LIBRARY
Interview with Varg Vikernes
"Charontaphos" magazine (¹1, 1993), by Ndizi Na Nyama
Burzum. You like them or hate them. And I think they hate it when you like them and like it when you hate them. Because hate is one of the things from which Count Grishnackh gets his energy to compose his tormenting style of Black Metal. "Det Som Engang Var" will be Burzum's second album, but Count Grishnackh himself thinks his fifth album will become the best of all. In the following interview Count Grishnackh tells us everything about the war in the north, his silent servants, corpsepaintings and White Metal!!!!
***
Ave! How was the line-u during the recordings of your debut album? Is the line-up still the same?
On the CD I do all instruments myself, drums first then guitars etc. In the future I might have a complete line-up for live shows only. The line-up is now: "Count Grishnackh and his silent servants", including some female blood. The line-up is the same, in that way that I still do all lyrics and music and concept and, and, and… etc.
What exactly does Burzum mean?
The word Burzum means darkness. For Norway and beyond Burzum means destruction and sorrow and simply all other "not too nice"-things. Hate and winter!!!
Is Burzum a project consisting of people from various bands, or is Burzum a real band?
I am Burzum! My session crew is also doing some other bands of the Norwegian elite. Live it's a project, on vinyl it is not, on CD it's more boring than on vinyl!!!
How were the reactions you received after the release of your first album? Over here in Holland they were positive, only the true Black Metal freak did order the CD, and it wasn't available in any record shop.
It was supportive. The support is sading. I think because people understand that Burzum isn't a nice band!! We worship what people fear! Like hate, winter, war, darkness and so on. People don't dare to follow our horde into war against the light and its followers. The Vikings in Norway take control again. Wait and see!!
What I personally like about your CD, are the very high screamings and the great depression in your music. How did you create such a high screaming in your vocals?
I'm a Norwegian, a Northman who hates the very good mankind! With hate in heart, strange sounds come forth!
I have the advance tape of your second album "På Svarte Troner". Do you think you made musical improvements?
Well, you've got the raw mix. Don't spread it!! (Deal! -CZ) The title is changed to "Det Som Engang Var". The third LP is now called "På Svarte Troner". The second LP consists of songs just as old as the songs on the first LP, and a few newer. Yes, the second album is a big improvement in every way. Especially vocal wise. The third LP is an enormous improvement, the fourth is better, but the fifth is best so far!! (Like Darkthrone –CZ). I definitely think Burzum improves, vinyl by vinyl, night by night!!
How is your contact with Euronymous? What can you tell us about the line-up of Mayhem at this time? Do you still join them?
It is very satisfactory, we share many horrible moments together, and plan (with the rest of the nine) the war for the dark lord. The war in the North!!! Mayhem line-up is: Hellhammer (battery), Euronymous (chainsaw), Attila (session screams) and me (session 4-string bulldozer bass).
In Holland there are a lot of rumors about Dead's death. Some believe he committed suicide, others say that Euronymous killed him, and that he is in prison at this moment. Can you tell us something about it?
Euronymous is not imprisoned by anything but our lord's wishes. Dead did join the call of the freezing moon with help from no one. He left for the shadow side by ending his misery himself! If Euronymous killed him he wouldn't be a murderer anyway (of that reason). Dead did not have a life to take, only existence to end.
Why is it that a lot of Black Metal bands are living in Norway, and not in any other countries?
When you mean bands like Immortal, Fester, Perdition Hearse, Emperor or Thyabhorrent, they aren't Black Metal bands. To be a Black Metal band, you have to worship the dark lord, and exist purely for him! Only Mayhem, Burzum and Darkthrone play Black Metal. Our proud black trio of Norway.
What do you think of bands like Morbid Angel or Deicide, who are making satanic lyrics as a commercial thing?
They spread the message of the shadow to the masses. Morbid Angel are fake Satanists, Deicide is Black Metal. (Oh? –CZ) By being comers they twist and pervert most possible souls Black Metal isn't underground. Black Metal is religion! Satanism!
Do you agree with the statement that Black Metal is an enormous trend?
All humans die. It is trula a trend to play "so called" Black Metal, doing corpse-paint and scream evil without any meaning behind it! That's not Black Metal So REAL Black Fucking Metal is not a trend. Hey, there are only five fucking bands, Mayhem, VON, Burzum, Deicide and Darkthrone. Are five bands a trend?! Black Metal is not a style of music, it's a style of existence! "Church of Satan" bands play White Metal!! A big fuck-off to Necromantia, Impaled Nazarene, Beherit, Blasphemy, Profanatica, Kind Diamond, Mercyful Fate, Entombed and the rest. We will crush you!!! Literally!!!
Which bands do you hate and which band is number one according to you?
Apart from Burzum, Mayhem is number one. I hate almost every band existing! I especially hate Necromantia! They won't live long in Scandinavia!!
Have you done any gigs in Norway already? Are you planning to do some gigs outside Norway?
I have plans for gigs. But I doubt I ever bother to do a gig. I hate concerts!!!!
Count Grishnackh, may I eternally thank you thousand times for this interview, do you have anything to say at the end of the interview?
