1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:13,640 Copyright (C) NRK 2 00:00:13,640 --> 00:00:17,640 Norwegian texts: Jørn-Are Haugli Johansen 3 00:00:53,560 --> 00:00:58,460 As churches begin to burn, ushers in a golden age in black metal. 4 00:00:58,760 --> 00:01:01,900 With a number of defining releases. 5 00:01:02,200 --> 00:01:06,080 Many are recorded in the Grieghallen in Bergen. 6 00:01:10,440 --> 00:01:16,420 It is remarkable to think that some of the most extreme, gritty - 7 00:01:16,720 --> 00:01:22,820 - the Norwegian black metal bands go to Grieghallen and records albums - 8 00:01:23,120 --> 00:01:28,260 - which remains standing as stalwarts in rock history. 9 00:01:28,560 --> 00:01:32,940 The span between pretty, bourgeois, Bergen Philharmonic - 10 00:01:33,240 --> 00:01:37,040 - and extreme metal with cutting guitars... 11 00:01:45,280 --> 00:01:49,780 The puddle, the producer, has had a great deal to do with - 12 00:01:50,080 --> 00:01:53,940 - how Norwegian black metal came to be presented, sonically. 13 00:01:54,240 --> 00:01:59,700 As one of those who was a birth assistant for Norwegian black metal sound. 14 00:02:00,000 --> 00:02:06,100 A soundscape that practically covers the whole world later tried to repeat. 15 00:02:06,400 --> 00:02:10,000 These two were something the first thing i did. 16 00:02:22,280 --> 00:02:27,060 The first metal recording in Grieghallen was my father - 17 00:02:27,360 --> 00:02:32,960 - which was an old one schoolmate of Pytten. 18 00:02:32,720 --> 00:02:37,940 I asked my father if he knew anyone with a studio. 19 00:02:38,240 --> 00:02:43,460 Then he thought a little. "The kid is moving on down in Grieghallen." He called. 20 00:02:43,760 --> 00:02:49,980 "My son has a band. They're not like that old, so they don't have much money." 21 00:02:50,280 --> 00:02:57,240 "Yes, they can come to me." “Don't say that, you haven't heard the music." 22 00:03:06,160 --> 00:03:09,960 It was a brutal entrance into the world. 23 00:03:14,040 --> 00:03:18,180 The doctrine of harmony no longer applied. It was gone. 24 00:03:18,480 --> 00:03:20,940 But I was immensely fascinated. 25 00:03:21,240 --> 00:03:27,140 Pytten, who then receives Old Funeral, puts them in the Grieghallen. 26 00:03:27,440 --> 00:03:33,220 He makes sure that a bunch relatively inexperienced musicians get - 27 00:03:33,520 --> 00:03:41,120 - a sound they had never dreamed of. Not least a sound they themselves wanted. 28 00:03:40,880 --> 00:03:43,120 It's a gift! 29 00:03:51,000 --> 00:03:55,540 The puddle has been a key figure in Norwegian metal. 30 00:03:55,840 --> 00:04:02,260 After we recorded The Funeral tape, came Amputation. 31 00:04:02,560 --> 00:04:06,760 Amputation later became Immortal. 32 00:04:06,880 --> 00:04:13,020 The word spread about good recordings with Pytten. 33 00:04:13,320 --> 00:04:19,100 After Old Funeral and Amputation came Immortal, Emperor, Burzum... 34 00:04:19,400 --> 00:04:21,940 He did not become unemployed. 35 00:04:22,240 --> 00:04:26,940 All this happened while we were waiting "De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas". 36 00:04:27,240 --> 00:04:32,580 Mayhem's spectacular disc was what everyone was waiting for. 37 00:04:32,880 --> 00:04:38,980 Waited, waited and waited. In 1992, the recording begins - 38 00:04:39,280 --> 00:04:45,720 - by "De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas". In Grieghallen with Pytten. 39 00:04:48,880 --> 00:04:53,080 When we recorded "Mysteriis", - 40 00:04:53,200 --> 00:04:58,600 - Mayhem was me, Øystein and Varg. 41 00:04:59,760 --> 00:05:05,860 We also chose Grieghallen because of Varg. He was from Bergen. 42 00:05:06,160 --> 00:05:09,360 He knew Pytten. 43 00:05:11,120 --> 00:05:16,380 They were looking for a big sound, we saw did it on stage in Grieghallen. 44 00:05:16,680 --> 00:05:20,300 We put Øystein's Marshall stack here. 45 00:05:20,600 --> 00:05:26,020 He recorded melody lines and solos. Turned this way. 46 00:05:26,320 --> 00:05:32,260 And then I had a microphone on a stand, a little tall, and placed it here - 47 00:05:32,560 --> 00:05:37,500 - when we in the control room listened and heard it was the right position. 48 00:05:37,800 --> 00:05:42,760 We used the room. This wonderful room. 49 00:05:50,120 --> 00:05:54,100 - It was a long time ago. -Yes. 50 00:05:54,400 --> 00:05:57,580 - Good to see you again. - You too. 51 00:05:57,880 --> 00:06:02,080 Yes, this is where we created magic. 52 00:06:04,120 --> 00:06:10,120 This was the temple of sound. The judgment of sound. 53 00:06:14,200 --> 00:06:22,120 The acoustics in Grieghallen are, after all intended for symphonic orchestra. 