I met Skagg this march on tour with Taake and he told me already a little bit about the next album. A.N.B., he said, is just a working title so maybe it will change.

We will see…

He also told me that Gaahlskagg was born out of Sigfader to create a more mocking sound

Yes.

Further he told me that A.N.B. will be back to the roots of Black Metal, to the heathen culture, the Old Norse.

Yea, that's the idea but then again we have to see how it takes form.       
Even the fact that we have everything ready, we might want to change some things again
In Gaahlskagg we are a bit looser on what we present, instead of the other projects which are really strict!

One of the first things Skagg told me -and you already mentioned it- that the album is almost ready, but it may change again.
He also told me that Hoest would do some guest vocals

We have been talking about it, but it's not decided yet, we have talked about different solutions.
At the moment I don't actual know what I want to do with No Colours.
They wanted to bring out the album unfinished from the studio – without my permission and without Skaggs permission.
How I will react to this, because we don't have a sure record deal with them at the moment.

Yes that's something he mentioned, the deal is still unsure.
I guess it must be 2 years ago as I first heard from you other releases besides Gorgoroth, from Trelldom and Gaahlskagg, so I searched and I found out that No Colours are planning to release A.N.B., they never put it out but always mentioned it as an upcoming release in their newsletters, etc.

We planned to release it there but we don't have any signed deal.
They've not paid for Erotic Funeral, but we have to see.
With their planned release of our album, they disturbed the situation with the studio 'cos we had one week left to work. It is really unprofessional to bring it out from the studio. We certainly have nothing to do with that studio anymore, and it will cost them even more to get it released. We had the deal with the studio to record the album for one certain price and [..] this happened when I were in prison, so I have to see what…well me and Skagg we have to discuss a bit around it… we tried to find solutions but we might actually have to restart the whole recording.

This is something I thought Skagg wanted to say, he didn't say it this way but I had this thought in my mind that this may perhaps happen.
He recently told me that he might have found a studio – which was referred to him by Jontho of Raganrök, but I haven't gotten any news on this yet.

The thing is, I want to work professionally, and I know that people have a tendency to take low-productions to make it true black metal. This is not the situation. If you want to create art, you can only create it without limits…. So if anyone sets money limitations to it then they want me to release an album too fast.

I already heard that you are planning to re-release Erotic Funeral as 3 parties - erotic funeral party I-III - as 7" lps.

Yes, that's the deal we have with No Colours Records, they were supposed to do this, when Erotic Funeral has sold 1.500 times, which it has already sold! Its been reprint…
But actually it hasn't been done… Its one of many issues that have not been fulfilled from both parties… I have been (too) busy with every other band I have since I have a major part in all these bands.
When it comes to communicating with the deals and labels-

-with Trelldom you signed on Regain Records will you perhaps sign with Gaahlskagg there as well, if the deal with No Colours stays this unsure?

No, not really!

Okay… I read that you never had any vocal coaching... you just started this way, which is for me interesting because you are one of the best voices I know in black metal!

The best!

-Okay.

No one is this flexible!
Flexibility and never repeating one self on albums and also always be creative!
Esp. if you play in more bands!

Yes working in more bands means to be creative in more…       

-Different aspects

Yes different aspects!

Very interesting in Gaahlskagg is the electronic part… songs like Whipper which are more or less just electronic. How would you describe the sound of Gaahlskagg? I use to display it as Black Metal / Industrial even it doesn't sound like InduBM bands like Aborym…

No I would say in Gaahlskagg's Erotic Funeral we have more the Punk attitude as well!
Especially in part one and part three.
The second part which is more "my" part is more clean black metal with songs like "I am Sin" and "Great Joy"

My current favourites are "Skullfuck" because its straight in the face! Also "Great Joy" and "Erotic Funeral"…

On "Erotic Funeral" the drummer has not been playing good enough…
It could have been one of the best songs but if the drummer had been a bit more "behind" and had pushed the music even more…
That's the only drawback on that album, otherwise I am very pleased with it!

Another interesting point is the lyrics!
I received a message from Skagg some moths ago that I should delete the lyrics for "I am Sin" – which I did immediately…
But I wonder why don't you want to post your lyrics?

I want the people to make up their minds, to pay attention instead of reading them!

But then again in Trelldom's "Til et Annet" the lyrics were posted

Trelldom is quite different… It is written in such a picturesque description that you cannot tie it down to one specific meaning…

So displaying the lyrics there is more to help the listener to get behind it?

Yes!

Back to Gaahlskagg: I read that Herbrandt contributed stuff for the GS album.

Herbrand was the creative part for most of the electronics.

 
Do you have any favourite songs besides "Great Joy" which I should upload on myspace?

I think most of them are good but Great Joy and I Am Sin are my favourites!

 
Beginning this year (2007) I read in an issue of Metal Hammer that you are thinking about leaving the scene!
So my first fear was that maybe A.N.B. would not be released, and of course that it would be a great loss for the scene!

Yea we have to see, I see some positive things in the scene I of course will create and shape the scene in my direction.
But I have to see how I feel about it, at the moment its been a relief to fire Infernus because he has been the one who was blocking us…

 
For me Infernus has always been Gorgoroth and I am a bit torn inside because he recorded the old albums and so on.., but then again it has been you and King, who mainly shaped the name Gorgoroth in the last 9 years, who recorded the last albums mainly and the last one complete alone… I remember on "Incipit Satan" his only contribution was "An excerpt of x"

Yes and he wrote the outro for Twilight of the Idols, so… feel free to worship *laughs*
There is so much more that people don't know, but it's not of their business!
But I can assure anyone that there is more then one reason for this!
Usually one would deserve a bullet in the back of their neck if they behave the way they do… but I want to keep it on a professional level not on a personal one!

On MySpace we had a huge "bulletin fight" about this situation with Infernus and King posting statement after statement and so on…

Well I don't read what written on the internet but it seems Infernus is playing his cards and praying for sympathy

Hmm anyway... this should be now of no matter

Yea right, cry baby! *laughs*

Back again to you…
One interesting thing I read from time to time is that you live back in the land instead of the city…
I don't know… also… Hmm… Sorry I lost my question…

Du kannst auch deutsch sprechen

Ach.. *grins* das ist interessant, ich wusste gar nicht das du deutsch sprichst!

Ah ja, aber nur ein bisschen *grins*

Haha okay… But I will try to complete the interview in english!
So… Some interviews say you only have cold water and no telephone and so on, but then I saw the documentary of Peter Beste "true Norwegian black metal" I am interested.. where has this been shot?

First we were in Bergen and then we got over to my place!

I also got in touch with your foster son Isar and I was talking a bit with him over the internet but currently I lost contact with him.
But back to the internet stuff… you don't use internet usual?

Very rarely! Only when I am in Bergen I might drop by… I have a webpage (Gaahl MySpace) but its run by an american friend!

Yea I first thought that Isar would run this site…

Well even if it sounds weird but It was necessary to put one up for you, because you always have people who pretend to be you on the internet

Yes that has been basically the idea why we put up this page!

Well I guess its time to finish this interview with a last question…
you where most quoted, that you are not a Satanist!

No, for the world I am a satanist, because the world is christian!
But personally satan and christianity has nothing to do with my life!

this interview was done after the Gorgoroth show in Bochum (11.11.07)
(c) Gaahl / Araath  2007/2008