I suppose it would be better if we've started our chat with discussing the latest work of yours, "Bloodlust And Devastation". Are you pleased with they way it turned out?

Thomas: Yess I am very satisfied with the album, but the new trax are better, we will release a new album this year through PRIMITIVE ART!

Daniel: My personal view of the PAGAN RITES LP: bad production (notice that thing at the start of each song, like the tape got stuck?), songs are a bit dull IMO, Thomas is doing his cool stuff though.

Why haven't you sung in a "clean" voice on "Bloodlust?"? I definitely miss those inimitable vocals?

Thomas: I just don't like that voice, the screaming voice of the devil is far way better.

Seems like you're still staying true to the underground, at least it strikes as you haven't ever tried to join the roster of a certain major record company?

Thomas: I prefer the underground.

Is there anything you'd like to share us with, in regards to Static Age mailorder and Primitive Art Records?

Thomas: GREAT LABEL.

You've been previously singing in TRISTITIA, and as you're no more
collaborating with Luis, I wonder what went wrong? Why did you leave? What is Luis up to now? The rumors say he's nothing but an alcoholic with damaged brain cells? is that correct?

Thomas: Yezz thats correct, fuck him and TRISTITIA too. Not my cup of tea anymore.

Aren't you going to join TRISTITIA once again? And just by the way,
what's your opinion on the latest work by Luis, "The Last Grief" CD?

Thomas: No more TRISTITIA, the last album really suxx.

Have you ever had any kind of vocal training? Furthermore, how do you
contrive to sing in such a baritone?? Y'know, once someone hears your voice, he / she immediately think of 40-years old man ;) ?

Thomas: I just scream out, no traning at all, thats for wimps.

PAGAN RITES definitely have a weird kind of history - you were splitting up for a couple of times, whilst the lineup was permanently enduring a huge metamorphosis (in fact, it seems like you're the only one left of founding members!)? Any comments?

Thomas: NO!

PAGAN RITES have been brought forth the light in early 90s, however you have only one (!) CD and one (!) LP available? Why so? Aren't you creative enough?

Thomas: I don't know, but hopefully we will be more creative, that's also going for AUTOPSY TORMENT!

Let's get back in the year of 1993 and recall that "Hail Victory!" 7'EP. Was that one a kind of work you're still pleased with?

Thomas: HAIL VICTORY is a bootleg, of course I'm satisfied with it.

Furthermore, stylistically "Hail..." differs a lot from all the other
works by PAGAN RITES...

Thomas: Yess (and what about commenting these differences? - ED).

Why have you decided to quit using the real names of yours, taking handles (aliases) instead?

Thomas: DEVIL LEE ROT is my real name (cool - ED).

Are you still in contact with Colombian Warmaster Records? Personally  I truly respect these guys, and the reason is, that compilation CD they've released, was the one to let me know what the hell is PAGAN RITES?

Thomas: No contact with them at all, don't know if they are still alive.

Who's responsible for the band's lyrical canvas? Could you please tell us few words regarding the subjects your lyrics deal with?

Thomas: SATAN, in few words UP THE PAGANS.

Well, now the time has come to talk about another band you take part in, AUTOPSY TORMENT. As far as I know, it was a former moniker for PAGAN RITES? Why did you decide to "resurrect" it, and what the hell is it stylistically?

Thomas: Yezz we did also reform this cult band, we are back to the roots with the original line up except the bass player which is brand new, I'm fucking satisfied to play with those guys.

