Howdy. Frode from FUNERAL here. Doing moderately ok today. I am having a few beers now, yes, so please have patience if I start to rant. Right now I am listening to Dream Theatre, "Train of thought".
I'd
like to know how and why did you choose FUNERAL as a band name ? Did you
attend to a death ceremony when you were younger that branded your mind
? And how would you like to see your own funeral day ?
As a relatively new member of FUNERAL I cannot answer directly to that.
However, the members of FUNERAL are chosen partly because of their gloomy
personalities. I guess the founders decided that FUNERAL was the name
that best described the music and art they wanted to express. We have
also experienced unusual many deaths of band-members and friends close
to the band. From a mystical point of view one might speculate that the
choice of name was prophetic inspired. On the other hand, the distinct
personality type that I believe is drawn to perform this kind of music
probably has a statistically higher risk of illness and death. As for
my own funeral, I don't think I would care, at least not about the funeral.
Probably having a better time in a better Hell. Perhaps I would have written
a controversial letter to be read aloud in church, or something.
Merci. There is actually a considerable time-gap between the recording and the release of "From These Wounds". At the time of recording we were very excited about the production and all. Preferences has changed since then. On the next one we will go for a more organic and less polished production. Still, for me "From These Wounds" is the best sounding release I have had the opportunity of performing on, so far.
"From
These Wounds" is one hell of great Doom Metal album, it really conveys
all the key elements from this Metal genre : excellent vocals, detuned
guitar and wonderful riffs. How was the writing process ? Was the creation
of the fourth album more difficult than the previous one, I mean you might
sometime lack of idea for lyrics and/or musical
parts ?
It was a very rewarding and uplifting experience to put "From These
Wounds" into reality. Guitarist Kjetil Ottersen composed the basic
instrumental melody-lines, as well as a couple of the lyrics. This was
then sent to me for composition and recording of the vocal-lines, as well
as the writing of the majority of the lyrics. Both I an Kjetil worked
under the liberal direction of founding member and band-boss Anders Eek.
I cannot speak for the previous album, since "From These Wounds"
is my official debut with FUNERAL. Still, "In fields of Pestilent
Grief" is probably the album that opened my eyes to Funeral-Doom.
That album also marks a turn of direction for FUNERAL, towards a more
accessible sound, which in the end made it attractive for me to become
a member. "From These Wounds" marks a turn in lyrical style,
from the traditional baroque style to more contemporary lyrics that are
simple in form, but deep in content. I like to say that there is more
shit in this world for Doom-bands to cover, than Norway has oil-reserves,
so I don't think we will go empty of ideas or dark emotions just yet.
Would you explain
the titles of the new album : what wounds are you talking about ? The
cover of that release, the barbed wires clearly symbolise the deep wound
and the inner self suffering one can go through when he feels miserable…
The title is taken from the poems of former bassist Einar Fredriksen,
who died in 2003. The title and the album is in tribute and memory of
him, and sadly now also of guitarist Christian Loos, who died last autumn.
The title of the album clearly symbolises the psychological wounds that
are carried by the personality types I mentioned earlier. The barbed wire
symbolises that the western world is not as happy or free as we may think.
There is a different form of starvation that plagues the western world,
in the shape of loneliness and the absence of human warmth. Nor are you
as free in "the free world" as you like to think. Are the traditional
undemocratic countries becoming more like us, or we like them ?
Kjetil is also a skilled and professional sound-engineer. It was he that mixed and mastered the album in his own studio. Yes, it is difficult to be both musician and sound-engineer, and I think it burned Kjetil out. However, I do not think the album suffers too much under the problems you mention. It is the most professional sounding FUNERAL album to date. Regarding Tabu, the album was already finished when we signed with them. Tabu is a relatively small, but very serious record company. I believe they sign their bands based on what they honestly like, rather than what they think will sell. Many good bands under their mark.
Your "Tristesse" '93 demo
tape and later MCD was pretty famous in the early 90's underground scene.
I remember it was sought, and I read that you're looking for re-releasing
it. What is your regard on that material that is 14 years old ?
I believe the re-release is a tribute to the loyal fan-base that has supported
FUNERAL through all these years. However, the "new" FUNERAL
is almost a different band and we are looking forward. The next album
may contain a tad more of the old style, to express our loyalty to the
old fans as well as the genre itself, but we will not desert the new fans
either. I guess most idealists gets a little less extreme with age and
maturity.
Being French I'd like to know why you
chose a French word to name your album "Tritesse" (sorrowful)
? Is there any connection with the famous wave of French writers from
the 19th century ? And have ever you tried to write a song with French
lyrics ?
Again, I can not give you a direct answer, so I will have to speculate
a bit. Norway is a relatively small country in population, and has therefore
had little influence on the cultures and the arts through the centuries,
from a global perspective. France, as well as the other big European countries
has had many great writers, artists and philosophers. For a Norwegian
band the exotic (as well as the beauty) of a foreign language adds weight
to the dark romantic atmosphere we wish to create. It is common for Norwegian
artists to sing in English, and that may partly be due to the fact that
English is the primary foreign language taught in school. Personally I
would love to sing in French if I had known a little of the language.
