Interview SUSPERIA

A Talk With MEMNOCK (Bass)

(Interview by Patrick de Sloover)

METAL TO INFINITY

Q: Susperia have their roots in the Norwegian black metal scene, but that was more like a starting point and a result of all individual members.  Nowadays you can describe the music of Susperia as extreme metal with melodic twists, isn't it?
Yes our roots are in Norway's black metal scene, but Susperia were never a black metal band. It's just really a reference point. As you say our music is ''extreme metal with melodic twists''. We have no hesitation in exploring diffrent musical avenues. We like to experiment, I think we are managing to carve out own identity.

 

Q: You joined the band after playing in Power Hunt, Vanaheim and Old Man's Child, but since 1999 it seems like you have found what you were looking for, is this correct?

Susperia is my home and I wouldn't change it for any band , so yes you are right. We have had the same line up for 8 years and have a strong bond between us.


 

Q: I was surprised that you started playing bass since the summer of 1990! Why?
Hehehhe...Yes I have been playing bass for a while now, it is still a passion of mine, but I haven't got enough time to practice nowadays. Touring and working with the band takes most of my time, but I'm getting better and better with my playing. I think if you have a passion for what you do the fans can see it. 


 

Q: Through the years you had several instruments like Rickenbacker, Aria pro2, Ibanez and Peavey Fury. Do you have an instrument that you really cherish?  And what makes it so special?

Q: Have you got endorsement deals like many bands have?

I have deals with both Warwick and UVA Instruments.


 

Q: Susperia released the minicd ''Devil May Care'' in 2005.  Was this a kind of appetizer to keep the name alive in between two full length albums?

Yes it was , we felt it was time to give the fans something while they were waiting for the ful length  album. We also decided to do it for our own sake, we love the bands we played the cover songs from , so it was a kind of our tribute to them. Maybe we will make a new ep in the future who knows.


 

Q: Is it important to focus on the band constantly, to keep the fire burning.  I believe that metalheads are really loyal to their bands and they accept a break if that's necessary?

It is Alfa and Omega to keep the fire burning with a band. I'm not sure if fans nowadays are really loyal to a band ! Maybe the diehard metalheads are. There are so many good bands out there, and with the internet they can choose from thousands of bands. When I was a kid I had to go the local record store to buy a new cd/lp of my favourite band, and if I was lucky it had arrived and it was like Christmas!!!  But now you can get the CD of the internet before it is even mastered I never would have wanted a bands CD unless it was the finished thing. ! Maybe the metalhead is a different beast nowadays and shows their loyalty in a different way.


 

Q: Do you focus on playing live and touring all the time, or do you also focus on improvement, skilled talent, become better musicians?

It is not easy to focus on improving your skills when you are touring a lot, but we do our best to keep it up to date ! I have so much work with Susperia that it takes up most of my time, I'm also a Jeet Kune Do instructor which also takes a lot of my time. We all feel we are in control of the situation when it comes to keeping our skills in order ;-)


 

Q: When I saw the band live, they blew me away with the nice stage show and act.  It's great to see that all members are giving the best they can to please the masses....    I do understand that living on the road is hard and difficult and sometimes you are tired, are longing for a good hot bath or shower and at least decent food. How are you treated when you are on the road?  

First of all thanks I'm glad you liked Susperias' live performance. We do our best hohoho. When you tour at the lowest level you are treated like ''dogs''. You are told what you can do and what you can't do. Most venues at that level are not really set up to handle touring bands, they can give you a hard time and the food and facilities backstage can be terrible. But that is the touring life. If it wasn't for the fact that we usually have a tour bus and that we have a fantastic Tour Manager and crew it would almost be impossible to do the stage act like we do. It is extremely exhausting and takes it all out of you. So you have to feel really sorry for bands who do it all on their own without crew or anything.


 

Q: Is there a big difference in the Southern or Northern part of Europe?

No I can't say that I have noticed a big difference. It's almost the same everywhere you go in Europe. 


 

Q: And it�s not a public secret that the shows in the US are totally diverse that the European gigs.  Can you give us an overview about the major differences?

In the US you have to work hard with the fans. You have to convince them . They have so many bands and they are some of the worlds best so we really have to work hard to get the fans in our pockets.


 

Q: Having played in Mexico as well, must have been a challenge!  How was the reaction of the Mexicans?

The Mexico gigs were awesome. It's always a challenge when you go to a new country for the first time. You don't know what to expect. The kids were crazy and gave us a good time. They treated us with great respect, both fans and venues. We got every thing we needed so we were totally happy.


 

Q: Do you have a chance for some sightseeing?  It's always great to learn from other cultures and population?

