LEGION, THE – Interview with bassist Lars Lazr Martinsson

Hello my friend! I am Andrew. How do you feel after having released your debut album “Unseen to creation”?

– Hello Greek brother. Well, since “Unseen to creation” isn’t being released until another week from now I don’t know what it feels like to have it released. Anyway, this far anything about that record has pleased me: there have been interesting reviews to read, interviews to answer, compliments in the pub to absorb… I’m pleased with it and look forward to see how the rest of the world is going to react on it, and what consequences that will have on the band and me as a person.

Do you believe you are lucky as a band for not having to wait too many years in order to get signed by a label?

– I think we waited some time for this Listenable deal to occur actually. Releasing your full-length debut after four years of continual activity isn’t really a textbook example of very quick moves, do you think? I guess we’re lucky to be on such a great label as Listenable, anyway. They’ve got some great bands, good distribution, a healthy attitude; they are neither very big nor very small and have good contacts (as it seems to me) to get their bands out touring. What else could you expect from your label? Free booze and naked ladies maybe, but that’ll come after the second album, they say…

Are you satisfied in general with the album after its release? Would you like to change something in it?

– I’m satisfied with it, really. There are of course things one would like to change I perspective, but if there isn’t, you’ve got nothing to strive for next time in the studio, right? I’m not interested in discussing any potential weaknesses of the band in full worldwide Internet broadcast, so I hope you won’t mind if I leave it there.

How was working with Tommy Tagtgren an the famous Abyss Studios? Many new bands try to record their albums in such famous studios but recently some great bands like Destruction for example prefer not to go there but in a small studio where they will manage to have a more personal sound. Do you agree with this opinion?

– Yes, if you go to Abyss you will more or less get an Abyss sound. We managed to avoid that typical production to a certain extent, but you sure can hear where it’s recorded. Some people say like “If it’s a good sound, it’s a good sound, who cares about the rest?”. I can agree on that too, but if for example all bands did the same songs – fucking great songs in themselves but not when 20 000 bands have recorded them – you wouldn’t really care about music in the end, right? If all bands sound similar it of course gets incredibly boring to listen to them.

– Working with Tommy was a very laid-back and comfortable way of recording. Even though we worked within abnormal time limits, we never felt stressed. Tommy is a great guy, combining social abilities with professional ones where needed and expected. Besides, he’s the keeper of the unholy red wine Chateau D’Abyss – homemade, tasty and dangerous to both body and mind. We all came to know about that… Also, I think our days in the Abyss were cursed. Tommy told us he had never been forced to abort a recording session due to bad weather or whatever, but we had to turn the equipment off several times during this one week because thunder was raging wild outside. Mysterious…

– Anyway, we are all satisfied with the result. The production is fat, but not polished. It’s large, but not blurry. All details in the music come across clearly, without sacrificing the necessary “organic” approach to it. When playing such varied and complex music as we do, the production issue is not an easy task. The more death metal parts must sound fat and heavy, and at the same time the more black metal parts must sound large and cold.

Your music is into black metal mainly with some parts that approach death metal techniques. I believe that “Unseen to creation” is a release highly influenced by “A grand declaration of war” of Mayhem. This is the only band (or release would be better) that I can find some similarities with you. What are your influences and how do they affect you when composing your music?

– Man, that’s some new shit… We have been compared to Mayhem before, but never that specific album. I don’t agree with you, actually, but it’s great fun to see people analysing us and looking for references among such honourable acts like Mayhem.

– We’ve sure got many different influences – both in the black metal- and the death metal genre, and also in other kinds of music. Some bands worth mentioning: SETHERIAL (“Nord” era), EMPEROR, BLOT MINE, (early) DARK FUNERAL, DEEDS OF FLESH, VILE, NILE and MORBID ANGEL. Those are influences. Musical inspiration on the other hand might come up anywhere, I can listen to a BEATLES song and get inspired, but it sure won’t affect my kind of writing music. Do you get me? There’s a difference there that many people seem to miss out.

– It’s usually David Svartz who comes up with the riffs, which always is the basis we work from. If everybody likes it, we start to arrange it – add bass-lines, different guitar stuff, drum beats. We seldom start from the exact beginning of a song; usually we put separate parts together and maybe re-arrange it twenty times before everyone is satisfied. Some songs demand a lot of work; others are finished quicker without too much friction. I personally prefer the latter – if you overdo the whole thing the song might end up lacking in feeling, which is an artistic disaster far to many bands suffer from today.

How important do you consider your lyrics to be and, what are the sources from which your lyrical concepts are drawn?

– I don’t think anyone of us consider our lyrics to be very important. I do at times, thinking this really means something to me, but in a somewhat sober perspective it’s actually quite average stuff, which is there basically to have something to sing. I would never sit down and write those science fictional phrases if it wasn’t because we need lyrics. I guess the others think more or less the same, since I’m nowadays the lone lyricist in this lot, eh…

– A brief conceptual description of the lyrics in the order they appear on the album:

1. Intro (contains no lyrics)

2. Retribution: Our former vocalist Sune Hammarström wrote this one, it’s a part of some kind of lyrical trilogy, being completed by the song “Awakened fury” and “Torment divine” (which is featured on the “Awakened fury” MCD/7”). It deals with the Christian damnation and the vengeance thereupon. Contains lots of biblical references as well as pure fantasy visions I believe. Sune was never very happy with explaining his lyrics, but I guess I got it right.

