INTERVIEWS

July 2000 - Interview by Nick "Volrath the Fallen"

Hail Byron! First of all I would like to ask you about your forthcoming fifth album! What's the plans for it? How goes the recording?
The forthcoming fifth album will be darker, heavier and more intense than anything we have produced thus far. The writing is continuing well. All the lyrics and the titles are complete, the conceptual framework of the new opus has long been finalized, and our ace artist Martin Hanford is at work on the cover. I have definitely decided that the long awaited "Hyperborean Empire Part: 3" will certainly appear on the new album. Additionally, there will be more keyboard tracks on the fifth opus. The album will feature full lyrics and text in the inlay booklet, as well as many great illustrations by our team of artists. We plan to record the fifth album in the autumn, and Nuclear Blast will probably release it in early 2001.

How would you compare the forthcoming album's sound to your earlier stuff?
The forthcoming album will display an amalgamation of all the characteristic elements of our previous four albums. We will seek an even heavier and more malevolent sound than ever before. It will be dark, heavy, astral, victorious, barbaric, symphonic and will of course be characterized by Bal-Sagoth's trademark elements of sublime lunacy and pure bombast.

Do you have any line-up changes?
No, our line-up is the same as it was on "The Power Cosmic".

Where your lyrical inspiration comes from? I think that Bal Sagoth lyrics are the best ever written...
My lyrical inspirations are summoned from a myriad sources. The lyrical core of Bal-Sagoth has always been that of a vast dark fantasy/science-fiction saga, infused with elements of ancient legendry, obscure mythology, and arcane occultism. As the prime directive of Bal-Sagoth, I seek to tell these tales of ancient gods, lost civilizations, epic battles and terrifying extradimensional beings which can be read and interpreted on many different levels, and which contain many veiled and hidden meanings. The epic fantasy world of Bal-Sagoth is the mana which fuels our great cosmic engine. My inspirations include such writers and creative visionaries as R.E. Howard, H.P. Lovecraft, Tolkien, Clark Ashton Smith, E.R. Burroughs,George Lucas, Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, and many many more. Additionally, such things as ancient history, mythology, obscure legends, and even dreams are a powerful influence on my Bal-Sagoth lyrical fantasy universe.

What is most important for you : the music or the lyrics?
Both these aspects of the band are of course vital. But certainly, the lyrical, thematic and conceptual essence of Bal-Sagoth is the cornerstone of the entire affair, and forms the adamantine base upon which the band operates. The music is of course shaped, inspired and guided by the grand lyrical concept that is Bal-Sagoth.

Where the name Bal Sagoth comes from? I think it has to do with Lovecraft or not?
I took the name Bal-Sagoth from a story by one of my favourite authors, the great Robert E. Howard, who incidentally was a contemporary and friend of Lovecraft. The story was called "The Gods Of Bal-Sagoth" and was first published in the famed American pulp fiction magazine Weird Tales in 1931. Ever since I first encountered it many years ago, that name has always captivated me, and it was the only name I considered for this epic project.It mirrors the thematic and conceptual essence which I envisioned for the band perfectly. Thus, we are Bal-Sagoth.

In "The Power Cosmic" album you mention Thanatos! Do you know anything about Greek mythology? Any plans for a song inspired by Greek mythology?
Yes, I am quite familiar with Greek mythology, and have always found it a fascinating pantheon. Myths from all over the world inspire me greatly, all contributing elements and resonances in some way to the vast Bal-Sagoth lyrical saga. I have no plans to write a song solely inspired by or featuring elements of Greek mythology at the moment... but who knows? Perhaps one day such a song will come to pass.

Do you think that Bal Sagoth will ever work on a real soundtrack for a cinema movie?
Yes, this would certainly be a project which we would embrace. Films and film soundtracks are a great inspiration to us, and so it would definitely be apt if we were to one day contribute to a film soundtrack in some way. When or if the epic Bal-Sagoth movie ever gets made one day, you can expect to see the London Symphony Orchestra playing our compositions!

Where "Blodu Ok Jarna" comes from and what is the meaning?
"Blodu Ok Jarna" was the battlecry of the dark age battle re-enactment group which I was involved with many years ago. The group was called "The Warhird of Thorr Yngvisson", and Blodu Ok Jarna is an ancient northern phrase which translates as: "BLOOD AND IRON."

Any plans for Greece for the forthcoming tour?
Yes, Greece is one of the primary countries which we hope to visit next. We shall certainly attempt to persuade the label and the tour promoter to include Greece on our next European tour. There were plans to visit Athens for a gig last spring, but unfortunately it was abandoned due to loss of communication with the promoter. We shall certainly strive to get over there very soon to unleash our Britannic battle-metal upon the metal hordes of Hellas!

A final question... I'll tell you some things and answer me with just one word for each of them!
BLACK METAL
Art

DEATH METAL
Brutal

MANOWAR
Kings

EMPEROR
Tour

BAL SAGOTH
Gods

LEMURIA
Antediluvian

HYPERBOREA
North

ATLANTIS
Cataclysm

That's all Byron! A final message for Greek Bal Sagoth fans and especially for the Greek unofficial Bal Sagoth warclub!
Hail to all Greek fans of Bal-Sagoth! Keep your blades sharp... and stay barbaric! Hail the metal warriors of Hellas! BLODU OK JARNA!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thank you Byron! The saga continues...

EMPYREAL LEXICON :: The Greek Bal Sagoth WebSite
Designed by Nick "Volrath the Fallen"
Version 4.0 (2006)