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From past troubles with former record label No Fashion Records to their "Attera
Totus Sanctus" album entering the Top 40 Swedish Metal charts; the journey for
Dark Funeral has been an interesting one. Little did the band know that one day
they would become one of Sweden’s finest Black metal bands to hit the stage. If
anything, the past has just fueled them towards new heights and a new
beginning…According to Dark Funeral founder and guitarist Lord Ahriman, “There’
s just no fucking way I will ever let a record label destroy something I/we have
built up and dedicated our entire souls for, for the past 13 years. That’s just NEVER
going to happen. This is a battle I’ll fight till death if I have too. Nothing but total
victory is acceptable.”
Totus Sanctus" album entering the Top 40 Swedish Metal charts; the journey for
Dark Funeral has been an interesting one. Little did the band know that one day
they would become one of Sweden’s finest Black metal bands to hit the stage. If
anything, the past has just fueled them towards new heights and a new
beginning…According to Dark Funeral founder and guitarist Lord Ahriman, “There’
s just no fucking way I will ever let a record label destroy something I/we have
built up and dedicated our entire souls for, for the past 13 years. That’s just NEVER
going to happen. This is a battle I’ll fight till death if I have too. Nothing but total
victory is acceptable.”
| Road to a New Beginning Interview with Lord Ahriman By: Blissfulviolet |
Blissfulviolet: Greetings…Thanks for doing this interview.
First I would like to wish the band a great New Year. By the
way how did you spend yours?
First I would like to wish the band a great New Year. By the
way how did you spend yours?
Blissfulviolet: Looking back at Dark Funeral’s earlier years,
Did you ever think that the band would make it this far? Any fond
or bitter memories you wish to comment on?
Did you ever think that the band would make it this far? Any fond
or bitter memories you wish to comment on?
Lord Ahriman: Since I don’t know much
about whats going on with the other guys
side projects, I can only speak for myself.
Wolfen Society will rise as soon as time
allows it. I will meet Vincent and Kyle
during the tour. And when we meet we
plan to discuss the future of the band and
so on. Everyone wants to record together
again. We need to put up a time table
that works for everyone and than put it in
action I guess.
about whats going on with the other guys
side projects, I can only speak for myself.
Wolfen Society will rise as soon as time
allows it. I will meet Vincent and Kyle
during the tour. And when we meet we
plan to discuss the future of the band and
so on. Everyone wants to record together
again. We need to put up a time table
that works for everyone and than put it in
action I guess.
Blissfulviolet: Grimmest wishes and best of luck with the tour guys…
| For tickets, interviews or other promotional information contact; Dave Brenner earsplitpr@aol.com www.candlelightrecordsusa.com www.myspace.com/candlelightrecordsusa Atrum Regina - The new live video from Dark Funeral !!! http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm? fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=1339810353 http://www.darkfuneral.se/videos/Atrum%20Regina.mpg (88MB) Join DARK FUNERAL on the world wide web: darkfuneral.se diabolicwear.com myspace.com/darkfuneral www.youtube.com/darkfuneral ifilm.com dragon-productions.com wolfensociety.com regainrecords.com |
Blissfulviolet: Can you describe Attera Totus Sanctus for fans that still haven’t picked it up?
Lord Ahriman: Yeah man, we’re totally looking forward to
tour the States again. We have always had a blast when we
toured/played the States in the past. And I believe this tour is
going to be even better. Question is. Are you guys ready for
some Scandinavian hyper blasting Black Metal…hehe? Due to
the fact that we had all of our gear stolen, when we played
Peru a couple of months ago, we have unfortunately not been
able to rehearse as much as I would have liked to. It’s been a
frustrating time indeed, but just as of today we have managed
to complete a brand new backline. And all thanks to BC Rich,
Randall Amplifiers, Seymour Duncan, Pearl Drums, EBS and
Sennheiser, who has been truly helpful and offered us their
tour the States again. We have always had a blast when we
toured/played the States in the past. And I believe this tour is
going to be even better. Question is. Are you guys ready for
some Scandinavian hyper blasting Black Metal…hehe? Due to
the fact that we had all of our gear stolen, when we played
Peru a couple of months ago, we have unfortunately not been
able to rehearse as much as I would have liked to. It’s been a
frustrating time indeed, but just as of today we have managed
to complete a brand new backline. And all thanks to BC Rich,
Randall Amplifiers, Seymour Duncan, Pearl Drums, EBS and
Sennheiser, who has been truly helpful and offered us their
Lord Ahriman: Not at all. When we started out in 1993 our
Blissfulviolet: On the subject of Black metal, some bands feel that they should stay underground. How
do you feel about this subject?
do you feel about this subject?
Blissfulviolet: Part III of the Attera Orbis Terrarum North
American Tour starts in just a couple of days, is the band
excited and ready to take on the states?