Christians make war, Church of Satan followers make love! I wonder if the Church of Satan will ever change its name into something like "Humanitarian life worshippers" or "Followers of the path right to the right hand path". As a Satanist I prefer to kill c.o.s. followers as they are the good ones. Satanism is the worst way. The path of evil. The path of misery. Thirteen questions may suit well. As now…
On the CD I do all instruments myself, drums first then guitars etc. In the future I might have a complete line-up for live shows only. The line-up is now: "Count Grishnackh and his silent servants", including some female blood. The line-up is the same, in that way that I still do all lyrics and music and concept and, and, and… etc.
What exactly does Burzum mean?
The word Burzum means darkness. For Norway and beyond Burzum means destruction and sorrow and simply all other "not too nice"-things. Hate and winter!!!
Is Burzum a project consisting of people from various bands, or is Burzum a real band?
I am Burzum! My session crew is also doing some other bands of the Norwegian elite. Live it's a project, on vinyl it is not, on CD it's more boring than on vinyl!!!
How were the reactions you received after the release of your first album? Over here in Holland they were positive, only the true Black Metal freak did order the CD, and it wasn't available in any record shop.
It was supportive. The support is sading. I think because people understand that Burzum isn't a nice band!! We worship what people fear! Like hate, winter, war, darkness and so on. People don't dare to follow our horde into war against the light and its followers. The Vikings in Norway take control again. Wait and see!!
What I personally like about your CD, are the very high screamings and the great depression in your music. How did you create such a high screaming in your vocals?
I'm a Norwegian, a Northman who hates the very good mankind! With hate in heart, strange sounds come forth!
I have the advance tape of your second album "På Svarte Troner". Do you think you made musical improvements?
Well, you've got the raw mix. Don't spread it!! (Deal! -CZ) The title is changed to "Det Som Engang Var". The third LP is now called "På Svarte Troner". The second LP consists of songs just as old as the songs on the first LP, and a few newer. Yes, the second album is a big improvement in every way. Especially vocal wise. The third LP is an enormous improvement, the fourth is better, but the fifth is best so far!! (Like Darkthrone –CZ). I definitely think Burzum improves, vinyl by vinyl, night by night!!
How is your contact with Euronymous? What can you tell us about the line-up of Mayhem at this time? Do you still join them?
It is very satisfactory, we share many horrible moments together, and plan (with the rest of the nine) the war for the dark lord. The war in the North!!! Mayhem line-up is: Hellhammer (battery), Euronymous (chainsaw), Attila (session screams) and me (session 4-string bulldozer bass).
In Holland there are a lot of rumors about Dead's death. Some believe he committed suicide, others say that Euronymous killed him, and that he is in prison at this moment. Can you tell us something about it?
Euronymous is not imprisoned by anything but our lord's wishes. Dead did join the call of the freezing moon with help from no one. He left for the shadow side by ending his misery himself! If Euronymous killed him he wouldn't be a murderer anyway (of that reason). Dead did not have a life to take, only existence to end.
Why is it that a lot of Black Metal bands are living in Norway, and not in any other countries?
When you mean bands like Immortal, Fester, Perdition Hearse, Emperor or Thyabhorrent, they aren't Black Metal bands. To be a Black Metal band, you have to worship the dark lord, and exist purely for him! Only Mayhem, Burzum and Darkthrone play Black Metal. Our proud black trio of Norway.
What do you think of bands like Morbid Angel or Deicide, who are making satanic lyrics as a commercial thing?
They spread the message of the shadow to the masses. Morbid Angel are fake Satanists, Deicide is Black Metal. (Oh? –CZ) By being comers they twist and pervert most possible souls Black Metal isn't underground. Black Metal is religion! Satanism!
Do you agree with the statement that Black Metal is an enormous trend?
All humans die. It is trula a trend to play "so called" Black Metal, doing corpse-paint and scream evil without any meaning behind it! That's not Black Metal So REAL Black Fucking Metal is not a trend. Hey, there are only five fucking bands, Mayhem, VON, Burzum, Deicide and Darkthrone. Are five bands a trend?! Black Metal is not a style of music, it's a style of existence! "Church of Satan" bands play White Metal!! A big fuck-off to Necromantia, Impaled Nazarene, Beherit, Blasphemy, Profanatica, Kind Diamond, Mercyful Fate, Entombed and the rest. We will crush you!!! Literally!!!
Which bands do you hate and which band is number one according to you?
Apart from Burzum, Mayhem is number one. I hate almost every band existing! I especially hate Necromantia! They won't live long in Scandinavia!!
Have you done any gigs in Norway already? Are you planning to do some gigs outside Norway?
I have plans for gigs. But I doubt I ever bother to do a gig. I hate concerts!!!!
Count Grishnackh, may I eternally thank you thousand times for this interview, do you have anything to say at the end of the interview?
Christians make war, Church of Satan followers make love! I wonder if the Church of Satan will ever change its name into something like "Humanitarian life worshippers" or "Followers of the path right to the right hand path". As a Satanist I prefer to kill c.o.s. followers as they are the good ones. Satanism is the worst way. The path of evil. The path of misery. Thirteen questions may suit well. As now…
Author: Ndizi Na Nyama (© 1993 "Charontaphos" Magazine, the Netherlands)
