Meyhna'ch (Mütiilation) - The Black Plague # 1 - 1995

Meyhna'ch, suspected ca. 1995, from the inner sleeve of Remains of a Ruined, Dead, Cursed Soul

Taken from the infamous The Black Plague 'zine, issue # 1 from 1995, centered around the French Black Legions bands, this interview was conducted with Mütiilation instigator Meyhna'ch, with occasional input from then-bassist Mørdred.  It was probably conducted around the time of their debut LP, Vampires of Black Imperial Blood.

Meyhna'ch - The Black Plague # 1 - 1995

 

Mütiilation, probably ca. 1995.  From L to R: Mordred, Meyhna'ch

Mütiilation, probably ca. 1995; photo used for the cover of Vampires of Black Imperial Blood.  Background: Mordred; foreground: Meyhna'ch.

Meyhna'ch, date unknown

Meyhna'ch, date unknown

AEon

Unsane & Sephiroth (Bestial Summoning) - Slayer Mag # 9 - 1991

Bestial Summoning was an old Dutch black metal band that formed in 1990 and was over by 1992, only releasing one proper album, The Dark War Has Begun, and it is a genuine classic of the era, influenced by equal parts Mayhem, Beherit, and Hellhammer.  It was No Fashion Record's first production (vinyl-only), and was released just this year for the first time on CD by Supremacy Through Intolerance.  Thus, here is an interview with Unsane (vocals) and Sephiroth (drums) taken from the classic Norwegian Slayer 'Mag, issue # 9 from 1991.

*Note: Guitarist Conscicide committed suicide in August of 2008.

Unsane & Sephiroth - Slayer Mag # 9 - 1991


Aeon

Nuclear Holocausto Vengeance (Beherit) - Bloodshed # 4 - 1992

In recognition of the recently (and finally) released At the Devil's Studio 1990, which was intended to be the Beherit debut and is excellent, I've transcribed an interview with Beherit mastermind Nuclear Holocausto Vengeance, conducted between the releases of The Oath of Black Blood (1991) and Drawing Down the Moon (1993).  It is from issue # 4 of Bloodshed, from 1992.

Nuclear Holocausto Vengeance - Bloodshed # 4 - 1992


AEon

Janto (Hades) - Holocaust # 8 - 1995

From issue # 8 of the ever-reliable Holocaust 'zine, I present an interview with bassist/vocalist Janto Garmanslund of Hades (Norway, later Hades Almighty) shortly after the release of their debut, ...Again Shall Be.  In 1993, guitarist Jørn Inge Tunsberg was convicted of burning the Åsane stave church along with Varg Vikernes, for which he served several years of prison time.  Unfortunately nowhere near as renowned as much of their brethren, Hades were nevertheless phenomenal, sounding very much Norwegian while playing in a slower, folk-inflected style heavily indebted to Hammerheart and Twilight of the Gods.  Both of their full-lengths prior to their name change - the debut mentioned above and The Dawn of the Dying Sun - come with the highest possible recommendation.

Janto - Holocaust # 8 - 1995


AEon

Hat (Gorgoroth) - Agaliarept # 1 - 1994

 

This is an interview from 1994 with original Gorgoroth (Norway) vocalist Hat, who performed on the demo, A Sorcery Written in Blood, and the debut full-length, Pentagram.  It is taken from the Norwegian 'zine Agaliarept, which I believe was run by the guys from Obtained Enslavement.

Hat - Agaliarept # 1 - 1994


AEon

Fenriz (Darkthrone) - Slayer Mag # 10 - 1995

Darkthrone ca. 1992.  From L to R: Fenriz, Zephyrous, Nocturno Culto

This is a short piece from 1995 with Fenriz, drummer for Darkthrone (Norway), from the renowned Norwegian Slayer Mag, produced by Metalion.

Fenriz - Slayer Mag # 10 - 1995

Fenriz, probably ca. 1991-1993

Fenriz, probably ca. 1991-1993

Fenriz, probably ca. 1991-1993

AEon

Wlad Drakksteim (Vlad Tepes) - Holocaust 'Zine # 8 - 1995

Vlad Tepes, date unknown.  From L to R: Wlad Drakksteim, Vorlok Drakksteim

Here's another interview from the terrific Holocaust 'Zine from Poland, this time conducted with Vlad Tepes (France) guitarist Wlad Drakksteim in 1995.  This may have been conducted by Nergal of Behemoth, but I can't be completely certain.

Wlad Drakksteim - Holocaust 'Zine # 8 - 1995 

Vlad Tepes, by the way, appears on what is one of the two most essential recordings of the entire Black Legions oeuvre.  It's entitled March to the Black Holocaust, and it is godlike.