54 00:06:24,160 --> 00:06:29,900 I didn't want to take it with me the entire Grieghallen. 55 00:06:30,200 --> 00:06:36,800 Then you can lose control. So we made a small cage for the drums. 56 00:06:36,560 --> 00:06:43,720 After a while of talking and discussion and shouting. "Hey, hey!" 57 00:06:44,840 --> 00:06:51,480 Above the drums were nine stories with a tall house. Open all the way to the roof. 58 00:06:57,520 --> 00:07:03,120 Then you get fantastic openness, and just listen to some of what has been done - 59 00:07:02,880 --> 00:07:05,280 - of drums on that record. 60 00:07:12,880 --> 00:07:19,500 We had to complement the riff with very dynamic drumming. 61 00:07:19,800 --> 00:07:24,220 Dynamic cymbals, crescendo and all that. 62 00:07:24,520 --> 00:07:29,960 New ideas about drumming that no one had done before at that time. 63 00:07:34,640 --> 00:07:38,260 Pytten was no ordinary producer. 64 00:07:38,560 --> 00:07:40,700 He was so much more engaged. 65 00:07:41,000 --> 00:07:44,820 We worked as a team to make this happen. 66 00:07:45,120 --> 00:07:47,320 Absolutely. 67 00:07:47,440 --> 00:07:52,820 I didn't think I had said anything that, but in the mixing process... 68 00:07:53,120 --> 00:07:59,060 I wanted the drums louder. When you looked the other way... 69 00:07:59,360 --> 00:08:03,040 -Did you do it? -Yes. 70 00:08:07,480 --> 00:08:12,900 Here was the mixing desk, and there I recorded the vocals. 71 00:08:13,200 --> 00:08:15,800 Interesting. 72 00:08:15,560 --> 00:08:19,600 I still get goosebumps. 73 00:08:22,200 --> 00:08:27,580 It felt really good to be here, alone in the dark. 74 00:08:27,880 --> 00:08:34,300 With candles. I saw the text there and everything was fine. 75 00:08:34,600 --> 00:08:37,440 It was like being in a trance. 76 00:08:38,960 --> 00:08:46,660 Such ... A bit operatic, but aggressive and dark. 77 00:08:46,960 --> 00:08:53,420 You added black metal something completely new and different. 78 00:08:53,720 --> 00:08:55,820 -With that vocal. -Thanks. 79 00:08:56,120 --> 00:08:58,640 You know that. 80 00:09:00,560 --> 00:09:03,840 -Thanks! - Raw. 81 00:09:05,040 --> 00:09:08,340 I loved doing it, and it was very good. 82 00:09:08,640 --> 00:09:14,500 But I can't say that I on at that time realized what it would be. 83 00:09:14,800 --> 00:09:20,760 I don't think I saw the future this record got. 84 00:09:25,360 --> 00:09:31,460 Without Mayhem's magnum opus had not Norwegian black metal as it is. 85 00:09:31,760 --> 00:09:37,020 Sound-wise, lots of atmosphere. How the texts are. 86 00:09:37,320 --> 00:09:42,400 It sticks part of the cornerstones. 87 00:09:46,640 --> 00:09:51,240 "De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas" is a damn important record. 88 00:09:51,000 --> 00:09:54,300 The songs, the atmosphere and everything around the record. 89 00:09:54,600 --> 00:10:00,760 I guess that's the essence of black metal, I think. 90 00:10:12,840 --> 00:10:15,660 It is a kind of otherworldliness. 91 00:10:15,960 --> 00:10:19,780 You get a rush off to hear "Freezing Moon". 92 00:10:20,080 --> 00:10:23,280 It stands the test of time. 93 00:10:32,640 --> 00:10:37,900 When listening to the disc, being taken to a place - 94 00:10:38,200 --> 00:10:44,740 - which is more than the sum of its parts and the surrounding circumstances. 95 00:10:45,040 --> 00:10:50,760 It's like a black hole at the center of the black metal universe. 96 00:11:04,200 --> 00:11:10,340 The police in Bergen are without a trace after the fire in Åsane church. 97 00:11:10,640 --> 00:11:13,900 The police are now asking for witnesses to register. 98 00:11:14,200 --> 00:11:18,800 We will follow these matters closely. 99 00:11:18,560 --> 00:11:25,540 Here we are in an area where we have had only one fire per year. 100 00:11:25,840 --> 00:11:31,420 Now we can sum up to 8-9 in 1992, - 101 00:11:31,720 --> 00:11:36,200 - so it's an area which needs increased attention. 102 00:11:37,640 --> 00:11:44,600 On January 20, 1993, black metal ceases to exist background to front page material. 103 00:11:46,080 --> 00:11:52,020 The Count then goes to Bergens Tidende and tells - 104 00:11:52,320 --> 00:11:58,520 - that he knows who is behind the church- the fires. The police take him in. 105 00:11:58,640 --> 00:12:03,380 18 years old, unemployed and belongs the rawest hard rock environment. 106 00:12:03,680 --> 00:12:06,860 Today he was imprisoned for four weeks. 107 00:12:07,160 --> 00:12:13,100 "We are behind all church fires in Norway, and we're not stopping now", - 108 00:12:13,400 --> 00:12:16,780 - claims the 18-year-old in an interview. 