LIBRARY
Interview with Varg Vikernes
"Nagual" magazine (#3, 1994)
Steve O'Malley
Note: This is a shorter (edited by Bjarke Ahlstrand) version of the interview with Varg Vikernes called "The wolf of the North..." published in "Descent" magazine (#1, May, 1994) by Steve O'Malley. The utterings in this and every other published interview are not necessarily equal to those of the editor or the "Nagual"-staff.
This splendid interview is done by Steve O'Malley from "Descent" Magazine, which hails from the states... I'd like to thank Steve O'Malley for letting me use this interview in "Nagual". Hail brother!! Burzum is the spawn of the infamous Varg Vikernes, also known to some as Count Grishnackh. Burzum's releases so far include a demotape (1991), "Burzum" debut album (1992), "Aske" mini-LP (1992), "Det Som Engang Var" album (1993), and "Hvis Lyset Tar Oss" album (1994). Burzum/Count Grishnackh are at the current moment a wellknown band/person, but the reason for the fame is at least as much due to accusations of church-burnings, theft, gravedesecrations, racist utterings and a 1st degree murder-charge...
This splendid interview is done by Steve O'Malley from "Descent" Magazine, which hails from the states... I'd like to thank Steve O'Malley for letting me use this interview in "Nagual". Hail brother!! Burzum is the spawn of the infamous Varg Vikernes, also known to some as Count Grishnackh. Burzum's releases so far include a demotape (1991), "Burzum" debut album (1992), "Aske" mini-LP (1992), "Det Som Engang Var" album (1993), and "Hvis Lyset Tar Oss" album (1994). Burzum/Count Grishnackh are at the current moment a wellknown band/person, but the reason for the fame is at least as much due to accusations of church-burnings, theft, gravedesecrations, racist utterings and a 1st degree murder-charge...
***
Okay, let's dive right into it. You have informed me in your letters that you are an Odinist. I am curious, when you first heard about Odinism did you have an immediate attraction to it?
My heathendom is and has always been within me. Odinism is not a fixed religion; it's a way of life I have always been living, though not always conscious of it. My heathen consciousness didn't come over a short period of time. Such things develop slowly.
You are a man of pure Viking blood. Why were you misled by Satanism and occult subjects for so long? It seems Odinism would hit closer to home, wouldn't it?
I have never been misled by Satanism and Occultism; heathendom is both. Odin is my father and he is an opponent of the Christian "God". In Hebrew "Satan" means an opponent. Thus is Odin Satan. The one-eyed Satan of the North. That makes me a Satanist as I follow my father. Of you study my symbolism, you find the Hakenkreuz (swastika) and the one-eye. No pentagrams nor any inverted crosses that so many believe is Satanism. Maybe it is, but nor for me. I am a Northman with symbols of the North. Alas, for many those are well hidden.
You have been a target of many accusations of Nazism. What does the swastika mean to you? What do you have to say to these accusers?
They manifest their lack of knowledge about me and my symbolism. Also, usually the same people haven't the slightest idea of what Nazism is really all about, so how can they tell if I am a Nazi or not? I really don't care about what people say or call me. I am what I am. A true Northman... Nothing can change that. The swastika is the hammer of Thor, cleaving through all darkness of matter. The mightiest weapon. With it we shall crush the skull of the Christian "God" and his inept people. Alas, I am no Nazi. I am a White Aryan Odinist!! Call me whatever you want. I shall only stand proud.
Do you see and feel a real tension building up from within the Norse people, especially the young, against modern Christianized society and government? When do you think this tension will snap and what will be the results, Varg?
I know not what will happen. But indeed, there is a tension building up within us Norsemen. The fall of "God" and his effete people is at hand. The reconquest has begun. We will win or die in the attempt. The war against the forsakers of Odin has begun. Scandinavia is OURS!
In your letters, you asked me why no one ever asks about the "outer" circle. Okay, who were the "outer" circle and what was their purpose? (In regard to "inner" leadership)
What I meant was that all Norwegian Black Metal bands get the title of inner circle band. Obviously, they can't be! For would it then be an inner circle if over two dozen bands are a part of it? The inner circle is the trinity of kings; all the others are "outer circle" bands. The kings are the three first. Demonaz of Immortal, Fenriz of Darkthrone and Grishnackh of Burzum!
What has become of these members since Euronymous' death? Has the unity been lost, or have they split off into many factions?
Euronymous' death was nothing but timely and gain for us. The unit is both weakened and strengthened since half a year ago. We have lost the weak and strengthened the rest. If anybody rebels against our rule, we will crush them.
It seems Euronymous' death sent out a spark which lit an inferno of new, black, pagan groups (Gorgoroth, Manes, Hades etc.) in Norge. Where do such groups stand in your opinion?
All the bands you mentioned here started up a long time before the death of the Red Rat. I wonder why the hell people believe Norway cares about his death? We had jokes about him as early as 1991! "Funeral Fag" and such. (Perversion of the song title "Funeral Fog" of Mayhem). He was a fucking faggot! Euronymous died in his fucking underwear trying to run away from his killer(s), screaming like a fucking hysterical woman. (the Police told me. He he!) I think that was proof enough of him being a wimp! A real man would have died fighting, not running away. Survival of the fittest. Well, back to the question. I ignore all bands but those who support me. Them I support no matter when they were formed.
I see a great amount of similarity at times between your music and classical music. Do you have an appreciation and interest in this style of music?
The similarity of the monotonousness which is present in Burzum and some classical music, but also the melancholy. Still, I'm not particularly into classical music. Some Grieg and Tchaikovsky, but little else. The monotonousness and melancholy of Burzum in mainly from acts as modern electronic music, like Software, When, and underground techno.
