Troll’s “Drep de kristne” album has become an unforgettable release for many black metal fans, including myself. When I realized that a new Troll album came out, I almost froze for a moment! I quickly started listening to it and had an amazing time. Yes – Troll is back, and what is more, they are back to their roots! I immediately indicated to the publisher that I would like to do an interview with you, and I’m very happy that it worked out! The world was already in need for a new Nagash album. How are you these days? How much has your life changed in the last few years?
I’m doing very well thank you. Life has also changed radically in the last couple of years. I decided to make a more public return to the music scene after many years having decided to step away from all the attention. Also left most of social medias online for a long time. But back again now.
“Trolldom” is your fifth album: you’re back on drums, and – as I already said – this release is a kind of a throwback. Why did you decide to do so? How did the whole thing develop in you? What made you do it?
I wanted to return Troll to the roots. Back to what was the original idea of it. On this album I do indeed return to also doing the drums myself, as well as the keyboards, main vocals and rythm guitar. I actually discarded more than a full album after “Neo-Satanic Supremacy”, before writing the material for “Trolldom”, beucase I wasn’t satisfied with the songs. But with this new album I am very pleased with the outcome. It’s a perfect blend of all my passions in the dressing of Troll. This is black metal the way Troll was always meant to do it. Like with “Trollstorm Over Nidingjuv” and “Drep De Kristne”, this is the true core of the band. The other albums are also good in their own way, but this is how Troll was always supposed to sound. Like some black magical norse mystery.
I know that you are someone who likes variety. You’ve managed to evolve in a way that you retained the roots of the sound with the distinctive evil tones of a synthesizer, like we’re on a horror trip. What should we know about the new album? Can you tell us a bit about it?
I think it should be pretty obvious that I’ve always have a love of the dark music from the 70s and 80s, in an extreme metal setting of course. I also like variety and experimentation. But certain things are supposed to be done in a certain way. Which is why I’ve more or less returned to the “old sound”. I have always been a fan of the 80’s horror soundtracks, like movies from John Carpenter, as an example. Music from Ennio Morricone, Danny Elfman, Giorgio Moroder, and such masters. I’m also influenced by old synthwave music, which I also incorporated some of on the new Trolldom album. But also gems like The Nightmare Before Christmas soundtrack (again Danny Elfman) has been an inspiration both in TROLL and in THE KOVENANT, and also the material I wrote while in DIMMU BORGIR.
By the way, when were the songs written? Are they all completely new compositions? Is there anything that helps you in writing music?
As I mentioned earlier there was more than a full album that I threw away in the dustbin, because I wasn’t satisfied with the final outcome. The only song that survived the purge was “The Beast”, which was included on the new album, as well as the EP “Tilbake til Trollberg” that came out a few years ago. Most of the songs have been recorded and written in the last couple of years. There is no outside influence that helps me in the music creation. I just play around with instruments and naturally come up with stuff.
What are the lyrics of these seven songs about? In what extent do you think your scope of interest has changed since the ’90s? How much have you changed as a person?
I am pretty much the same person that I have always been. My interests have always been very wide in scope, but I always return to the darker side of the arts. That is where my heart lies. The lyrics are about pagan norse ideas of light and dark, ancient prophecies, the old and cold, eternal contrasts, my worldview, and the personification of obscure nordic mysteries and truths. Most lyrics are written in english, but some stuff is done in norwegian and even latin. I write a lot in symbolism. Some things here and there might seem obvious, but if you don’t understand symbolism you might get a little lost.
You also created a video clip for the song “To the Shadows”, which I believe was filmed by your wife Ksenia. What can we know about this videoclip?
Yeah she filmed, directed and edited it. A highly talented person. She’s also the one that painted the artwork for the album, and the EP released before it. We wanted something simple but with a lot of atmosphere. Something dark, sick and twisted. Not these flashy cheesy videoes that can be seen so many places these days. Overuse of fake blood, half naked bimbos, and bad acting in even worse stories is not my thing. I am very satisfied with the end result. And I want to do more now. This is also the first video done with Troll ever.
Your works fall into a category that the listener can immediately recognize, and know, which band is playing. I think a lot of bands don’t have this capacity these days. How unique do you consider yourself and what would you like to improve on?