109 00:12:17,080 --> 00:12:21,380 He doesn't admit it the content of the interview. 110 00:12:21,680 --> 00:12:25,420 How would you describe the environment he comes from? 111 00:12:25,720 --> 00:12:32,940 There are details, but the apartment he had, was very special. 112 00:12:33,240 --> 00:12:38,020 -In what way? - We found very special weapons. 113 00:12:38,320 --> 00:12:43,720 -What kind of weapon? -Knives and things like that. 114 00:12:47,200 --> 00:12:53,820 The media attention in the wake of this puts quite a few people to bed. 115 00:12:54,120 --> 00:12:57,940 Hell is the characteristic name at this store in Oslo. 116 00:12:58,240 --> 00:13:03,060 It is alleged that the accused has connection to the environment here. 117 00:13:03,360 --> 00:13:08,180 - I know nothing about anything. - We haven't asked. 118 00:13:08,480 --> 00:13:10,740 They called. 119 00:13:11,040 --> 00:13:15,660 Some had been skeptical the guy boys culture in Hell - 120 00:13:15,960 --> 00:13:18,700 - and pulled away from it. 121 00:13:19,000 --> 00:13:26,600 Others also see the possibility of being able to promote bands in the initial phase. 122 00:13:26,360 --> 00:13:28,820 So there is a duality in the environment. 123 00:13:29,120 --> 00:13:36,460 To go from a fairly anonymous existence where people didn't quite understand - 124 00:13:36,760 --> 00:13:43,220 - what was your scene... People shrugged it off. 125 00:13:43,520 --> 00:13:50,980 To stand there with a companion spot... "Hey! You! Satanist!" 126 00:13:51,280 --> 00:13:56,980 I remember fists in the window from neighbors. They knew I had… 127 00:13:57,280 --> 00:14:03,540 I didn't play with Vikernes anymore. He had quit before this happened. 128 00:14:03,840 --> 00:14:07,200 I got out of it during the Count's time. 129 00:14:11,920 --> 00:14:15,820 He proudly claims to be behind it record launch of all time. 130 00:14:16,120 --> 00:14:20,740 For the accused, the prison stay been part of the price. 131 00:14:21,040 --> 00:14:28,380 He bluffed himself church fires for to get the word out about the music, it is claimed. 132 00:14:28,680 --> 00:14:31,880 I've obviously managed to get a PR. 133 00:14:32,000 --> 00:14:35,420 - Was it just PR for the album? - Of course. 134 00:14:35,720 --> 00:14:39,820 Are you a part of a satanic movement? 135 00:14:40,120 --> 00:14:42,340 No. 136 00:14:42,640 --> 00:14:47,580 Are the Nazi signs just to provoke? 137 00:14:47,880 --> 00:14:54,380 It's a little different. To show support for Nazism. 138 00:14:54,680 --> 00:14:59,300 Jewish extermination, for example. Because there were people. 139 00:14:59,600 --> 00:15:03,460 I might as well have stood with a portrait of Stalin. 140 00:15:03,760 --> 00:15:09,420 The so-called Count was released now this afternoon. 141 00:15:09,720 --> 00:15:16,060 The charge for church fires will be maintained. 142 00:15:16,360 --> 00:15:20,820 It was a separate bubble. A world of its own. 143 00:15:21,120 --> 00:15:26,720 For those who were into it, it was completely real and the way it should be. 144 00:15:26,480 --> 00:15:30,320 Even if it was completely bogus. 145 00:15:37,320 --> 00:15:41,520 Øystein wanted to release records in a cabin and in agony. 146 00:15:41,640 --> 00:15:46,380 That's good, but he didn't have it financial coverage for it. 147 00:15:46,680 --> 00:15:50,140 He owed a lot of money here and there. 148 00:15:50,440 --> 00:15:57,200 It was also what made him and Varg came at each other's tufts. 149 00:16:01,080 --> 00:16:06,720 We had just stayed friends again. 150 00:16:09,200 --> 00:16:14,580 I started getting letters about that he missed the old days and stuff. 151 00:16:14,880 --> 00:16:21,180 That we should get in touch and stuff like that. Finally I went in and visited him. 152 00:16:21,480 --> 00:16:28,840 Then we agreed that I should play over the bass tracks of the Count. 153 00:16:30,720 --> 00:16:38,260 We knew there was something going on. Great enmity between him and Varg. 154 00:16:38,560 --> 00:16:43,100 One of them came up with it something crazy, probably. 155 00:16:43,400 --> 00:16:47,000 No one knew what, where or who. 156 00:16:46,760 --> 00:16:52,900 They began sending death threats to each other. 157 00:16:53,200 --> 00:16:59,420 For Euronymous, death threats were… He was always like that. 158 00:16:59,720 --> 00:17:05,660 He sent death threats to everyone, but he didn't put much into it. 159 00:17:05,960 --> 00:17:11,580 But when you send death threats to one like Varg Vikernes, - 160 00:17:11,880 --> 00:17:15,600 - he probably thought: "Rather him than me." 161 00:17:24,800 --> 00:17:30,000 I learned that Øystein had died when I was going to... 162 00:17:30,120 --> 00:17:33,500 ... ring the bell. Nobody answered the phone. 