THOU SHALLT SUFFER
PERHAPS NOT THE MOST KNOWN BAND
TODAY, BUT NEVERTHELESS A VERY INTERESTING PROJECT BY IHSAHN WHO
IS FAR MORE KNOWN AS THE VOCALIST IN EMPEROR. SOME YEARS AGO THOU
SHALLT SUFFER RELEASED A 7" AT A MEXICAN RECORD LABEL, BUT
SINCE THEN THERE HAS BEEN ALOT OF SILENCE....
WHEN DO YOU EXPECT TO RELEASE THIS CONCEP OF YOURS?
- This is still quite uncertain, as the recording will be done
after I have built up my own studio. There is still a long way
till this is clear and I will probably use two or three months to
finish it. It does not really matter how long it takes, as long
as I am perfectly satisfied with the final result.
COULD YOU DESCRIBE THE MUSICAL STYLE FOR THE READERS?
- Through the years I have been working on this project, the
musical material have changed serveral times. The final result
will be a classical album with a very atmospheric and touching
concept.
THE LYRICS ARE SAID TO BE VERY SATANIC, BUT I'VE GOT THE
IMPRESSION THAT THE MUSIC IS QUITE ROMANTIC. DO YOU THINK THESE
TWO THINGS GO TOGETHER?
- The lyrics were written a few years ago and are of a very
Satanic nature and are given the sence of divinity and mysticism
through latin. In a symbolic way they describe different aspects
of the Satanic energies, which in a totality entitles the album,
"SATANAE IMPERIO CONSECRATIO". I do not wish to go in
details on the meaning of the lyrics, as I want the listener to
interperate the lyrics on an individual basis. The musical part
can at some points bring up romantic atmospheres, as I personally
find the romantic sides of the dark very appealing and wish to
express those sides as well as the destructive.
WHAT KIND OF TECHNICAL EQUPMENT WILL YOU USE FOR THE RECORDING?
- Most of the recording will be done with digital equipment,
apart from vocals and maybe some percusion.
YOU'RE INVOLVED IN OTHER MUSICAL PROJECT, TELL THE READERS ABOUT
THEM?
- Apart from Thou Shallt Shuffer and Emperor, I play keyboards
with Satyricon and Wongraven, which is a kind of medieval,
nationalromantic project. I do some work with a techno project
and will probably do some minor session performances in the
future.
IS YOUR PAINTING IMPORTANT FOR YOU? WHY DON'T YOU USE THEM IN FOR
EXAMPLE EMPEROR?
- Yes, my painting is important to me. I like to create and
express things in different ways. Therefore I practice different
kinds of music and with painting I can express myself visually,
which might channel artistic expressions that I cannot describe
musically. The reason why I have not done any cover-artwork is
because I am not good enough yet. I mitght paint the cover for
the TSS album myself.
YOUR MUSICAL INSPIRATIONS FOR T.S.S. AND EMPEROR?
- For TSS I suppose classical music is the basic musical
inspiration. This goes also to some degree for Emperor as well,
though black metal in general is of course important for
Emperor's identity.
EXPLAIN WHY YOU WANT TO DO THIS CLASSICAL STYLE ON SYNTH? DON'T
YOU THINK THE FEELING IS MUCH MORE TRUE WHEN IT'S PERFORMED BY AN
ORCHESTRA?
- An orchestra is extremely expensive to use. I do not know if
there are any orchestras that wish to perform with a concept like
this. There would be a lot of undedicated persons performing my
personal creation. I wish to do everything by myself and the most
important thing for me anyway is that I am satisfied with the
final result.
IS THERE ANY WAY YOU COULD EXPLAIN WHY YOU ARE SO SENTIMENTAL?
- How can I explain why I came to be the way I am? I just know
that I am very open for emotional energies, which I see as a very
positive function due to my artistic work.
DO YOU THINK YOUR STUDIO PROJECT PLANS WILL HAPPEN? WOULD THIS BE
A STUDIO FOR BLACK METAL RECORDINGS, OR COULD YOU IMAGINE
YOURSELF WORKING WITH A JAZZ BAND AS AN ENGINEER? DO YOU HAVE AN
EDUCATION?
- I might get economic support to start with and I might not.
Anyway, I will make a studio, it is just a question of time. I
will probably do much work with black metal and other kinds of
music of dark nature, though I would not mind working with music
that do not interest me in the beginning to get money to make the
studio better. Apart from regular highschool education, I have
only taken some lessons with sound- engineering. I chose to
invest my money in equipment instead of education, as I will
learn more by having my own equipment anyway. There is no resepy
for good sound.
WHAT IS SATAN FOR YOU? IS IT SOMETHING THAT CAN BE PERSONIFIED?
- Satan is a name for the dark energies and is symbolically
personified for practical reasons due to association. I believe
the energies can be visualised by the mind as its true nature can
not be channeled through mortal sences. It is only a personal
theory and I will not bother to go on about it for ages.
ALL FOR NORGE, ELLER ALL FOR SATAN?
- ALL FOR IHSAHN!