DIMMU BORGIR
for Painkiller Mag #6
September 2002

Interview

with Silenzo - Guitar

Yang Yu/Metal Fan

all pics are linked from www.nuclearblast.de
by any problems refer to webmaster

First of all, I want to know about your bandname, some say it comes from Icelandish which means "black castle" taken from the Torkin Novel "Lord of the rings". But this is just one of so many interpretions of your bandname. So please give us an official statement on this.

It's definetly not taken from Lord of The Rings, I can tell you that much! There's one correct interpretation, which is in english, "the black castle". If someone refers to it as "the dark fortress" or "the foggy castle" that is also allright. The icelandic language is a modern type of our old norwegian, but since Dimmúborgir actually is a lava formation on Iceland, not only existing mythically, it has it that the legends say it's supposed to be one of the gates to hell.

From the "all for tid" days until now your style has changed a lot. Do you think there is anything that would never change in DIMMU BORGIRs music?

Yes, the feeling and atmosphere!

How do you see the so called raw black metal? In your eyes, what is black metal really? Some see it as a lifestyle, for others it is a religion, a war or just a music style.

Metal, not only black metal, is and has always been a big part of my life, and I have come to the conclusion that it will always be like that. I wouldn't change it for the world.

Some are even calling you or such bands like SATYRICON as postmodern black metal, do you think this is a suitable discription for you?

I don't know, to be honest with you, I don't really care. I guess you in a way can say we play the "modern" type of black metal since we have a lot of symphonic stuff going on in our music. However, we're very old school both in spirit and behaviour, and we always pay our respects to the elders/the bands that came before us. We don't feel like limiting ourselves, which for us mean that we don't want to repeat ourselves and make the same albums over and over again. For us as musicians that is a very boring task, and doesn't challenge you much. For some bands it works perfect not to "progress" or "change" style, Darkthrone for instance, which happens to be my favourite black metal band of all time, would dissapoint me and suprise me, if they ever did change. I believe It's always up to the individual to interpretate music in his/her own way.

What is mor importen for you in your music, the pure music it self (the melody, the crowls and rhythm) or the thoughts delivered by the lyrics?

I'd say both, but in the end it's the music that gets to you first. We're very determined to bring a nice mix to the table when it comes to melody-lines, brutality and aggression musicwise and then the lyrical concept must fit the rest of the profile to make a successful outcome that we can be satisfied with.

When you form the band back then in the highschool, did you ever considered black metal could be so successfull that it becomes an overwelming wave washing all over the world?

Not really, it has to some extent taken off with this music style, but I wouldn't consider it to be mainstream. At least not yet, personally I don't think it'll reach the same level of popularity as f.ex Marylin Manson. Black Metal in it's pure form and essence is too extreme for most people, the ideology is too harsh and brutal for the public eye to accept it fully, and maybe it's best that way.

In your two last alben, we can hear much brutal death and industrial elements in them so some even review the last album as a brutal death album. The same time we also can see big changes coming on many norway black metal bands such as EMPEROR, how do you see this?

Perhaps you have a point there, I just think it's a natural evolution, at least for us. I've never liked the word "industrial" when comparing it to our music though, the word "militant" is far more suiting. We have become more brutal over the years, anyone who claims the opposite must be either stupid or tone deaf.

You hat a really perfect coopoeration with the Gothebourg Harmonical Ochestra on the last album. You could tell, the classic strings became an undispensable element. So my question, are all members big fans of classic music or had some professional trainings?

None of us have any proffessional training at all, except for maybe Mustis who learned the basics for the piano when he was eight years old. The co-operation with the Symphonic Orchestra for the first time on the latest album was some kind of a dream come true, as we've always wanted to incorporate real strings in our music. That way I think it sounds more alive than just using keyboards. You can do a lot with synthezisers but it will never be able to replace the real thing. We listen to classical sometimes, it relaxes the mind and can help keeping you focused in troubled times. Personally, I mainly listen to Wagner, Beethoven and heavy marches.

Until today, Metal music has been developed for 30 years. Which direction will it take in the future on your opinion? Do you consider such as KORN or SLIPKNOT as metal bands?

