Summon: How did the band get started?
Nornagest: Enthroned started as an entity under this name in 2003 but already existed before under the Morbid Death moniker. The members decided to change the name as the musical direction was too different from the early Morbid Death material. The idea was to create a band which would combine the belief of its members with the music that fitted ourselves the best and through which the dark energy of our message could be spread at its best.
Summon: Describe the kind of music you guys play?
Nornagest: Our style is label as Black metal of course, but with the slight difference that our concept, the very idea of the existence of Enthroned is to be a catalyst for our occult belief and energies. We Incorporated any kind of elements that suits us and the lyrical concept of each song. You can find thrash, heavy metal elements but as well influences from classical music, rock Etc… we do not limit ourselves as long as it suits what we want to spread.
Summon: How has the band response been?
Nornagest: I’m not sure what you mean… towards what exactly?
Summon: Where did the band name come from?
Nornagest: Originally the band was based and created in Charleroi, Belgium and now we are located in Brussels, where we have our recording studio.
Summon: What is the current line-up of the band?
Nornagest: Me (Nornagest) as Lead vocals and lead guitar, Neraath on lead guitar, Phorgath on bass and Garghuf on drums.
Summon: Who writes the music? Lyrics?
Nornagest: I write the lyrics and the music is created by the whole band, mainly me and Phorgath.
Summon: And where do the lyric ideas come from?
Nornagest: From our belief and our own experiences regarding this matter.
Summon: How many recordings (demos, EP. LP etc) has Enthroned released over the years?
Nornagest: Enthroned has released so far 8 studio albums (the ninth one being in the process), 1 live album, 2 demos, 1 mini album and 2 Ep’s.
Summon: Which is your favorite Enthroned CD and why?
Nornagest: Each individual releases has its own thing, each album or release represent a chapter a certain period in time in our lives. So its hard to tell, each release has its own thing for me, but the two last albums are more special as they deal directly to what we are doing in our every day’s life as persons. Those albums also mark the point where Enthroned definitely establish its own statement, style, identity and achievements.
Summon: What to be expected on the new album?
Nornagest: Pure Black metal in the way it suppose to be: a sonic conductor of Occultism.
The few people who heard some new material compare it to a perfect mix between “Pentagrammaton” (our last album) and “Prophecies of Pagan Fire” (our 1st one). But its still too soon to make an established opinion.
Summon: Tell me about some of the songs?
Nornagest: That’s maybe too soon to reveal too many details yet, but you’ll definitely be not disappointed.
Summon: Have you guys already started working on songs for your new album? If so when one might be due?
Nornagest: The new album is schedule to be release by the end of 2011 through Regain Records.
Summon: What did you do to make an album more successful than the last?
Nornagest: Honestly, we are not looking to make any album more successful than the other.
What’s the most important to us is that each release matches our visions and goals, what we have in mind, what we want to catalyze. Maybe its success is due to the fact that we recorded “Pentagrammaton” in our own studio, or due to the label… I don’t know and honestly I don’t care, all what matters is that the band members are 100% satisfied with the final result. If it sells well, great if not… its the same; we did our thing and we are happy with it.
Summon: Who are some of your musical influences?
Nornagest: A wide horizon of style and artists; Wagner, Coven, Kreator, Sarcofago, Berlioz, Iron Maiden, Pink Floyd, Death, early Mayhem, Hellhammer, Venom….
Summon: Which New/current bands do you like today?
Nornagest: Some interesting bands and artists such as Amen Ra, Funeral Mist, Kerasphorus, Nocturnal Graves among others…
Summon: What is the band like when you play live?
Nornagest: Honest, we give our maximum may there be 10 or 10.000 people in the audience. Each concert is comparable to us to a ritual, a ceremony.
Summon: Who has been your favorite band you played with?
Nornagest: I would say Sadus and Gorgoroth; great guys, great band and on the same level as us, what could you ask more?
Summon: What has been your favorite Country to have played and why?
Nornagest: It depends, Canada, Brazil, Ireland and Russia were the best in my opinion, wild crowd, dedicated and intense! Russia still has a special thing; when we played there there were as many occultisms than BM fans, which made the ceremony more special.
Summon: How big of crowd shows up at shows usually?
Nornagest: Once again it depends; we had 2400 people in Belo Horizonte (Brazil), 1000 in Germany, 600 in Belgium, 800 in England and 200 in Switzerland so… it really depends of the area.
Summon: How is the crowd response when you play?
Nornagest: In General very good, pretty intense, once again it depends where…. some places are like playing in front of a horde of zombies being more drunk and irritating than anything else.
Summon: What do you think of the US Black Metal?
Nornagest: Some good bands like Nachtmystium, Inquisition, Hod, Krieg, Demonic Christ, Profanatica, Absu of course…. But I don’t like the mentality of most people in that scene, too show off, opening their mouth wide open on subjects they know shit about. Of course not all of those people, I would refer to those pre mentioned bands as well as a couple of individuals as not being a part of that pathetic flock!
Summon: What are some of the improvements you guys seen in the last 10 years that inspired you to try something new?
Nornagest: Our every day improvements within the knowledge and experiences of the occult. It opens a whole new universe of possibilities at each new step, through each new obstacle that has been dealt with success.
Summon: What do you think of bands who are influenced by Enthroned?
Nornagest: Well depending the way and the persons its always an honor in one way or another. Knowing that you had such an influence on other people is always something empowering and something which is not common.
Summon: When is the next tour? Or do you guys have any touring plans coming up in the near future?
Nornagest: We will start playing live again in October, until then we are working and will soon record the Ninth studio album of Enthroned. Dates are already confirmed in Belgium, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Germany.
Summon: What makes Enthroned different than any other band?
Nornagest: It might sound a bit arrogant, but I would say our honesty. Most BM bands pretend to be satanists or to deal with the occult etc… but are as much into the occult as they are within the Christian concept they’re spitting on. In Enthroned, we do not care about outsider’s opinion so to speak, we are what we are and we do what we do, you like it and find some personal connection or feelings within our music, great, if not well, it means it’s not for you. That’s the way we think and do everything within this band according to our will and we put a strict point of being honest towards ourselves and by just being the persons we are in every day’s life. We’re not trying to be evil, the most blood thirsty Christian slayer etc…
Summon: What advice would you give to the new bands just starting out?
Nornagest: Take a good look at yourself in the mirror and ask yourself; “Is it what I am, what truly represent who I am and what I am?” That’s important if someone want to deal seriously with Occult subjects, else they are just as ridiculous as a bunch of clowns and painted panda’s. Be honest towards yourself, follow what your soul tells you and not what other would like you to be!
Summon: What does the future hold for the Enthroned??
Nornagest: Only the future will tell…
Contact them at:
http://www.myspace.com/enthronedhorde
