Interview: Northern Krig with Erik Lund
For those that have never heard of you before, can you tell us a little bit about the band?
Northern Krig was founded in Oslo in 2021 and, essentially, is the continuation of the band Skyrsdag, which had been around since 1996. With „Erik Lund“(guitar) and „Morfran“(vocals), founding members of Skyrsdag have now returned after a lengthy hiatus since 2003 to celebrate raw, oldschool Black Metal.
Recently you have released an EP, can you tell us a little bit more about the musical style that you went for on the recording?
Our style definitely can be described with the Black Metal of the 90s. Raw, not perfectly mixed or mastered. We also reject many contemporary bands of the genre that have become radio-friendly. Of course, there are some bands that have greatly influenced us and our music, such as “Bathory” or “Hellhammer”. Our songs are usually in the Icelandic or Norwegian language, rarely in English.
What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects you have explored so far with the music?
Definitely Satan and misanthrophy. The demise of the Christian church is also very important to us - Christians have taken our gods and our beliefs and they have to pay for it. We rarely use pagan influences. In general, we have a profound aversion to mankind that we definitely want to express.
The band formed out of the ashes of 'Skyrsdag', what was the cause of splitting up the previous band and forming a new one?
Well, Morfran had a little trouble with the law and was incarcerated for a few years – shit happens. We are back now and our work together can continue. Moving forward with the project without him has never been an option, as Morfran is an integral part of the band.
What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Northern Krig'?
Krig“ translates to „war“. The band name „Northern Krig“ is a reference to the war we wage against christianity and mankind.
Can you tell us a little a bit more about the artwork that is presented on the new EP cover?
Well, the artwork is quite simple. The photograph is an older one that had been taken coincidentally in Selfoss, Iceland a while back, close to Morfran’s flat. We had lots of fun and a really good time back then. It was taken at a time during which Morfran was in rehab and we were making plans for our new project.
Has the band done any live shows or open to the idea?
We had a small tour around Europe and three shows in Iceland and Norway. At this point in time, our singer unfortunately is not stable enough for any live performances. I am currently working on new songs with Jonar and Mikkel, which will be heavily influenced by Noise, Raw and Depressive Black Metal. Nevertheless, there are no plans for any live gigs in the near future.
Currently you are unsigned, are you looking for a label or have received any interest?
That is correct, at the moment we are not signed with any label. Even though we have been approached by several labels, we have decided to not sign with anyone or plan any live performances due to the volatile nature of Morfran’s situation. In principle, we are open to labels selling and promoting our material, but we’re also doing our own thing and, quite frankly, we are not talking about some pop-bullshit here. We don’t really need all of that. We will see what the future holds.
On a worldwide level, how has the reaction been to your music by fans of Blackmetal?
Well, we don’t really advertise much. Even though we are not famous, there are people around the globe that listen to our music. The majority of those listeners are located in Scandinavia. We definitely appreciate people listening to Black Metal in this day and age. That is our message, and we want to contribute to it.
When can we expect a full length and also where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?
Mmmmh… full length or EP, who cares really. We make music. There is a new song („Self-Destruction From The Nether Void“) which has already been released. We are also currently working on more songs, but we don’t earn our living with our music. There will definitely me some development this year, so stay tuned. For the future, we will have to work out if Morfran can handle the vocals for the new songs. Maybe we will also see an old acquaintance from Skyrsdag return. That is about all that can be said at the moment.
What are some of the bands or musical styles that have had an influence on your music and also what are you listening to nowadays?
Haha, well, we are are very different when it comes to our tastes and influences. Jonar enjoys older stuff like ““MC5“, “Thorns”, “Bathory“or older “Mayhem“-songs. Mikkel is pretty much the same, with the addition of some oldschool punk such as “Circle Jerks”. Morfran listens to “”Darkthrone””, “”Burzum”, “”Leviathan””, “”Semen Drenched Slave Of The Devil”” and a lot of Noise. I myself, of course, like the classics from the 90s. At the moment, I am still listening to “”Hellspell””, friends of ours who sadly had been grossly underrated. Moreover, ““Isengard””, ““Nattefrost”” and ““Abruptum”” are always a welcome listen.
Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?
Don’t let others fuck with you, stay true to yourself and don’t let your mind be poisoned by all the broken people out there. Do your own thing and live your culture,
Erik Lund, Northern Krig
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