Blodfest Interview
Blodfest have been right near the top of my playlist since I recently unearthed their album Den Flyr Ej Ilden… Eager to learn more about their music I asked Valeskald to visit the Hell Furnace, unpick the stitches from his eyes and answer some questions. Like the music he co-creates, he provides some very interesting answers.
For the benefit of those who are unfamiliar with your music, can you describe the purpose, themes and philosophies of Blodfest?
We describe our music as being aggressive and atmospheric Heathen Black Metal. Most of our lyrics deal with the beliefs, lives and rituals of our forefathers and the myths of some of the greatest Danish Kings that have ever lived, the line of Kings called “Skjoldungerne”, descendants of the the great King Skjold. They ruled Denmark from the town Lejre where we were born and raised and still live. So we grew up listening to these stories, so in a way we feel like we are obligated to pass on the memory of them. Some might know the legend og Beowulf and King Hrodgar (Roar), he was in fact a descendant of this king Skjold too, and this legend took place in Lejre. A lot of our ideas was conceived in their tombs, and inspiration gathered by being among their graves.
Danish Black Metal seems to be have been somewhat forgotten over time, while other Scandinavian nations have had huge scenes at the forefront of the genre for many years. Why do you suppose that is?
There has always been more focus on Thrash and Death Metal in Denmark, but there is a lot of very interesting Danish Black Metal bands around, The scene for this kind of metal has always been smaller here than in Sweden or Norway, but the Danish bands who does play this, are very dedicated to the genre and very dedicated to the underground. The commercial part of their musicianship is less important, and therefore they are less visible to the rest of the European scene.
The creative process… The photos on the Nonagram website show a rehearsal room. Do new songs materialise while jamming or are they written alone then brought to bear and enriched within the sanctum? Or maybe through some other mechanism?
Some ideas materialise during ritualistic sessions amongst the ancient graves or inside the tombs, others while jamming. We often feel that the spirits of our forefathers are there with us while we are are having these sessions, approving what we do. When we create music, is it often in a way that one of us has some riffs, and the the other two of us contribute with ideas.
Multiple vocalists are quite a rarity in Black Metal. I can’t understand why there aren’t more bands using this setup because it makes the music more intense. Do you think it’s a reflection of the many over-inflated egos present within the genre?
Maybe….there are indeed some very overflated egos in this genre, but it might also have something to do with the fact that it is much easier to to do the vocals to a song when you have written the lyrics yourself, and since all three of us write lyrics, it seem natural for us also to do the vocals. We also think that the changing in vocals makes the music more varied.
Does it ever pose any problems, or for that matter create any advantages, when all three of you have vocal input? Do all of you write the lyrics and agree upon them beforehand or are they created individually?
It is never a problem, clearly an advantage that all three of us write. And it has never been necessary for us to discuss the the lyrical topics since we have very similar views and oppinions on things. And are inspired by each other lyrically.
Staying with the subject of writing, you guys are obviously prolific composers, taking into account side projects and other bands. Do you ever find it difficult to keep the music sounding different and not just a variation on a theme of the others?
Those who listen thoroughly to the our sideprojects, will definitely be able to hear some similarities to Blodfest. But also, in these projects there are others outside of Blodfest involved too, and they often contribute with a lot of the ideas. In Luciation is it Voktor, in Offerkult Sod from Ligfaerd, in Wolfslair Void and so on.
Tell us a bit about those other musical entities you’re involved with and how they differ from Blodfest?
Besides Blodfest, I was was in Wolfslair (RIP), Offerkult and sometimes also in Luciation. Some of the projects differ from Blodfest by being more chaotic, spontanious or primitive. While the music of Blodfest is very structured, it can be very liberating to play some that is more improvised and chaotic at times.
Imagery is obviously important to you, are the photos on your website symbolic in any way, and if they are, could you shed some light on what is meant or portrayed by them?
We think that the images can help creating an atmosphere. Some of them are very symbolic, we have a sort of heathen “brotherhood” which we call The Order of the Nonagram, a group of heathens doing rituals and sharing the same ideologies. Our symbol the nine pointed star with a triangle, is a symbol we started using almost twenty years ago, the nine points in the star symbolises the nine worlds of Hel and Valhal and the nine aspects of Odins personality, the triangle comes from the ancient symbol the “walknot” which means that ones soul is devoted to Odin. We consider ourselves as Odinists, what we worship is the darker sides of Heathenism. All other established heathen communities here in Denmark, are more into the fertility cult thing. We wouldn´t fit in there.
The balaclavas remind me of those terrorist martyr videos, without all the religious propaganda. Do you consider yourselves musical terrorists?
In a way yes, if you define terrorists as someone who are fighting oppressors for their ideologies and beliefs. If so, our opponents are the commercial music industry and people controlled by their religion. But…..I consider the terrorists you refer to as being brainswashed cowards, to weak to fight their real enemies, there is no honour in killing women and children
If Blodfest’s music could be responsible for a random act of terror or destruction, what would you be most proud of?
If churches are burned down or even bombed, we get to pay for the rebuilding ourselves. I do see the point of destroying the the symbol of these weaklings, but then again…..churches don´t fight back, no honour in that. This ideological battle is only won by oppening the eyes of those whos minds are controlled by these lies. The heathen spirit is still dormant in the soul of most Danes, it can be reawakened.
Personally I can’t understand the re-emergence of tapes – a format that, in my opinion, is inferior in every way to CD and vinyl. What prompted the initial release of ‘Den Flyr Ej Ilden…’ on tape?
Most of our releases will be released on vinyl as well. We will not release cd´s ourselves, but if some label are interested they will be very welcome to do so, the reason why we release on tapes is like a statement for us, we are old-school Black Metal in many ways and do miss the old days before this scene turned into some kind of cirkus. Another reason is that all of our music is recorded and produced on analog equipment, when it is burned onto a cd it is no longer 100% analog. The sound quality on a vinyl LP is far more detailed and dynamic than on a cd, anyone should be able to hear that.
Have you noticed any difference in fans’ preference to any particular format?
We sell a lot of tapes here in Denmark, maybe we are a bit more nostalgic then the rest of Europe.
Metal Archives states your influence deriving from heathenism, viking virtues and ancient Danish kings. What other things, if any, are Blodfest members musically inspired by?
Yes, these are probably our main sources of inspiration. Musically, we listen a lot to classical, experimental, advantgarde music besides Metal, and some of us also a lot of noise.
As we all know Black Metal was founded on anti-christian sentiment and ideals. Would you agree this is still paramount to the creation of the music? Or should the diversification of subject matter be indulged and accepted?
Anyone who knows their history, has to be anti-christian, the church has destroyed all of the European cultures. The Danes was forced into converting to christianhood, we must never forget that, Once Denmark ruled all of Scandinavia, northern Germany and even Great Britain for several years, and look at us now……
What is the next platter on the Blodfest menu? Is there a new album in the works or some other interesting piece of info you can share?
We have recorded material for a new full-length release recently, but are going to record some more within the next few weeks. The split LP with Wolfslair/ Blodfest will be released by Iron Bonehead very soon, the material for this was recorded in 2008. The tape version of this split-release will also be available within a few weeks.
If you could do a scratch and sniff release what smell would you choose?
Interesting question…..probably burning wood in a forest at night.
What’s the most disgusting thing you can think of?
Danish politician and society in general, being submissive and naive to the demands of emigrants. Besides this, ambiguous and righteous religious leaders.
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