Daniel: I don't know what Thomas answered but it is correct that AUTOPSY TORMENT was the pre-PAGAN RITES band, and I was a part of it during 1991, and wrote the music to the demo "Darkest Rituals '91". After that, I left for studies over 800 km away from Halmstad, and they replaced me with new musicians during the remains of 1991 & 1992. After a while, AUTOPSY TORMENT was dropped and Thomas started up PAGAN RITES. In fall 1995, I played bass with PAGAN RITES for an upcoming demo / album (which was never released), and during that time, me and Thomas talked about doing something with AUTOPSY TORMENT, mainly for fun, but that never happened, and I quit PAGAN RITES (I rather play guitars). In late 1999 / early 2000, me & my then brother-in-law made a few metal songs, and showed them to Thomas, which immediately came up with some lyrics, the first being "Orgy With The Dead" (which incidentally came from our drummers leather vest, which had a painting of a caped guy pushing a wagon with dead people on it, you'll see it on the page later on), and that marked the time when we ressurected the band. Just before we decided to ressurect AUTOPSY TORMENT, me and Thomas had again spoke about doing a 10'th anniversary release of AUTOPSY TORMENT, including some of the better songs off "Darkest Rituals" & "Seven Souls Of Hell", while including a new track as a bonus. Instead, we reformed the band. Stylewise, we're miles from where we were when we just started up. Mainly due to technical advances in our playing, we've turned more advanced than on the demos from 1991 / 92. I've heard some people say we sound a bit like: "a mix of SIX FEET UNDER and MAYHEM", "mix between MOTORHEAD and something else", and the one I prefer, "mix of SLAYER and BLACK SABBATH". Not technically, just style wise.

When are you going to come up with all-new CD by PAGAN RITES, as well
as the one by AUTOPSY TORMENT?

Thomas: As I told you before PR will release a new album later this year both on CD / LP, there will also be a 7" release by PAGAN RITES. About any release from AUTOPSY TORMENT there's nothing sure yet, but Warlord (IT) are intrested to release a 7", but we hope to find a label that can release AUTOPSY TORMENT too.

Daniel: We're going into a studio to record 7 tracks 11th of February. We're not signed yet, and if nobody want to release it, we're going to release it ourselves. That's what it is all about. Get people to hear the music. Apparently, an italian label, Warlord, will release a 7" single with two of the tracks. That'll probably be limited, so I'll tell you more when I know.

What should we expect from a typical PAGAN RITES (and AUTOPSY TORMENT) live performance?

Thomas: TOTAL CHAOS ON STAGE!

Daniel: We're gonna kick ass, and chug some heavy doom / death at the audience!

Let me assume that all of you drink a lot, therefore what about telling us a couple of cute "drunken" stories?

Thomas: I DON'T DRINK (anymore).

Daniel: Afaik, I'm the only one in the band that drinks, and I've come to the conclusion that I shouldn't drink and play at the same time. My fingers get kind of disoriented when I'm drunk.

What's your relationship with other Swedish black metal acts?

Thomas: I don't like black metal, AUTOPSY TORMENT is my family and relationship.

Daniel: Thomas is the one that knows everybody (???!?! - ED). I do have a few friends, recently because of our page, but ever since I created and uploaded the AUTOPSY TORMENT website, I've got a lot of friends and connections. The internet has turned into a very strong communication device for the underground as well as a way to find new bands, friends, information, zines, magazines, contacts, labels etc.
 
It looks like you appear as some kind of a voluntary solitudinarian (anchorite or whoever) living without a phone (hence, with no Internet access), and so on and so forth? Why did you choose this way of living?

- I live my life in METAL and METAL keeps me young, I don't want be manipulated by this mordern citizen.

Do you know anything regarding Russia? Any metal bands coming from the country of mine you've heard lately?

Thomas: Sorry no, but I want to hear lots of band from Russia, please send me a tape (with HEAVY METAL BANDS).

Daniel: I do know that Russia has grown strong as a metal nation, unfortunately it's still very little information of Russian metal acts outside of Russia, at least here in Sweden.

What's for the end?

Thomas: Thanx for the interview, it's quite short, sorry for that but I answer here at school, I got lessons.

Daniel: Sleep, pain, return to dust. Or, a hell of a party. I hope for the latter, but expect the first.

PAGAN RITES contact -
Email Tomas at <fbg15@eductus-vast.com> (although I fear that this email is a temporary one)

Snail mail:
THOMAS KARLSSON
BOX 5119
311 05 VINBERG
SWEDEN
 
AUTOPSY TORMENT contact -
Email Daniel (guitars) at <danewane@hotmail.com> or <daniel@autopsytorment.com>