Morgan Håkansson of Marduk
To get started you can give me the history
of Marduk. When did you start?
Marduk was formed in september 1990 by me, Morgan. When my
previous band Abhor had just split up. I searched for a few
people and found some, which I thought were suitable
personalities and musicians to cooperate with to achieve my
ambitions. But with the passage of time i came to realize that
these people were not what they imagined they were. It is because
of this there have been so many line-up changes until now.
What is your current line-up?
Back to the line-up again. Now in september 1994 the line-up
is and hopefully remains as this: Morgan Håkansson - guitar, B. War - Bass, Joakim af Grauf - vocal
and Fredrik Andersson - drums/percussion.
Your debut album "Dark Endless" was released on No
Fashion Records. Where you affected by the financial problems
they were, and still are facing?
Yes, we were very much affected by that because we still have
not recieved the money we were supposed to recieve. He owes us
about 40.000 SKR (5-6000 USD). But this problem is nothing
compared to the way he will be "affected" when we find
him. He has been thrown out of his appartment and his phone has
been cut for a time now, so we really don`t have a clue of where
to find him.
Why did you leave NFR?
I guess the answer above explains this, and additionally we
also got a very good offer from Osmose.
Your second album "Those Of The Unlight" has been
uut for some time now. Are you satisfied with the way it turned
out?
Considering the music on the album we are still satisfied
with most songs, and it still kicks the shit out of most of the
stuff that has been released after it. About the cover, we are
very satisfied with the paintingfor the album, some idiot fucked
up the colour of the logotype and the eyes of the splendid dark
horsemen of death. Instead of thr intended red colour it became
nearly pink, and that is very irritating I can tell you.
Otherwise we are very satisfied with the album. One more thing,
unfortunaly the LP version became fucked up because of problems
with prop-outs. Surprisingly they got the cover-colours right.
Are you satisfied with Osmose?
With the exeption of the problems mentioned above, we are
very satisfied. Osmose has been very efficient in their work but
things can always improve and I hope that all problems will be
solved until the next record.
How many copies of "Dark Endless" and "Those
Of..." have been sold?
"Dark Endless" has sold around 6000 copies or
anyway that is what I have heard so far. "Those Of The
Unlight" has sold about 7000 CDs and a few thousands on
licence printed cassettes in countries like Poland etc.
I must say that some parts of "Those Of..." are
really dark and cold. Where do you get the ideas and inspiration
from when you make these masterpieces?
"Masterpieces" is the right word to describe the
genious work of my mind, and I can tell you one thing, all my
work is creations of my dark subconscious and memories of my past
lives. I am more or less possessed by a certain man who no longer
walks among us with earthly feet nor treads the paths of the dark
foggy forests at night. His voice was and still is unmatched, and
it used to freeze the blood of mortals to ice in their veins. I
am talking about the man (goat) whose writings mostly dealt with
transilvanian legends, satanic covens that met each hundred years
for sacrifices and dark castles in the carpathians. His existens
has poisoned my mind.
How would you describe Marduk`s music?
Illfull brutality combined with the great black arts. In
better words - Black fucking Metal.
I have heard that you are planing a tour with Immortal. Is
that right? If so, where and when?
The "Sons of Nothern Darkness" tour has already
been completed. Seventeen dates with Marduk and Immortal. The
Nothern Darkness passed through the coldest nights and holocaust
swept through countries as Germany, Holland, Belgium, France and
Denmark. The most satisfying parts of the tour were old
East-Germany territory and some parts of Holland. By the way, as
it seems at this point of time, we will once again tour with
Immortal through the european countries and hopefully this time
we will also reach the nothern territories.
How is the scene in Sweden? Any bands worth mentioned?
No. As far as I know of, Sweden only has these bands:
Abruptum, Marduk, Ophtalamia, Dark Funeral and Dissection. No new
bands of quality on the rise.
What do you think about all the attention around Black Metal
the past year? Is it good or bad?
I do not care that much about all the writings in the press.
Therefore I can`t say if it`s good or bad. I simply do not give a
fuck.
Future plans/releases:
Time draws nearer to the day of the beginning of the
recording of our third album. It will be entitled "Opus
Nocturne" and the album will be dedicated to the night and
its beings. The album will probably reach you in late november or
december.
The last words are yours!
Await the arrival of "Opus Nocturne".