UBUREN – Interview with the band

I dont know, how many Poles have heard about UburenIm sure, that less than my IQ equals (an believe me, Im not Einstein). But when this Norwegian band had arrived to Cracow after almost 30 hours of journey, I was sure, that it will be something special. Its enough to hear their music- cold and typical nordic black metal. Sowho the fuck said, that all in black metal is dead after De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas !?

Hi! You are in Cracow whole day- how do you like the town?

THORD: Beautilful city with lots of people!

ASK: Well, like in summer

What would you say about suport bands for todays evening? For example music from Nonamen is quite different from yours Did you choose these bands?

THORD: No, our tour manager did it. We actually didnt know anything about these bands Nonamen is something different but also Netherfell goes more into folk metal

Thats true You guys play kind of black metal. And in Norway many black metal musicians have stage names- Euronymous, Necrobutcher and so onWhy do you use your everydays names instead of stage names?

THORD: The real reason is, that these guys has chosen their names based on the horrible events or characters

BIOR: like orcs and others in Lord Of The Rings- they did a lot of evil things

THORD: yeah, but our first names are basicly just names that in themselfs also mean something, but are also commonely use in our country. And our last name is always the name of our father and we add -son ending to it. For example my father was Olav and Im Olavson

I hope Ive got it (laughs) So how important is Norway and Norwegian mythology for you?

ALL TOGETHER: Very important (laughs)

BIOR: it plays the biggest role in our music and lyrics.

THORD: Without it we could only sing about Satan (laughs)!

BIOR: That wont be lyrics – only screaming (laughs)

THORD: (screams)

Well, its also an option- you could try one day

THORD: On our first EP The Sons Of The Dying Gods we express excactly how do we feel. Our old heritage is dying out. Nobody knows about it, in schools theyve stopped teaching about it- there was some gods long time ago and thats all.

So, Thord youve already answered the question which I wanted ask you later (laughs), but its also good So when were talking about the track The Sons Of The Dying Gods- why did you choose this track as a title?

ASK: Because we are the sons of the old Norway, which we loved, and which is dying. We try to bring the heritage back in every way we can

THORD:.. Sorry, but are you going to use this interview anywhere or just write (the guy with a classic guitar stood next to us and played Human Nature- HERE)?

Just write

THORD:Great, cause, you know- were so trve and black metal, and in the background the classic guitar playing (laughs)

BIOR:But that guy is good

THORD: yeah, Italy (laughs)

When were still talking about the title trackIts much slower than the others- does it change something in its special message or something?

THORD: NoIn the text every single word comes directly from us and its basicly how we feel and its nothing more to add to this track- also the way we play, its more common song. Again we dont have a reciepe how to make our music. It was cool for us.We just wrote it and loved it!

So, youve already told me that Norways important for you. But is it easy for the young bands to come out from the underground?

BIOR: No

THORD: Extremely hard

BIOR: You dont get money at all for playing the local concerts, and if you want to arrange the concert youself you have to pay for everything- very expensive.

And what do you think about your country? Do you want to live somewhere else?

THORD: No! Of course, theres a lot shitty things in Norway, but I dont want to move.

BIOR: Never- Its Norway.

THORD:Yeah It will be really stupid to sing how much we love Norway and later move from there

BIOR: Does it make sence to love your herritage and get away from it?

Well, theres something in it (laughs).

THORD: Life is a battle

When were talking about the battle- another track on your EP is Visons Of Valhalla. I dont know if Im right, but vocals on it sound like that on Fallen from Burzum

THORD: No, its not (laughs)

Oh, what a pity!

BIOR: (laughs) None of us actually listen to Burzum

So am I !

THORD: If Im right, the whole concept is about creasing decreasing yourself as a human being. The song Visons Of Valhalla is excatly a vision what Valhalla means

ASK: Its about a Viking warrior, who goes on war- He goes there to die. Anyway, theyre standing on the battlefield and show how brave they are and what the battle is. Theres glory in dying in war.

BIOR: If your purpose is to go on the battle and die. If you survive, you have to do it again (laughs)

THORD: The whole purpose for man is to go for the battle and die. Everyone is dreaming about going to Valhalla and the only way to get there is to die in battle.

Thats fascinating- but really (laughs)!

THORD: (laughs) Yes, it is! If you die old- you just failed.

BIOR: But we try do look at it a bit more European . We dont want to go around the Market Square with weapon (laughs). Our task is to go on and never give up in anything.

OK. Ill remember it. Ive read that you havent sign the contract with any music label..Why- didnt they want you (laughs) ?

THORD: Our EP is the first thing we made, and we had two labels- Sony and IMPIPMNevermind (laughs). One is British, one is American, but all labels in Norway are really, really, really, really, really small. And if you sign the contract with one of them, maybe if youre lucky theyll suport all the money spent on the recording your new album. But then it stops and they own your music. For example we could produce a super, great album, but you cant do anything with it, couse they own it

AhAwesome (laughs)

THORD: Music industry is horrible there. So we try to do all , also the tour ourselfs, of course we had most amazing help from Michał

BIOR: He is also manager from Nonamen, which plays here.

THORD: So he became officialy, without his knowledge (laughs) our tour manager- forever

Sounds interestingSo how did the process of recording an album looked like?

THORD: I dont know if i understood you right

So answer and Ill tell you if youve answered it right

BIOR: (laughs)

THORD:So everyone was in the studio. Weve listened everyone playing many times. Before we went into the studio we made something like ghost tracks and then we laid on the drums and the bass. And if it was good, we could do it better- again. If every of us would record his instruments separately it wont be so good.

So, you answered rightAnd how was it with lyrics? Youve also written it together?

THORD:Yes,

BIOR:We did everything together.

You know, I asked, couse its not as popular any more

THORD: Yeah, I think its really strange, when youve got the full band and theres one guy writing lyrics and another making musicAnd the rest of the band is 'out' . We three write everything together and check each other, so everythink is corectly. And the same is with music. When theres a nic guitar riff, Bior can say 'Thats good, but we can do it even better'

And I heard that in Uburen you both guys sing (I looked at Ask and Bior-HERE)

BIOR: Were all singing.

WowBut isnt it hard to cooperate on the stage?

THORD: Yeah, it is, but thats the way. When were going on the stage, we go on a battle.

But isnt it hard to play drums and sing at the same time?

THORD: Of course it is. But if I want it to be easy Id play in the pop band

Its also an option

THORD: No, it isnt!

BIOR, ASK: (laughs)

ASK: Well, thats really not a good option for us

And what would you say about black metal in Norway- did it become something charcteristic for your country?

THORD: Yeah, for sure

Did it change something in that music genre?

THORD: Yes I love Norwegian black metal, but that doesntmean that I only listen to Norwegian black metal. Its only one among thousends other metal subgenres

So you listen to various music- not only black metal!

BIOR: Actually, everything, everything

THORD: Black metal, classic- CzajkowskiWhy not? When we think thats something is good, nice to listen to, we dont care what it is.

I think the same, but in Cracow you could see 13/14 year old teens, that say, there only listening to trash- thousend times the same album of Kreator, Sodom

BIOR: Yeah

THORD: You can notice it basicly everywhere. The you think Im so trve and cool!, and when you grow up you think- well, I dont care what it is

(laughs) Maybe thell grow up one day! Would you like to add something to the interview?

[Silence, all three looking at each other}

ALL: (laughs)

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