Haha, my big ego smiled at that comment. But I don’t think I consider myself a unique person. But what I am, is authentic and sincere. At least that’s how I see myself. I also have my own way of writing and playing. Being that I also am self-taught on all instruments, I think that has a lot of impact on not sounding like “everybody else”. Also the fact that I don’t interact a lot with other artists and their music. Don’t get me wrong though I do listen to and enjoy the works of others, I just don’t have the urge to repeat and copy what others have done. That may happen sometimes but it is never intentional. I walk my own paths. I don’t think the work I do is always groundbreaking or original. Sometimes it just turns out that way, and some times it doesn’t. With Troll the purpose wasn’t about being innovative, but about being true to an idea.
Apart from Troll, are you currently in any other bands? What are your plans for the future, both with Troll and with other bands?
I have done a lot of guestwork for many bands the recent years as well. And there is more appearances coming in the near future. Other than Troll, I only have The Kovenant these days, which has recently been reactivated.
A teaser of “The Kovenant – Aria Galactica” was already released online some time ago. A lot of people liked it and have been waiting and hoping for its release for a long time. Will there be something about it? What message do you have for the fans about it?
The Kovenant has just made its return. With the original line-up from Nexus Polaris. We’re doing some shows at the end of this year, and then much more coming next year. There’s also talks now about releasing new music, but it won’t be called “Aria Galactica”, most likely. I know people have been eagerly waiting for new material, and now it seems that we will finally return to doing some bizarre cosmic heavy metal again.
How is the current black metal scene in Norway? How has it changed over the years?
I have no idea. I was never into the whole “scene” thing very much. I’ve always been more of a lone wolf. Prefer to make and walk my own road. But I have noticed how many of the artists that were into this stuff in the beginning are no longer around. Only the true spirit of norwegian black metal remains. To me black metal was never a trend, it was a way of life, a belief, a destiny. Not something you throw away after you’ve “grown up”. We all started very young, and some of us were more authentic and genuinely into the occult and dark music than most of the posers from abck then. A lot of people that jumped on the bandwagon, have since fallen off, or simply joined the rat-race and surrendered to the “normal” world-matrix.
What kind of music do you listen to nowadays? What else are you interested in besides music? How do your days go? 🙂
After becoming a father, my time and energy for the most part these days goes into parenting. My interests are pretty simple and always have been. When I’m not doing music or being a dad, I am into researching the obscure and hidden. What the sheeple would term “conspiracy theories”, or “crazy stuff”. I have always been a huge science fiction fan too. I’ve read alot, I’ve seen an insane amount of movies. I sometimes play some computer games or gaming console stuff when time allows for it. My favorite season is winter when I like to go skiing in the norwegian nature, and also less people outside. Also that we have so much of the year in darkness here in Norway is also something I enjoy. The dark and cold, I love it. Musically I listen to mostly metal. It depends what I am doing. If I’m out driving its more music like W.A.S.P. or Motorhead, if I’m reading its more soundtracks. Outside walking around or in nature it is normally black metal. But I seriously listen to a variety of things. From Synthwave, to classical, to rock and metal, to electronic and industrial, to trance techno, soundtracks. I’m not into these fake and pretentious entertainers that are pushed by the socalled mainstream however.
In closing, can you tell me an amazing story from the old days? I mean something crazy. 🙂
I wouldn’t even know where to begin. So many strange encounters. So many memorable moments. From almost burning down stages, ending up in hospital with serious burn wounds in full corpsepaint, stage clothing with spikes and such, and with blood dripping, scaring the crap out of the doctors and nurses. There are way to many small stories from here and there. Partying with Lemmy from Motohead, or doing LSD-laced cannabis-joints with Peter from Hyposcrisy while watching Tiamat perform their “Atlantis…” material live, being in a small rowing boat in the middle of the deep swedish forests on a small lake at 03:00 after midnight with Astennu, and seeing UFOs, and the ghosts in Abyss Studios. Insane tourbuss stories. Crazy fans. So much to say and so little time. I could fill a book or two about it all.
Thank you very much for your answers! For me, you will always remain one of the most unique musicians!
Thank you. And glad that you like my work. I always try to stay true to myself and my own path in everything I do.
TROLL online:
https://www.facebook.com/trollofficial
https://officialtroll.bandcamp.com
https://www.youtube.com/@truenorwegiantroll
Nagash answered the questions.