SATURNUS / OF THE WAND AND THE MOON INTERVIEW

It is no secret that we find SATURNUS to be, not only the best Danish but also one of the World's best Gothic / Doom metal bands. A lot of things have been happening in the band lately, and we thought it was a good idea to hook up with guitarist and main-songwriter Kim Larsen for an interview on past, present and future...:

Interview by Claus Jensen

In short - please tell us about the "history" of SATURNUS so far:

"SATURNUS was formed in ´93. We´ve played numerous jobs, such as support for My Dying Bride, Anathema, Moonspell, Roskilde Festival ´97, Sct. Stefans Church, to name the more important jobs. We´ve featured on, and released the following CD´s : "Fuck you we´re from Denmark vol. 3" (compilation), "Fuck you we´re from Denmark" 1999, "Brutal Youth" (compilation), "Paradise Belongs To You" (Demo tape+album), "For The Loveless Lonely Nights" (MCD), "Martyre" (album). Now, due to problems within SATURNUS, Jesper, Brian and I have left and formed a new band. Thomas and Anders have stated that they would continue under the name of SATURNUS. You can read my statement concerning this on my webpage : http://www.mobilixnet.dk/~mob60186/statement.html"

"Martyre" is the third album, and as such must be considered the most important release of the band - do you feel it like this? And, have you been experiencing some sort of pressure from either the fans, the media or yourself, to make this the best album so far?

"I don´t feel any pressure at all to make my music. The first rule is that it has to satisfy myself, and then if people or press likes it, that is of course very nice. Alot of people told us in the beginning that our music were boring, too slow, etc. But the album sold really well for a debut. On the new album, some people might say it have become too gothic rock, in their opinion. Actually I don´t give a fuck if it sells or who likes it, the thing which is important for me, is the making of music that is appealing to me."

The songs on "Martyre" are a bit more mid-tempo than the songs on "Paradise Belongs To You", which was a very slow doom metal album - you've also incorporated more originality into the songs, separating you from the usual comparisons to bands like My Dying Bride, Anathema et al... how do you view the new album?

"The album have been well on the way, a bit too long in my opinion. We also had material for a MCD when we did "Martyre", but the songs were dropped because we thought they got too old. I think the change is that I wrote the lyrics along with the music, creating a more organic expression. A little more simplicity, and rock based compositions."

The vocal style of Thomas A.G. has also changed a bit, making the typical "death grunts/growls" more of an addition to the clean type vocals than the main ingredient ... why that change?

"It was just a progression that all in the band wanted. I also think the songs really calls for more clean singing vocals."

The media in Denmark (including me...!) have said that you are one of the most original guitarists within the Danish metal scene - how does that make you feel - and do you think that your playing style and song writing style differs alot from everybody else?

"Well, thank you for the kind words. It of course warms your heart to hear that people like your music. I think the main difference in my playing, could be that my priority is to compose a good song, rather than doing a technical exciting riff. I like to look at a song as a whole and not as a mean to show off."

If you were to "SELL" this album to a new listener of your music - how would you do that?

"I wouldn´t. That's the record company´s job. he he. I don´t know. Atmospheric gothic rock´n´roll."

Besides SATURNUS you've got another band ready - OF THE WAND AND THE MOON - what's the difference in (a) music, (b) song writing technique, (c) attitude / lyrical concept...?

"The SATURNUS lyrics have a more romantic theme, whereas "OF THE WAND...." is more esoteric, occult, mythology based, though with a few love songs as well."

What kind of music inspires you to write the material for SATURNUS and what music do inspire OF THE WAND AND THE MOON?

"As for SATURNUS I would say that bands like Katatonia, Anathema and Type O Negative to name a few. More untraditional inspirations would be Sort So especially "Glamourpuss" and "Flow My Firetear", Smashing Pumpkins "Adore". The inspiration for OF THE WAND... would be Death In June, Blood Axis, Current 93, Sol Invictus, Fire And Ice, Der Blutharsch, Nature And Orginisation, etc. Also reading helps me out alot. Books on runes, Aleister Crowley, nordic mythology, esoterica."

If you were to "SELL" this album to a new listener of your music - how would you do that?

"Firstly I wouldn´t delude any listener to think that this music is the same style as Ulver´s "Kveldsanger". I think the listener would be a bit disappointed. This is "Folk Noir". Plain and simple."

The lyrics to OF THE WAND AND THE MOON are based upon Nordic mythology - please explain something about the overall concept ...

"It is quite a hard question, and I wouldn´t like to give away too many secrets. This is an easy way to not answer your question, you might think, but I really like the idea that people can find their own meanings and reflections."

You seem to really be into all the mythology stuff - what are your own religious beliefs?

"I must say that the main love of my life is the music, but as for religion, I really try to follow my own path. I of course have some interest in Nordic mythology, occult etc., but I really wouldn´t feel right in having any label on me, as me being this or that."

Both SATURNUS and OF THE WAND AND THE MOON have been released by Euphonious Records - a Copenhagen based label... Don't you feel that the material is good enough for one of the bigger labels in Europe?

"That is for them (the labels) to decide."

Tell us about the other projects you've got ...

"Well, after this departure from SATURNUS, I´m working on the music for our new band, which will be very much in the vein of SATURNUS, since I wrote the music for the band. I have already written material for about 6 songs, so hopefully we´ll be recording this at the end of 2000. I also feature in a industrial/EBM/etc. band (untitled for now), which primus motor is the industrial magician Hansen. He also helped me on my : OF THE WAND AND THE MOON: CD. I think there will be a release of this material sometime in 2000. I of course still feature in BLAZING ETERNITY as session guitarist."

Where does your main focus lie right now? Is this where you'll keep concentrating it for the future?

"I´m very into writing music for : OF THE WAND AND THE MOON : and the new band with Brian and Jesper from ex-SATURNUS, and this is where I will put my energy in the future. as for :OF THE WAND AND THE MOON : I have just finished a limited 7" (666 copies) on the Austrian label "Hau ruck!/WKN", run by Albin Julius (Der Blutharsch/Death In June). Further more I have also recorded 5 new songs for a limited 10" (460 copies) on the German label "Eis licht". Further more I will be in the studio, sometime in April/May to record the new : OF THE WAND AND THE MOON : album.(Please check my homepage for updates) http://www.mobilixnet.dk/~mob60186"

Any last words?

":May the raven guard upon thee:"