1. Can you give us an update on what is going on with the band these days?
1. NF: Due to severe lineup trouble, I have postponed any band activities and live bookings and focus now only on writing and recording new material. I actually enjoy that, as it allows me to delve into a creative state of mind, without having to interact with anyone. The creative part of composing is something I can only do alone, without distractions.
2. So far, you have released one full-length. Can you tell us a little bit more about the musical style that you went for on the recording?
2. NF: The debut album consists of material mostly written by Steinar Aven, and some of it is quite old, from the early 2000s. It had been collecting dust in his immense catalogue of track ideas and was waiting for the right collaborators to discover them and complete them. Originally, his tracks were more in the heavy metal and thrash metal category, but when I started composing vocals for them, I felt that they needed new drums and a harsher sound in order to match the vocals, so we redid them from scratch, and everything became heavier and darker. My vocal style is death metal, and my lyrical themes and concepts are satanic black metal, so the songs became a solid mix of all these styles. A few songs were written by other people, also, so the album doesn’t have a specific style or musical theme, only strong songs tied together by my vocals and lyrics.
3. A lot of your lyrics cover satanic, occult, and blasphemous themes. Can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in the dark arts?
3. NF: Already from an early age, I saw religion for what it was, and hence I opposed and questioned it. I wasn’t more than 7 years old the first time a teacher accused me of anti-Christian behavior and statements. So, it has just always been the most natural thing for me to mock and blaspheme the Christian faith. It enrages me, and I feel a strong need to do anything I can to destroy it and to provoke its followers. In addition to this antipathy for piety, I always felt a powerful attraction to the demonic and satanic universe. So, I started exploring and studying the dark occult sciences and mythos when I was 10. It became a passion project, and black magic became a natural part of my life.
4. What are some of the other lyrical topics and subjects the band has explored so far with the music?
4. NF: I alone am responsible for all lyrical contents and also designs and concepts, so that has never been a band decision or debatable subject. My lyrics can delve into many different topics, but I always strive to write and portray them in a certain manner and style, as dark poetry. So, each word is carefully chosen both for meaning and for melodic tone. I prefer to write about philosophical themes such as self-overcoming and mind mastery, as well as stories and mythos from demonology and even dark passages from ancient church books. Devil worship and satanic idolatry are always a pleasure to write hymns for. I’m not against writing humorous lyrics either, as long as they are wrapped in a diabolical context, such as was the case with the songs “Phallic pride” and “Dickslapped by the Devil” (with Jontho from Ragnarok on guest vocals).
5. Can you tell us a little bit more about the artwork that is presented on the album cover?
5. NF: I have created the artwork based on medieval magical squares and ancient tablets of dark powers. I didn’t want to just fill the cover with all the same typical symbols and images as everyone else is using, the crosses and pentagrams, etc., I wanted to use something unique and unseen, yet diabolical and haunting. So, I composed the ultimate magical tablet honoring the very First and Oldest of the dark beings. It was a very fulfilling job, and I am still not finished with it. The album cover is merely an incomplete sketch of the complete thing, which I am still constructing.
6. Recently, you reissued your 2023 album with bonus live tracks. What was the decision behind releasing a new edition of your previous recording?
6. NF: It was actually a suggestion made by the label guys themselves, as they really loved the original Blasphemicon version, but thought that it hadn’t received the attention and promotion it deserved. So, they took it upon themselves to do better. Hence, I made new vocal recordings for some of the songs, had some new guitar parts recorded here and there, and also added the majestic synth work of Michael Troy on IA Pazuzu. So, it is an improved and remastered version of the original, with some very noticeable differences. The live disc was something I had been planning to do for a long time, because Noxium Ferus does not play much live, and that is why I always make sure to record every show, so that they can be shared with anyone later on. So, this was a great opportunity to do just that- let everyone hear both the improved versions of Blasphemicon, plus a full live gig with 4 unrecorded new songs on the setlist!
