9 minute read
Inferno Magazine 2023
MORK
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MORK HAVE PLAYED INFERNO A COUPLE OF TIMES BEFORE. I THINK THE THIRD TIME WILL BE JUST AS GREAT, WITH THOMAS AND CO. THEIR NORWEGIAN HERITAGE TO PEOPLE ALL THE GLOBE. AT LEAST THOSE WHO’VE CHOSEN TO MAKE OSLO NOTEWORTHY ALSO DURING EASTER 2023. MORK HAVE RELEASED A FEW ALBUMS AND WHILE YOU READ THIS YOU CAN LISTEN TO THE NEW TRACK FROM THE PEACEVILLE COMPILATION RELEASED IN NOVEMBER 2022. AND THERE’S A NEW ALBUM IN DUE COURSE, RELEASED BEFORE THE INFERNO FESTIVAL 2023.
When we spoke the last time, you had been to the US of A, played in Las Vegas and you were just on the verge to release “Katedralen”. So, how did people react to the kind of title track, “De fortapte sjelers katedral”, which is quite different when it comes to Mork?
- The truth is that we never performed the title track live. So how a live audience would react, is uncertain. However, I am not sure if I ever heard any remarks in particular towards the track itself, other than the reviews I got to see over time. The album as a whole received a pretty high praise and it seemed to work very well as a package, with the 9 minutes+ epos being the icing on the so-called cake. Being a fan of classic rock and metal, I have always known that I am able and willing to write a long composition like that. It becomes more of a story and a journey than a normal song. Like drawing or painting freehand and just let the strokes happen and see where it takes you. I am really happy with the outcome, and I feel it represents everything that was the original “concept” earlier envisioned for the title itself. As a teaser I can tell you that an epos like this will be included on the upcoming album as well.
So, Mork released an EP “Den Svevende Festning” recently, but you’ve also been touring in South America. So, tell us how that tour went! Is the audience as wild as we’ve been told?
- Finally, we made it over to South and Latin America. We did happen to play in front of some quite energetic and thankful crowds over there, which elevated the shows measurably. Great being able to visit these countries and passionate people within. A bit of corruption and hassle along the way, but the shows and experiences made up for all of that.
Did you notice if they know the lyrics of Mork’s songs? I mean, they are, after all, in Norwegian …
- Many people in the crowd were mouthing the words back at me, so they have been listening and even reading the words, it seems. Special feeling, for sure. And I did hear song titles being shouted, which obviously can be a hard task in itself, in any other country outside Norway. I’m impressed.
Adding songs from “Katedralen” to your setlist probably make you feel fresher, yet I guess you have to play a couple of older tracks more or less all the time, right? Is it more and more difficult to kill your darlings when you must include some two-three-four new tracks in the setlist?
- Yes and no. We do tend to keep the tracks that we feel works best live in our minds. I am obviously proud of all my works, but some tracks are of course better than others. Though the choices get harder as the years pass by and new albums comes along. The last two tours we’ve done, we have made a new setlist for each night, which helps circulating the songs a bit. By experience we have also learned that a song has a completely different effect live most of the time than on an album.
“Den Svevende Festning” consists of a couple of new tracks, some live tracks and a different take on “Født til å herske”. So, what made you make this EP now? And I guess Fredriksten Festning means a lot to you. Tell me what it means to you and also to the city Halden.
- As I mentioned in the release statement, an EP has become a sort of traditional for Mork by now, in between the albums. It’s a cool way to do something a bit looser and include different stuff. This time around there were two unreleased tracks left over from “Katedralen”, a remix of a track and some live tracks from a show we did at Sentrum Scene in Oslo back in 2021. The title track works quite well on its own and makes a good theme for the EP itself. As I have grown up and spent all of my life in Halden, both the city and the fortress are a part of my existence. As most tourists can attest to, the full view of the fortress has a quite massive impact when seen for the first time. It is quite literally a floating fortress that hovers above the city below. The actual fortress has a huge part in Norwegian history, and the Swedish king was shot dead up there during times of war back in the 17th century. The incident is even mentioned in Norway’s national anthem, where they mentioned the old name of Halden which was Fredrikshald. To me though, the song and imagery is about strength and resistance.
Some people claim that music comes alive when the songs are performed live on stage. Personally, I like both albums and live performances. When do you think that your music comes alive? And how is it to perform for instance “Dype Røtter” yet again, time after time?
- Like mentioned earlier, I do believe songs in recording and on stage are two different experiences. For instance, if you ever would get to see Darkthrone perform «Transylvanian Hunger» live onstage, it would never be the same as listening to the actual album recording. There’s something holy or unholy regarding black metal studio recordings, as you know, which really isn’t meant for the stage. However, when we perform the Mork songs, they become more energetic and we really do feel it streaming in our fingertips, if not within our entire bodies. Regarding the repetition of older songs that’s in the set, we obviously drive with autopilot in a way. Though, I try to make it a new experience each time, at least mentally. There’s always someone in the crowd who sees and hears it for the first time.
In a few months you’re going to play at Inferno Festival. You played there back in 2016 and in 2019, when you stepped in for another band. How do you remember those gigs? I guess they were at John Dee if memory serves me right …
- Both shows were held at John Dee, that is correct. First time was obviously a big deal for us. I remember standing behind the stage curtains dealing with technical issues, which really got the stress levels up even more. But when the intro was rolling and they finally pulled the curtains, the room was packed. I was told that there was a long line of people out the door and up the stairs as well. That was not expected and gave us a real boost for sure. To be able to return a few years later and experience the precise same thing was great. The second time we even got to time the release of the then fourth album «Det Svarte Juv» in time for the festival, which brought with it some happenings throughout the Easter weekend.
I don’t know if you have any gigs or tours in line before Easter 2023, but what is Mork up to in the coming months before April 2023? I know there’s a new album coming as well as one track on a sampler released in December …
- No shows until inferno as of today unless something comes up. Yes, when I was asked to appear on the «The Dark Side Of The Sacred Star» compilation vinyl, I was really honoured. Mork is in really good company on that one. Funnily enough, the track that appears on the release is one of the new songs that did not end up on the new album that’s to be released next year. So, an exclusive track for sure.
Since the album will be released in spring 2023, I assume you’ll put a song or three into the setlist, meaning that you have to kill some more darlings. Without revealing too much, what can you tell us about the new album? Any special development or is it Mork as we know you?
- The new album will be out in time for the Inferno weekend. So, there will be new material in the setlist. Without telling too much, I can say that it’s a continuation of the previous material, yet different. As I have said earlier, Mork is evolving or at least always a product of the particular time of creating. There is no formula or mould that I use, other than the fact that it’s Mork. I don’t listen to other black metal bands and become inspired or use what’s happening in the world of music as a guideline. I stay out of all of that, and at the end of the day, that’s how I manage to produce the purest and most honest art. Not to be pompous, but personally I have some of my best work thus far on this new album. A couple of years back I recorded what I see as my most beautiful piece of music. For a long time, I didn’t dare to add any lyrics to it, in fear of taking away rather than complimenting it. However, at a different time while spending the night in a secluded village in one of the many beautiful Norwegian fjords, I wrote down some words that turned out being one of my better pieces. It was written as an independent poem, regarding passing away and about the impact before and after death. One day it struck me that I could combine the two, the poem and the instrumental piece. The result is one of the strongest Mork songs to date, and it is obviously included on the new album. It’s atmospheric, melodic, raw, brutal, rocking, sad and beautiful … It’s a Mork album and I can’t wait to unveil it for all the listeners.
Mork performs at John Dee stage Thursday 6. April 22.30.
