Interview with Raging Bloodlust
January 2005.

1. Heil Ynleborgaz! I should begin by asking you about the biography and discography of Angantyr.Are you satisfied with what you have done so far?

Hails!
Angantyr started out as an ambient band in 1997, cause I wanted to express my emotions in music.
Then I started to write lyrics, and realized that the ambient music wasn't brutal enough to support the lyrics. So I began to create Blackmetal, which holds both the melodic emotional part of the ambient music, and the brutality and rawness of the lyrics.
Releases so far:Endeløs demo 1998
Kampen Fortsætter album 2000
Nordens Stolte Krigere demo 2001
Sejr album 2004 (recorded in 2002)I am very satisfied with these releases.
I think that they resemble my capabilities at the time they were created.

2. What is the main reason for the existence of Angantyr, what are your goals with this band? Can you tell me the meaning of "Angantyr", why have you chosen this name? Is there any concept?

Angantyr exists because I had some musical and lyrical ideas that didn't fit in Tågefolket.
(Tågefolket was the first blackmetal band I was taking part in)
I haven't really got any goals with Angantyr, I just do it when the inspiration comes to me. That's probably also why there's 2-3 years between each release.
Angantyr is the name of an old Danish king in the 700's, who mobilized the Danish fleet and kicked the Dutch apostles and Italian bishops out of the country when they first tried to christianize Denmark.

3. Can you tell us a bit about your lyrics? Does Black Metal need serious lyrics or could it be enough to make great music alone, with lyrics being rather unimportant and only for support of atmosphere?

I think that the lyrics are rather important in blackmetal. There are many ways to use the lyrics and vocal patterns, so it really contributes to the atmosphere of the music.
If the lyrics are not serious, it's hard to believe that the musicians really mean what they are doing.

4. You are involved in many projects, how important is Angantyr amongst them?

I try to give each project the time it needs, none more important than the other, as each project let's me move in different aspects of the genre.

5. Have you ever thought of playing live with Angantyr?

Actually I tried out 3 guys as live-members in 2001, but it didn't work out, and I haven't really thought about it since.

6. Can you tell us what are the sources of your inspiration? I guess nature plays an important role, am I right?

Nature plays a very important role among my inspirational sources.
Especially the forest of "Egebaeksvang" in the north east of Denmark, in which I grew up, and where I recorded "Nordens Stolte Krigere"
Equally important to me, is the history and mythology of the Scandinavian lands.

7. What are your influences and most valued bands?

I mostly listen to my own creations, and try to be original in every aspect.
But of course there must be some subconscious link between my musical interests and my creations.
The albums I value the most are:King Diamond - Abigail
Ulver - Nattens Madrigal
In Battle - In Battle
Gorgoroth - Under the sign of hell
Kvist - For kunsten maa vi evigt vike
Bathory - Under the sign of the black mark
Vigrid - Had

8. Since you play in more than one band and have released stuff through various different labels you may have gainedquite some insight in what could be called Black Metal scene.what is your opinion upon the current state of this scene? Also, what will the future bring? Total commercialisation and social acceptance of Black Metal?

I think it is getting a lot better.
More small labels are showing up and supporting the underground bands in a good way.
Social acceptance??? Hahaha, I can't see why "ordinary" people would begin to accept and even like music, and the people behind it, whose hatred are directed at them.

9. Do you regard scene typical attributes (like long hair, bullet-belts and corpse paint) as important for a band that tries to create Black Metal?

No. I don't really care.
But I can see how it would add a certain mystique and brutality to the image, and if you are a conceptional artist you have to do it all the way, and at the same time add a personal touch to it.
But in the end it all comes down to the music, the lyrics and the circumstances.

10. Do you regard Christianity as a big problem? Or are there other nuisances that need to be solved prior to this one?

Of course I regard christianity a big problem. It is the reason everything is so fucked up now.
But you are right. In Denmark we have big immigration problems that needs to be solved first.
More and more people are abandoning the church, so it isn't that big a threat right now.
But the vengeance of the northern lands will surely come to them.

11. If you had the possibility to change one historical event, what would you do?

I guess I would see to it , one way or another, that King Harald Blaatand wasn't convinced by bishop Poppo to embrace christianity and force it onto the Danish people.

12. One very important aspect of Black Metal is the art of misanthropy, although it very often gets abused by some scum that tries to get attention with showing everyone to be the most true misanthropic hero that ever walked upon this earth (yes, a contradiction, as no real misanthrope needs to tell others about this). What is your opinion about this?

I think you are right on that one.
I guess we all have some form of misanthropy within us, be it passive or extreme.
But one thing is certain. A real misanthrope does not announce his misanthropy to the world, he simply stays clear of it!

13. Is it important to express yourself through black metal or would it also be possible to use other genres, perhaps like ambient, neo classic or power electronics?

I can't see myself playing any other genre at the moment.

14. Last question, can you tell us about your future plans with Angantyr?

Well. Plans are made for a split LP with Swedish Nasheim, and when the inspiration comes to me, a new album will be created. At the moment I spend a lot of time on Holmgang as we are soon to record our second album.

15. Thanks for the interview! Feel free to add anything you want...

Always a pleasure.
Thank you for the interest.
Danish hails!
Ynleborgaz
Keep those churches burning guys!!!

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