This week I spoke with Aura Noir main man Aggressor. In case you have been living under a rock the Aura Noir guys have been making black metal since back in 1985. read this and learn something new.
Congrats on your first record in 6 years
Oh, thank you
* What have you guys been doing in the interim?
Playing a few short tours and a lot of festivals, plus writing this new album.
* You have worked with Satyricon Ulver and many more – what would you say are the biggest differences between how Satyricon and Ulver work?
I played in those 2 bands more than 25 years ago. Don’t remember much, and I’m sure they have a routine worked up many years ago that wasn’t even considered when I was in those bands. I’m still in contact with the Ulver-guys, Satyricon, not so much..
* You guys got your start on Nocturno Cultos label right? How was that in the early days?
No. Actually Tyrant Syndicate was our 4th record-label. We had been on Hammerheart records, Malicious records and Hot Records before signing with Tyrant. Our first release on Tyrant was «The Merciless», which was our 4th release.
Cadaver were the first
* I saw you guys play a metal fest back in the early 2000s as part of Cadaver Inc. Would it be fair to say that Cadaver were one of the first Norwegian Extreme bands to have a worldwide release – right? How was it working with Neddo?
Well, yes. The first Cadaver album came out in 1990, so if you don’t count in Mayhem’s Deathcrush-album, yes, Cadaver were the first. But this was way before we came in to the picture. We started in 2000, I joined cause not much was happening with Aura Noir at the time and Apollyon joined later. We were ambitious, but not much came out of it, so we laid down the band. Neddo is a swell guy with lots of irons in the fire..
The music became more important than ever after my accident
* In 2005 you fell off a 4th story building and was hospitalized for many months – how has your life changed since that terrible time?
That’s a big question. It’s now 13 years ago and I’ve gradually made a good life for myself. I have some chronic pain, but I’m able to live with it. The music became more important than ever after my accident, or maybe I realized how important it always was.
* How does your output with Virus differ to your work with Aura Noir. Do you set out to write for each band individually or do you get into “blackened thrash mode” to write for A.N. or?
Well, the 2 bands are like different planets. In Aura Noir we have the music in our bloodstream, while in Virus we have to see what we can conjure up. Virus is experimental, Aura Noir is somewhat traditional.
* I know in the past you guys have demoed songs and lived with them for some time before doing the album – did you take this approach for the new album too?
Yes, we always do that. The songs has to mature. We make rehearsals and listen alot, then do the proper adjustments. This is one of the reasons that it takes so much time in between albums.
* From the thrash side what bands have been the biggest influences for Aura Noir?
Early stuff from before there were clear definitions on what was thrash and what was black metal.. There was a time when people called Celtic Frost speed metal, you know? All the early to mid eighties stuff. Venom, Slayer, the german bands, Sodom, Kreator, Destruction. The first Voivod albums, etc..
There was much more rivalry in the old days.
* You guys have been doing this since the 2nd wave of Black Metal hit Norway – how you would say the scene has changed since the early 90s?
Very much. People are much more supportive of each other now than before. There was much more rivalry in the old days.
* What do you think are the benefits of being the old guys in the scene now?
I don’t know if there are any benefits other than when it comes to making music. We are more certain on how we want to sound, and how to achieve that sound.
* If you could go back in time and give your younger selves advice what would it be?
Work harder.
It’s a way of life.
* What keeps you guys going after so many years?
Speaking for myself, music is something I need to do. It’s a necessity for me. It’s not a hobby or a job. It’s a way of life.
* I know you guys are doing a run of dates for this record – any plans for US dates this year?
No concrete plans no, but we want to go there for sure. We’ll see what we can work out for early 2019.
But South America is something special
* From memory when you last played South America the fans went nuts – would you say thats your favorite market to play or do you have other favorites?
Greece is always good. But SA is something special, yes. Wild crowds all over.
* What else can we expect from the band in 2018?
Everything will revolve around this this album. A couple of small tours. One in Australia-New Zealand, two in Europe. Plus a few festivals and one-offs.
* Any final words?
Not really. Take care!