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Name: Audun Selsvold Email address: audun (at) metal-observer.com Function: Reviewer Compatible styles: Black Metal, Death Metal, Thrash Metal, Doom Metal, Avantgarde Metal Incompatible styles: Power\Speed Metal, AOR, Nu-Metal, Gothic Metal, Punk, (Gothenburg style) Death Metal Thoughts on the main Metal genres: Black Metal: Probably my favourite genre, although I think the genre has seen its glory days. Death Metal: Like a sledgehammer to the head! Brutal yet groovy, that’s how I like my Death Metal. Thrash Metal: There’s no party without Thrash Metal! Cheers! Power Metal: I like many Power Metal albums from the 80’s, but I find very few of today’s bands interesting. Progressive Metal: Progressive Metal is great as long as the bands focus on creating good melodies, rather than masturbating their instruments. Doom Metal: I prefer the classic stuff (CANDLEMASS and PENTAGRAM), but I like almost every subgenre of Doom Metal. Gothic Metal: Goth doesn’t appeal very much to me at all. Cheesy poetry, vampires and homo-erotic clothing is something I just can’t relate to. I like the two first MOONSPELL albums though. Melodic/Heavy Metal: Traditional Heavy Metal doesn’t appeal to me in a high degree. Still, I listen to some Heavy Metal from the 80’s. Nicknames: Voidhanger Time at TMO: Started May 2004 How came to TMO: Alex was searching for a new contributor, so I sent him an application and a couple of reviews. Fortunately, he liked them. The best thing as a TMO writer: A good chance for me to practice my English. And, of course, free promos. The worst thing as a TMO writer: Takes a lot of time to write good reviews (at least in the beginning, before you get the hang of it). Statistics: Birthday: Birth town: Present location: Job: I’m currently studying to become a social worker Languages: Norwegian (fluent) and English (fluent) Hobbies: Listening to music, collecting records and watching old horror movies Pet peeves: Women who talk A LOT Phobia(s): Small rooms I, about myself: I’m a crazy Metalhead with no self-discipline whatsoever. I usually party or listen to music when I’m supposed to study, resulting in some extremely tough weeks prior to the exam. Still, things always turn out all right for some reason. Describe yourself in 5 words: Moody, pleasant, eccentric, weird and thirsty. Funny childhood story: I had a very traumatic experience when I was a little kid. Me and my father were sitting on the beach when I suddenly took a dump. My father took off the diaper, but then realized that he had nothing to clean my ass with, so he had to look for other solutions. After some intense thinking, my father figured out a solution. Down by the water there was a slippery rock covered with sea weed. He placed me on top of it and spun me around. The ass was clean, but I was left severely traumatized. How I came into Heavy Metal: It started with my mother buying a JUDAS PRIEST CD (“Sad Wings Of Destiny”) on sale, believing it was a Gregorian chant album (judging from the cover). She didn’t like it at all, so she gave it to me, and from that point on there was no way back. First Metal CD ever bought: Judas Priest – Sad Wings Of Destiny Most embarrassing CD in your collection: Suede – Head Music First Metal concert: MARILYN MANSON. A crappy Nu-Metal band (DISTURBED) was playing support, and Manson’s show was all but great. Still, it was my first Metal concert experience, so I look back at it with joy. What did Metal teach me about life: That a little common interest is enough to make even shy people approach each other and talk as if they have been friends for years. Favourite music listening place and why? Where I live there are mountains everywhere I look, and therefore I’m hiking a lot in the mountains. Walking completely alone in the mountains gives me a feeling of freedom and being alive, and with good music in my ears, live doesn’t get much better. Most prized Metal possession? I have a lot of prized Metal possessions (of both personal and economic value) in my collection, but the item I appreciate the most is my copy of CELTIC FROST’s “Morbid Tales” on vinyl, one of my all time favourite Metal albums. Nothing special about my copy, but I just get really nostalgic when playing this old piece of vinyl.