7. Out of all the shows and tours the band has done so far, which one stands out the most?
7. NF: Noxium Ferus has only played live 3 times. We did get an offer to join Gorgoroth on tour as a support act, but it was a buy-on offer, and we could not afford the insane costs that would have fallen on us then. So, we declined. The main reason for not playing much live has been lineup trouble. It has been impossible to find the right crew, and this place where I live is so far away from all the cities where more dedicated and active metal musicians live, so I simply don’t have the necessary manpower. Anyway, the most special show we put on was definitely on the Day of the Dead 2024, November 2nd. I had been preparing and creating stage props for months ahead and received invaluable help from loyal friends who truly support Noxium Ferus. My cousin has dedicated himself to being our regular stage crew manager, and my friend Camilo Lopez from Colombia flew all the way from Spain to come and assist me as light tech for the show. And my girlfriend took charge of the indoor venue decorations and merch department. So we got to do it properly. Well-organized and decorated the entire community house as a real house of horror, with the most amazing and fear-inducing stage ever. I felt like shit the day of the show, but once I got on stage, I was revived and energized and became 100% immersed in the performance and the energy from the crowd. It was ecstatic and satisfying, and so very complete. That show will remain a unique experience for both the band and crew, and the audience. It has been released on YouTube, in full.
8. So, do you have any touring or show plans for 2026?
8. NF: This year will be a year of creativity and home studio work. I currently don’t have a full lineup, so playing live is not an option, and I don’t want to spend more time and energy on that frustrating struggle. I need a break from all that networking and interpersonal activity. It has been draining, and now I will just let nature take its course and see what pops up while I’m busy doing my own thing here.
9. You also did a 'Twisted Sister' cover. What was the decision behind doing your own version of one of their songs?
9. NF: Sometimes when I listen to regular pop-rock songs, or even some heavy metal songs, I hear a tune or melody that makes me think, “Hey, that would sound awesome as a death metal track!” And Twisted Sister has quite a few songs that trigger that need in me. Obviously, not just in me, as there have been many bands who have covered them, like Dimmu Borgir, who did a cover of “Burn In Hell”. I always look for that dark and heavy tune, which can be reinterpreted into a massive and fat death/black metal track. Twisted Sister was a natural choice, as they were among my very first heavy metal bands back when I was a little kid in the early 80’s. So, it was also a tribute to cover their “Destroyer” song.
10. On a worldwide level, how has the reaction been to your newer music by fans of black and death metal?
10. NF: I have not received any negative feedback, and everyone I know who has been listening to the Blasphemicon album has been most generous in their praise. I have sent the CD to many different countries, but unfortunately, it has not been properly “discovered” yet, so sales are low. All reviews have been awesome, and it truly is a very strong and different album. The problem is that not many have CD players at home anymore, so why should they buy a CD...? It’s all Spotify and digital platforms now, and I detest all that, so I take no interest in checking how Noxium Ferus is doing in the digital world. I leave all that to my label.
11. When can we expect new music, and also, where do you see the band heading musically in the future?
11. NF: I have material ready for 6-7 songs already; it just needs to be studio recorded and worked through on a detailed level. These new tracks are more aggressive and darker than the overall ambience of the first album. Some are closer to black metal style riffing, but with a classical symphonic touch. So, everything is getting more intense and fiercer. I take my time on those things, and of course, I must allow the musicians who record it to do so as well whenever they have the time. I won’t be rushing or pushing anything or anyone. I am also writing music for new songs myself, and that process is slow and reliant totally on the muses of inspiration and art. Hopefully, by the end of 2026, I will have enough material for the second album ready, but who knows. Releasing as many albums as possible is not something I strive for. Rather, I want each album released to contain the most powerful and complete tracks I could possibly produce. All killers, no fillers.
12. What are some of the bands or musical styles the band members are currently listening to nowadays?
12. NF: One of the problems with the former lineup was that some of the crew were fans of technical prog metal, and that is absolutely not something I will ever allow in Noxium Ferus. I am an old school metalhead, and I listen for good riffs and heavy beats. On the Blasphemicon album, you can clearly hear that Steinar Aven, who wrote most of the music, is a fan of old thrash and hard rock, such as AC/DC, Black Sabbath, and Motörhead. Today, he is more into regular black metal, but he’s not in the band anymore, so it doesn’t matter. It is my inspirations that weigh the most for Noxium Ferus, and I still listen to the same old albums that I grew up with, along with classical music such as Beethoven, Vivaldi, Mozart, etc. I find more inspiration from classical music than I do from metal. My most played bands are the first 2-3 albums by Deicide, Morbid Angel, Slayer, Twisted Sister, WASP, Necrophobic, Burzum, Belphegor, Desaster, and Urgehal. I haven’t found any new bands that hit my musical G-spot yet. I think my old metal heart is full.
13. Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?
13. NF: Death to digital, and AI must die!
Thank you,
Espen.
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