First of all, what do you imply under the notion of "diabolical age", metaphorically speaking?

- The whole concept behind "The Diabolical Age" title is Our Vision about the future and the meanings behind Diabolical age is that the satanic realm will rise and stay forever. If you understand the symbolic in the front-cover it is not hard to understand if you also know something about satanism. I can also tell you that the brutal music on this album is made in the name of the diabolical age!!!!

"Diabolical Age" is already the third CD brought forth the light by RAGNAROK, therefore it looks like the time has come for summing up your achievements, isn't it?

- You're right, "Diabolical Age" is the third opus made by RAGNAROK and for the people that do not know us so well i can inform you that there are also the debut album called: NATTFERD released in 95 and ARISING REALM released in 97....... "Diabolical Age" was released in 2000, I think we have got great response from the people that have heard the albums also the reviews have been great as hell. But there is one problem and that is that the bigger labels do not understand RAGNAROK's music and image.....We are one of the last bands that really stand for satanism and have the black metal feeling that almost all bands have gone away from. So for the people and other creatures.... OPEN YOUR SOULS AND UNDERSTAND!!!!!!

RAGNAROK = true black metal? What about that? While most of contemporary BM acts prefer to embark on a path of experimentation and / or commercialism, you still stay true to your roots, and it surely demands some respect. However, haven't you ever dreamt of selling f.ex. 100000 CDs instead of 5000?

- We will always be the one that understand and play true black metal. We will always use corpse paint, use spikes, fire, blood and so on because that is what black metal is all about beside satanic lyrics (very important) and that we do not play music in the DIMMU BORGIR way........Also the most important that make us true is that we are into satanism.......The only thing that is black metal is if the lyrics are satanic and the people behind the band are into it! We want to sell 100000 instead of just 5000 but we will never stop to play true black metal in the way i told you. If a label say that we can sell more by quiting the paint or play with more lovely synth parts they can fuck off!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By the way, regarding commercialism. Shagrath took part in recording your previous work, the "Arising Realm" CD. What's your opinion on his bands' activities as well as an attitude?

- It is right that Shagrath played synth on our "Arising Realm" album and he did a ok job, but some parts is very similiar to DIMMU BORGIR. I am friends with all in DIMMU BORGIR so I have nothing against what they do, their attitude or them selves in person. But I think their music is too "kind" and not fast and brutal enough.........anyway they do their thing and we do ours........we are in two different worlds when it comes to image, and music in general....but in real life we are pretty alike when it comes to party and stuff like that.

"Postludium" sounds pretty much "classically influenced" piece to my ears. Who's responsible for composing and performing this tune? Furthermore, it's very different from all the other songs off "Diabolical Age", consequently let me wonder what reasons were you guided by, including "Postludium" in the CD?

- The composing and performing of the POSTLUDIUM is a friend of us called Jurgen Andersen....He is a guitarist in a band called KHARON (an old death metal band), and he is a fucking great mucisian and he is a man very inspired by the classically music. Well there are different reasons why we included the songs.....One thing is that we thought it was a great ending on the album after 50 minutes of raw, evil, fast and grim metal..........The other reason is maybe so you can relax alittle bit after the war on the album .....and so on. Anyway we used it in the first place because the melody was a killer in it and it fitted great in a consept as diabolical age.

The rumors say that you're really far from having a good relationship with Voices Of Wonder. Any comments on that?

- Well the relation ship have never been something very great because of bad promotion and because there are a big problem to find the albums in shops around the world I think. In the other hand they had a very bad studio budget and so on..............Some things have been great but mostly shit because of what i told you. So the releationship is not very good..........

If I'm not mistaken, that "Under The Wings Of Satan" MCD had to be completed by the time you're answering this interview.

- We have decided to wait with the mcd "Under The Wings Of Satan" because when we are going to sign a new contract with a label they will release a full length first....Anyway the next album who we will record in Abyss Studio in August will be called IN NOMINE SATANAS if everything goes after what we have planned now. We have made 4 new songs til now and this is going fast and you will feel the terror in this new music beside of melodic parts in the way of earlier RAGNAROK, DARK FUNERAL and MARDUK.

How has that December's tour (w/ SATANIC SLAUGHTER) been? Are you pleased with the way it turned out? Any particular recollections you'd like to share us with?

- The tour was a big Shit tour hehehe. The reason was because we had to drive in a mini-bus around Germany, Sweden, Holland and Belgium and that was a long hard trip. But the worst was that we were sick and shit like that on the tour, it was not many people at the gigs and the payment was bad.....But we had a great time together with SS and got great response from the people that were on the gigs.......

"The Heart Of Satan" is the title for one of the tracks off "The Diabolical Age", hence let me wonder what kind of religious movement do you adhere yourselves to? Satanism, I suppose?

- We are into satanism, but I am the only one that practise magic .........The title in the heart of satan is of course in the symbolic way of explanation. But it is as the satan force is in our hearts (souls).............And we can use it!!!!!!!

Have you ever heard about another RAGNAROK, the one from Great Britain?

- Yes I have heard about them, they play viking metal (not quite - ED) and we play black metal.

Does alcohol (or drugs) affect your creative process? What about those who aren't capable of creating anything valuable without certain artificial stimulation (like drugs, alcohol, sex or whatever)?

- We never use drugs or alcohol to be creative and make music. We do always make the music when we are sober and think clear. Drugs and alcohol do rather slow us down in music making instead of helping us.But when we do not make music we drink and party alot!!!!!!!!! The people that must have drugs in their body to make music is a bunch of weak pathethic people. They make music when they do not think clear and the mind is not used in the right way!!!!!!!!

What are your current plans when it comes to the nearest future? Any tours (or participation at various fests worldwide) confirmed?

- The nearest future is that we probaly will play in Portugal on a festival, but first of all we will get ready to record the next album in August ....after that we will play alot of tours and giiggs all over.....but nothing is directly confirmed.

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

- I am not sure if I have heard some bands from russia....it would be very interesting to hear what the music is like over there....so if anyone wants to send me some tunes feel free to do it. I know that the mafia is big in Russia and i know that there isn't too easy to play over ther or what??? Anyway for booking....write us very soon and give us a offer!!!!!!!!!!!

Oops! No more questions this time. Feel free to say or wish anything concluding this chat.

- Well thank you for your support and I hope you will continue it in the future. Also I will tell you Russian black souls that our albums are true black metal and you just have to get them and for the future: FOLLOW US TO THE DUNGEON AND FEEL THE COLD HAND OF
DARKNESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

For more info write to:
RAGNAROK
BOX 489
1703 SARPSBORG
NORWAY

or

jontho@sensewave.com

Also check our
homepages!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!