American Tour starts in just a couple of days, is the band
excited and ready to take on the states?
Lord Ahriman: Thanx. Personally I had a soft evening with
my family.
my family.
endorsements. So as you see. It’s been quite a stress for us to pull new gear together so we even can
do the tour, but we made it just in time. So this weekend will be spent with the guitar exclusively. And with
perhaps a little longer sound check the first 2 dates we’ll be all back in full force again. Although, I’m
sure the very first show will go smooth anyway. Guess I’m just being a bit too self critic as usual…
do the tour, but we made it just in time. So this weekend will be spent with the guitar exclusively. And with
perhaps a little longer sound check the first 2 dates we’ll be all back in full force again. Although, I’m
sure the very first show will go smooth anyway. Guess I’m just being a bit too self critic as usual…
Blissfulviolet: What shall we expect to encounter at the upcoming Dark Funeral shows?
Lord Ahriman: Swedish Black Metal at its best!
Lord Ahriman: Musically “Attera Totus Sanctus” brings you through a dark, hate-filled and extremely
intense journey throughout hell and back. The album is on a professionally and completely different
level than anything we have done in the past. I have personally never for ex expressed my inner feelings
in such a strong way through the music before. This time everything is way more personal. We have
tried out many new things like, new riff structures, Drum beats and more technical rhythms. We have
also increased the speed factor quite a bit. The title means “Destroy All Holy."
intense journey throughout hell and back. The album is on a professionally and completely different
level than anything we have done in the past. I have personally never for ex expressed my inner feelings
in such a strong way through the music before. This time everything is way more personal. We have
tried out many new things like, new riff structures, Drum beats and more technical rhythms. We have
also increased the speed factor quite a bit. The title means “Destroy All Holy."
Blissfulviolet: Was the recording process for this album different than previous albums?
Lord Ahriman: Yes. This was the first time we actually put together an entire album while in the studio.
Before we entered the studio, I did of course have quite a lot of material written already, but nothing
arranged, and for sure not enough to fill up a full-length album. Besides, much of the material that had
written got a somewhat different turn once we begin to work on them in the studio. So I had to re-write,
but also write a lot of new stuff while we worked on the actual songs. It was literally not much sleep for
me until all the eight songs were completed. But once we got the arrangements going, I had so much
inspiration I just kept on writing throughout the nights. And during the days we worked on arrangements
and recorded. To work with Daniel and Örjan was killer. Personally I spent most of the time with Örjan
and Chaq Mol. Örjan really managed to bring the very best out of me. He not only inspired me to write,
but I also leaned a lot of new things by working with him. I’m totally satisfied with the production we got
on the new album. And I’m pretty sure we will work with them on the next record too. We spent a total of
9 weeks in the studio, writing and recording the new album. The session in itself was divided in 3
periods, but even though we had these short breaks I was still working at all time on the songs. On this
record Daniel Bergstrand and Örjan Örnkloo were hired as producers, so naturally they were very much
involved in the whole creating process.
Before we entered the studio, I did of course have quite a lot of material written already, but nothing
arranged, and for sure not enough to fill up a full-length album. Besides, much of the material that had
written got a somewhat different turn once we begin to work on them in the studio. So I had to re-write,
but also write a lot of new stuff while we worked on the actual songs. It was literally not much sleep for
me until all the eight songs were completed. But once we got the arrangements going, I had so much
inspiration I just kept on writing throughout the nights. And during the days we worked on arrangements
and recorded. To work with Daniel and Örjan was killer. Personally I spent most of the time with Örjan
and Chaq Mol. Örjan really managed to bring the very best out of me. He not only inspired me to write,
but I also leaned a lot of new things by working with him. I’m totally satisfied with the production we got
on the new album. And I’m pretty sure we will work with them on the next record too. We spent a total of
9 weeks in the studio, writing and recording the new album. The session in itself was divided in 3
periods, but even though we had these short breaks I was still working at all time on the songs. On this
record Daniel Bergstrand and Örjan Örnkloo were hired as producers, so naturally they were very much
involved in the whole creating process.
Blissfulviolet: I have to ask. Does the band feel like it’s the
beginning to a new chapter…with signing to Regain Records,
recording at Dug Out Studios and having Attera Totus Sanctus
enter the Swedish metal charts? Was it a form of revitalization so
to speak?
beginning to a new chapter…with signing to Regain Records,
recording at Dug Out Studios and having Attera Totus Sanctus
enter the Swedish metal charts? Was it a form of revitalization so
to speak?