163 00:17:33,800 --> 00:17:37,460 I was going to say that I couldn't bear to come. 164 00:17:37,760 --> 00:17:43,540 It was strange that no one answered, Øystein lived in a shack after all. 165 00:17:43,840 --> 00:17:47,700 I called but thought that he had gone home. 166 00:17:48,000 --> 00:17:51,600 I called his parents in Ski. 167 00:17:51,360 --> 00:17:58,680 His mother answered the phone, and she said that Øystein had been found dead. 168 00:17:59,800 --> 00:18:02,640 He had been killed. 169 00:18:03,880 --> 00:18:07,980 The man who was found dead this morning, is Øystein Aarseth. 170 00:18:08,280 --> 00:18:11,580 A famous person in the small satanist milieu. 171 00:18:11,880 --> 00:18:18,260 He was found by a neighbor at 5am. He had suffered several deep stab wounds. 172 00:18:18,560 --> 00:18:24,980 The police have secured clues at the scene, but so far stands on bare ground. 173 00:18:25,280 --> 00:18:29,020 It was Jan Axel who called me. 174 00:18:29,320 --> 00:18:34,580 "Now you shall hear! I tried to get hold of Øystein yesterday." 175 00:18:34,880 --> 00:18:41,040 "He wasn't at home, so I called his father." 176 00:18:41,920 --> 00:18:46,760 "He said that Øystein has been killed." 177 00:18:48,080 --> 00:18:53,840 I couldn't say a word. He said, "Hello, are you there?" "Yes." 178 00:18:56,920 --> 00:19:01,360 It was just completely incomprehensible. 179 00:19:02,600 --> 00:19:08,640 I couldn't imagine that this should come to a level... 180 00:19:12,080 --> 00:19:18,200 Facing a murder case... It was completely... 181 00:19:22,920 --> 00:19:28,260 The first time I met Varg Vikernes, was when I questioned him the first time. 182 00:19:28,560 --> 00:19:33,640 We were at his house. Knocked on. Unannounced. 183 00:19:35,680 --> 00:19:41,340 Then we heard some crash, and he opened the door. 184 00:19:41,640 --> 00:19:47,780 Then he stood there with him a crazy wooden club with nails in it. 185 00:19:48,080 --> 00:19:50,680 He looked at us badly. 186 00:19:50,440 --> 00:19:56,940 It was obvious to us that there was a fear in the environment - 187 00:19:57,240 --> 00:20:02,900 - that the one who tries, and do not follow their "leaders", - 188 00:20:03,200 --> 00:20:06,300 - it would get ugly consequences for. 189 00:20:06,600 --> 00:20:12,580 In connection with the murder in Tøyengata in Oslo in August, Kripos - 190 00:20:12,880 --> 00:20:19,800 - identified the so-called The count's fingerprints in blood. 191 00:20:24,120 --> 00:20:28,820 It was discussed if he was to be driven to Oslo. 192 00:20:29,120 --> 00:20:34,440 Or if we were to take a plane or train. We took him by car. 193 00:20:36,680 --> 00:20:41,580 On the way over ... We took turns driving. 194 00:20:41,880 --> 00:20:46,420 He sat in the middle between two police officers. 195 00:20:46,720 --> 00:20:49,860 Finally he fell asleep. 196 00:20:50,160 --> 00:20:54,980 Then the head went down, and then there was silence. 197 00:20:55,280 --> 00:20:57,140 We just drove. 198 00:20:57,440 --> 00:21:03,440 Then he woke up, and he was right like a little child waking up. 199 00:21:05,200 --> 00:21:10,340 Smile on the face, bright, nice eyes. 200 00:21:10,640 --> 00:21:15,220 Then up... "Good morning." 201 00:21:15,520 --> 00:21:18,980 And then he surely understood where he was. 202 00:21:19,280 --> 00:21:22,060 Then his eyes became hard. 203 00:21:22,360 --> 00:21:29,560 Then he went into black and back to the cold. Then he sat completely still. 204 00:21:29,680 --> 00:21:36,340 But the little ... those seconds where he was a small child - 205 00:21:36,640 --> 00:21:42,240 - who wakes up in the morning ... Then so I that it was a human too. 206 00:21:42,000 --> 00:21:45,880 It was actually Kristian Vikernes. 207 00:21:50,240 --> 00:21:55,780 When we got him transported to Oslo and put him in custody, - 208 00:21:56,080 --> 00:21:59,180 - let go too for these young people. 209 00:21:59,480 --> 00:22:05,020 They wanted to tell what they had been along, when they could not be caught - 210 00:22:05,320 --> 00:22:10,700 - or punished for it, by the environment. 211 00:22:11,000 --> 00:22:16,600 They gave up and wanted to tell how it was. 212 00:22:17,800 --> 00:22:23,620 When the most prominent figure of them all - 213 00:22:23,920 --> 00:22:30,100 - gets killed, it gets a bit like that... "What happens now?" 214 00:22:30,400 --> 00:22:36,000 “What is happening to this environment and this movement now?" 215 00:22:35,760 --> 00:22:43,360 He was black metal. He was the one was the pinnacle of that genre. 