Why have you kept Burzum primarily a one-man effort instead of expanding into a full band?
I'm egoistical, intolerant, individualistic, and have some bad habits. Like ending up in jail from time to time. As a one-man band, I can continue any way.
A while back the news of the church burnings in your country began to spread throughout the scene. What do you think the purpose of doing this was? Do you really believe that this would start a war with Christianity?
Imagine the U.S. if one percent of all churches were burned. That's what happened in Norway. A dozen churches in Norway is one percent. What would happen if one thousand churches burned in the U.S.? That's about one percent, right? It might not be a state of war, but indeed it's a clear statement of what somebody doesn't like. All wars have a different scale. Our war is not as noticeable as a war between nations, still it's war. The situation in Norway is as if a thousand churches had burned in the U.S... DESPAIR!
Do you have any last words?
Strife is evolution. Peace is degeneration. Make war, not love.
My heathendom is and has always been within me. Odinism is not a fixed religion; it's a way of life I have always been living, though not always conscious of it. My heathen consciousness didn't come over a short period of time. Such things develop slowly.
You are a man of pure Viking blood. Why were you misled by Satanism and occult subjects for so long? It seems Odinism would hit closer to home, wouldn't it?
I have never been misled by Satanism and Occultism; heathendom is both. Odin is my father and he is an opponent of the Christian "God". In Hebrew "Satan" means an opponent. Thus is Odin Satan. The one-eyed Satan of the North. That makes me a Satanist as I follow my father. Of you study my symbolism, you find the Hakenkreuz (swastika) and the one-eye. No pentagrams nor any inverted crosses that so many believe is Satanism. Maybe it is, but nor for me. I am a Northman with symbols of the North. Alas, for many those are well hidden.
You have been a target of many accusations of Nazism. What does the swastika mean to you? What do you have to say to these accusers?
They manifest their lack of knowledge about me and my symbolism. Also, usually the same people haven't the slightest idea of what Nazism is really all about, so how can they tell if I am a Nazi or not? I really don't care about what people say or call me. I am what I am. A true Northman... Nothing can change that. The swastika is the hammer of Thor, cleaving through all darkness of matter. The mightiest weapon. With it we shall crush the skull of the Christian "God" and his inept people. Alas, I am no Nazi. I am a White Aryan Odinist!! Call me whatever you want. I shall only stand proud.
Do you see and feel a real tension building up from within the Norse people, especially the young, against modern Christianized society and government? When do you think this tension will snap and what will be the results, Varg?
I know not what will happen. But indeed, there is a tension building up within us Norsemen. The fall of "God" and his effete people is at hand. The reconquest has begun. We will win or die in the attempt. The war against the forsakers of Odin has begun. Scandinavia is OURS!
In your letters, you asked me why no one ever asks about the "outer" circle. Okay, who were the "outer" circle and what was their purpose? (In regard to "inner" leadership)
What I meant was that all Norwegian Black Metal bands get the title of inner circle band. Obviously, they can't be! For would it then be an inner circle if over two dozen bands are a part of it? The inner circle is the trinity of kings; all the others are "outer circle" bands. The kings are the three first. Demonaz of Immortal, Fenriz of Darkthrone and Grishnackh of Burzum!
What has become of these members since Euronymous' death? Has the unity been lost, or have they split off into many factions?
Euronymous' death was nothing but timely and gain for us. The unit is both weakened and strengthened since half a year ago. We have lost the weak and strengthened the rest. If anybody rebels against our rule, we will crush them.
It seems Euronymous' death sent out a spark which lit an inferno of new, black, pagan groups (Gorgoroth, Manes, Hades etc.) in Norge. Where do such groups stand in your opinion?
All the bands you mentioned here started up a long time before the death of the Red Rat. I wonder why the hell people believe Norway cares about his death? We had jokes about him as early as 1991! "Funeral Fag" and such. (Perversion of the song title "Funeral Fog" of Mayhem). He was a fucking faggot! Euronymous died in his fucking underwear trying to run away from his killer(s), screaming like a fucking hysterical woman. (the Police told me. He he!) I think that was proof enough of him being a wimp! A real man would have died fighting, not running away. Survival of the fittest. Well, back to the question. I ignore all bands but those who support me. Them I support no matter when they were formed.
I see a great amount of similarity at times between your music and classical music. Do you have an appreciation and interest in this style of music?
The similarity of the monotonousness which is present in Burzum and some classical music, but also the melancholy. Still, I'm not particularly into classical music. Some Grieg and Tchaikovsky, but little else. The monotonousness and melancholy of Burzum in mainly from acts as modern electronic music, like Software, When, and underground techno.
Why have you kept Burzum primarily a one-man effort instead of expanding into a full band?
I'm egoistical, intolerant, individualistic, and have some bad habits. Like ending up in jail from time to time. As a one-man band, I can continue any way.
A while back the news of the church burnings in your country began to spread throughout the scene. What do you think the purpose of doing this was? Do you really believe that this would start a war with Christianity?
Imagine the U.S. if one percent of all churches were burned. That's what happened in Norway. A dozen churches in Norway is one percent. What would happen if one thousand churches burned in the U.S.? That's about one percent, right? It might not be a state of war, but indeed it's a clear statement of what somebody doesn't like. All wars have a different scale. Our war is not as noticeable as a war between nations, still it's war. The situation in Norway is as if a thousand churches had burned in the U.S... DESPAIR!
Do you have any last words?
Strife is evolution. Peace is degeneration. Make war, not love.
Author: Steve O'Malley (© 1994 "Nagual" magazine, Denmark)