3. Those Beyond: Written by me. Heavily inspired by Clive Barker/Lucio Fulci and their portals (guess the title reveals some about it) to other dimensions. A person discovers the gateway to the unknown wastes beyond this world, and starts to experiment in order to gain certain powers in exchange of sacrifices – both with body and mind. The demons from the other side kind of fuck him, so he’s trapped some place at the border of life and death, existentially enlightened and experienced with unearthly pleasures but also spiritually spoiled and raped.

4. Redeemer: Written by Svartz. Based on the northern mythology and its ideas concerning the downfall of man and earth. The redeemer is referring to the Fenriz wolf, which is unchained from its locks and releases chaos and death upon the world. A splendid lyric I think – dark, cold and monumental.

5. Cosmopathic Deathvoid: Written by me. At the time I wrote this one (some years ago) I was heavily into HP Lovecraft and tried to imitate, or rather adopt maybe, his pompous, bombastic way of expressing the facing with the other side and its cold wastes of inhuman darkness. In perspective, I think I pretty much over-did it all, hence I’m not very satisfied with this piece today. Still, it has its moments. I actually ripped a sentence straight from Lovecrafts Cthulu suite. Which one? The observant reader should be able to guess.

6. Knee-deep in Blood: Written by Svartz. I remember this song was finished long before it got proper lyrics added to it, and I think Svartz concentrated much on getting the lines together smoothly with the music. Which shows in the great flow throughout the whole text. It’s basically an apocalyptic vision where infernal chaos in erupted upon earth, written in an almost prophetic manner. Includes some great passages picturing utter vast, unfriendly space in its prime.

7. On Swift Wings: Another one from Svartz dealing with themes from the northern mythology. I believe Odins ravens are in focus, combined with wars of vengeance. I’m not sure about this one. Svartz has managed to capture a special atmosphere here, which in this case is more important than the actual message in my opinion.

8. Ascendancy (contains no lyrics)

9. Awakened Fury: See “Retribution”. Definitely the best lyric of the three Hammarström wrote for THE LEGION.

10. Invoking the End (contains no lyrics)

11. Rise of the Fallen: Another piece dealing with Lovecraft themes written by me. Once again one single, curious character unleashes powers upon the world he can’t master. The title symbolizes the return of the Old Ones, as referred to in the Cthulu suite, and their invasion and conquest of planet Earth. Long gone objects and rites open gateways to other dimensions where in the beasts populating Earth before man eagerly wait the time to return.

Do you believe that lyrics are more important for black metal bands than of those of other styles? I mean if black metal lyrics should always have something to broaden our mind.

– Yes, I think so. Partly therefore I don’t label our music black metal. Black metal is Satan, and none of us are devil worshippers in the usual sense of it. Do you think all black metal lyrics broaden your mind? I really don’t. I think most metal lyrics in general are worthless crap saying nothing to me about my life.

Why should someone prefer to buy your album than any other release of our days?

– Because it contains well worked out songs, good musicianship, possesses an original style and has a thought or two behind it compared to a lot of other mindless shit circulating out there. People into aggressive, fast, dark music should check it out for their own good.

If you had the chance to play on the same stage with any band or artist you like, who would that be and why?

– Abigor, because it’s probably the best black metal band in the world and they never played live, which is quite odd considering the fact they have released about ten overwhelmingly great records. Unfortunately they split up now, but they’ll blast on in my heart forever. Hail Abigor! Hail individuality in music! Hail trend fucking! Hail supreme black metal! Hail Peter Kubik! I advice anyone unfamiliar with this splendid band to check it out. They haven’t released one single bad song and crush any non-thinking nonsense band out there without even having to exist.

Would you prefer to be a great band in the underground scene or just an average one in the mainstream scene?

– A great band in the underground! Jesus Christ, of course… What’s the purpose with being famous if you’re famous for nothing?

What are your plans for the future? Have you arranged any live performances in order to promote your debut album?

– Indeed, we have. We’re leaving for a European tour in late February/early March next year together with Impaled Nazarene and some small band from the Netherlands I think. It will be great to see those Finnish lunatics in action; it’s a once in a lifetime chance to behold such decadence in the true sense. We don’t have any dates set yet, but I guess you’ll be able to view those on www.listenable.net or www.legion.nu as soon as anything is settled. I don’t know weather this tour will reach Greece, but I at least hope so. Keep those dreams burning, baby.

I have nothing else to ask you! Thanks a lot for your time and good luck for your future plans! Closing is yours…

– Thanks a lot for your interest in The Legion, Andrew! I think this was the first Greek interview I answered ever, cool! I adore your beautiful country; I’ve been there several times and get astonished every time. A true paradise compared to this frozen hellhole where we’re stuck…

In hoc signo vinces!