Interview with Varg Vikernes
"Darkness" magazine (#2, 1992)
Enrico Schmieder

Note: This interview was published in a German magazine in English. Judging by some errors, the original text of the interview is German, translated into English. All errors have been fixed, if possible.

This is an absolutely new Black Metal from Norway, Burzum from Bergen. Tore of Old Funeral advised me to write to Grev, and Grev copied me two advancetracks of the debut LP of them. I think the LP is available yet. Okay, Burzum is a one-piece band (!) and they (?) play true Black Metal in old Bathory vein. Their stuff is really great, and so not only people into Black Metal should buy this LP, everyone has to hear this great band! Okay, the LP is available for 15$, outside Europe 16$ and the CD version costs 20$ (everywhere). There are also T-shirts available for 15$ (17$ outside Europe). People in Europe can get the stuff cheaper, ask for the prices. When you write to him, you always get an amount of flyers, so write now to:

But read now the interview with him:

Please give my readers a short (or long) introduction of your band Burzum! The combo is a one piece band, is that right?

Burzum was created in a tine before time to oppose the light and it's worshipness there is one god of darkness!

Can you tell us a bit about your debut LP on Deathlike Silence Productions? Did you release any demos or EPs before the LP? And how did you get the deal with DSP?

There is no music released but the LPs on DSP, we say LPs because second Burzum LP out in summer 1992. The debut LP is pure hate and winter!! The deal with DSP was meant to be! And the outcome was the foresaid!

I guess you are much influenced by Bathory, is that right? What do you think about them? Many Swedish groups say that Nihilist / Entombed was the first Death Metal band in Sweden / Scandinavia. But Bathory was there before them! Why do you think people say that? Don't they maybe like Bathory?

I say Bathory is Black Metal! Not Death Metal! Bathory is as they always have been. Best! I don't care about what the Swedish turbo nerds (?? I fuckin' hate unclear writing!!! -ed.) say! Ignore them!

What's your opinion about killer bands like Darkthrone, Mayhem, Masacre (Colombia) Master's Hammer or Impaled Nazarene? Are you - as they - into Satanism / Black Metal?

Darkthrone, Mayhem - no words to be spoken! Masacre - necro music with life-metal lyrics! Master's Hammer is a worthy band too! Impaled Nazarene - boring grind core. Maybe the man is cool? Of course, I'm into Satanism! I play Black Metal, right?!

How is life in Bergen? I was there one time in my life and it was so incredible boring that I only stayed for few hours. Also prices for beer and cigarettes are fuckin' high. How can you survive there??

I do not drink beer, I do not smoke, I'm glad you don't like Bergen, I hate tourists, Bergen rules! (???? -ed.)

I heard that Euronymous of Mayhem is in jail because he knocked somebody down with a knife. Is this a true fact or only a rumor?

Well, he is not in jail yet! But yes, he did perform some mayhem on a guy! They deserve their name! Well, it wasn't a knife, it was a bottle! Welcome to Norway!

Many great Death Metal combos like Morbid Angel, Carcass or Napalm Death wimped out. The "Blessed…" LP of M.A. for example isn't that good as their "Abominations…" stuff. It's really a shit LP. And also Carcass changed their sound with their third LP. What do you think about that fact?

I have never liked Carcass, Napalm Death or Morbid Angel. I like Hellhammer, Mayhem, old Sodom, old Kreator, old Venom, Bathory, Celtic Frost. And some second generation bands as Darkthrone, Thorns, Rotting Christ, Necromantia, Varathron, Imperator… I hate the new trend scene! (Morbid Angel, Entombed, Dismember, Napalm Death, Carcass, kindness Unleashed, to mega love Therion [a playful allusion to the album title "To mega Therion" by Celtic Frost], Gorefest… and so on…). But I guess the fakes die!

Is there anything you fear of? Maybe your death or that you wimp out?

I only know hate! War and sodomy! Wimp out? Did Bathory wimp out? Fuck you! All bands develop! I do not think that Morbid Angel wimped out! (They have always sounded shitty!) They just developed! I play what I like! If I liked extreme techno-disco music, I would probably play techno! I do as I will! Third (or maybe fourth) Burzum LP will be 100% satanic ritual music! The LP after that will be back to "normal" Burzum… I have thought doing a destruction thrash-like LP too! By the way, if I should wimp out, I probably had begun playing so-called "death" metal! Hyped trend! And earned loads of money!

What had you done if you had lived 2000 years ago and you had met Jesus?

Nothing.

Any last comments for the end of this interview?

Boycott the (false) Church of Satan! Or let's call it the church of atheism, humanism and individualism… Or maybe the church of Jesus if he was all they stand for Satanism is evil. It's the worst way! Only war, hate, cold, sorrow, and total misery. Hail Satan! (Not his so-called ideology!).

Author: Enrico Schmieder (© 1992 "Darkness" magazine, Germany)