After reading through your song titles, I suppose that you're more 'viking metal' band than 'black metal' one. Am I right or I see the things wrong? Then, how can you describe your style yourself? And in what style you tend to play now and later?

- Well, we don't want to label ourself into somekind of category,  but I guess that 'viking metal' is a more fair description than 'black metal'. It's hard to describe our style in a word, but we're definitely a metal-band in the bottom, even if we're exploring new fields and try to put influences from other kind of music into our songs. The music is symphonic, heavy, melodic and powerful, and so it will remain!

What's the main idea behind THYRFING? Or you didn't think about it yet?

- Nope, we woke up after being drunk for two years, and there we stood with a record deal and and a whole album ready for recording! Can you believe it? Seriously, when we started up, our goals was to get our own sound, and with more melodious keyboards instead of the usual chord-synths. We started the band because it was fun, and it still is...

21th November you planned a gig together with PROPHANITY, CRYPTIC ART, THE ANCIENTS REBIRTH and some other bands on 21th of November. Did it take place? Please, some words discribing this show?

- Yes it did. The show started like a disaster for us, as there was no time for soundchecking. It was impossible to hear the other instruments, and the opening song turned out pretty chaotic and untight. Anyway, the rest of the set went out pretty good, and it seems like we succeeded to entertain the crowd too. The overall impression of the show was that there were too  many bands playing, and everybody seemed to get a bit tired.

Your first demo was done on four-track porta recorder. I believe, that the sound quality was rather messy. Now you try to avoid such a mess? ... for example, DARKTHRONE did and do this kind of production in professional studios. What do you think of it?

- Yes, the sound was nothing to be proud of. But you can hear all the instruments and get an impression of the band, and that's what is most important with a demotape in my opinion. Of course we want a clear and massive production rather than this DARKTHRONE-sound. It may fit their music, but not ours!

What area of Sweden do you hail from? Are there any other bands worthy to be mentioned? And are there quarrels amidst different bands or you're "friends amongst friends"?

- We live in Tyreso, a small town 20 minutes from Stockholm. The bands from Tyreso that I'm aware of are RAISE HELL, SINS OF OMISSION, PANTHEON (3 members from THYRFING). But if you count in Stockholm there are a lot more to mention. Too many to mention here. In Tyreso, we're friends with everybody. I guess there are some quarrels between the Stockholm-bands now and then, but nothing serious that I'm aware of.

All we know that 'famous' 'Swedish sound' (DARK TRANQUILLITY-alike, I mean :). There are not so many elements of their style in THYRFING's creations. Do you try to find your own path?

- Absolutely. We are not trying to adopt any special style, just creating great music even if you're always influenced and inspired by all great bands around.

You seem to be rather young men. Are you students? And where are you studying in, if so? And another qustion in this field: is there any THYRFING's fan in your class or even among your teachers (heh heh)?

- We are between 19 and 21 in the band, and everybody are finished with school.  Ha-ha, yeah, we had some "fans" in school who liked our music, but I don't know if they just told us that to be nice. Well, our music teacher was fairly impressed of our music, even if she though it was fun that we had recorded an album.

LORD BELIAL's guys say that they drank a lot of booze before gigs and recording sessions. Does alcohol mean anything to your band?

- Yes, but not in combination with recordings and gigs. Ok, some beers are just good before a gig, but it's no idea being totally wasted on stage, and not able to play. But otherwise, alcohol is just great.

So many BM bands use 'evil' make-ups, fire spits, dead animals, weapons on their gigs. Aren't you one of such artists? What do you use through the concert to impress metalheads?

- We haven't used any theatralistic elements in our show, but we intend to do so. In that case, we will probably use things such as fire, ale-horns, flags, viking clothing, armours etc.

By the way, do you often play live? And how many people visit your concerts (50, 100, 500, 666, 9 999 ones)?

- There has only been 5 gigs this far, but I hope there will be more. On the latest gig with PROPHANITY there were around 300 persons, but on the earlier rather 100-150.

Do you enjoy to be signed to Hammerheart? Or you're currently looking for another label?

- They are quite good, even if we are disappointed at some points. It's nothing I want to go deeper into in interviews, but we are not 100% satisfied. We are not "looking" for another label, but if we receive any proposions we'll of course look at it and see...

Your 1st album was recorded in Sunlight studio. The 2nd one was done in the walls of The Abyss. Is there any difference you've felt while recording in these studios?

- Abyss was a lot better at all points, except the lack of an automatic fader ha-ha. Seriously, Tommy was incredible nice and easy to work with, and the sound is far better than on the debut. The atmosphere in Abyss is very calm as it's almost out in the wilderness. When we recorded in Sunlight we went home by bus every night, so the recording-session felt more "solid" this time. I see no reasons why we're not going there again for our third effort.

Your dark interests lie only in THYRFING's art or your whole life is devoted to your ideas? I mean drakkar floating, axe fighting, icy fjord waters swimming, beer drinking till conciousness fades? :)

- No, except for the last point, we're living in the wrong age for such activities.  Well, axe-fighting would certainly be fun (if I won!), and I'm far too lazy to build a dragonship of my own. Maybe we can achieve to steal one from a museum, and conquer the world? Want to join? (sure!;) - Orkkh)

Do you support your relationships out of band activities? Or the whole band gathers only for rehearsals, gigs and recording sessions?

- Actually, the band-members are the only close friends I have. Peter and I have known each other since we were born, and Jocke and I since we were 5 years old. So I guess you can say that we have a very strong relationship in the band.

So many guys nowadays create own bands being 12-13-14 years old (obviously, rather young than old :). The same about you?

- I was 14 when I started to play in a band called MANTICORA who later became PANTHEON.  When THYRFING started I was 16.

Does any of you possess musical education? Or you sharpened music skills by your own?

- Thomas (our vocalist), who also is a drummer, has some education in drums (even if my relatives rather think he need singing-lessons ha-ha). Otherwise we have tought everything by ourselves and from each other.

Where do you rehearse? If at home, are the neighbours fucked-up then? Or they also have metal bands? :)

- No, my neighbours don’t have a metal band, even if they can sound like one, when they are using their fucking driller machine towards my wall, when I'm home and trying to concentrate! We rehearse at a place that is communal owned. It's not too good, but acceptable though...

Are your parents (friends, girls, wifes, children, hehe) appear as fans of yours or they don't care of THYRFING?

- They care, even if they don't enjoy the music. Of course our friends who are into metal like us, otherwise we would kick their asses, ha!

And, finally, what does your band's name mean? :)

- It's an Icelandic word for "Swallow this chinese dick". Aaargh... what this question bores me out. No offend, but... Thyrfing was a sword in the northern mythology, cursed to do three outrages, and it did... A far too long story to write down.

Well. Now we're about to end this interview. I am lazy and not in the mood to do it. So you may say some words instead me. Yeah, and thanx for patience. No one can bear my questions for such a long time... :))

- Thank you for a pleasant interview, hope that your digital 'zine will be a good one ('will be'?? Hmm, didn't you know about the three former issues?? – ED). Buy our new album "Valdr Galga" when it's released in the beginning of 1999. And visit our domain on the net at: http://home9.swipnet.se/~w-90755
RAISE THY HORNS!
 

THYRFING contact –
Email: barbarian@swipnet.se