Good question. I haven't heard much Korn really, only the video's they keep playing on MTV. But they seem to be quite heavy in their approach, if it's not considered metal they have at least a much darker attitude than most of the german heavy metal bands have these days, which are considered "true" heavy metal... To me, all those bands sounds the same, just fucking happy happy joy joy all the time. In that sense I respect and like Kai Hansen's Gamma Ray, since he was the orginator of that music style. Slipknot on the other hand is just as extreme, or perhaps in many cases even more extreme than most "new" black metal coming out today. I hadn't heard much of them before we played a Portuguese festival with them this august. Their music doesn't appeal so much to me, since I feel it's too hardcore oriented, a style I've never been into, BUT, with the way they were acting on stage, the energy and the drive, and also the way they were acting in private was honourable. They have my fullest respect! Whether that makes Slipknot metal or not is not for me to judge, and quite frankly I couldn't care less. But we have something in common with Slipknot ; they're getting bashed all the time for being popular and selling records, and we get the same shit. Seems that you're not "allowed" to sell a lot of records without some fucker crying the word "sellout" to mommy.

How does the songwriting look like in DIMMU BORGIR? Which is the perfect song or album in your eyes/ears?

Nothing is perfect, nothing will ever get "perfect" in our music. That's why bands make new music and release albums. Musicians always strive for something that never can be achieved - perfection.

Which band gave you the most influences? What kind of music do you like today? Do you still have Idols?

Sure I have! I adore great misicians like Blackie Lawless, Ronnie James Dio, Rob Halford, Bruce Dickinson, Ozzy Osbourne etc. the list goes on and on. Some of them I've even been lucky enough to meet and have a chat. I don't take direct influence from their music, which to me is timeless. I just experience great satisfaction from their work, and to me they're gods in human form.

Beside music, do you have any interest or passion for other kinds of art?

I enjoy fishing a lot, and to me that's art. Besides that I do what other people do I guess, watch movies, party until dawn etc. I'm fortunate to not have to go to work seven o' clock in the morning, I used to do it but that wasn't me.I like sports and I still love soccer and ski-jumping though, which I used to do when I was still young and my knees were still working, so I guess you can say my passion for metal music combined with bad knees saved me from becoming an fulltime athletic haha

Many people are thinking that both BIMMU BORGIR and CRADLE OF FILTH are the most fames black metal bands. Do you have the feeling of being a rock star?

Not at all man, because that wouldn't be who I am. That's why I don't understand people with that kind of attitude, there's no room for rockstar behaviour in metal music. It has a huge significance for me to acknowledge the people that support us and buy our albums, if it hadn't been for them we wouldn't have been where we are today in the first place. I will always be humble towards those who help me on my path!

And now you also have a CRADLE OF FILTH member in your band. Does this has any influence on you music style? At least the situation compared to the underground days is visible different.

It has no influence on our way of making music. The only link between us and Cradle of Filth is Nicholas, nothing more nothing less.

How is your relationship to CRADLE OF FILTH? Do you see them as your competitors?

We don't see things as competition. The worldwide press probably wants to see it that way, because we're the leading bands when it comes to record sales. We only care about ourselves and our priorities, what others do is their business, not ours.

You also have a big success in the US. Evem those mags like Guitar World has printed up big storys about your band. How are the reaction of hip hop/rap metal fans on you?

You're right, we've been recieved very well in the States. Things are moving forward, a bit slow perhaps, but steady. We've done 3 long tours over there the last few years, and you can see the difference for each time. But it takes a lot of work to get yourself a name over there, that's why the US is one of our main priorities when it comes to touring. To be consistently in people's faces.

You are also very welcome in Japan, too. Do you know you have a lot of fans here? If possible, hope China could play in China, when you on tour in Asia.

If it was up to us we'd tour every country possible in Asia! Unfortunately is not about what the band wants all the time, something we experience more and more in this business. We were lucky to be able to go to Japan last year, at least one promotor had the balls to bring us over and we're eternally greatful for that, we know it wasn't easy. But for sure it was a whole new experience and it gave us a little taste of the hospitable east. I know there's a lot of people interested in this kind of music there, and we'd love to come to China and play one day to show our respect!