Q: Bands that like to tour, need to enter the studio as well.  How about Susperia?  Is it inevitable to record or do you like you staying in the studio as well?

I personally don't like being in the studio. It is a necessity to do it. I love the making of the music and the pre-productions but the actual studio time is something I do as quick as I can. Susperia is really a live band and I say give us a gig and we are happy.


 

Q: The band was originally signed to Nuclear Blast from Germany, but problems occurred when nothing happened.  They didn't promote the band to arrange gigs and live tours, so you asked to get rid of the contract with N.B.  How is the situation with Tabu Recordings?

Well .... Tabu is a different matter, they are what we have needed all the time. They support their bands and give them the what they need to go on doing what they believe in. We have their support for the WASP tour which shows us that they are serious and committed to the band. Nuclear Blast just didn't work out for us. Maybe they have too many bands. With Tabu they have less bands and are more focused on each release.


 

Q: The recordings took place at Strand Studio in Oslo, and did you decide to enter this studio because it's nearby the place where you all live?

Not only that but the fact that he has one of Norways best studios for rock and metal. I think that it can become the new Norwegian "Abyss" or ''Fredman''. Marius Strand is very easy to work with and makes things sound better and better on each recording we do with him. We also worked with him for the ''Devil May Care'' EP.  He has so much knowledge with the technology, he knows things that most peoples don't  have a clue about.


 

Q: Production was done by owner Marius Strand. How was it to work with this man?

As I said Marius is a very easy going person and is dedicated to the things he does. Nothing is left to rot in the garden, if you know what I mean. It all has to be in order. He's a pefectionist.


 

Q: Did he also add something to the songs, or was everything written and 100% clear how it should sound?

Susperia is a band that likes to have every thing sorted before we go to record the album. Of course Marius had opinions and gave them to us, some times we followed them and sometimes we didn't.


 

Q: Some bands declare that their producer lifts each member individual to a higher level...

And so did he. He was not satisfied until it was all perfect.


 

Q: Mixing was completed by Daniel Bergstrand (In Flames, Meshuggah, Soilwork a.o.), and he did a wonderful job as always.  What makes Daniel so special?  Is it because his equipment or way of working?

His way of working is unique. He uses modern technology but manages to get a warm sound. He adds a human touch that some of the modern methods have lost. I think he has a bit of old school influences in him. He does something right since a lot of bands use him.


 

Q: The front cover artwork was established once again by Rune Tyvold, who created a hybrid of the bands faces.  Is there also a link with the album title ''Cut From Stone''?

Just a loose link to show that we are not like the manufactured pop bands, but that we are solid like a rock. We will not com and go in a flash. We build slowly and make sure that we will be around for some time.


 

Q: It has a kind of Deep Purple ''In Rock'' resemblance, do you agree? (only meant for the name of the new album).

I never really thought about that. I didn't know they had an album called that. (I don't listen to Deep Purple ) Argh how can it be ????


 

Q: On the info sheet with the promo of the new album, you make this quote: ''Being in Susperia is like a marriage, except we have five wives.  There is constant bickering, disagreements and even arguments but we have a strong bond and always make up in the end''.  I didn't know that so many disagreements and arguments rise when you join a band!

The point is we live in this band 24-7 and there is no escape from it. You have to be strong to be in a band and strongly believe in what you do. Bear in mind that we are 5 different individuals, who all have strong minds and have a passion in what we do!  If you don't scream no one will hear you. Yes, it's like a marriage, a love / hate relationship. I love my brothers in Susperia, but at the same time they are the ones that can make me the most angry (it's the same for us all) Just like your wife or your girlfriend !!!!


 

Q: I guess that most of the problems occur while composing?  One wants to go this direction, while another member feels like to go a totally diverse direction.  How do you work them out; with a strong fist or a loud shout?

Since I'm a Jun Fan Jeet Kune Do instructor I kick their ass :-) hehehehehehe..... we usually talk things through and we all agree on what to use for songs. Sometimes the tempers are high, but never anything that gets out of control. That's passion for you!!



Q: 95% percent of the new material is written by Cyrus. Only one track (Distant Memory) is written by Cyrus and Elvorn.  Do they take care of your bass lines as well?

No they don't. I do all the bass lines in the band and always have done. There was a cock up with the writing credits for this album and they were printed incorrectly. They should have been checked but for some reason they were not. I know that a lot of bands have guitar players who make the bass lines for the bassist, to me this is just plain and simple stupid. If you don't know how to play your own bass, you better stop doing it. I don't believe in a "guitar bassist"(a guitarist who play bass) A lot of people have forgotten that bass and guitar are two totally different instruments.

Q: Don't you feel like 'easily replaceable'?

