Blackened Horde: How did the band get started?
bij Vidar: First of all, Vidar is not a band. I consider this a project consisting of two musicians: Vidar en Helvraet. Vidar started this project early 2012 but things got more serious in late 2012 when Vidar and Helvraet met and decided to start making music together. Vidar composes the songs sends them to Helvraet. He puts them in a blender, adding guitars and drums and a whole lot of filth. After this is done, Helvraet sends the song back to Vidar who records vocals. Once this is completed, Hevraet does the final mixing.
Blackened Horde: What kind of music do you play?
bij Vidar: Vidar creates Black Metal orientated music with some Death Metal influences. The general idea behind the music is to create a dark and chaotic emotions. Since both me and Helvraet tend to be rather stubborn, there is no clear musical definition. Darkness, soulless and chaos are a vew important keywords in the process of creating our art.
Blackened Horde: How has the fan response been?
bij Vidar: We decided to launch two songs into this world before the final album will be released. The first of them has just been released. Helvraet created some images to the music. Here’s a link to the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9hE47lx0OI . It has been watched a few times and got some good response, even from people who are not into this type of auditive terror. People seem to pick up the cold, dark and misanthropic vibe in the music.
Blackened Horde: Where did the band name come from?
bij Vidar: The name Vidar was taken from the Norwegian Edda. Vidar is a giant. Silent and wise, but also the god of revenge. The Edda describes Vidar as the only son of Odin and Grid. He was destined to kill the wolf Fenrir during Ragnarok, to avenge his fathers death. After Ragnarok, Vidar is one of the few surviving gods.
Blackened Horde: Introduce the band members and what they do in the band.
bij Vidar: Vidar is responsible for writing the initial (basic) guitar parts. He is also the mouth of chaos and misery. Helvraet records guitars and drums.
Blackened Horde: Who writes the music? Lyrics?
bij Vidar: Music is written by Vidar and Helvraet. Vidar writes lyrics and is the vocalist.
Blackened Horde: And where do the lyric ideas come from?
bij Vidar: Lyrics are inspired by emotions of deep depression, misanthropy, despair and a general lack of hope that the human race will ever be worthy to rule. Social and natural catastrophes tend to unveil the bestial side lurking beneath the surface and offer a continuous flow of inspiration.
Blackened Horde: What is your view in Satanism and Occultism?
bij Vidar: A very personal question…..that requires a very shallow answer. What we believe will remain shrouded. For one, the space it will take to scratch the mere surface will result in a complete book. A second reason is the fact that humans in general are not able to communicate in such a way that any form of subtlety as intended by an author is received. So…what’s the point. The only thing that one can consider to be quit clear and obvious is this: BlackMetal=BlackMetal: pure, uncompromising and hateful!
Blackened Horde: How many albums/CD’s have you released?
bij Vidar: “A Sign Of Apocalypse Rising” will be the debut-album of Vidar. We have finished some 10 songs for this album. Mixing and mastering will be done in the next couple of months. You can expect the album to be available by the end of the summer.
Blackened Horde: Tell me about some the songs on the latest CD?
bij Vidar: Well…the songs are meant to be a soundtrack to the different stages of a dying soul. As that journey is a very personal experience, it is not possible nor advisable to describe the exact effect of the songs. Lets just say that they do not evoke particular shiny and happy emotions.
Blackened Horde: Do you have any side projects?
bij Vidar: Both Helvraet and Vidar have been active in several bands. Today Vidar is no longer active in any Black or Death bands. Hevraet is also active in HAAH and his solo project simply called Helvraet.
Blackened Horde: Who are some of your musical influences?
bij Vidar: When Vidar creates his songs he tends to be inspired by bands of the first wave of Black Metal bands: Darkthrone, Burzum, Marduk, Immortal and Mayhem. The one song that has been most influential is “Burn My Coffin” consisting of 14 riffs, played at hyper speed and stripped of everything ordinary music stands for. This song has no chorus nor verse and stands for a sort of anti-music that was never heard of before Marduk pulled this off. Vocal-wise Maniac of the fore mentioned Mayhem is a huge influence. He has a sick, cold and evil sound to his voice that contributes to the rest of the music, especially on their “Wolf’s Liar Abyss” E.P.
Blackened Horde: Which current bands?
bij Vidar: Current bands that I follow are Valkyrja, Watain, Sammath, Peste Noire and Angantyr.
Blackened Horde: What is the band like when you play live?
bij Vidar: Vidar does not play live… yet. There are no plans to storm the stage right now, for several reasons. Who knows…maybe in the (near) future.
Blackened Horde: What do you think of the US Black Metal/Death Metal scene?
bij Vidar: There seems to be a great scene over there with bands such as Absu, Judas Iskariot, Acheron, Goatwhore, Gravewurm, Inquisition and Lightning Swords Of Death. Let me take time to greet my brothers Paul, Bill and Jim from Sathanas.
Blackened Horde: What do you think of the Overseas scenes?
bij Vidar: It’s real easy these days to get in touch with bands from other continents due to myspace (RIP) and facebook. Especially the Malaysian and Indonesian scene seem to be growing. Although I must say the European scene seems to be the biggest still.
Blackened Horde: What are some of new favorite black metal/death metal bands?
bij Vidar: Black Metal: Dood, Gestalte, Ran, Terdor and Terzij De Horde. The Dutch scene is full of talent. Death Metal: Funeral Whore and Khaoz from the Netherlands are worth mentioning and bands to look out for.
Blackened Horde: When do you guys plan on writing any new material?
bij Vidar: Vidar is constantly writing and recording new material in his home-studio “The Lion’s Den”. It’s an ongoing process that can’t be stopped.
Blackened Horde: What does the future hold for the band??
bij Vidar: Who know’s? Do you? Right now we are focusing on spreading the word about Vidar and getting the first full-length CD “A Sign Of Apocalypse Rising” out.
Contact them at:
https://www.facebook.com/vidar.blackmetal
