What is "beauty" and what is "pain" in your interpretation? I hardly
believe, that these two words have something in common...

- As separate words these two don`t exactly have that much in common. I guess you`re refering to the title of the 2nd PENITENT album, "The Beauty Of Pain", when you ask this question. In order to interpret this title it is important that one understand that the title itself is meant as a metaphor, a way of underlining a deeper meaning, which here is used to illustrate that pain can be beautiful. One has to see it as a unity and not as two separate words. It is a beauty that can be seen as well as experienced, and then especially during autumn. Beauty can be seen in the changes of autumn, when the leafs slowly change colour and fall from the branches. To sit by a lake and see the fog coming in as darkness falls and within minutes see the fog cover the entire lake. Nature holds many beauties, but beauty can also be harsh and in that way it often manifests itself through sorrow, grief, depression and pain. The main point is that it is up to each and one of us to define the beauty of pain, based on his or her own individual experiences and according to ones own premises. My pains, sorrows and depressions represent a beauty to me and then most likely only to me. It doesn`t necessarily represent a beauty to everyone else. Only a few are willing and able to experience the beauty of pain, and some never find it even when they search for it. The key to its true definition and the only definition is held by ourselves.

Your debut album was named "Melancholia"... Who did this spelling mistake ("melancholia" instead of "melancholy")? Are you the kind of person, liable to this feeling? What provokes it in your soul?

- There are certainly no spelling error at all. If you look in a
dictionary you will find both the word "melancholy" and "melancholia", and both have stands for mental depression. The atmosphere, title and lyrics are expressing the feelings and emotions that I carry deep down inside me. It is how I am. My past has made me into what I am. I have learned to live with it and to take advantage of it, so it doesn`t bother me at all. It is life itself and its despairs, misery that provokes it in my soul. What is more natural than that?

Do you have new material ready? I hope so, because "The Beauty Of Pain" was recorded almost a year ago...

- Oh yes! A new album is set to be released in January 1998, that one also through Draenor Productions. It is an instrumental album entitled "As Life Fades Away", which has six track that all in all lasts for 48 minutes. This album was actually finished recorded in early june `97, but has been held back. After the recording of "A.L.F.A." a lot of new material has been written, but a few things has to be arranged properly before it is ready to be recorded, which could be as early as February 1998, then of course depending on that PENITENT gets a new contract. This album will most likely at least have 10 tracks.

What was the reason for Asbjorn's departure? Was he an important part of PENITENT?

- Asbjorn left PENITENT because he was no longer interested in spending so much time and energy as it was required of him in order to stay in the band. He simply wouldn`t dedicate enough of himself in the future of the band, and that is the reason for his departure. One shouldn`t underestimate his importance in PENITENT in the period he was in the band, but after all he wasn`t so important that the whole existance of PENITENT relied on him alone. He is a part of the band that belongs to the past, and now I only have to care about the future. PENITENT continues and only the future will tell what that will be like.

You also have two-side projects namely ARCANE ART and VEILED ALLUSIONS... In short, tell me everything you want to about these two formations...

- In the beginning ARCANE ART was to be the unification between two
different projects, namely MAGISTRATUS and MORAL INSANITY. As time went by a demotape was recorded and spread to a few selected individuals, magazines and labels. This tape had four tracks that later were recorded and released as a 10" picture disc (limited to 500 copies) through Prophecy Productions in August `97.  This recording has by some been described as monumental impressionistic art. A full-length was to be recorded early next year, but as Prophecy Productions after all found out that ARCANE ART didn`t fit to their plans for the future we first have to find a label that is interested in the band, and I certainly hope we will soon get an offer from some label for future releases.VEILED ALLUSIONS is my solo project and so far I have only recorded four tracks for this experimental electro project, but if an offer comes along I will for sure record more, as I have material for a full-length ready. Those who should be interested in hearing these obscure sounds should send a blank tape and I.R.C`s to me.

Can you reveal me the secret of your writing process? You call your lyrical expressions as "mad poetry", why? I know that you also was nominated as "Poet of the Year" for 1997, would you like to tell me anything, concerning this event?

