norwegian scene stands above any other scene… Norway is unique. The foreign Black Metal scene has too much brainless crap, but I can mention some “good” bands outside of Norway: Old Bathory, Celtic Frost, Sodom, Destruction, Mercyful Fate, Marduk, Samael, Rotting Christ,the Breath of Life… Etc…

Thanks for the time spent on this interview, do you have anything else to say?
SHAGRATH: Well, our 7″ EP “In I Evighetens Morke” is out on N.G.P, it can be yours for $6 usd. Our debut album “For all Tid” is out on No Colors Records, and it costs S20/S22 World. Our products can also be ordered at my address. We are now working on the material for our second curse, which will he out in the end of ‘95.. This album will be called “Stormblast Gjennom Sorias Taake ” and it will be released through Necromantik Gallery. We will also be on a compilation video, which is called “Return to the Norwegian Hell”. It will include interviews and professional clips from: Emperor, Mortiis, Dimmu Borgir, Satyricon, Strid, Gehenna, and others. Many thanks for the interview. Hail to all worshippers of death and destruction. We’ll all meet in hell…

DIMMU BORGIR
Stian “Shagragth” Thoresen,
Klosterheimveien 9, 0666
Oslo, Norway.