216 00:22:43,120 --> 00:22:48,540 I never felt it was same again. It didn't turn out that way. 217 00:22:48,840 --> 00:22:54,140 Yes, to that extent, mass was produced in retrospect, but not for me. 218 00:22:54,440 --> 00:22:57,840 For me it was a black hole afterwards. 219 00:22:59,400 --> 00:23:04,120 When he was gone, I felt that it was worth nothing more. 220 00:23:15,840 --> 00:23:20,040 Now I will stand and play. 221 00:23:20,160 --> 00:23:24,000 But we might as well not film. 222 00:23:38,000 --> 00:23:43,520 I went to Øystein's funeral. There I saw Jan Axel. 223 00:23:44,720 --> 00:23:50,140 I explained that I have premises in Skippergata. "Want to jam a little?" 224 00:23:50,440 --> 00:23:55,020 I met Jan Axel on the tram completely random. 225 00:23:55,320 --> 00:24:00,980 He wanted to start Mayhem. "Do you want to join?" 226 00:24:01,280 --> 00:24:05,260 "What? I haven't been doing this for years. Sure?” 227 00:24:05,560 --> 00:24:09,140 “Yes, we must have someone who can sing. I want you with me." 228 00:24:09,440 --> 00:24:14,080 “How about a guitarist? He who was Mayhem is gone." 229 00:24:14,880 --> 00:24:19,780 Jan mentioned a name. 230 00:24:20,080 --> 00:24:22,700 He knew a guy whose name was Rune Eriksen. 231 00:24:23,000 --> 00:24:29,940 I was so skeptical, though then I thought about it for a very long time. 232 00:24:30,240 --> 00:24:34,420 “OK, I'll show up at the first rehearsal." 233 00:24:34,720 --> 00:24:42,700 Jan and I had talked about what if we got the right feeling, - 234 00:24:43,000 --> 00:24:48,960 - then we should drive on. If not, we wouldn't give a damn. 235 00:24:53,040 --> 00:24:59,340 We got going and I looked away on Jan. He looked at me and just… 236 00:24:59,640 --> 00:25:04,380 "Yes! We're back!" Fuck it... 237 00:25:04,680 --> 00:25:10,380 I got to listen to Elm Street that this was a particularly bad idea. 238 00:25:10,680 --> 00:25:16,140 "Why are you doing this?" I don't think anyone supported us. 239 00:25:16,440 --> 00:25:20,640 It's perfect when we deal with such negative music. 240 00:25:20,760 --> 00:25:26,340 Give me more negativity, then I will give you back! 241 00:25:26,640 --> 00:25:33,680 I took that as inspiration. Everything that went to hell was delicious! 242 00:25:43,520 --> 00:25:49,100 After the stupor had worn off themselves, people rolled up their sleeves, - 243 00:25:49,400 --> 00:25:54,940 - and then they continued with the music. There was a lot of attention - 244 00:25:55,240 --> 00:25:59,940 - because there had been many dramatic events. 245 00:26:00,240 --> 00:26:04,420 Remember that the attention was not of the good kind. 246 00:26:04,720 --> 00:26:11,900 The most influential the metal magazines ran tabloid style. 247 00:26:12,200 --> 00:26:18,500 When it had no news value, they said, "We don't like this." 248 00:26:18,800 --> 00:26:21,380 "We do not recognize this." 249 00:26:21,680 --> 00:26:26,720 But the music was too good, and it was too important. 250 00:26:31,680 --> 00:26:36,420 In 1993, Immortal goes on a European tour with Greek Rotting Christ - 251 00:26:36,720 --> 00:26:39,800 - and Blasphemy from Canada. 252 00:26:42,640 --> 00:26:50,120 First time for many on the continent experienced Norwegian black metal live. 253 00:26:58,120 --> 00:27:03,780 When it comes to abroad, no one could imagine - 254 00:27:04,080 --> 00:27:09,540 - that you could play like this. They were three times as crazy as everyone else. 255 00:27:09,840 --> 00:27:12,960 They had a completely different expression. 256 00:27:20,120 --> 00:27:25,940 When we go on stage, we go on stage to shock, - 257 00:27:26,240 --> 00:27:31,620 - to get aggression out and put on a hell of a show. 258 00:27:31,920 --> 00:27:37,860 We do things on stage which you do not see to this day. 259 00:27:38,160 --> 00:27:40,520 Plain and simple. 260 00:27:49,320 --> 00:27:52,900 The influence on the metal scene was enormous. 261 00:27:53,200 --> 00:27:58,700 Nothing new happened in metal. People recycled old ideas. 262 00:27:59,000 --> 00:28:02,980 Suddenly, Norwegian black metal arrived. 263 00:28:03,280 --> 00:28:08,900 First it was the headlines, but then could you focus on the music again - 264 00:28:09,200 --> 00:28:14,540 - and see that it was new and exciting. It made metal interesting again. 265 00:28:14,840 --> 00:28:20,940 It was something that spoke to the subconscious - 266 00:28:21,240 --> 00:28:25,940 - and captured the mind in a way which changed the rules of the game. 267 00:28:26,240 --> 00:28:32,820 One had to develop new ears, in a way, and listen to music in new ways. 268 00:28:33,120 --> 00:28:37,800 It took me a long time to find out what the Emperor was up to. 269 00:28:44,000 --> 00:28:47,120 Suddenly I realized. 