by Kenneth Morton

The extreme metal tapestries of Helrunar are dark and inspiring, mixing the sounds of Black and Viking metal and coming up with an absolutely magnificent soundscape. Baldr Ok Iss is their latest magnum opus from Prophecy/Lupus Lounge Records, and it’s required listening for all who want grand adventure in their musical experiences. Here is an interview we conducted with vocalist Skald Draugir…

Where is the band from and what is the metal scene like there?
We are from Germany, north-west Germany, to be precise. The metal scene is quite active here, as everywhere in Germany... lots of concerts, bands and all that.

Is there any story or concept behind the CD title Baldr Ok Iss?
Aye, there is one... the main theme is that of a kind of archaic, symbolic contrast between "Baldr", the old Norse god of light, sun and beauty, and the force of ice ("Íss"). The whole background is taken from northern myths, but I do interpret it in a more modern way... I try to uncover the deeper, hidden truth which lies within this myth.

Where did you get the ideas for some of the lyrics on the new CD? Will English translations be available on your website? How do you feel about translating the words for other people interested in your music?
Well, the ideas come partly from northern myths, as I said, but also from my own experiences in life, or from thoughts I have when I take a look at the modern world. English translations of the lyrics from our first albums are already available on our website, and will be for Baldr ok Íss, too in the future. Often, the stuff is difficult to translate... my lyrics contain lots of double-meanings and wordplays.

What is a Helrunar and how does this name represent your band?
Helrunar is not just one... it is an old-Norse word and can mean "the runes of Hel", and Hel is the goddess of death. But it can also mean "Those who whisper with Hel". In both cases, the band name is connected to the underworld, the realm of death, fog and frost, to the forgotten and oppressed knowledge, to the dark side of life, the human subconscious.

Who did the stunning artwork on the new CD and how much input did you have into it?
I did it myself. I painted all that stuff and then sent it to Lukasz Jaszak, our designer, who did an excellent job. It is very important for us to keep an eye on the artwork and to do it ourselves. You see, it all has to fit together, the music, the lyrics, and the artwork.

How long have you been interested in Paganism and does it influence how you approach everyday life?
Since the age of 18. Yeah, it does influence my approach to everyday life and my view of this world, of the people who live within it, of the things that happen.

What are your opinions on Satanic Black Metal bands and Christian metal bands?
I don’t care. I’m just interested in stuff I like, be it satanic or Christian or whatever. I hate ideologies.

What is your opinion on the NSBM music scene? Do you like any of those bands?
Not at all. They are incapable of making music; therefore they try to catch a kind of provocative ideology to make themselves interesting. As I already said, I hate ideologies and fanaticism.

Any chance of Helrunar coming over to the States to do some shows?
I don’t think so... I have no idea how many people know us over there. Playing the States would of course be fine, but far too expensive for us.

How did your tour dates with Behemoth go and what were some of the highlights? Were they cool to hang out with?
Aye, they were... we had lots of fun together, also with the other bands. But they drank muss less vodka than I expected... maybe I was mislead by stereotypic perception of Polish guys... the greatest highlight was the show in Essen... the club was crowded like hell and it was a wonderful mess…

What was the experience like performing at the Summer Breeze festival in Germany? Did you get to hang out with Doro or any of the other bands?
Not at all... I just saw Finntroll, Bolt Thrower and Peter Tägtgren backstage, but was far too nervous to talk to any of them…

What are the future plans for Helrunar?
Vacation. And a tour around Germany in September... ah yes, we also want to re-release our demo-CD Grátr via Prophecy Productions.

Any messages for metal fans here in the States?
Knowledge is a weapon - arm yourself!

Helrunar Links

Helrunar: Helrunar's Official Home Page!
Helrunar on Myspace: Helrunar's Official Myspace Page!
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