1. Can you update us with what is going on with Nocturnal Breed these days?
We're in the making of a new album, due to recorded during summer this year. But at the time the date is depending on Rattleheads hands, cause he broke both of his wrist her a few weeks ago, and as I'm sure you can see,it's hard to riff like we do with both hands splintered hehe, I hope we could get the new album out September. Originally we planned easter for recording, but we just can't make it. But it's all down to the bones right now. We're planning on taking the whole machine out of the barn and oil it up again, and start touring and doing live shows. We really have'nt been around much since late 2005. So it's about time to give people some value for their money again;)
2. How would you describe your stage performance and what are some of the best shows that you have played so far?
Well, I quess our stage performance is very Breed hehe, we've been doing live shows for 13-14 years now so we've done all kinds of things up here, strippers,insane lights, full screen film as backdrop,pyros famous quest artist. U fucking name it we've done it. There's been a million people on stage head banging all over the stage,drinking beer with us, smoking joints or being a crazy motherfucker with the band. We like wild gigs were both of us and the audience gets in each other's face hehe. It's really hard to pick out single shows but the early shows in 97 and shit are really cool. Cuz we had no idea people would react to us in such a positive way. Maybe I could include shows like a Milano, Oct 97, which just completely took off. But some of the smaller gigs kick ass too, like the really small ones, 150 people crammed into a bunker somewhere in Germany. Just giving it the full works and kicking ass for the metal lord,drunk crazy and will hehe In Belguim we had a full bunch of skins holding the stage together, laying on stage drinking and holding stuff in place, cuz the whole place went apart. Head banging their heads into the stage floor, begging us to head-butt them hehe wild Belgians man hehe some of the best shows we did locally in Oslo was insane to. We have some good friends who own pyro, lightning companies, and we've some stuff on stage worth millions. Awesome fucking lights and pyros. At a place called "Mars" in Oslo, we did several gigs in the 90's, and at one of them, rigged a fucking rocket with a pyro. It whooshed one foot over people's heads creating a fun scene exploding into the walls behind Tex hehe and as I's sure u know, there's been a fair share of beutiful strippers on stage to. We used it for many years. And we use only expensive professionals, no fucking amateur Goth-otter;)
3. Are there any other projects going on besides Nocturnal Breed if so, who are they and what style of music do they play?
There's a bunch of projects tied to us, Rattlehead has his ever infamous punk rock act cockroach clan which he's done since the dawn of the dinosaurs. A band truly worth a listening experience. Hes also playing in "Horsehead Union". A dark western inspired bluegrass band. I'n the making this year. Ben has tested out several projects over in Los Angeles, but to date I don't know what he's doing with that. For a while he did guitars in Skrapmetal(US), but I ques that did'nt last. Tex did Nuctemeron (no) for several years, but as that band kind of evolved into two fractions, we teamed up with a couple of the old members and reated Conjuration. Extremely cool Death Metal, very sick and twisted hehe me on vocals, tex on drums, and ex Nuctemeron members Fineideath and Immolarsen on guitars. Await the forthcoming album "House on Nuclear Hill" late this year.
On my behalf, I've got all my time running Aiwass up and going but I am using my old name, svart alf on that. I've been writing on this since 92-93 and it's turning out insanely cool. T's black, industrial in a ministry kinda way but more organic. Sharing this project is Dolgar from Gehenna, Ravn from 1349, Ronny Tekro TNT and a few more specials.It'll shock your ass off... coming soon too !!! then I have some small hings laying around. Stuff I've recorded over through the years that needs to be released etc. and due to the fact that I've kind off kept out of the business along time, I thought time for some serious audio retaliation hehe. I will release the SVARTALV solo demos, recorded during the last 15 years as well as a couple of other little projects. As well as Ravn (1349)and I will record our long time planned HELL album. A project that I've done with him since we recorded some demo material in 1999/2000, pure fucking Norwegian black hehe, so as u see, we've got more than enough to put our minds too;)
4. Are there any plans to bring your live show to the American shores?
We sure as fuck hope so. Our biggest fan base is in the states, and its about High time we get over there to kick some ass. So if there's any promoters or agencies who wants to, well hell we're back on track this summer!!! so we can just hope, but it is a sure priority man !!!