270 00:28:51,200 --> 00:28:57,800 Emperor was one of the greats the ambassadors for Norwegian black metal. 271 00:28:57,560 --> 00:29:01,180 They toured with Cradle of Filth in 1993. 272 00:29:01,480 --> 00:29:04,920 We were 17-18 years old then. 273 00:29:06,360 --> 00:29:10,140 With Cradle of Filth as a warm-up band. 274 00:29:10,440 --> 00:29:15,540 It took time before we realized that things actually started to get big. 275 00:29:15,840 --> 00:29:24,020 An international phenomenon where we were one of the bands with very high status. 276 00:29:24,320 --> 00:29:31,400 It was a bright beginning for to be accepted in the metal industry. 277 00:29:49,080 --> 00:29:55,380 In 1994 comes Emperors "In the Nightside Eclipse". 278 00:29:55,680 --> 00:29:59,820 Emperor appears as much more technical and musical. 279 00:30:00,120 --> 00:30:07,160 They are more progressive in expression, although they retain the core. 280 00:30:08,120 --> 00:30:14,860 It is also one of the first albums which causes a stir abroad. 281 00:30:15,160 --> 00:30:19,360 The first black metal record I heard was "In the Nightside Eclipse". 282 00:30:19,480 --> 00:30:21,580 And that gets really good reviews. 283 00:30:21,880 --> 00:30:28,600 If any black metal record is considered as a work of art, it is. 284 00:30:30,640 --> 00:30:33,720 This was something completely new. 285 00:30:41,520 --> 00:30:47,140 I remember the feeling of to be roused from the chair. 286 00:30:47,440 --> 00:30:50,440 I had never heard the mate. 287 00:30:58,200 --> 00:31:03,940 In many ways it is the beginning symphonic black metal. 288 00:31:04,240 --> 00:31:11,120 Without "In the Nightside Eclipse" had Dimmu Borgir didn't sound like they sound. 289 00:31:29,440 --> 00:31:34,060 We have gone our way. We wanted to try to create an expression - 290 00:31:34,360 --> 00:31:38,700 - based on our own feelings. Quite simply. 291 00:31:39,000 --> 00:31:45,000 What comes from within. Instead to be a copy of something done before. 292 00:31:51,920 --> 00:31:57,340 We were perhaps one of the first the bands that used us - 293 00:31:57,640 --> 00:32:00,220 - synth and keyboard more extended. 294 00:32:00,520 --> 00:32:05,060 We listened to Emperor and Enslaved, which also had synth and stuff. 295 00:32:05,360 --> 00:32:12,100 But we used synth as a tool in the writing process. 296 00:32:12,400 --> 00:32:17,180 We got a lot of pepper for that, but very proud of it today, - 297 00:32:17,480 --> 00:32:24,660 - that we have not given up tipping off the stick of bad criticism. 298 00:32:24,960 --> 00:32:28,740 We do things our way, and that's how it's always been. 299 00:32:29,040 --> 00:32:34,180 We may have been too "outcasts" in this scene. 300 00:32:34,480 --> 00:32:39,820 It was never important to us to make music to play fast - 301 00:32:40,120 --> 00:32:47,740 - or sound as extreme as possible. We leave that to others. 302 00:32:48,040 --> 00:32:54,580 For us it was more about hitting a nerve with a feeling - 303 00:32:54,880 --> 00:32:59,680 - of a riff, for example. Then I have achieved what I want. 304 00:33:06,480 --> 00:33:12,300 Dimmu probably contributed to its popularity. Their sound is much bigger. 305 00:33:12,600 --> 00:33:20,380 If the music is grand, it reaches more likely a larger audience. 306 00:33:20,680 --> 00:33:26,000 Perhaps it enticed people to explore more. 307 00:33:28,440 --> 00:33:33,020 Norway's most important music event, Spellman Prize. 308 00:33:33,320 --> 00:33:38,260 One million TV viewers and several thousand i Spektrum is part of the party. 309 00:33:38,560 --> 00:33:44,120 Why are you so pale, sometimes answer sem jør? Dimmu Borgir! 310 00:34:11,960 --> 00:34:17,460 Who would have thought that black metal would be so rude - 311 00:34:17,760 --> 00:34:22,900 - that they received Spellemannpris- nominations? Not me. 312 00:34:23,200 --> 00:34:29,860 It was kind of like that… "What the hell happened now?" 313 00:34:30,160 --> 00:34:34,140 You didn't notice before you got it in the middle of the face. 314 00:34:34,440 --> 00:34:37,620 "What happened now?" 315 00:34:37,920 --> 00:34:43,880 "Nominated for the Spellemannprisen? Do you eat meat?" 316 00:34:45,520 --> 00:34:50,380 Then it was like ... "Yes, yes." 317 00:34:50,680 --> 00:34:57,380 We got a lot of strife from certain people within the underground scene. 