Vlad Tepes - March to the Black Holocaust - 1995

Vlad Tepes, date unknown.  From L to R: Wlad Drakksteim, Vorlok Drakksteim

Wlad Drakksteim, date unknown

 

Vorlok Drakksteim, date unknown

Vlad Tepes, date unknown.  Front: Wlad Drakksteim.  Back: Vorlok Drakksteim

AEon

Rob Darken (Graveland) - Holocaust 'Zine # 7 - 1994

Rob Darken, probably ca. 1994

I just recently unearthed a very, very old interview with Rob Darken of Graveland (Poland) in Holocaust 'Zine # 7, from Poland, conducted in 1994.  It is directly prior to the release of their mini-CD The Celtic Winter.


Rob Darken (Graveland) - Holocaust 'Zine # 7 - 1994

Graveland, probably ca. 1994.  From L to R: Darken, Capricornus, Karcharoth (thanks anonymous comment!)

AEon

Franta Štorm (Master's Hammer) - Desecrater # 2 - 1992

Master's Hammer (Czech Republic) are not as renowned as their Norwegian black metal brethren, but were certainly seminal in the genre's early years, recording a handful of demos in the late '80s before releasing their masterpiece, The Ritual, in 1991.  It is easily one of the most ground-breaking black metal albums of it's time, even by today's standards.  In recognition of these oft-overlooked legends, I have unearthed and transcribed a very, very old (and bizarre) interview with vocalist/guitarist/drummer Franta Štorm.  It veers toward incomprehensibility at times and isn't terribly enlightening, but is all the more valuable for both.

Franta Štorm (Master's Hammer) - Desecrater # 2 - 1992


AEon

Euronymous (Mayhem) - Kill Yourself 'Zine # 4 - 1995

Euronymous, Helvete basement, ca. 1991 or 1992

This is an interview originally conducted with Euronymous of Mayhem (Norway) in 1993, reportedly just a week before his murder.  It was first printed in Kill Yourself 'Zine # 2, but reprinted in # 4, which is the issue from which I have transcribed it.

I should mention that this interview was formerly available via numerous Mayhem fansites many years ago, but included additions which, while correcting errors present in the text, did not maintain its integrity.  I have, therefore, included all errors present in the original text in my transcription.

Euronymous - Kill Yourself 'Zine # 4 - 1995

Infamous shot of the classic lineup, ca. 1990 or early 1991.  From L to R: Euronymous, Dead, Hellhammer, Necrobutcher

Euronymous, presumably in the Helvete basement, ca. 1991 or 1992

Euronymous, presumably in the Helvete basement, ca. 1991 or 1992

Euronymous, presumably in the Helvete basement, ca. 1991 or 1992

Euronymous, probably ca. 1991 or 1992

AEon

Abbath (Immortal) - Black Montanas of Thy Septentrio # 1 - 1992

Immortal, ca. 1992.  From L to R: Armagedda, Abbath, Demonaz

I'm pleased to bring you another old piece with Immortal (Norway), taken from the Black Montanas of Thy Septentrio 'zine, incidentally the same one from which the previous interview with Varg Vikernes was taken.  The date is an estimation on my part, as I could see no date printed on the 'zine itself, and online the date attributed to it is 1990, which is impossible.  This is explained further in the file's notes.

Abbath - Black Montanas of Thy Septentrio # 1 - 1992

Immortal, ca. 1992.  From L to R: Demonaz, Armagedda, Abbath

Immortal, ca. 1992.  From L to R: Demonaz, Armagedda, Abbath

Abbath, ca. 1992-1994

Immortal ca. 1992-1993.  From L to R: Demonaz, Kolgrim, Abbath

AEon

Demonaz and Abbath (Immortal) - Tales of the Macabre # 1 - December 1993

Immortal, ca. 1993 or 1994.  From L to R: Demonaz, Abbath, Grim

 Here is an old interview conducted with Demonaz and Abbath from Immortal (Norway), with occasional input from Erik (Grim - drums) when he was still alive and in the band.  It is taken from Tales of the Macabre # 1, and is short but valuable.

Demonaz and Abbath - Tales of the Macabre # 1 - December 1993

Abbath, 1994

Demonaz, 1994

Grim, 1994

AEon

Mortiis (Emperor) - Transylvanian Damnation # 1 - 1992

Mortiis, 1992

This interview with Mortiis, bassist with Emperor (Norway) on the Wrath of the Tyrant demo, Emperor mini-lp, and As the Shadows Rise EP, was recreated with great attention to detail from an old computer print-out taken from a long defunct fansite.  Further notes regarding its source and transcription are available in the file itself.

Mortiis - Transylvanian Damnation # 1 - 1992

Emperor, 1992 or 1993.  From L to R: Samoth, Mortiis, Ihsahn

Emperor, 1992 or 1993.  From L to R: Ihsahn, Samoth, Mortiis

Ad for the Wrath of the Tyrant demo

Mortiis, 1993, as pictured on the back of the Emperor EP

Emperor ca. 1993.  From L to R: Mortiis, Ihsahn, Faust, Samoth

Wrath of the Tyrant demo cover

Mortiis, 1992 or 1993

AEon