Drenched In Blood Interview By Iscarlsquell

Fuckin' Hailz Nordavinden!!! How 's life in Canada? Already found a can of mighty Jupiler?!? Are there any great beerz over there? Or do you only have Canada Dry?

Hailz Iscarlsquell!! It is fucking HOT!!! In Northern Ontario we are in the middle of a heat wave, over 30c (44c with humidex) for the last few weeks. We had snow on July 1st in one town in the area. The weather is always extreme and makes life interesting! Canada has a lot of good beer!! I would say "Black Ice"(7%) is probably the best. I mostly drink imported European beer, Grolsch, Heineken, Faxe (10%) …cannot find any fucking Juliper!!!! What the fuck is Canada Dry?? Is that what you mix drinks with? We don't mix drinks!!!

Now, Bloodaxe was born in 2000, so, you're quite a 'young' and 'beginning' band. Could you tell us how it all started? I believe you played in other bands before?

I had a previous project called Black Chapel, a three piece with the current Bloodaxe drummer Rati. The other member did not want to learn his instrument, he was just fat and lazy. I stopped the band after only a few months. Took some time away from music, went to the U.S.A and saw Metalfest, a bunch of shitty American death metal bands, got really FUCKING PISSED OFF, then decided to start a new project. At the time I never played bass, or did vocals...but I decided I would do everything myself (except drums). I called Rati and he agreed to join. Three weeks later we recorded and released the In Battle demo (CDR), taped a video for Hall of Bilskirnir in that summer. After being together seven months we recorded the Bloodthrone album. It was released on professional CD June 11/01.

I guess BLOODAXE is definitely one of the extremist Canadian bands. Do you agree with that? Are there any other great bands from Canada? I can only think of Frozen Shadows, Megiddo, Conqueror, Lust, … and, hehe, Brian Fagams…

Yes I definitely agree.. but some of these bands you mentioned use a lot of keyboards…..What the fuck is extreme about keyboards? One new underground band I know of is Winter Mist from Alberta. Canada has many ancient metal bands like Razor, Sacrifice, Piledriver, Voi Vod, Disciples of Power. Brian Adams….he is more fucking extreme then a lot of these so called new black metal bands I have heard lately!!!!!

You just released your first official album 'Bloodthrone'!! Killer one!! Are you satisfied with the results?

Satisfied???? I will never be satisfied with anything…..ever! I can live with it though.

The album was released under White Legends label… Is it your own label? What kind of label is it and what other bands have signed a deal with you?

White Legends is my own label. It is primarily for the Bloodaxe project. I did not want to put up with other labels and their bullshit. No bands have been signed as of yet. White Legends is concerned with mostly maintaining, preserving and promoting Scandinavian culture in Canada. Metal and Folk.

Could you give us a kind of definition of you musick and which bands have influenced you?

Bloodaxe is all based on classical theory. Harmonic minor and other such modes. Power chords are hardly ever used. Triads, diads, octaves and chords formed from theses scales, the use of open strings, all played at hyper speed to create a chant- like effect. I have never been influenced by any band, I follow no footprints, I create my own path!!

If I'm correct you also released a demo after only one month rehearsing!!! How did you make that much songs in such a short time? Was the musick already written before you officially started BLOODAXE? How many hours a day did you spend on the band?

We recorded the demo In Battle after only three weeks. It was written quickly, recorded quickly…..and did not turn out well because of the fucking shitty production we received from the guy who we paid to record it. We did not spend much time rehearsing, we were familiar with each others playing styles, so it just came naturally.

As far as I know you didn't play live yet with BLOODAXE. Are there any plans to gig in the future? And will you hire more musicians for that, or only session musicians?

Well, I am a violent offender and have 3 more years of waiting till I can get a pardon to obtain a working visa. That means we can only play in Canada until then. I have been looking for a bass player for a long fucking time, but there are simply no musicians for 1000km, but I will keep looking. Playing in Canada is suicide. The travel distance between venues is ridiculous. Not many people are into extreme music and not many places will let you play. It is a fucking joke. When I get my pardon we will play Europe!!!