318 00:34:57,680 --> 00:35:01,600 Then you will be called "sellouts" and you name it. 319 00:35:13,160 --> 00:35:19,300 It is always a double-edged sword when you have such an internal matter. 320 00:35:19,600 --> 00:35:24,900 Of course you want to sell discs, but also stay on a level - 321 00:35:25,200 --> 00:35:30,400 - which is very secretive. It is something that is yours. 322 00:35:30,520 --> 00:35:35,700 "This is not common property. We have worked for this." 323 00:35:36,000 --> 00:35:42,560 It must be a bit of a subculture which is extreme. 324 00:35:44,840 --> 00:35:49,560 Now it's like: "Satyricon on the VG list. What the hell happened?" 325 00:36:29,160 --> 00:36:35,740 Society is changing. People change themselves. Black metal has also been - 326 00:36:36,040 --> 00:36:40,020 - in development, and I think that's good. 327 00:36:40,320 --> 00:36:44,840 Should black metal be interesting, must be in motion. 328 00:36:51,240 --> 00:36:58,500 When in 2013 we published the album "Satyricon" ... 329 00:36:58,800 --> 00:37:04,740 There was no way how many reactions were there to - 330 00:37:05,040 --> 00:37:09,800 - that Sivert Høyem sang on a song. 331 00:37:21,680 --> 00:37:25,180 Then I explain: "This is just inside your head." 332 00:37:25,480 --> 00:37:32,320 "Had I sung the same lyrics, had it been ... black metal." 333 00:37:33,640 --> 00:37:38,260 "But you didn't see this coming, and that's what we're going to play with." 334 00:37:38,560 --> 00:37:42,820 We will move on, we will find new ways of expressing ourselves. 335 00:37:43,120 --> 00:37:49,700 We will try to move both the definition and associations. 336 00:37:50,000 --> 00:37:52,720 We almost have to do that. 337 00:38:01,160 --> 00:38:06,060 Black metal has always been characterized by paradoxes and doubts, - 338 00:38:06,360 --> 00:38:08,980 - and that's what makes it so dynamic. 339 00:38:09,280 --> 00:38:14,260 You have the old school and a progressive wing. 340 00:38:14,560 --> 00:38:20,120 You need the old school, because you have to remember where you come from. 341 00:38:30,120 --> 00:38:34,320 It's a riff. The core value of Darkthrone is riffs. 342 00:38:34,440 --> 00:38:39,220 Without a good riff you have nothing to come up with. 343 00:38:39,520 --> 00:38:43,460 Many who got a touch of black metal feeling, thought: 344 00:38:43,760 --> 00:38:49,860 "Early black metal is not enough, so we have to put on this atmosphere." 345 00:38:50,160 --> 00:38:55,300 Like estimates of synth and more melodious moves on top - 346 00:38:55,600 --> 00:38:59,940 - already simple, drawn-out riff lines. 347 00:39:00,240 --> 00:39:05,900 Then I mean that it is half misunderstood. 348 00:39:06,200 --> 00:39:12,460 But now we make bread. The others can make cake. 349 00:39:12,760 --> 00:39:15,500 But you also get tired of cake. 350 00:39:15,800 --> 00:39:17,880 So we make tricks. 351 00:39:20,120 --> 00:39:23,900 We mustn't forget Taake, - 352 00:39:24,200 --> 00:39:28,300 - which keeps it going to this day. 353 00:39:28,600 --> 00:39:33,380 Which is completely true to black metal as it was at the beginning. 354 00:39:33,680 --> 00:39:39,380 We keep the old flame alive, we I say. 355 00:39:39,680 --> 00:39:44,880 I found my expression at the very beginning and… 356 00:39:45,000 --> 00:39:49,740 Hasn't really changed vision at all. 357 00:39:50,040 --> 00:39:54,640 I still have a lot to give. 358 00:39:54,400 --> 00:39:58,700 I have always felt that I have see the world in a different way. 359 00:39:59,000 --> 00:40:04,540 Been preoccupied with completely different things than my peers. 360 00:40:04,840 --> 00:40:08,820 Think in ways they couldn't imagined to think in. 361 00:40:09,120 --> 00:40:13,060 It could be frustrating to be different before, - 362 00:40:13,360 --> 00:40:19,180 - but this style of music helped me to find myself - 363 00:40:19,480 --> 00:40:26,520 - and be proud of being different. Just give up being A4. 364 00:40:32,760 --> 00:40:38,340 Some people have extreme things inside, and it has to come out. 365 00:40:38,640 --> 00:40:43,240 Then it's better to get it out in the music. 366 00:40:43,000 --> 00:40:48,260 I think it is important to be a complete human being and recognize - 367 00:40:48,560 --> 00:40:52,420 - his animal, destructive sides too. 368 00:40:52,720 --> 00:40:57,660 To live my way it has been important to make friends with - 369 00:40:57,960 --> 00:41:01,880 - all negative, destructive things. 370 00:41:11,440 --> 00:41:17,140 Black metal zoomed in on a kind of primitive part of people - 371 00:41:17,440 --> 00:41:22,740 - which is not usually expressed fully in other genres of music. 