You released "Enthrone Darkness Triumphant - Deluxe Edition" and the "World Misanthropy" live video. When will you release a new album? Are some arrangements already finished?

We're working hard and consistently on new material almost every day now, and the process is going really well. We're extremely enthusiastic about the new stuff and we look forward to be recording it in the beginning of next year. So hopefully that means it'll be out sometime next spring/early summer. Nuclear Blast decided to release the Enthrone album as "enhanced" edition. We're very happy and satisfied with the World Misanthropy DVD/VHS! It came out just the way we wanted it, perhaps one of the reasons for that was because we were in charge of it all and not just something that the label put together. What you see on there comes "directly" from us, we edited it and produced it ourselves.

Please say something to your chinese fans and to those bearing a dream of becoming such a brilliand band like yours.

I just want to thank all our fans for supporting us and our music, we appreciate it very much! For everyone, doesn't matter if you're in a band or not, believe in yourself and what you do and never EVER let anyone dictate you what to do! That way you'll stay healthy in your mind and spirit! I also want to prupose a favour and ask if someone, once we come and play in China, if someone can bring Galder, Nicholas and myself a big bowl of real hot and spicy Beijing Soup each, as we're the undisputed self-proclaimed Beijing Soup police in our town...We eat it almost every day, we've become addicted to it haha

You always have some erotic related images on your covers or promo pics, for exsample sexy posing naked girls. Do you use these because of personal interests or totally because of commercial needs?

We just believe it looks a lot better than having naked men on the covers.

Due to the norwagian black metal scene of the early days many people are thinking that the reason for your rapid and steady success is that you are the only one nameable norwagian black metal band who are not involved into any of those criminal deeds like burning down churches or murdering other people...

We've had our share with the police as well, Shagrath was jailed for several days in suspicion for arson. He never got convicted, rightfully, as there was someone else that carried out the deed. But we had to go to court and testify and all that bullshit. I remember I was in interrogation for 10 hours prior to the trial, getting spit at in the face by the police, treating me like a fucking dog just because they thought I was involved. I fucking hate the cops man.

How do you see the "dark" culture behind the true black metal thing? I mean the whole think about ancient gods, christ killing talks, witchcraft, worshiping satan, satanims or even nazi stuffs...

You definetly learn a lot about yourself when exploring other darker sides to your mind and stuff that most people find unattractive and uncomfortable to their lives. It should be left up to the individual to seek his/her own path. It's a big part of growing, I never say growing up, because there is no "growing up", you just evolve as a person and whatever you experience on that journey, good or bad, I believe will make you come out as a stronger and wiser being. You can't, and are not allowed, to judge without knowing anything about the actual subject. Things are good and bad in this world, but maybe something that looks bad, in other people's eyes will have a positive and constructive effect on you, therefor it's not bad for you. Anyways, you get my point.

I see to much kids take the wohl black metal stuff a way too serious, they want to receive some kind of messages out of the lyrics or the image of the bands. For me very kind of music is just a way of undertainment. If music becomes a tool of political or religional conspiracy it could have very dangous influences on kids. How do you see this?

I agree. Kids and youngsters can very well easily be misled, and most teens are very impulsive, because it's a time in your life that you're about to figure out who you are and the time of uncertainty can make a huge significance for what comes later in your life, and when you're that young you're not ready to deal with the consequences of your actions. I am always very strict to underline the fact that we don't have "a message", we only have "an opinion" and we don't expect everyone to go along with it. It's very important to differensiate between those two things. With our lyrics for instance, we don't tell people what to do. For in the end, you, and you only, are responsible for your own actions. That's why politics and religion are so perceptive, even in modern society, because it tells you what to do and it never let people ask the question "why", at least not in the big picture. In the animal kingdom there's no such thing as, "you're too young" or "you're too old", there's only the ones that are on the alert looking after themselves first, that'll be left, standing rigid for the next battle!

Thank you very much. Your fans

hank you too, hopefully we will be going to China soon! Raise your horns in prideful blasphemy! See ya!

Silenoz, September 10th, 2002

DISCOGRAPHY