The artwork for your latest album, Raping The Ancient, really compliments the music. How did the artwork come to be the cover of the album?

I spend a lot of time surfing the net looking for artists and artwork. I came across this site "Westgate Necromantic", insane artwork that deals mostly death. The artist's name is Leilah Wendell ..great artist, also the author of a great many occult books. She lives in New Orleans, a place I've always wanted to go…actually the day she received her copy of Raping the Ancient… it SNOWED in New Orleans…for the first time in over 25 years!!

There are many references to nature and the elements in your lyrics. How do the elements affect your music and songwriting?

The elements are all around me, more then I would like most times. Here in Northern Ontario the weather is some of the most extreme in the world. It changes every 5 minutes. Honestly I have little respect for humanity but nature is something that I admire and RESPECT. Its more violent then anything man could ever create and at the same time emits great beauty. The track "Superior Winds" deals with the strength of the wind. Also there's a line in the lyrics referring to the "Witches of November'. The "Witches of November" is a weather phenomenon that occurs on Lake Superior, almost a perfect storm scenario. Responsible for taking the "Edmund Fitzgerald" to it's grave. Gordon Lightfoot used the term "Gales of November" when he immortalized this tragedy in song. Living in Thunder Bay you are drawn towards the great lake..it almost beckons you. It creates it's own weather systems. A lot of time the fog rolls in here and you cant see anything. We get snow in July and rain in December. Weather affects our moods, our bodies, everything is tied to the weather.

The lyrical content of the album is based on history. What is it about the past that is so appealing to you as a songwriter?

Being an ethnic Norwegian, growing up and living in Canada I was always confused. I knew I was Norwegian but was also Canadian. As we all know the Canadian identity has always been a confusing issue. So of course I always gravitated towards the Norwegian aspect. The Viking history is part of my culture and heritage. By looking into my heritage and the past I have found out who I am, and who my ancestors where. I have a strong connection to my Norwegian past. I have my family tree going back almost 1000 years. I am planning on studying Viking Society and fieldwork at the Gotland University in Sweden sometime in the future. I would like to then come back to Canada and teach the children of our country the truth, that the Vikings where not only the discoverers of this country but also the founders and first settlers.

I remember reading a line about Loki, a major deity in the Norse pantheon, that went "Loki has no need for hammer nor spear as he has the powerful gift of speech". On your album, "Loki's Fury" is an instrumental. Were you tempted to add vocals to the song seeing as Loki's ability to influence others by his words was such an integral part of who he was?

No, to me MUSIC is more powerful then words. The fact that maybe you expected to hear vocals is also something that LOKI would be proud of because he was also a trickster!!!

In the song "Thirteen Oars of Misfortune", you mention Odin, who is the God of War and Death, but also the God of Poetry and Wisdom. That's quite a dichotomy. Do you see parallels between Odin and extreme music/musicians?

Some of the greatest poetry ever written has been written about war, during war and after war and you need great wisdom to be a great warrior. Immense beauty has come in the aftermath of wars. Some say Odin was an actual king that lived and ruled in Russia. The parallels are there of course, especially in Black Metal. However I think most don't see the real connection, they use it as "the TROO" thing to do. Odin has become bastardized by many who really don't have an understanding, this is something that "Raping the Ancient" addresses.. the RAPE OF THE NORSE CULTURE!!!

You are Bloodaxe, and you have done mostly everything by yourself from the writing, playing, to the promotion…Would you consider expanding Bloodaxe to include other musicians?

I never intended Bloodaxe to be this way, but coming from a place like Geraldton, Ontario, (population - 10) and now living in place where there's not much more to pick from musician wise its tough to find people to play. I've been looking, but this is only for live musicians for right now. Some people see 2 member bands as being egotistical, but as I have said before a lot of times its out of necessity.

The album was just released at the end of 2004. What's next for Bloodaxe?

Next album will be entitled "For Those Who Hunt the Wounded Down" writing is almost complete. Cover art is done by a Canadian artist Tony Mesiatowsky. Production will be better, all around everything will be supreme. I appreciate this interview Marty. Support the Force from the North!!!! Don't fuck with a Canuck!! BE sure to get Bloodaxe - Raping the Ancient...it will inspire you all to do great things..like blowing up churches and destroying the festering plague of christainity!!!!!!