372 00:41:23,040 --> 00:41:28,500 When someone illuminates this inner landscape, - 373 00:41:28,800 --> 00:41:31,720 - is extremely liberating. 374 00:41:45,640 --> 00:41:49,980 Black metal is the soundtrack to a lot of inner turmoil. 375 00:41:50,280 --> 00:41:55,320 That we dare to put words to the difficult feelings we have. 376 00:42:05,280 --> 00:42:08,740 I, as a fan, felt very much at home in it when I was younger. 377 00:42:09,040 --> 00:42:14,140 I was a bit alone and without an identity and felt difficult feelings, - 378 00:42:14,440 --> 00:42:21,780 - and black metal was an expression of that. It was healing for me. 379 00:42:22,080 --> 00:42:27,560 I recognize that very many other black metal fans. 380 00:42:29,080 --> 00:42:31,820 There are few normal fans of black metal. If you dig it, - 381 00:42:32,120 --> 00:42:37,740 - is usually because it gives you a kind of outlet - 382 00:42:38,040 --> 00:42:43,500 - or an experience that touches you on a spiritual and psychological level. 383 00:42:43,800 --> 00:42:50,120 It doesn't affect everyone, but they do which is affected, it becomes an important part of. 384 00:43:03,360 --> 00:43:08,460 It is powerful and makes us feel powerful. 385 00:43:08,760 --> 00:43:12,660 We feel that we can rise above anything that depresses us. 386 00:43:12,960 --> 00:43:17,220 Everything that weighs us down and makes us feel outside. 387 00:43:17,520 --> 00:43:20,400 As outsiders. But not here. 388 00:43:21,360 --> 00:43:28,180 All of them look "dangerous", but they are the happiest people there are. 389 00:43:28,480 --> 00:43:31,880 I have never felt unwelcome here. 390 00:43:33,520 --> 00:43:39,860 Are you a black metal fan, really, then you are going to Norway. 391 00:43:40,160 --> 00:43:44,060 Just like Beatles fans going to Liverpool. 392 00:43:44,360 --> 00:43:48,340 It's exactly the same. If people are fans, they go here. 393 00:43:48,640 --> 00:43:55,300 Then they will go to Inferno and away Nosebleed for taking pictures in the basement. 394 00:43:55,600 --> 00:43:58,440 It is important to them. 395 00:44:11,920 --> 00:44:16,460 Especially this place I think a dream for every metal fan. 396 00:44:16,760 --> 00:44:22,980 When you are here, you really feel where things come from, - 397 00:44:23,280 --> 00:44:26,140 - and how it all happened. 398 00:44:26,440 --> 00:44:31,940 Whatever you want to find, then you will find it here. 399 00:44:32,240 --> 00:44:35,040 There is a fantastic selection here. 400 00:44:37,640 --> 00:44:41,060 This is a church candle. 401 00:44:41,360 --> 00:44:46,540 They were famous for burning churches, and now you can do it - 402 00:44:46,840 --> 00:44:49,220 - without there being any consequences. 403 00:44:49,520 --> 00:44:57,720 All these extra-musical things like suicide, lawsuits, fires... 404 00:44:57,840 --> 00:45:03,020 Murder and stuff. It has triggered rather large willingness to pay. 405 00:45:03,320 --> 00:45:09,100 Among people who are interested in to buy records, shirts and the like. 406 00:45:09,400 --> 00:45:17,040 It has also led to a cash flow to record companies, bands and musicians. 407 00:45:18,800 --> 00:45:23,240 It's almost like a... 408 00:45:24,760 --> 00:45:29,020 What should you call it? Varg Vikernes' cultural scholarship. 409 00:45:29,320 --> 00:45:34,260 I am 100% sure that these extremely skilled artists - 410 00:45:34,560 --> 00:45:41,140 - had managed to make exactly that one the music and got those careers - 411 00:45:41,440 --> 00:45:47,660 - they have got, without all that board here, which of course comes down to - 412 00:45:47,960 --> 00:45:54,040 - very, very few people. This is incredibly good music. 413 00:45:55,120 --> 00:45:58,600 Damn, how well this has held up! 414 00:46:06,960 --> 00:46:12,220 We like Mayhem because that it is such a raw feeling. 415 00:46:12,520 --> 00:46:17,220 Not like that... It feels sharp, in a way. 416 00:46:17,520 --> 00:46:20,940 A bit like that... 417 00:46:21,240 --> 00:46:25,400 Cutting notes, in a way. I like that. 418 00:46:37,800 --> 00:46:43,540 It's so nice when you have had such great powers against you - 419 00:46:43,840 --> 00:46:50,940 - for so many years, and then come up on top in the end. 420 00:46:51,240 --> 00:46:55,840 I think people understand how delicious it is. 421 00:46:55,600 --> 00:47:03,140 Being able to land with both feet on the earth with its wits more or less intact. 422 00:47:03,440 --> 00:47:08,640 And hopefully have forty good years left. 423 00:47:08,760 --> 00:47:15,540 To enjoy it. It has not been so a hell of a lot of enjoyment over the past 25 years. 424 00:47:15,840 --> 00:47:18,760 Who's laughing now?