MANEGARM IS...
MANEGARM LINKS
Angelfire - Easiest Free Home Pages
Displeased Records (Manegarm's Label)
Repulse Records (U.S. Manegarm Distributor)
Bio On Manegarm
Review on Manegarm CD
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An Interview with Pathos -- A Highwire Daze Exclusive!!!
Updated: 12/14/98
Although many have never even heard of Manegarm, this Swedish black metal band has recorded one of the most unique albums of any genre this year.
NORDSTJARNANS TIDSALDER is a near masterpiece, combining Nordic mythology with a tremendous wall of sound. I e-mailed the band at their label and received a reply via snail mail one month later. Here is what Pierre Wilhelmson had to say.
Highwire Daze: Introduce yourself and tell me what you do in Manegarm.
Pierre Wilhelmson: Hello! This is Pierre W., the bass player of Manegarm writing.
HD: Describe the music of Manegarm to someone who has never heard it before.
Pierre: Difficult one...I cannot say that we play pure Black Metal. It is more like a combination of Black Metal and Viking Metal. It is up to the listener to decide. I have heard people compare us with Satyricon but I don't think we have much in common.
HD: Where is the band from and what is the music scene like there?
Pierre: We are from Sweden, as many of the Black and Death Metal bands today. I guess that many of you already know that the scene is mighty big here with bands like Dissection, Arckanum, In Flames, Dismember, and so on - - the list can be long. There are quite a lot of concerts, both underground and bigger events.
HD: What exactly is a Manegarm?
Pierre: Manegarm is taken from the old Norse mythology and is about a wolf who swallows the moon at Ragnorok (the end of the world).
HD: Since most bands seem to record in English, what made you guys decide to do an album in your own language?
Pierre: Cause we are Swedes and felt that it was the right thing to do. Also, you can express yourself in a different and better way as you know your own language best. All the lyrics will be available in English later.
HD: What does the title translate to?
Pierre: NORDSTJARNANS TIDSALDER (Age Of The Northstar) represents a new era when we revive our old folk-spirit which has been divided by Christianity in the latest centuries. It's an era when we become a proud and strong people as we once were. Also, the Northstar is the star the Vikings used for navigation when they sailed across the open seas.
HD: What are some of the songs on the CD about?
Pierre: I don't want to explain and tell people what I write as I want the listener to get his own thoughts and ideas while reading the lyrics. I want it to be a personal experience.
HD: What do you think makes Manegarm stand apart from other Black Metal bands?
Pierre: Well, the use of a violin gives us a different sound I think, and we don't grind all the way through the songs. We try to get a balance between the slow and fast parts, which can sometimes be quite difficult if you don't want to sound like sh*t. Not to forget our excellent female (backing) vocalist -- her voice is like honey for the bees.
HD: Are there any other Manegarm releases that we don't know about?
Pierre: We have done two demos. The first one was called VARGARESA and included four Nordic hymns. The second one included an intro and outro plus three songs and was named UR NATTVINDAR.
HD: If there was one thing you'd like the listener to remember after hearing the Manegarm CD, what would it be?
Pierre: That is was a great CD??? Seriously, the superb violin.
HD: What is a live Manegarm show like and do you have any plans to tour in the States?
Pierre: There is nothing special with our shows yet. We haven't done so many gigs this far and the ones we have done have only been small and not so very planned. The important thing is that people have a great time and turn the gig into an explosive head banging party. We have no plans to tour in the States, yet!
HD: What band would someone be very surprised to find out you liked and why?
Pierre: Frank Zappa cause he was a master musician. You don't need to say more.
HD: Do you have any messages for Black Metal fans here in the States?
Pierre: Stay metal and be proud. Buy our record and we hope to see you in the future...
It's no secret that I think that NORDSTJARNANS TIDSALDER is awesome. Manegarm's CD has been in my player over and over again and will surely be remembered by me as THE BEST BLACK METAL CD OF 1998! If you can't find it at your local indie stores, click into one of the links above and get a copy! Here's hoping Manegarm make it over to America, and soon!
If anyone out there knows of any Manegarm links, e-mail me and I'll include them in a future update!