The question is whether the French would love it, though.
You had a deal with Wild Rage for your
"Tristess" CD, everyone knows the troubles about Wild Rage,
but how were the relations and support with FUNERAL from this label ?
Eek: It was as rip-off as every band on this "label" would experience,
I am afraid..
Yes, Tabu is definitively the right label for FUNERAL. If FUNERAL ever gets out of the limbo of obscurity, it will be with Tabu. They have given us a treatment that is rare these days, also among the bigger labels, or perhaps especially among the bigger labels. I would recommend unsigned bands to check them out. I believe their focus is on Norwegian or Scandinavian bands, though.
Eek: Back in the 90`s when Black Metal was the big thing, noone seem to pay attention to Doom-Metal, thus no label was interested in signing us. Then we were contacted by Nocturnal and I am sorry to say we jumped on it. They paid what they were supposed to but didn't do shit concerning promotion, distro etc. That'ss why "In Fields Of Pestilent Grief" remains an obscure album to this date.
When it comes to lyrics concept I think
that sometime Doom and Suicidal Black Metal are very close and deals with
the same topics, do you agree with me and are there any suicidal B.M combos
you like ?
I totally agree with you. The personality type I mentioned earlier is
the same for both genres, even though they differ in musical and lyrical
form. The deeper content is very similar. The BM bands often have a very
direct satanic message. Most Doom-bands are not officially satanic, but
I think that many still carries a subtle luciferian romanticism. The main
difference is probably that we avoid the logical inconsistency of "worshipping
evil". We rather loath all the false rightness in this world. Regarding,
BM, I mostly don't listen to it anymore, even though I have played in
a few bands. Getting to old, I guess.
Thergothon and FUNERAL's early demo had a bit the same vibe, the same feeling in each release don't you think so ? Could you remember your feeling the first time you listen to this band ? I was also wondering if this band was an influence on yours as according to me "Stream For Heaven" is one of the most heavy and slow album I've experienced in my live…
Eek: I never heard of Thergothon for years after forming FUNERAL. So it didn't influence us at all. I heard their album, but it didn't really move me. We were very inspired by old Paradise Lost, Cathedral, Black Sabbath, and Candlemass.
Your
Doom Metal is mainly established on melancholy and sadness, so does it
mean that members are particularly depressed ? Do you think that we live
in a rather sad world with strange rules ? By the way, do you think that
northern territories led people to loneliness, as cold temperatures and
distances between human might changed their attitudes ?
In fact, in the northern parts of Norway, which are colder and darker,
people are actually more extroverted and warmer towards each other than
in the southern parts. No, I don't think it is the weather or the climate
that makes us appear gloomy. I rather think it is inherited from the pietistic
tradition that told people not to stick their noses out, but instead be
ashamed of who they are. A normative tyranny where people freely holds
each other down. Nor do I think that any of FUNERALS current members are
more biologically predisposed to depression than the average guy. But
I believe that we all think more deeply of things, and that will simply
make you more depressed in today society. More and more people are feeling
sad in the western world, in all its material wealth. The problem is that
we attack the symptoms, rather than the sickness itself.
May I ask you the content of your lyrics
? Do you think that FUNERAL's lyrics are a kind of image of the soul of
members from this band ?
I have already said a little about the lyrics. They are simple in form,
but the content is intended to be deeper. There has also been a lyrical
shift since the previous album. There is no absolute concept like satanism
or atheism. We try to focus on what is unfair in a society that applauds
itself for being fair. There is a lot of shit in our own society that
should be obvious to most people, but apparently it is not. The western
world needs to clear out its own shit before it can start saving the third
world. We are not better than them, only better off. Some of the lyrics
are about the dehumanisation of other individuals of our own species.
Other lyrics are more introspective, covering the pains of both life and
death. In my case they reflect parts of both my life and my soul.
Let's keep on
this topic : I sometimes feel like some people need to express their emotions
through words or through an instrument while others need sport, do you
feel the same ? Do you believe that such a band like FUNERAL could be
like chemical given to patient to recover his illness ?
Empirical science would prefer sports over music when it comes to the
healing factor. FUNERAL will not heal your depression, but hopefully it
will make it a little easier for you, to see that you are not alone, until
you get a new girlfriend or something. Same with schizophrenia. We can't
heal them, but we can fight for the rights and the autonomy of those who
suffer from it, until they hopefully recover without the forced use of
harmful chemicals.
Black Sabbath are the godfathers of many of todays sub-genres of Metal. But, as you say, Doom-Metal is probably the genre most inspired by them. A few personal BS favourites would be "Spiral Architect", "Symptom Of The Universe", and "Children Of The Sea". And, I am really looking forward to the new Ozzy album.
