I think that "Odin Owns Ye All" got a very mixed reception among the media and our fans. Some hated it, but some also say it's our best one. We've been through a lot of turbulence over the years, but a lot more must happen before we split up.
We always take a break after recording an album. This time the break was a bit too long, because we needed to regenerate some energy after the tour with CRADLE OF FILTH. We work very slowly with the song writing, and along with the usual line-up problems, two years go by fast. I don't think we started putting together new material before about a year after we had released "Odin Owns Ye All". It's a bit slow, but hey, that's us.

When I had first read the label-name Native North and the album-title "Norwegian Native Art", my first thought was - the guys have formed their own label. Am I right and if so, why did you take this step?

Yes, Native North Records is our own label which me, Frode and Ragnar are working full-time with these days. We decided to release our new album on our own label this time, because after ending the deal with Century Media we didn't feel the urge to go into a new contract, so we wanted to try for ourselves.

Musically you have taken a step forward by nearing your roots again. "Norwegian Native Art" has a much rougher and heavier edge compared to "Odin...", more aggressive, reminding me of "Dragons Of The North". Did you deliberately take this step?

To be honest, I don't think we had complete clarity of mind when we recorded "Odin Owns Ye All". The mix came out all wrong and it sounded too happy all over. EINHERJER's music demands a much more vigorous sound than that. This is what we wanted to remedy on "Norwegian Native Art". I think that "Norwegian Native Art" can be considered as a mix between "Odin Owns Ye All" and our older stuff. The general quality of our song structures is also better than ever.

Something else that has come back into your sound are the mighty choirs that had made up quite a big part of the fascination of "Dragons Of The North" and what many people had missed on "Odin Owns Ye All". This is something that I had always connected to EINHERJER...

In my opinion we used far too many choirs on "Odin Owns Ye All" and they weren't that good either, so we wanted to cut back on the choir-part on "Norwegian Native Art". Instead we have dubbed several of Ragnar's vocal parts with Frode's grim vocals.

"Regicide" is a quite unusual track for EINHERJER with the female voice. You use this for the first time. Any particular reason?

I've always wanted to try to use some female vocals, and we had a couple of parts where I thought it would fit in. I think the final result came out great, and I'm glad we didn't use this typical high-pitched soprano vocals that cut through your bones, rather this mellow type that fits the song much better. This is not something we want to make a habit of though, and I'm not sure, if we will use it on our later releases.

You also sound more diverse than ever, with everything from quiet parts and acoustic guitars up to heavy, riff-laden double-bass passages. Do you think that the relative freedom of the label "Viking Metal" is beneficent for you, that you are not so restricted in which directions you may take?

Yes, I think that "Norwegian Native Art" came out as a pretty varied album, with many contrasts between the calm melodic parts and the more brutal riffing. I think we should be free to do whatever we want, regardless of what category we're in. The most important thing is that we don't betray ourselves or our fans.
I know we had some desertion after "Odin Owns Ye All" because of the rather unpredictable direction we took, but we are unable to please everyone at all times.

The bands that are labelled Viking Metal are pretty diverse in their sound: EINHERJER, ENSLAVED, ALLEGIANCE, MITHOTYN, THYRFING, AMON AMARTH... Are you happy with the label "Viking Metal"?

Yes, I agree, and I think that this diversity is very good for the style. It's not like in the Black Metal-genre where most of it sounds the same. The only band of the ones you mentioned that I really can relate to is ENSLAVED. We've always been compared to them. Not only lyrical, but also musical, which in my opinion is completely incomprehensible. It's not that important to me how people label us, our main concern is to create good music.

Overall you are using your voice far more varied than on the previous record, ranging from your clean voice up to Black Metallish vocals. What is more to your nature, the more clean stuff on "Odin Owns Ye All" or also the rough singing that can be found on "Norwegian Native Art"?

In my opinion, the vocals on "Norwegian Native Art" lie much more in our nature than the completely clean vocals. I think the vocals have matured a lot since then, and I think it will be even better on our later releases. It's always good with some variation in the vocals, and that is something we will continue doing.

With Aksel Herløe you have a new guitarist in the band. Where did the decision come from to add a second guitarist?

Apart from "Odin Owns Ye All", EINHERJER have always had two guitars. It's very difficult to find good and dedicated musicians in the area where we live, so it took us a couple of years before we decided to try out Aksel. It has worked out great, and at least live-wise two guitars are extremely important in our music.

Did he already have some influence on the song writing?

It usually takes some time to get into what EINHERJER's music is about, but I think that in a while he will come around.

Does the cover have any connection to the album-title?

No, not really, but it has something to do with the band name EINHERJER. We're supposed to portray a bunch of blood dripping corpses.

Could you tell me a bit about the lyrics of "Norwegian Native Art"?

All of our lyrics are based on the Vikings, Norse mythology and our cultural inheritance in general. Our biggest influence is the Elder Edda, which is without doubt the best and most trustworthy source we have. Usually Frode writes most of the lyrics, but I've written three on "Norwegian Native Art".

How important are the lyrics for EINHERJER?

Our lyrics are very important, but we're not trying to put any ideas into people's heads. We usually tell stories of old and as I said, elements of our Nordic myths. For us it's most important that the lyrics have a good ring to them.

They deal with the Vikings only. Could you imagine using non-Viking-lyrics for the band?

