VREID

Honesty and will

A few weeks ago I received a letter from Indie Recordings including a promo CD with the newest VREID's album called „Milorg”. Well, it's never been my favorite band. I have nothing against VREID but honestly speaking, I've never paid too much attention to them, for a very simple reason. „Kraft” was a very mediocre album. Thrash elements on „Pitch Black Brigade” and „I Krig” surprised me a bit but listening to these albums I never got shivers. So, when the promo of VREID's fourth full length album arrived, I threw „Milorg” into my player without any special expectations. After several listenings I'm no longer sceptical on their music. This is definitely a very interesting album, the best one VREID have recorded so far. Now read to what bassist Hváll had to say, answering some questions concerning „Milorg” and some other things...

-Your new album title „Milorg” was taken from the name of famous Norwegian resistance group MILORG. As you claim, this album is a salute to their work during World War II. How did you come up with an idea to pay a tribute to them? Is it your patriotic manifestation?
It is a tribute to these young people that fought for the liberation of Norway during WW2. We owe our country to these men. I am fascinated by their will and effort to fight for freedom, and see it as a fascinating story to tell.

-Could you tell me some more about MILORG itself, their services to Norway, most spectacular actions they did against Nazis, stuff like that? It's quite interesting...
Since the official Norwegian military capitulated immediately, there was a small growing resistance group that started to work against the german war regime. Their work was supported by the allied forces. They did spectacular propaganda and sabotage work. One example is that they blew up the heavy water fabric in Norway. In this fabric the Germans were processing heavy water, that they needed to build the atom bomb. But I think the most important work they did was to ignite the flame for the liberation of Norway.

-As far as I remember VREID's previous albums were also deeply inspired by history of World War II. What is so fascinating in singing about things than happened a long time ago?
History is and has always been my main interest, and I make lyrics about things that interest and inspire me. It is as simple as that.

-Actually, fascination is a good word but it's rather some kind of obsession. Are you obsessed with Norwegian history?
No, its a great interest. Obsession it is not.

-Many times in your career you have been accused of supporting radical nationalism and right- winged activism by your art. I think it's time to clear it up. Does this band stand for any kind of political views or something? If not, how do you feel about such accusations?
Well this is actually the first time I have heard such accusation. If people are so ignorant that they view us that way, I don't see how my explanation should resolve any thing for these miserable tragic peoples. They can start of by actually reading the lyrics.

-Well... that's interesting, because I heard rumors concerning band's sympathy toward that kind of bullshit more than a few times. Nevermind. Let's go back to your newest effort. This is definitely the most mature album you've ever recorded. In my opinion there's a huge gap, comparing your new material to your previous recordings. In terms of songwriting, performing and recording quality „Milorg” has surpassed all VREID's albums. What does that maturity come from?
Its good to hear to say these things, but I can not explain this. We have just been continuing building on the work that we started back in 2004. I work very hard and dedicated with VREID, and I think that this hard work pays off. Also we have done the whole production ourselves this time, and I think that has helped us reaching an even stronger identity.

-Maturity is a combination of age and experience. You have been around since 1994 (when WINDIR was formed). How much have your music taste and attitude to music changed over the years?
I listen to a lot of the same music, and my all times favourites are still Grieg, Alice Cooper, Metallica, Death. But I have over these years also dugged a lot deeper into extreme metal as well as the classical rock bands of the late 6ots and early 70ts.

-Musicwise, I think „Milorg” does not contribute much to the creative and experimental side of heavy metal. It could be rather described it as a combination of well known, „basic” black, thrash, epic, 70's psychedelic hard rock and traditional heavy metal elements, with noticeable mark of VREID's identity. Can you agree with that description? Would you like to add something else to it?
Sounds good to me.

-Breaking down boundaries of so called „genres” is actually a very common thing on the contemporary music scene. Many bands try to express themselves, making up delicious coctails of things coming from various corners of music art. Do you think that's how the future of music will look like?
Some band will and some won't. It is natural that some bands seeks progression and challenge the established sounds. This is the way new things are born.

-So far your music has been generally described as black metal and I think all those narrow-minded critics who used to label you as a typical black metal band from Norway will be in trouble, after listening to your new album...
I guess so. I have never looked at VREID as a black metal band, but if someone calls us black metal thats fine by me. I can not tell people how to view and categorize VREID. We deliver what we want, and people can call it whatever they like.

-Your music has changed over the years and now you are moving towards more sophisticated and unique territories. For those fans who will have a problem accepting the current state of your music how do you intend to convince them that you haven’t sold out and abandoned where WINDIR initially came from?
I don’t care. If you to listen to VREIDs music, and like it, then I appreciate that. If you don’t, just go listen to something else.

-As it has happened with many bands, including also many Norwegian black metal acts, do you fear reaching the point of maturity and some kind of self-consciousness, where some of your die hard fans begin to label you as commercial piece of shit and sell- outs just because you don't want to play typical, narrow-minded black metal anymore?
No.

-Pfff... What is the most important element of your music style? A foundation for VREID”s identity?
Honesty and will. We constant try to express ourselves through our music, I want the music to be a reflection of my state of mind. The process of making music is a life inspiration for me.

-I guess the Norwegian nature still plays an important role on the melancholic feeling of your music. Do you see your country, lakes, mountains and forests as a source of VREID's melancholic inspiration?
Absolutely. I get very inspired by watching my surroundings. Walking or cross-country skiing in the woods is both recreation and inspiration for me. But also traveling is an important thing for me. Seeing new things inspires me and gives me strength.

-On many parts of „Milorg” album you managed to achieve a perfect balance between rough, aggressive parts and hauntingly beautiful melodic landscapes. I think „Blucher” or the title track „Milorg” are good examples for that. How difficult or challenging was to write such songs?
The important things is to make the songs balanced. Not to many themes, but rather giving variety to the themes we use. Its like making a perfect dinner, one has to have a great piece of meat, find the right accessories, then spice and warm it to perfection.

-One of the greatest things concerning your new album are definitely Sture's vocals. Is he also responsible for all those beautiful melodic parts and vocal harmonies? I think they should be underlined here as something that makes your new album a world-class product. They are absolutely BRILLIANT!
I agree. I wrote the main lines for the Vocals, but he has worked with them and made them his own. It is without a doubt his best vocal work so far.

-If you could record such a good album as „Milorg”, what should we expect on your next releases? Could you imagine VREID's music within next 10 years or so?
I can't imagine not writing music for VREID, that is the only thing I know. I have already started working on new material, I constantly work on writing music, but it is to early to tell how the next release will sound like.

-How do you see VREID's position on Norwegian black metal scene? It has definitely grown a lot within the last few years. You've appeared on some important tours and festivals, to the best of my knowledge you've also become quite good at selling. So... do you see this band as one of the leading Norwegian acts these days?
I see VREID as band constantly searching for something new and building our identity. If we are a leading band or not, I leave up to others to tell.

-Every band has a dream, some goal they'd like to reach or some people or band they'd like to step up with, on stage I mean. What is VREID's dream?
Playing with either Alice Cooper or METALLICA would be fantastic.

-That's all. Thank you very much. Any last words for our readers?
Enjoy the album, and hope to see you at a VREID show soon.

www.vreid.no

Line Up:
Hvall - bass
Steingrim - drums
Sture - vocals, guitar
Ese - guitar

Discography:
Kraft (2004)
Pitch Black Brigade (2006)
I Krig (2007)
Milorg (2009)