ASHES TO ASHES -  INTERVIEW

ASHES TO ASHES is a deep and great dark atmospheric heavy doom band coming from Norway, It isn't another common atmospheric band because the melodic sense of the guitar men MICHAEL STENBERG is very great and the KENNETH BRASTAD vocals are sofisticated and beautiful. Your debut album SHAPES OF SPIRITS is a masterpiece of musical feelings with classic and opheristic touches. Krepuskulum interviewed  Michael Stenberg (G) & Bjorn Luna (B).

Krepuskulum: Talk to us about ASHES TO ASHES tragectory? Did you play doom in the beginning?

BL: Actually I don't think we're a that typical Doom band, in the first place. Of course there's a lot of our music that goes in that direction, but we have so much more in our music. In the start, we had less of the Doom Metal, but it had a small part of us, even then.

What is the meaning of the band's name? Are you nihilists? Do you believe in some kind of salvation or paradise after the death?

MS: There is no deeper meaning behind our band name other than I thought, and still think, that it was a good name.. I played around with words and the words suited us. When it comes to nihilism and my lyrics, that's an interesting question. I'm
a storyteller and I try to approach the story from more than one side before I start writing. I don't have to force my beliefs down someone's throat all the time so the theme can change within the story back and forth without being my statement. Sometimes it's just a story of course. I prefer to use simple words if I can. Back to nihilism.let's draw a line to Nietzsche.
Nihilism is undoubtedly one of the central themes of his works, however not a statement but his question mark. It amounts to Nietzsche's recognition that nihilism is upon, for without God, humans are deprived of the supports of absolute values and eternal truths. All views that speak of such values and truths (or even their possibility) rely on the existence of God. I think there is something on the other side.

SHAPES OF SPIRITS is a great production. Why do you prefer self produce the album? With the great quality of your music is easy search a label. Am I right?

MS: In `98 we started planning our debut-CD. We decided from the get go to release it on our own. We wanted to pull that aspect off as well as write the songs, produce etc.. A self financed album can be profitable, the keyword is distribution. Our CD was intentionally for promotion but since the ball started rolling, after great reviews everywhere, we've sold quite a lot of albums. If you believe in what you do and you have a certain amount of originality, then there's only narrow minded people at the record companys or bigger magazines that will neglect you. If you`re signed to label then there are of course advantages. they can get you a tour, advertising and so on. If you're extremely lucky then you might earn a few bucks as well. Our biggest advantage has been the total control we have over what we do. Record companies laughed at The Beatles (fill in almost any big name if you like) when they started out. However, that you're great band doesn't mean instant success. It's timing, image, staying power and the whole lot really   to make things happen.We've recieved some interesting offers which we are looking into right now.

What are your favourite musical style? What are the 10 best bands of metal history for you and the 10 best albums?

BL: Of all things, this is often the toughest question to answer. I've been listening to Metal music since '83 / '84, and I'm currently contributing to a Metal magazine doing tons of reviews when . So there's a lot of classics out there. If we go back in time, I would like to point out the following: Metallica "Ride The Lightning" and "Master Of Puppets", Iron Maiden -
"Killers", Anthrax - "Among The Living", Ozzy Osbourne - "Bark At The Moon". For more current releases: Satyricon - "Nemesis Divina", Tristania - "Beyond The Veil", Dimmu Borgir - "Enthrone Darkness Triumphant". But this is just the tip of the iceberg, I could go on for some time actually. MS: That's a tough question indeed. I would prefer not to list any bands. I
listen to all kinds of metal and hard rock with great hooks and melodies through to classical music.

Female vocals and classic touches is a fashion in metal now. Wath are your opinion about the radical metal fans that hate these stuffs? Do you like extreme bands like BEHEMOTH, DARK THRONE, GORGOROTH & MARDUK?

BL: I like all of the above, and I don't see why not. It's all about your personal taste, and how wide interest you have in music. I think it's important to have an open mind. I do in fact listen to a lot of stuff that aren't Metal at all. And I have also met a lot of Black Metallers that listen to softer stuff. It's the musicians choice to focus on the style that are natural for them, and not narrow things down to just one impression. That get less interesting for the listener and the performer as well.

How are the underground reception for SHAPES OF SPIRITS?

MS: Incredible. We get e-mail and letters from all over the world. It makes us proud.

Your music is very complex and intrincate but the epic feeling is your great mark. Where come from the inspiration to create deep melodies as DYING ROOM and DIVIDE & CONQUER?

MS: I usually take the time I need with the music and melodies and then Bjorn and I arrange it together. The biggest inspiration is the will to make memorable music. I can rarely point out a theme from a song and say that "that something" inspired me to write. I take that as a compliment when you say we are complex and intricate. However, we never focus on being intricate. It's the melody and the flow which is important.

The new ASHES TO ASHES album will come in the next year. What are the inovations in new music? Talk to us about the new CD.

BL: I'm glad to say that the new album will get a lot stronger, even more mature, and it stretches out over an even wider spectre than on "Shapes Of Spirits". Basically, the main difference will be in the energy level. It will be a lot faster, but at the same time we have kept the epic aura of our music. There's slow songs too, even slower than anything on "S.O.S.". So, it
will expand in both ways. We are very excited about it.

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Contacts:

ASHES TO ASHES : www.atoa.net     /  atoa@atoa.net