Basically no, because EINHERJER is a band we have dedicated to this concept only, and it would feel strange to start dragging new topics into it. It's not impossible though, if it was a very good piece of lyric.

Many bands are using the Vikings in their lyrics. Are they more than "just" a lyrical concept for you?

If you mean if we have any religious allusions to it, then I have to say no. Personally, I'm not religious at all. We're simply telling stories. Parts of our old heritage we want to preserve.

As far as I know, an Einherjer is a Viking warrior, who has fallen in battle and is awaiting Odin's call in Valhalla to return to Midgard, right?

If you change Midgard with Åsgard, then it's basically correct.

How did you come up with the Viking-concept?

I guess we were a bit influenced by bands like BATHORY and ENSLAVED in the beginning. In fact, one of the most important reasons why we started EINHERJER, is the "Twilight Of The Gods"-album, which had a major impact on me.

Some try to bring back at least the spirit of the ages long past, with costumes and weapons and all of that. Do you try something like that, too?

No, not really. We've never used weapons and stuff like that. We're well aware that we live in year 2000, and we try to accept it.

And what about the Nordic Gods, like Odin, Thor and the others? Some try to bring back the ancient belief again...

I think that the belief has always been there, but mainly on an esoteric level. If some claim to follow this path now, people just laugh of them, because they've been indoctrinated with the Christian "enlightened" view that the old belief is nothing but a mere fairytale. It doesn't cross their minds that this was the common religion in all of Scandinavia 1000 years ago. I hail all those who strive to keep the ancient flame alive.

Is there a chance to see you on tour?

We are trying to arrange a tour to Europe later this year, but we have to cooperate with a good tour-manager in order to do it. We hope something will be worked out.

Do you already have found a new bassist?

Yes, we have a new bass player, but he's only session at the moment. All new members must go through a test period before they become permanent members. He's also in a Viking Metal-band called ULVHEDIN, which have signed to our label just recently. They will probably have an album out before the turn of the year. Excellent Viking Metal, so look out for it.

Stein now is with THUNDRA, do you know, what Rune and Audun are doing now?

Yes, Stein is now in THUNDRA, along with the former drummer of ENSLAVED, Harald. I have only sporadic contact with Rune, because he's been studying in a different part of the country for a couple of years. Audun has a normal job and stuff now, but I know that he's been working with music on his own for a pretty long time now.

What were the reasons for you parting company at first with Napalm, then with Century Media?

We signed to Napalm for two albums, and after "Dragons Of The North" we felt things were at a standstill. We felt that things weren't happening too quickly, but maybe we're just a bit too demanding. As it happened, Century Media came into the picture and they were very eager to sign us. So when we got the offer from Century Media, we of course went head over heels to make it happen. The breach with Century Media was a mutual agreement between us and them. None of us were completely happy with the situation, so we found it best to just terminate the rest of the deal.

So now, looking back over the past years, are you still satisfied with your records?

Yes, I am. I think that all of our releases have an identity of their own, and I think that we've managed to maintain a good development up through the years. Some people may of course argue with this, because they want us to make "Dragons Of The North" over and over again, which is impossible for us to do. We have to do what we feel like at all times.

Would you do anything different, if you now had the choice to start all over again?

In my life you mean? I'd probably play Metal no matter what choices I had. I would definitely start to play a lot sooner and I'd also learn to play several instruments.

How is your status in and outside of Norway? Do you have any "strongholds" fan-wise?

We've sold pretty good in Norway I think, but Germany is definitely our biggest "stronghold", even though we have a very devoted fan-base in the States as well.

Norwegian musicians are quite "famous" for participating in many other bands and projects. Are there any bands/projects by EINHERJER-members, too?

Yes, me and Frode are also working on another project called ANGELGRINDER. This style is much more extreme than EINHERJER, more close to Black/Death Metal, but we feel no need to label it specifically. We've had this project going on for ages, but we've just started putting together some material now.

At least in Germany, we have this big debate going on, with some record-labels having started the "Copy Kills Music"-campaign, which on the one hand is about people copying CDs with CD-burners and thus the labels not selling enough albums anymore to finance the support of young talent and on the other side with the internet offering so many possibilities to download full tracks or even albums for free, too, with the same effect. Do you support such a campaign or do you think that they exaggerate, at least in the Metal-genre?

I have the impression that CD-burning within the Metal-genre is not as wide spread as it is in more commercial types of music. I would like to think that Metal-fans have that integrity and devotion to the bands that if they download some mp3's they like, then they buy the album and support the bands. Metal bands and labels struggle enough for their existence as it is.

So do you view the internet more as a threat to bands or rather as a chance for bands, especially unsigned and smaller ones, to gain popularity and be able to promote their stuff?

As you mentioned with people burning complete CD's, I think this can be very damaging for both bands and labels. On the other hand, this can be a very easy and efficient way to promote bands. Both for smaller bands and for labels. In a controlled form of course, with one or two tracks from an album.

OK, to finish this interview, I'll ask my "notorious" last question, which is: What is your favourite question about EINHERJER that you have never been asked yet, but would like to answer?

When is the coronation? - Anytime now.

Discography:

1995: Aurora Borealis (MCD)
1996: Dragons Of The North (CD; Napalm)
1997: Far Far North (MCD; Century Media)
1998: Odin Owns Ye All (CD; Century Media)
2000: Norwegian Native Art (CD; Native North)