No - It may be easy in other bands but with Susperia it is more than just the music that makes this band what it is. There is so much work going on behind the scenes, which I take a lot of responsibility for. I'm busy with interviews, promo etc and the other guys also have their responsibilities. Am I easily replaceable? With the way that Susperia is built I think not. We are all just as important as each other.


 

Q: If all members have the same passion and there is a lot of chemistry going on in between every member, I'm sure that this is the most important motivation to go on and do what you need to do.  Getting along with each other is prior to musical agreement?

If we didn't get along in the band, it would be hard to make things work.  We hang out a lot in our spare time (not that there is much spare time) and any problems we have get sorted out. We talk - that is the important thing. It's all about communication.


 

Q: The previous full length album was titled ''Unlimited'' and became the best selling release to date.  Does it mean that the expectations on ''Cut From Stone'' are really high?

Yes expectations are high. How do we improve on our best selling album so far? I promise you it is not very easy, but we'll give it a go. We have to put ourselves to the test, work hard and make things happen. We have delivered the album, now it is up to the fans, magazines, radio etc to decide if they like it.


 

Q: The mentioned EP ''Devil May Care'' reached position 19 on Norway's official 'Hit List', and that's rather strange and unusual for a metal outfit like Susperia, isn't it?

The EP was for the fans and released to fill the gap between the ''Unlimited'' and ''Cut From Stone'' albums. So it was a surprise when it went in the Top 20. We became the first metal band from Norway to hit the top 20. We got massive attention, we were doing interviews on radio and TV thinking this is strange it's not the usual Susperia gig heheheheh. It was good for the band and brought us to a wider audience. Some people thought that it wasn't the right thing for a metal band to get mainstream attention. But it was funny to see other metal bands releasing singles all of a sudden. 


 

Q: In April, Susperia will support WASP on their European tour, but so far, most of the gigs are in the UK, Norway and Sweden.  Will you also embark the rest of Europe together with Blackie and Co.?

No we will only do the dates in the UK, Norway and Sweden. We had our own dates lined up, so we didn't have the time to go with WASP on the whole tour. It would be fantastic to do all of them though. It's great that we are doing the WASP dates and Susperia would like to thank WASP for wanting us on this tour, Killer !!!


 

Q: In the beginning of May, another tour will start with mighty Onslaught.  7 gigs are already confirmed and I guess that a lot of thrash metal maniacs will show up after Onslaught their absence for so many years. Which gigs and tour do you prefer?

A gig is a gig and a tour is a tour. Everyone has it's plus and minus. When you headline you get to play a longer set, when you support a bigger band you play a shorter set, but play to more people. Nothing more to say about that man !!


 

Q: Back to the new album. The release is set for April concerning Europe.  Have you done massive interviews to promote that release or is it too soon for that?

I'm doing interviews as a full time job at the moment so yes there will be massive promotion.


 

Q: What I admire in the sound and songs is the structure of the tracks.  For example, ''Distant Memory'' starts very slow and modest, but that turns into a metal monster that makes you bang your head.  A lot of breaks, twists and hooks are typical for the musical direction of Susperia, and especially live, it's convincing and imposing.  Do you pay a lot of attention on those breaks and arrangements?

I think that this is what Susperia is all about. We like to explore the boundaries of music, to create an interesting mix between "nice" and "hard" music. We constantly try to make new ways of thinking within making music. We don't use the same formula all the time. If we used the same system that pop producers use all the time, we would stop growing as band and individual musicians. Yes it is a way of making "Hit songs" but it is not the only way of making god music. The song is in the eye of the beholder, I can't stress enough the importance of trying to think as original as possible.


 

Q: Will this release will be available as a Digipack as well, or do you have bonus material for upcoming special releases, like the Japanese market?

At the moment I don't know. We have to see what the record label thinks.


 

Q: Although the quality is present, the style is popular and live intervention is outstanding, the band is still plodding away in the mainly underground scene.  Do you believe that Susperia got the respect and success that they really deserve?

Susperia needs to move up to larger shows and festivals to get the success that I think we deserve. Respect on the other hand has to be worked for and I think it is growing with each album. We are still in a void between success and the underground. We are not yet where I think Susperia should be!!


 

Q: I do hope that this new release will put the band where they belong: on the major summer festivals, gathering a lot of success and rave reviews.  Is there anything else that you want to add to end this interview? 

Thanks for the interview and your kind words man, it's been a pleasure. Only thing to add - as Bruce Lee once said: "Remember, an angry man, will defeat himself in life as well as in battle"...Take care! 

*Credit Photo's by:
 TOTAL CONCEPT MANAGEMENT

Live photos taken by: Andrew Stone

HOMEPAGE SUSPERIA

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