- There is no specific secret. When I get ideas for some lines I write them down and usually the rest of the lyric comes by itself after that. My poems are born out of my subconscious mind. I called my lyrical expressions "mad poetry" because I wanted to make it clear that it wasn`t the regular kind of poetry, the type you normally can read in newspapers. I was nominated but did not become the poet of the year for 1997, but lately I have by the National Library of Poetry (in USA), been invited to contribute with a poem for their anthology "Best poems of 1998". I must say that this is a good achievement and I will contribute with a poem entitled "Ancient Despair". These days I`m also considering some offers I got from English publishers for the release of a poetry book, but more can be said some other time when a choice has been made.

I bet you've heard of such a woman (though "witch" is better description of her being) as Diamanda Galas... What is your opinion, concerning her personality and creative works? What definition is more close to her "insanity" or "genius"?

- I like what she has done and then especially "Saint Of The Pit" and "The Divine Punishment". I`m not a shrink so I can not say if "insanity" or "genius" is the closest definition of her, nor do I know her well enough to have any grounds to base it on. Her music is what I care about!

I believe that there's strong relationship between PENITENT and Norwegian black metal bands...  What can you tell me about their activities? It seems, that hate appears as the main inspiration for many of them - what is the reason for that? They say that "their hatred is directed towards all forms of human life", so does it mean that they hate themselves also? What about their parents? Families?  Bandmates?... No human can live with total hatred in his heart, there must be also a place for love, otherwise this person will simply terminate itself, do you agree?

- No human can live with total hatred in their heart, because in order to feel hate on has to be able to feel love. Both has to be present and exist as opposites. One will die without the other. Why some in BM bands claim that they only feel hatred and that their heart is filled with total hatred towards human kind is something I do not know the reason behind, nor do I care what thay think or feel or say. It doesn`t concern me at all. I cannot and will not answer for others than myself. It is through me that PENITENT has a close relationship with some BM bands, but that is because I know a lot of people who plays in different BM bands. And beside that I have also done some photographic work for them, such as GEHENNA (for the albums "First Spell" and "Seen Through The Veil Of Darkness"), DISMAL EUPHONY etc. What the bands are up to these days are something I do not know, you better ask them yourself.

Are you interested in any sort of magic, be it Black or White? What about the sexual aspect of these actions? Are you familiar with a female calling herself as Nebelhexe? She seems to be deeply into Sexual Magic and Witchcraft, is she sincere in her beliefs, how do you think?

- Yes, I am interested in magic but the rest concerning what and why etc. is not for the world to know as it is a private matter. I don`t know Nebelhexe personally, and what she does or does not do is not my concern. It is up to her to do what she desires. I must admit that I get a bit puzzled about why you ask me about other people. Have I suddenly become some kind of oracle? Wouldn`t it be better to ask the representive person or at least contact them and get the answers from those who they concern? How can you expect me to have these answers? (well, it's quite natural for anyone to be curious in (for example) your opinion regarding other people... Answering such questions, you will help me in creating more complete image of Karsten Hamre in my (and readers') mind... - ED)

Aleister Crowley's name could be heard quite often nowadays... I doubt, that he was really such a great magician... this man was just partly insane drug-addicted person, seriously interested in Black Magic, and nothing else- at least that's what I think...

- I have no problem with this as it is your opinion, and you are entitled to have that. Anyway I disagree with you and your reflection on Aleister Crowley. He was and will remain as an important person when it comes to occultism and occult related literature. The man has written many important and outstanding books that I and many others value highly. The fact that he got made a special deck of tarot as well as created a unique system for interpretation of the cards should to anyone indicate that we`re dealing with a man that was rather intelligent and skilled, with a knowledge few others have. Take a look at his tarot card and read "The Book Of Thoth" and you will for sure learn something new. A good advice to you is to stop judging people out of what others tell you about them.

Fire, earth, water and wind, also known as "four elements"... What do they represent to you? Is there any possibility of "fifth element" existence?

- The four elements are needed to uphold balance, and speaking of the Zodiac they form its four major parts which each is divided into three signs, giving us the twelve signs of the Zodiac. A study of tarot and astrology will show you how important the elements are. Yes, there are a fifth element is the spirit, the soul! It is symbolized through the pentagram, which also happens to be the sign of man!

Would you like to comment creations of such bands as WUMPSCUT, APHEX TWIN, MORTHOUND...? Do these inhuman sounds have any future?

- I haven`t heard anything of what these bands creates, I only know their names so I can`t comment on this one.