Band & previous band experiences: None Instrumental talents: I know a couple of guitar grips, but that’s it. Favourite bands: In no particular order: Audiopain, Motörhead, Deep Purple, Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, Bathory, Venom, Merciless, Enslaved, Emperor, Mercyful Fate, Helhammer, Celtic Frost, Autopsy, Deicide, Beherit, Nokturnal Mortum, Skyclad, Nuclear Assault, Funeral Mist, Ulver, W.A.S.P., Summoning, Darkthrone, Burzum, (old) Mayhem, In the Woods, Slayer, Anathema, Sabbat (both), Opeth, Arcturus, Runemagick, Obituary, Solefald, Deathspell Omega, Ved Buens Ende, My Dying Bride, Satanic Warmaster, Immortal, Gorgoroth, Shining, Nargaroth, Graveland, Exodus, Morbid Angel, Clandestine Blaze, Death, Furze, Solitude Aeturnus, Abyssic hate, Napalm Death, Carcass, Carpathian Forest, Pest (Fin), (old) Sepultura, (Norwegian) Equinox, Impending Doom, Candlemass, Katatonia, Craft, Dream Theater, ARK, Sadus, Windir (two first albums), The Gathering, Angel Witch, Aura Noir, Sodom, Destruction, Kreator, Tankard, Gehennah, Nile, Krisiun, Nunslaughter, Murder Squad, Judas Priest… and countless others. Least favourite bands: Nightwish, Sonata Arctica, Stratovarius, Kotipelto, Hammerfall, Limp Bizkit and Sound you’d like to have banned: The ringtones on mobiles phones. I can’t stand them! Most overrated bands: (newer) Mayhem, In Flames, Cradle of Filth, Dimmu Borgir and Children of Bodom. Most underrated bands: Runemagick and (the Norwegian) Equinox. Most influential band: BLACK SABBATH of course. Their role in the development of Heavy Metal is crucial, as they have been a defining force already from their first album. They were the first Heavy Metal band, and without them Heavy Metal wouldn’t sound like it does today, or exist at all. Favourite musician: Steve DiGiorgioFavourite album cover: Celtic Frost – To Mega Therion 10 favourite albums: (with reasons for each album): Mayhem – De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas Euronymous’ captivating guitar play and Attila’s snarling, at times operatic vocals give this album an evil atmosphere that really makes it stand out. “Funeral Fog”, “Freezing Moon” and “Pagan Fears” are in my opinion the best tracks, but every track on this album is strong. Too bad MAYHEM is nowhere near this quality nowadays. Darkthrone – A Blaze In The Northern Sky Another Black Metal milestone. Nocturno Culto’s sore throat vocals, Fenriz’ primitive yet precise drumming, and inspirations from HELLHAMMER, CELTIC FROST and BATHORY makes this album a classic. No wonder it made such a huge impact on the Death Metal infested Metal scene when it was released. Celtic Frost – Morbid Tales Using simple yet very effective riffs and otherwise playing catchy blackened Thrash Metal; CELTIC FROST’s music fits me perfect! Bathory – Under The Sign Of The Black Mark One of the most inspirational BM albums ever, and I will go as far as saying that Black Metal wouldn’t have sounded the way it does today if it wasn’t for this album. “Massacre” and “Woman Of Dark Desires“ are among the best Black Metal songs ever written. Angel Witch – Angel Witch This album is one of the seminal albums for the development of NWoBHM, and sounds great even today. Slayer – Reign In Blood This is the ultimate Thrash Metal album and no Metal fan should be without it! Sabbat – History Of A Time To Come One of the greatest Thrash Metal albums ever. Not a single weak song on this one. Hosanna in Excelsis! My Dying Bride – Turn Loose The Swans Even though the production is weak, I think this is MDB’s best album. The atmosphere on this album is so thick that you can almost touch it. It belongs in every Doom Metal collection. Autopsy – Mental Funeral Not overly technical or fast, but just an ugly, slow, almost Doomy Death Metal album! I love it. Arcturus – La Masquerade Infernale One of the most original Metal albums I have ever heard. The best part about it is the attention to detail. Everything fits together, and you discover new things with every listen. I can’t get enough of this album! Favourite films: “Witchfinder General”, “Rosemary’s Baby”, “Metropolis”, “Nosferatu”, “Hellraiser”, “Ringu”, “Army Of Darkness”, “Alien” and “The Shining” among others. Favourite books: The Lord of the Rings Favourite food: Chicken Favourite drink: Beer Favourite smokes: I don’t smoke Which song should be played at your funeral? Until Death Overtakes Me - Missing Idol (s): Lemmy and Kurt Nilsen Person you‘d like to meet: Lemmy Catchphrase: “Hold kjeft, tøs!” (“Shut up, tramp!”) Biggest thrill in life (so far): Must be a concert. Probably IMMORTAL, MY DYING BRIDE or MOTÖRHEAD. Goal in life: My current goal is to finish my education. I have no long-term goals. Secret: I’m actually blond 5 favourite links:
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