As
you're fan of Doom Metal, I guess you might be aware of labels such as
"I Hate Records", "Golden Lake", "Psychedoomelic
Records", and so on…Did you send any promo to these labels
to get a deal and are there releases from their back catalogue you're
fan ?
Eek: I heard of these labels, but have never been in contact with them.
I cant remember which bands who was signed with them neither.
Eek: It was FUNERAL bassist Einar who joined Paradigma in the late 90`s. He took care of the bass and melodic vocals on their still not released album recorded in 99 I believe.. Einar moved to Oslo and became friends with the Paradigma guys I think, and FUNERAL was never a band that rehearsed very often. anyway. I actually had 3-4 bands running at the same time back then..
Bassist Einer died in January 2003,
his death seemed to have affected the band seriously both emotionally
and musically. Did you feel that band was cursed back then ? How did he
pass away ?
Eek: It was so tragic. He was a soul-mate and friend for years, so it
really affected the band seriously. FUNERAL was on ice for almost two
years after this incident. I am sorry to say he chose to end his own life
after becoming addicted to heroin. He also suffered from manic-depression,
and he didn't get the aid that he needed.
Back in the 95's there was a Black
Metal band from France that had the same name than yours. The French combo
was on the front line of newspaper because of their satanic actions and
link with the right wings. I guess that it might had pissed you off as
some Metalheads were confusing both band ? Did you ever asked them to
change their name ?
I am not familiar with the French Funeral. I remember you had some very
good Death Metal bands, though. NSBM is definitively not my cup of tea.
I suspect that it was the right-wing connections that brought them the
media attention rather than the satanic image ? On the other hand, I think
there should be a great deal of freedom for artists expressing themselves,
or society will ultimately become what it tries to distance itself from.
I believe in education, rather than prohibition.
Doom Metal has always been connected
with melancholia, and according to me a part of autumnal season, while
the most melancholic times are the snowing days in winter. As you live
in Norway, I'd like to know your relation with that natural element…
Do you suffer from snow, how do you feel when it's snowing ?
Norwegian autumns can become very dark, until the first snow falls. The
snow lights things up and, even though it physically gets colder, it gets
psychologically warmer. And the children loves the snow, of course. To
be honest I have a long time dreamt of moving to a more southern country,
though. There are quite a few scientific findings that points to a strong
correlation between sunlight and psychological well-being. The sun is
never as strong up here as in your country, not even in the summer ( yeah
come here and suffer from 40° in summer you'll quickly change your
mind, haha-ed) But, as I said, many Norwegians find a little snow in the
winter to be better than no snow.
I heard the cover of Abyssic Hate's
"Suicide Emotion" is a picture of a FUNERAL member is that right
and who is he ? I'm not certain about my information, but if I'm right
do you remember how Shane asked a FUNERAL member to feature on his album
cover ?
Eek: Yes, it's a picture of Einar, FUNERAL bassist. He also was heavily
into self-injury, as you may see on the picture. It's very sad I think.
I think Einar was a pen pal with those guys. I am not quite sure..
Eek: The Fallen demo was released on "A Tragedy`s..". I needed an outlet for my love of extreme Doom back when FUNERAL became a bit faster and "mainstream", so I continued on composing really slow stuff, and I still do to this day. We have recorded a lot of material since then. A 4 -track demo(60 minutes) featuring Cecilie (from the band Skumring) in duet with Kjetil Ottersen. After this we have recorded 90 minutes of instrumental music that we are working on right now, composing vocal harmonies, and finding a suitable label that has the guts to release double album of really extreme metal.
The loss of my good friend Christain actually made me think of ending all my musical projects. But to pay him tribute, I decided to try to move on. He was a huge fan of both Fallen and Funeral.
Do you
sometime feel that Scandinavian people are way different to other European
people ? I mean you seem much more concerned with nature, respect of mankind
and equality in society than any others, for instant the "Swedish
way of life" is always mentioned as an example for the other countries…
That is just an illusion created
by our governments. Scandinavians can be just as much assholes as everybody
else, although sometimes on a higher intellectual level.
Would you name your 5 favourite Norwegian
releases so far excepting Paradigma ? What Norwegian band impressed you
or was an influence on your music ?
Eek: The 3rd And The Mortal "Tears Laid In Earth". Equinox:
"Auf Wiedersehen". Beyond Dawn "Pity Love", Emperor
"In The Nightside Eclipse" and Darkthrone "A Blaze In The
Northern Sky" would be my 5 favourite Norwegian albums. All these
bands and more inspired me greatly..
I'm out
of questions now, I don't know if I forget anything,…probably, so
feel free to full my gap…
Well, as you predicted in your first question I am starting to get wasted
on beer, so I'll put it short. We would like to wish you and your country
the best of luck with the upcoming presidential election (well I can't
imagine the shitty situation we're crossing-ed). Hopefully we will get
to visit your historically and culturally important nation soon. Cheers!
Eek: Thanx a lot for your support and rather intelligent questions. (you're
welcome ! -ed)