1. Hi Bard! I'd like to start with getting the complete run-down on Scum, your new band, how long does is exist, its members, and what's in store for it.

A: The line-up is Samoth –guitar, Cosmocraor – guitar, Happy-Tom – bass, Casey Chaos – vocals and me on drums. The idea steems from several years back when Mortiis and Casey originally thought about forming a band of different members, all with the roots within metal and rock, but it wasn`t before until the autumn of 2004 that things started to happen and we went into studio and recorded our debut album, Gospels for the Sick.

2. What is the musical direction of the band?

A: The music can be described as something between traditional black metal mixed with a punkrock attitude. Deathpunk, black `n roll or whatever you want really.

3. What is the lyrical concept behind the band?

A: Casey would be better answering this, but I can say that he is not so political as he is in Amen, although a singer`s/lyricist`s thought and opinions will shine through whatever he does and writes, but it`s more blasphemous this time around.

4. The new album is released under the quite unknown label of dogjob recordings, why that certain label and not a higher profile one?

A: Simply because they gave us the best offer. We were in dialogue with the bigger metal labels as well but none were able to present a decent offer. Besides, Dogjob is a subdivision under Tuba, a distro company here in Norway and they are pretty good at what they are doing so we jumped for that deal.

5. You've been a member, or played in some of the most important black metal bands and albums around, what is your current attitude and relationship with the genre that made you famous?

A:Well, black metal hardly fascinates me anymore. The mystical aura that once exited me is gone and I have no higher thoughts of it really. I listen to some of the old masters, but apart from that, very little of the new bands impresses me.

6. What can you tell us about your work with Aborym?

A:Well, I laid down the drums for the fourth album in Rome in April this year and I am very exited to hear the final result. The music is more death metal now, but still holding to the black metal feeling. I think the album can turn out very good indeed.

7. I've read you've also joined in with thrash outfit Blood Tsunami, can you give some details about it?

A: I joined Blood Tsunami (old band name, not influenced by the disaster in south-east Asia last year) some months ago. It's a small band but I enjoy playing with them. We just recorded a demo which we hope will take us further.
8. Your mostly known for your drumming, but you've also done vocals and spoken passages, what is your role in the many projects you're involved with?

A: Well, the spoken passage thing was mainly done just to keep my name in music intact while I couldn't perform drums in the real sense. It was cool at the time but it was good to move on to participate on full albums again.

9. What is the band Bomberos, and how did you come in contact with it?
A: Oh, I just happened to know some of the people involved but I quit this band since nothing happened and we were seldom rehearsing, that frustrated me.

10. It seems that a lot of the older generation of black metal related musicians have been turning into a lot of varied genres, you included, what are other musicians you know doing these days, and how do you explain their move from black metal to so different genres?

A:Well, I think it is nothing more dramatic than people getting bored by one thing and search for something else. People develop and eventually want to do something else you know. It's just evolution. I normally know the older generation in the Norwegian scene but I am not very social, I rarely hang out in the clubs or anything like that.

11. Your very active as a lyric writer, going as far as writing a song for Sigh, among many others, how did you begin to develop your talent in writing lyrics?

A: Well, I reckon you think of Sigh, since I never wrote anything for Samael, but the first time I ever wrote a lyric was for the Zyklon-B – Blood Must be Shed album. After that, I didn't write for many years until Samoth invited me to do the full set of lyrics in Zyklon. From that point, also other bands realised I could do lyrics and they got in touch.

12. Your lyrics seem to come from a highly philosophical, at times misanthropic point of view, what are you're main influences, and what are the ideas behind the songs you write?
A: Well, anything and all influences me. Everyday life and what happens around us. No specific event really. I am not trying to change the world through my lyrics since that would be to overestimate the power of lyrics I think, but I am just expressing my opinion and presenting questions, instead of answers and solutions necessarily
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13. You have been working on a documentary on the Norway black metal scene, where does that project stand?
A: Don't ask me. I haven't heard from the film crew in years. It doesn't really interest me either.

14. Many of the old-school Norwegian black metal circle members held view that bordered, or crossed, extreme fascistic, and anti-Christian, anti-judeo views, what was the reason for that in your opinion, and what is your take on their views?

A: Well, a lot of it were group reactions to the society in general I think. A lot of people expressed extreme views in order to create a reaction and response in the environment around us. Young people tend to have a big need for shocking or expression. I think most of the guys have grown out of it by now, at least they should – hehe.

15: Sadly, a part of your notoriety is caused from your time in prison and your actions during the famous church burnings times in Norway, do you feel a different person from the one you were at those times? What is your take on the state of mind in the scene then?

A: The scene were very destructive at that time, very hostile. I have changed a lot since then, which everyone normally does in 12-14 years. It doesn't really affect my life these days, I try to concentrate on the future rather than the past.

A:. A large number of musicians who played with you were involved and implicated in several illegal acts, what is the attitude towards you and these individuals in your home country today?

A: Well, I don't think there is an hostile attitude. Most people accept that we fucked up in our youth but that we are adults now with families, jobs and a proper vision of our future.

16. What would you define as your main musical allegiance now, is it in Scum?

A: Scum is by far the biggest band, but then, I use most of my time on Blood Tsunami since we rehearse regularly and try to build up a decent live show. Then Aborym is pretty important as well, but it is more of an studio band in all senses really.

17. What are your touring plans for the near future?

A: Well, Scum won't be a touring band, we rather try to do bigger jobs, festivals and such. We will play the prestigious Øyafestival in Norway in the middle of August, then we will have a release party in London on the 9th of September. We might do some gigs with Blood Tsunami during the autumn, but it remains to see when and where.

That's about it, Thanx for taking the time answering all this…

Cheers, Alon Miasnikov

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