21.06.05
by Kenneth
Answering for Myrkgrav is Leiðólfr
So, for those unaware of Myrkgrav, please begin by presenting the band/project.
Well, everything started out in late 2002, but back then, I was not very serious about the whole thing.
I had no real plans, but as I got more and more interested in the whole metal/music/producing-thing, my
interest grew, and I decided to take it to next step, and wrote some more serious material, though
I had really not decided what genre in metal I would focus the most on. So, my first demo, “Ord Fra En
Fullmaanenatt” was completed. The material was very different from song to song, and when I look back now,
it’s like “what the hell was I thinking?” haha... Anyways, at this time I got more and more interested
in Viking and Folk metal, so it was probably a natural turn that my music started sounding more like that.
So, I started writing more material, and I was more focused on not using a “verse – chorus – verse” kind
of song-structure.
The demoEP “Fra Fjellheimen Kaller” was after some time finished. Even though I was more into the Viking/Folk
thing now, there was still a lot Black Metal in some of the songs (like “Under a Thin Veil of Fog). I’m still
happy with this demo, exept maybe some of the vocals, as they were done in a rush, especially the
clean-vocals.
Back when those two demos were made, Myrkgrav was only me, and I used a drum-machine. But late 2004 Kenneth
Mellum joined to take care of the drums. It’s nice with some fresh blood in a band, and I think we understand
each other musically, so everything is working out great!
You recently got signed on Det Hedenske Folket Records, how is that coming now?
- Yeah... I have not signed the contract yet, but everything is pretty clear about what is going on, and the guys
down there seem like really decent people. I get to set the release-date myself, so there’s no pressure (puh).
I know they are working with a part of Sony Music for a distribution-deal, so we’ll se how that works out. Don’t
know if there’s much more to say about that, heh.
You are currently working on a new album, how is the process going, and when will we be able to hear it?
Well, I’m almost done with my part in pre-production. Kenneth will probably get the drums laid down in Pan Lydstudios
sometime this summer, so we plan on being finished when the summer is over... It's possible that I’ll have to re-record
all the guitars, as I have planned on buying some new equipment for my studio, but time will show.
As for the sound, the material will be a bit more melodic and atmospheric than the songs on “Fra Fjellheimen...”
even though 3 songs from this demo will be included on the album.
There’s only one problem left to solve... The lyrics. I have a real hard time writing lyrics, it just does not
work out well, hehe. For the last demo, I had some people helping me with the lyrics (all hails to you guys!), but it’s
a little harder this time, since I’m basing them around local history where I live. I think I’m done with the lyrics for
2 of 8 songs or something, hehe. Anyways, I’ll find a way to get them done. And I think you will be able to hear the album
sometime after September!
Are you in any other bands or projects, if so, can you present them too?
I have this other one-man-project going, Acephalia. It’s some sort of horror-inspired Black Metal. I don’t have so much time
working on it, so it will take some time before I’ll get any demo done. You can check it out on http://acephalia-band.tk
And I have more or less been dragged into a hard-rock project, but that’s not organized at all, so I’ll let it pass without
saying anymore, hehe.
What are the inspirations in which make you create music, how is the writing process?
You know, I really haven’t thought so much about the whole inspiration-thing. I basically just make some riffs, and the rest
just falls into place. This might sound cliché, but I feel that the music really reflects my own personal taste. What I make,
is exactly what I want to hear... I have failed finding any other band that sounds the way I think is perfect, so what you hear
is what I want it to be. The backside of this is that I risk that no-one else will like the music, hehe.
- An other cliché is that when I run out if ideas, or feel fucking stressed or something like that, I drive as far as I
get into the forest, and walk around taking photos. It’s really healing, and I often find myself being gone for 12 hours or
so, hehe. But when I come back, it feels much easier working with everything again.
Now please close the interview with some last words
Hmmm, well, I hope you will check out the album when it arrives, and in the meantime, there’s some samples, and all news
around the band and the album can be found at http://myrkgrav.tk
Thanks to everyone who supports us!
And by the way, If anyone wants the “Fra Fjellheimen Kaller...” Demo, I can send it over e-mail, since I don’t have any copies left on CD.