Interview with Infernus and Tormentor of Gorgoroth

Wrath:
Guys, I greatly appreciate you granting this interview, how are you?

Tormentor: We're all fine, thank you. Mostly because the album's out, the band seems to work perfectly and we've done a couple of shows that went fine.

Wrath: Your ninth album, Quantos Possunt ad Satanitatem Trahunt is out now in Europe and is soon to be released (Nov. 11th) in the U.S., after all the aggravating shit you've been through the past couple years, what does this album finally being released mean to you?

Tormentor: It sure means a lot. It was important to show that Gorgoroth was still active and very much alive even during this trademark mess. Infernus has been working a lot with this release together with Tomas (drums), and we had most of the production ready right before we went to court because of this annoying name feud.

Wrath: How did the show in Trondheim on October 19th go, was it good to be back on stage again, and how did the crowd respond to the new songs?

Tormentor: The gig was great, and people seemed to enjoy it. The live line up got is pretty experienced so the performance was good. The new songs also worked out well in the set. Since we got a pretty big back catalogue, we can make a good set where 90 % of our albums are represented actually. We even play songs from the debut album, which haven't been presented in 12 years.

Wrath: Quantos Possunt ad Satanitatem Trahunt has a no nonsense directness to it, yet the song writing is more diverse, and you've captured a crushingly ominous atmosphere. In the track 'Rebirth' one of the lines is “Rebirth of Gorgoroth!”, I can speculate several different trains of thought, but what was the reason for it?

Tormentor: I think the new album turned out well. We're satisfied with it. Personally I appreciate the things you point out in your question: It got an atmosphere and an attitude closer to the early Gorgoroth releases, and the diversity of the tracks is better with more heaviness to ti. In other words, it's very much classical Gorgoroth with some new factors added. The lyrics are as always (and forever) satanic. “Rebirth” just underlines that aspect. My suggestion of interpretation is the always ongoing rebirths of the band, not line up wise but more evolutionary.

Wrath: Frank and Tomas joined not long ago, and Pest and Tormentor are back in the fold, (which is awesome) how is it having two new members and two returning members at the same time and is it a better atmosphere than before?

Infernus: it is very good, needless to say. they are all picked for a reason, and the atmosphere is brilliant at the time, nothing less.

Wrath: You guys recorded at drummer Tomas Asklund's Monolith Studio, from studio reports and bits of news it sounds like it was a painstaking process, is it always that way for you when recording?

Infernus: that must be a misconception. there was nothing painstaking about it at all. we did on the other hand end up with having much more time available in the studio this time, compared to earlier on. and i think it enabled us to bring the album up to a level which we now can be pretty proud of. it was a lot of work, but it was a good and constructive long process. i have not much more to say about that.

Wrath: With all the new endorsements Gorgoroth scored this year, do you have any new gear you're enjoying and has it changed your setup at all?

Tormentor: It's always cool to check out new equipment, even if Infernus and me have been having an urge to hold on to classical setup (Gibsons, Fenders, Marshalls and Mesas) . Infernus got a nice endorsement with Jackson Guitars which he seems very pleased with. I've always been a dedicated follower of more traditional gear like Gibson and the rather gibsonish and semi-obscure Hagstrom, so I got an offer from them which I'm considering as we speak. Infernus used to perform with a Hagstrom Swede guitar some years ago. Very nice instruments indeed. We also got a contract with Seymour Duncan pickups.

Wrath: There are so many great tracks on QPaST, 'Satan-Prometheus', if I had to pick is probably my favorite. Are there any songs in particular you are especially proud or fond of and if so why?

Tormentor: I think the new album got many good songs. Infernus made a strong album, where the songs fit well together. A favourite may be the opening track. It's something with the Bathory start and the variety of the song which works damn well. Very uncompromising and grim.

Wrath: I may be weaving too much into this, so please correct me if I'm wrong, but it seems like your new website design, the album cover and the music itself all have a clean and simple boldness, like everything unnecessary has been stripped away and all you are left with is what matters. Is this the case, and if not, what was it you were you going for?

Tormentor: I think you're right. I believe the aesthetics is important, and the visual side with Gorgoroth, be it the website or cover or corpse paint or whatever, is closer to the very idea behind the band. It's classical black metal, essentially satanic, without any ornaments but what is strictly needed.

Wrath: What are the tour plans looking like at this point?

Infernus: we just settled an agreement for the european territory with the same fellow who has been booking for obituary for some more or less seven years now. this, as we obviously had to get rid of that old company we had, which handled the last conflict we had in a rather illoyal manner. illoyality pays off, and in this case as well. so we are exited to see what this guy can help us out with. in the norwegian territory, i do the booking myself, and in the latin area we still use the same guys as before. as of today, we did two concerts with the new line-up, and as tormentor already stated, it went really good, and we are really able to deliver thesedays. as far as something more is properly settled in terms of future live-appearances, i will be very happy to inform you about that through our official website. till then, we have to wait. everyone interested will get to know soon enough!

Wrath: Gorgoroth have been signed to a few labels now. Your current label, Regain Records were supportive of you during the trademark ordeal I understand, so have things been good all around and will Gorgoroth be staying with Regain for the foreseeable future?

Tormentor: Yes, we're satisfied with Regain. They've done a great job and their support in the trademark war was utterly important to us. The fact that they chose our side as early as they did, without hesitation, proves that they're the right label for us. This whole incident caused them a great deal of distress as well.

Wrath: You've stated before that you feel you are removed from the black metal scene and you create and live in your own zone. I understand what you're saying, but how does that work when so many people think of your band and you the moment the words “black metal” are uttered? Can you really be apart from something you are (in)famous for?

Tormentor: I think that lies, and perhaps ought to lie, in the very definition of black metal. Rock star kind of mingling doesn't become the genre actually. I'm definitely not a big supporter of so called black metal guys who sit alone in the darkness cursing everything around them, but there's something with this exaggerated comradeship that's often extremely annoying. The same goes for the duty of belonging to a scene. The premises of making black metal sure does not lie in this kind of affiliation.

Wrath: I find that people just accept things often without asking why. We all know you worship Satan in a Theistic sense Infernus, and that you despise Christianity, but could you share what led you to your beliefs and how it is you worship Satan? Also, why worship any deity, why even Satan? I'm curious to know your views outside of songs.

Infernus: basically i regard myself as a man of god. and by that i explicitly distance myself from whatever a so-called humanistic sense of explaining or understanding my being in the world. to try summing it up briefly, being in itself provides me with a certain feeling of thrownness into existence, and i have somewhat a mirror reflecting an idea of a return. a return or an ascending to a level of improvedness. a level in which i can be connected with complete truth and goodness. and i do hold satan for being the tool for overcoming the obstacles hindering me to reach where i want.

Wrath: Will there be a video coming at all, and if so, any idea when?

Infernus: at the time being, nothing is settled in regard of this. we will do videos, as well as more live-appearances, when everything is properly set so that we are able to do the job on our premises. ours, and no-one elses. the real deal, or no deal. untill then, you have to wait.

Wrath: Thank you again, it is an honor. Congratulations on your victories this year between the verdict and this incredible new album! Do you have any parting words for your fans?

Infernus: thank you as well. i really appreachiate it. for our loyal audience, i'd like to say the same. thank you. thats all for now. hs!

For more on Gorgoroth visit them online at...

http://www.gorgoroth.info
http://www.myspace.com/gorgoroth

Photo-Credits: Christian Misje ; (c) Gorgoroth/Christian Misje

26.10.2009. 20:57