Is there a lot to do in Canada? I mean are there also a lot of local underground gigs and international festivals? Do you visit a lot of gigs? Are you familiar with the Canadian underground scene? And is it an intimate scene or rather a competition between the bands (or zines) to be the best one (haha, at least they think they are the best, fuck you Gmork and 'Hellehond' (Belgian zine))?

There is nothing to do in Northern Ontario!!!! We are over 1000km from Toronto, where most bands go. The last show I saw was Black Sabbath reunion tour at Toronto Skydome, 30,000 maniacs!!! Canadian underground is so fucking underground , which in some ways is good. It can grow in the right way. With this country being so big it is definelty not intimate. I don't know of any competition between extreme bands here. That is just fucking stupid.

On your webdomain you use the Canadian and the Norwegian flag in one sign… Why did you unite the countries? What are your connenctions with Norway?

I am pure bred Norwegian. My family in Canada has very little if at all any history here. The majority of my relatives and all my family history is in Norway. I was however born in Canada, so I am Norwegian-Canadian, similar to the French in Canada who are French-Canadian. To unite the two flags is a show of unity for my family. As well this country was discovered and first settled by Norwegians (Icelanders) 1001 years ago. Last year there were Viking Millennium celebrations between Canada and Norway to celebrate the discovery of Vinland (L'anse aux Meadows, Newfoundland). Canada has still failed to make this an official holiday though…..rather celebrate the birthday of a wrinkly old fucking Queen from England!!!!!!

We haven't talked about your lyrics yet… What are they about and where do you find your inspiration?

Violence, hatred, war and death. Some song titles contain a word or two from Norse mythology, but the lyrics involved are my own interpretations. All my inspiration comes from within.

Are there already plans for a new release? Do you already have some new stuff? And what can we expect in the future?

Yes the new CD has already been written!!! It will be over 40 minutes of chaos and beauty. We will record when I return from Europe in the early winter.

Hell, you also have a song on my compilation CDR 'Drenched In Blood'. You made it very hard to me to choose a song 'cause they are all fuckin' great! What's your favourite BLOODAXE song? I have chosen for 'Drowning In Mimir's Well'. Could you tell me some more about this gutscrusher?

Old one in the Ironwood is like a bullet in the head, the one I like the most. Drowning in Mimir's Well is one of the first tracks written after the demo. It deals with the overload of knowledge mankind has obtained, in turn abuses it and destroys itself. It is based again on a lot of classical theory, octaves and speed.

What do you think of corpsepaint? I believe you don't use any…

Ten years ago it meant something. Now it has lost any special meaning. It has lost respect. It seems now it is all about wearing you're mother's make-up, dancing in the woods, flutes, violins…lame fucking music!! These fuckers will be hunted down, nailed to trees and burnt alive!!!!

Some people say you should have to sound like Viking Black metal… But actually in the Bloodthrone album I can't find much Viking elements…

People have a hard time describing what musical genre Bloodaxe is. Some say Viking Metal, Black Metal, Pagan Metal or a combination of all. I say maybe….Arctic Metal. There are many elements involved with the Bloodthrone album. I have been attacked by some of these "dance naked in the woods with flowers in our hair - chanting Odin - born again pagan faggots", telling me it is wrong to mix Norse mythology with violence. Fuck them, they don't know the true meaning of mankind. I will tear their fucking throats out!!

Well, I'm afraid I have to end here Nordavinden! I'll see some day in Canada or Belgium!! Anything else you'd like to add?

A great interview Iscarlsquell!!! When I go to Belgium you owe me some fucking Juliper!!! We could maybe trade? Interested in some Indians? Anyone who is interested in the Bloodthrone release can visit our website www.bloodaxe.net. It is limited in quantity and distribution. CHEERS!!!!