5. How has the newer material been received so far from the metal community?
Pretty good. The release kind off flaunked a little bit due to some business misunderstandings, so we'll get more feed back when it get's nore out there together with the forth coming new album. But till now the reviews on field to rot have been awesome.
6. Out off all the albums that you have recorded so far which one are you the most satisfied with?
U know that's impossible for me to have a clear mind on (I cant help but getting caught up in what I'm making at the moment, so at the time of cause fuels to rot is my fave,but the coming songs will be better hehe. Response wise, Aggressor triumphs alone hehe it kicked ass to release that lol.
7. How would you describe your musical progress over the years and what direction do you see the band heading into on future releases?
Since we started out spontaneously, we had a very naively aggressive old school thrash approach in the start. We did'nt give a fuck, and u can hear that it. It's very pure and un- destilled and obviously influenced by old Sodom, Destruction and Motorhead etc. but as time got on I think we got more into the art of actually making a sturdy thrash-hancrafted album in the real sense. We kinda studied all the tricks in the book. analyzing and listening to everything we like and that influenced us. I quess that's why breed sounds abit more American than other thrash bands from Norway like Aura Noir, newer Dark Throne, Inferno or Audiopain. We listen to more American thrash and it shines through as we develop through the years. On "Fields to rot" we kinda almost wanted to say like " hey, Dave Mustaine- u think u are the only one who can play fuckin' fast and cool) lol hehe here u go, fuckin chew on this one ;)
As I see the new material develop in front of us now, I can see it's going to be much darker and dirtier than the last few years, more back to basic again.
8. How would you describe the lyrical content of the new material?
It comes straight from the liver. I wanted to take the gruesomeness of war all the way to the edge, and kinda end up creating a little horrible universe for this album. Each song portrays a different war, and a different gruesome side of it. I spent alot of time making sure the lyricks really sits well, and this time they turned oet really long lol, bur personally Im very pleased with'em. I like bending the rules for how to use words and mix and fuck with it to the best of my knowledge, and I hope it really came through this time ( enjoy the violence hehe
9. What are some of the more underground bands that have influenced your music, we already know of the more well known ones like W.A..S.P and Venom?
I can only speak for me , as we all have such different taste in music, and all over the specter. Nut as I was young I was very influenced by Norwegian bands like “Equinox” and local demo band in Oslo “Death Mission” raw thrash that got me really hooked on riffing. Another local band from Norway is “Incarnator”, probably one of the best bands in the world. Sadly only a couple demos came out before it was over. But those songs made a huge part in early breed stuff, especially songs like dead dominions, possessed and Armageddon nights reflects this very well.
Munch is another band that really played a lot, one of the first dark wave bands. Grim as hell, released on old Tatra records from nesodden Norway (the lable who nurtured Moonfoog back in the day)
10. What are you listening to nowadays?
Apart from the voices in my head, a good mix between Hocico (mex), 16 horsepower, Candlemass, Autopsy and coroner hehe I listen to everything but since it’s grim winter here now, I turn more to the blacker albums. Diamanda galas – Gloomy Sunday is ever present every winter, as well is Burzum –filosofem. But also Megadeth’s remastered “Killing is my business…” is running hot at the time. I’m realy not good at listening to new music. The new immortal must be the best new shit I’ve heard in a long time.
11. What role does Satanism or Occultism play in the music?
In breed it doesn’t matter shit hehe it’s not religiously focused at all. I have other bands for that. In breed it’s straight forward “in your face Aggressiveness. I’ve used it as backgrounds to stuff in a couple lyrics, but not as “Satanism” .more to color the atmosphere of the song etc.
12. What are some of your interests outside of music?
I write books and screenplays, and have a couple huge projects coming there. But my “hobbys” have a tendencies to turn into something I want to “Produce” ore release in one way or the other.
I have a 13 yr old daughter which takes a lot of time, she does bands and shit too hehe.
Apart from that I tattoo a little. Not good only necro tatts’, so if anyone wants grim necro tats, send a mail hehe
13. Any final words or thoughts?
Keep your antennas in tune, and await the new coming of the breed
Metal to the bone
D.