Heil, Thomas! How are you doing today? Any activities planned when it comes to ALGOL?

- Hi Kai. I'm quite good today. Have got the flu some days now,but that is over, so now I am quite happy. I have no concrete plans when it comes to ALGOL. I have decided to take it as it comes. I take out the guitar from time to time and try to make some new riffs. If they are ok, will I record them. And so I will take it from there.

You said that you’re the only one left of ALGOL, right? Can you explain me the reasons for that? All of those who contributed their playing to “Entering The Woods Of Enchantment” CD seemed to be excellent musicians to me…

- Yes I am the only member left from ALGOL.The main reason to that is
that we did no have the time to play in the band any more.In '94 did I move to another city, not far away, but far enough. After that did we not seem to have the same spirit left in the band. I might have a litle dream about playing with Pal the drummer again, but not any of the other two. They are realy good on their instruments,but the cemistry between us just aint right. And that matters alot if you will have a good time together playing.

Once you told me that you’re still going to keep your band alive… Hence, I’m wondering if you will ever recruit any musicians or ALGOL will be a one-man band? Also, will you keep your previous musical direction (I hope so, since your music was so original and impressive…)?

- My dream for now is to get some midi stuff and make some music for myself. But since I'm not that good guitar player I will have to "borrow" someone to play the leads. But if I find someone that have the same goals that I have, maybe there will be a band again. I would really love to play live again. That is something I realy miss about not being in a band. I will always try to keep the music the same. That is the kind of music that I love.

Are you still in contact with Effigy Records? Are you satisfied with the work they’ve done with “Entering…”? By the way, how was the response to it worldwide?

- I am not in contact with Effigy anymore. Have not been for some years. They did not do any good job for us, they did not do any job at all for us as far as I know. Fuck them. I am not sure how the response to the CD was, have not got that much feedback on it. But the little I've got has been OK.

What are your thoughts upon OBTAINED ENSLAVEMENT, MOLESTED and JUDGEMENT DAY, i.e. those who were also signed to Effigy?

- Not sure. I have got some promo CDs from Effigy, but I have not listen to it that much, at least not that much to say if I like it or not.

Let me ask you one more question regarding your (former?) label… Why did you choose exactly them while there were such splendid Norway’s labels as Head Not Found or Arctic Serenades…?

- We did choose Effigy because Arctic Serenades told us to in a way. But since Effigy not did any job for us, Arctic took over the job. They did promise us a lot of things. The biggest was to get out the CD again, with a bit diffirent booklet.I think they did promise to have it out March/April '95. Have not heard from them since. So I guess the suck to. Before I moved I was a good personal friend of Metalion in HNF, do talk to him now also, but not that much. I do not know the main reason why we were not offered an deal on his label, I guess he did not find our music good enough. Too bad,but that was his choice,not much to do about it.

Let’s get back in time and talk about your very first steps as ALGOL? Why did you change your band’s name so often? As far as I know, “Algol” is already a third one…

- You seem to know a lot, you. Well,the first name we had was SEANCE, a really good but not very original name. At that time we did also play alot more HC music. We had SEANCE for about 3-4 months. Then the singer did leave,and we changed the name to BUTTOCKS. A good name for us at that time.We had that name for about 2 years I think.Then we changed guitar player and the name to ALGOL.In the beginning many bands is insecure about the way they shall go, so were we. It started out as fun band and developed into a bit more serious one. We have had the "Algol" name since '91,so I think we are serious about it now. It is a killer name to. Love it, and will never change it. The last guitar player we had (Kjell) tried to, but no way I would let him do it. ALGOL will be with me and die with me. To be the man I am, I am the Man!

I know, it’s a typical question, but it might be interesting to know how do you define ALGOL’s stuff yourself… I doubt if we may consider it to be a ‘pure’ black metal…

- ALGOL is not pure BM. It would not be true to the other BM band to say that. ALGOL is alot of things. But I think the best way to say it is that ALGOL is a death metal band with alot of BM influenses,both in music and in lyrics.

Unfortunately, the CD’s booklet doesn’t include lyrics with it… Would you like to enlighten me / us a bit concerning their contents? Some of the titles strike as rather heckneyed (like “Mysterious Pentagram” for example), however there’re some truly intriguing ones also being quite unusual, like “Crime Imposible”…

- The reason that there aint any lyrics in the booklet is that the
lyrics is a bit personal to me.But I will try to explain the lyricks on the two songs you have mentioned. "The Mysterious Pentagram" (my favorite song, also the oldest one on the CD). This song is about a black ritual out in the woods around a burning pentagram,about the mystic around it all. "Crime Impossible". At some time I was realy into the stupid christianity in the middle age. About the priests who were so "holy". This songs is about the trials from that time. Just because some stupid person did say you were a which or an warlock you were, no doubt about it. Stupid test and all that. The priests have always been the worst and still are, hate them.

After looking at the “Entering…” cover, I somehow started to consider you a Nature’s admirer, one of the few left… Have you ever dreamed of living in the deep dark woods, in solitude, to wander there alone at nights, under the full moon’s light, to become a part of Nature… it’s inimitable part…?

- I love the woods, that was not why we did choose the cover. It is
painted by my mother, we took it because we did like the colours and the mysticism in it. But I do love woods, both in the summer and in the winter, I am there as often as I can. In the summer am I both running and walking in it, also sleeping in it. In the winter do I use skiis in the woods. Love the silence and the fresh air. I am not a nature freak,or a hunter, more a sport freak.

Do you know anything regarding Russia? Any Russian bands you’ve heard?

- I'm sorry, not much I know about Russia, have been out of the scene too long. Maybe you can help me with it? But I have heard that it is great to play in Russia, so I would love to come there one day, maybe if I am able to get a band together again. Those who live will see.

Perhaps, something for the end…?

- It is real good to see that some people out there still remember me. That feels good. I realy live in the hope to come back with a new ALGOL CD one day, but it might take years before I am able to to it, but one day.....  That was about it from me for this time Kai. Thanx alot. If someone would like to know, the CD price is 13$ anywhere (get this one NOW - ED).

ALGOL contact -
Email: t-and@online.no