Lord Ahriman: Indeed. And this was also something that we
truly needed, to begin a whole new chapter, with all new people
around us. And the fact that the album impressively entered the
Swedish album chart (Top 40) obviously come as a bonus for
all the shit been through the last couple of years, for all the
hard work we have laid down on the band and the new album,
which is nice for a change.
truly needed, to begin a whole new chapter, with all new people
around us. And the fact that the album impressively entered the
Swedish album chart (Top 40) obviously come as a bonus for
all the shit been through the last couple of years, for all the
hard work we have laid down on the band and the new album,
which is nice for a change.
only intention was basically to create the darkest and most extreme music possible. Anything outside
that area wasn’t even on the map, if you know what I mean. So the instant success of our debut MCD
surly came as a huge surprise. Which in it’s turn gave us the possibility to start touring among many
other things. It sure haven’t been an easy ride to get this far. And now with quite a few years of
experience, the only thing I truly regret is that we once upon a time signed to that piece of shit label No
Fashion Records (nowadays MNW). Even though they did a few good things for us, it surly doesn’t
match all the harm they’ve done to the band. They’ve not only financially ripped us off massively. They
have even stolen our song and publishing rights, which is totally unacceptable of course. And since they
are one of those labels that think they’re untouchable, way over the law. And think that Artists should
just shut up and obey; they haven’t showed any interest to solve this between them and us. They haven’
t even been interested to discuss it. Guess they were hoping that we eventually would just let it go and
move on like nothing ever happened, like most bands unfortunately do. That’s why we have been forced
to bring them to court. It was either that or disband you know. And there’s just no fucking way I will ever
let a record label destroy something I/we have built up and dedicated our entire souls for, for the past 13
years. That’s just NEVER going to happen. This is a battle I’ll fight till death if I have too. Nothing but
total victory is acceptable.
that area wasn’t even on the map, if you know what I mean. So the instant success of our debut MCD
surly came as a huge surprise. Which in it’s turn gave us the possibility to start touring among many
other things. It sure haven’t been an easy ride to get this far. And now with quite a few years of
experience, the only thing I truly regret is that we once upon a time signed to that piece of shit label No
Fashion Records (nowadays MNW). Even though they did a few good things for us, it surly doesn’t
match all the harm they’ve done to the band. They’ve not only financially ripped us off massively. They
have even stolen our song and publishing rights, which is totally unacceptable of course. And since they
are one of those labels that think they’re untouchable, way over the law. And think that Artists should
just shut up and obey; they haven’t showed any interest to solve this between them and us. They haven’
t even been interested to discuss it. Guess they were hoping that we eventually would just let it go and
move on like nothing ever happened, like most bands unfortunately do. That’s why we have been forced
to bring them to court. It was either that or disband you know. And there’s just no fucking way I will ever
let a record label destroy something I/we have built up and dedicated our entire souls for, for the past 13
years. That’s just NEVER going to happen. This is a battle I’ll fight till death if I have too. Nothing but
total victory is acceptable.
Blissfulviolet: What lies ahead for Dark Funeral…Any plans or material for a new album? If so what
can you tell me?
can you tell me?
Lord Ahriman: We are currently editing and putting together material for what will be 2 double DVD´s.
The first double DVD will be based on material recorded in Europe plus include a lots of bonus material
with clips from shows from 1994 up till today. The second double DVD will be based on material
recorded in South America. We are also completing material for a double live album. And if all goes well,
these releases will see the day of light sometimes during 2007. I have also started writing for a new
studio album. And if all goes well I hope we will be ready to record again sometimes during spring 2008.
Until than, we will continue to tour through-out the world, as well as work on new material.
The first double DVD will be based on material recorded in Europe plus include a lots of bonus material
with clips from shows from 1994 up till today. The second double DVD will be based on material
recorded in South America. We are also completing material for a double live album. And if all goes well,
these releases will see the day of light sometimes during 2007. I have also started writing for a new
studio album. And if all goes well I hope we will be ready to record again sometimes during spring 2008.
Until than, we will continue to tour through-out the world, as well as work on new material.
Blissfulviolet: What’s the status of any
side projects that the band has been
pursuing?
side projects that the band has been
pursuing?
Lord Ahriman: Well, to a 99% of the times this whole discussion whether you’re underground or not is
based upon envy on others success and a proof of someone else’s failure. It’s also a generation type of
thing, with mostly the younger generation who participate in it. Seriously, you don’t see much of this talk
and/or discussions in our age and/or generation. Guess we have been part of this scene for so long by
now that we nowadays feel secure about ourselves and our role in the scene, what’s important and what’
s not.
based upon envy on others success and a proof of someone else’s failure. It’s also a generation type of
thing, with mostly the younger generation who participate in it. Seriously, you don’t see much of this talk
and/or discussions in our age and/or generation. Guess we have been part of this scene for so long by
now that we nowadays feel secure about ourselves and our role in the scene, what’s important and what’
s not.
Blissfulviolet: Any final words you’d like to shout out to your fans?
Lord Ahriman: Thanx for the support! See you on the road!!