Where did you recorded "Melancholia" and "The Beauty Of Pain"? What
instruments do you use in studio? Is it hard to compose and record this sort of music alone? Are there any plans for enlarging PENITENT line-up?

- "Melancholia" and "The Beauty Of Pain" was recorded in Sans & Samling, a studio here in Stavanger. To compose PENITENT's music sometimes takes time as naturally as one needs inspiration in order to come up with new ideas. It isn`t too hard to arrange the tracks as that is done on a computer with the use of harddisk recording software. A keyboard with midiinterface is connected to the computer, which then records each melodyline. This way it`s all saved on the PC. When the material for the previous albums was recorded the only thing we needed was a disk with the midifiles, as we have so far worked with mainly sampled instruments. There are plans to enlargen the line up in PENITENT, which is a direct result of the direction I wish to take with the band. PENITENT will count four or five members (at least me, Mark, Thorstein and Frank).

What about your deal with Draenor Productions? Are you going to continue working with them? Did this label release any albums, besides PENITENT's second effort?

- I signed a contract for two albums on Draenor Productions, so they will be releasing the 3rd album "As Life Fades Away" as well. What will happen after that I do not know yet as it depends on the offers I hopefully get. It is obvious that also Draenor Productions has to come up with a new offer if they wish  to keep PENITENT on their label... So far I haven`t received a proposal from either them or anybody else, but everyone is welcome to come with offers.This is all I can say about this matter for now. Beside PENITENT Draenor Productions has so far two other bands. Those are THE SOIL BLEEDS BLACK and GRABESMOND.

Does Mother Nature serve you as a source of inspiration? What  can you say about our common Mother, which is almost dead now, "thanks" to mankind's destructive activities?

- Mother Nature does serve me as a source of inspiration. The atmosphere she creates and which fills my soul when walking among her many beauties is of a high value to me. When I take a  walk through a forest late at night or by a lake I`m filled with  a magical feeling, an atmosphere that inspires me in many ways. The emotions that arise in surroundings of that kind does give  me inspiration to write, but sometimes these surroundings and atmospheres can be used for meditation or giving you more and new energy. The destruction of Mother Nature can only be seen in one way, as a negative thing. This really has to stop as nature is needed for man to survive. People really have to see longer than the tip of their nose and start acting in a different way, and a good start would be to take care of Mother Nature instead of destroying her. As I see things regarding nature, it is rather simple to understand that a change is needed as nature is needed for mankind to survive. For what would happen if the forests and then mainly the rainforests were destroyed? We would all most likely die because of the lack of oxygene!

It seems to be a kind of pagan revival now, in Europe... Are you happy to see people coming back to their roots? Is it possible to dethrone christianity and get paganism back on the throne in the near future?

- Yes it is good to see that people are finding their tru roots again, and that they realize that christianity isn`t the solution for mans well being. Man has to learn to trust and believe in his own instincts. Christianity is based upon ignorance and fear, and its main goal is to accuse man for being a sinner if he follows his own instincts and desires. If it is like the christians say that god created man and animals, how can they claim that you are a sinner when following the instincts that you`re born with and according to the desires you have inside you which is a natural thing? If paganism will get back on the Throne in the near future is hard to say, but a change will for sure come as people are starting to get awakened by their past!

Megapolis, filled with industrial noises, soulless human crowd with no feelings and no emotions or solitude and unity with Nature - what do you think of these opposites and which one is more preferable for you? (please, don't be astonished with this question -  I know a lot of people who hate Nature and find different products of industrialization charming...)

- If being destined to choose between these two I would without doubt go for solitude and unity with nature. I believe that humans have a soul and therefore emotions and feelings are something we humans need. A world with only industrial noises who is filled with soulless beings wouldn`t be the place for me. Solitude and unity with nature is a better place to be.

I'm sure that classical music influence you much more than modern bands of different styles, am I right? People listen to Grieg, Orff and Beethoven for centuries, where is the source of this phenomena, how do you think? Do you listen to Russian classical composers, such as Mussorgsky, Tchaikovsky...?

- Yes, classical music has more influence on me than modern bands, as that music express a rather wide variety of emotions. Classical music has something other musical styles doesn`t have. I can`t point out what exactly causes this but I guess it is shown through the fact that people have listened to classical music for centuries, and are most likely to continue listen to it for centuries to come. Classical music is timeless in one way. I have listened to some of Tchaikovsky`s works but I mainly listen to Mozart, Bach, Beethoven, Orff, Grieg, Vivaldi, Wagner and so on.

Do you care about folk music? Kari Rueslatten appears as one of the best Norwegian folk singers today, what can you say about her?

- I do like some folk inspired music. On the other hand I find it a bit difficult to define what folk music exactly is, what criterias one should base it on. When it comes to Kari Rueslatten I wouldn`t directly call her a folk singer. If you have heard her album "Spindelsinn" it isn`t exactly a folk album, rather modern music with some elements from folk etc. I don`t like that album that much, and prefer to listen to her demo CD instead. Besides her I listen to Enya, SECRET GARDEN, BLACKMORE'S NIGHT, STORM, etc.

What is your attitude towards the personality of Marquis De Sade?
Personally I find his book "120 Days Of Sodom" as one of the best literary works of that time, and himself as one of the greatest authors / philosophers, unfortunately misunderstood by majority of human population...

- Here we go again about the personality thing. As said before it can`t possibly be expected of me to have an opinion about the personality of a person I do not know. He lived a couple of hundred years ago and I doubt that even his wife and family had a good knowledge about his personality, as he spent a great part of his life in jail, where he also happened to write most of his books and plays, if not all of them. "120 Days Of Sodom" is without doubt one of the best literary works ever written, not only of that time but through the history of literature. It is also quite clear to me that a lot of people has misinterpreted the messages in his books. He has unfortunately been misunderstood by the majority.  Nevertheless that
could change, and at least I have learned to enjoy his writings, and then I don`t care if anybody else is so narrowminded and so ignorant that they let these great pieces of literature go by them.

Do you have any special musical education?

- No, I don`t have any musical education at all. The only subjects I have studied are photography, journalism, media and some graphic design! I really do not feel the need for any formal education. The only thing I would like to learn more about is photography and film, either through courses ar working as an photo assistant.

"Life" and "Death" seem to be the two greatest mysteries ever, and their secret will never be disclosed neither by religion, nor by science... Have you ever meditated upon these somehow terrifying topics? My father once said that "life is only an intermediate stage of existence; a preparation for death, which is but a door to other dimensions", do you agree with him?

- I don`t find "life" and "death" to be terrifying at all. They are indeed two great mysteries that neither religion or science will get to the bottom in, in order to explain their effects or their true essence. Their secrets will for ever be the two greatest mysteries there is. None have found the meaning of  life. Of course it would be correct to say that mankind is here on earth in order to occupy space or to develop, but then one just gets a bunch of new questions to answer. Why are we here? How will we develop?  etc.... There surely must be something more, a higher purpose, but let us not dwell with that as I don`t have all the answers! Speaking of "life" and "death" I believe someone said something like: "Life and death are not two separate things, but two different aspects of a cycle". When it comes to your father's words I agree with him, for each day you live you take a step closer to death, and according to my beliefs death of the body is not the end of my existance as I have a soul that will continue to exist.

What is your opinion about my country? Have you ever heard any of Russian bands, playing dark and melancholic music, which can be compared to yours?

- I must admit that I`m quite fascinated by your country. I would really like to go there some time, and then not as a regular tourist. I would rather prefer to stay there a month or two in order to learn more about the country and the people who live there. I don`t think I have ever heard any Russian band that plays a style that could be compared to, but I would really like to hear it, if there is any that is! The band I have heard that come closest must be THY REPENTANCE. I believe they are fron the Ural area, if I`m not completely wrong.

Is there any chance to see PENITENT perfoming live?

- There is indeed a chance to see PENITENT perform live, and I hope we can go on at least a European tour during the first half of 1998. Any offer for liveperformances, no matter where it is in the world is of interest to the band. I have no limitation or reservation for playing live as long as a gig is organized in a good way.

My imagination exhausted itself for now, so it's time to end this
interview... What would you like to say for the end?

- Thank you for the interview. Quite interesting questions. Hope, I didn`t bore you to death with my answers. I hope I shed at least some light on the topics it dealt with, and that you at least got some of the answers you were searching for. Keep up the good work and thanks for now. Labels, magazines, concert/tourpromoters etc. can contact me at following address:

Karsten Hamre, P.O.Box 675, 4001 Stavanger, Norway
Email: the-mephisto@geocities.com
The Official PENITENT page: http://centrum.is/~stefanpm/penitent