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Enslaved - Cato

16/05/05 || Global Domination

Enslaved Old staff-member Rance interviewed Cato for the old GD-site and had this to say at the time:

Black metal has traditionally been about image. Presenting an evil image. Presenting a ‘christ fuckin goat raping I’m a satanist who burns churches and I’m more evil than you’ type of image. In fact, many times the actions and images of bands have completely over-shadowed the music. And, fuck…. isn’t that what it is all about…. especially if you’re kvlt and trve! I suppose some people get off on that perspective, but it seems that black metal today… fans and bands alike… are realizing that there is more available and more to give in the underground music scene. When it comes down to it… we’re all human, with our own unique likes and dislikes. Not everything is about one-upping your neighbor in the ‘evilness’ category. Now, granted, Enslaved have been more about Viking imagery than satanism in their past… but, playing a style of music that can be lumped into the black metal genre has left them open to the ridicules and stereotypes associated with the genre. However, being the troopers that they are, they’ve taken things in stride… constantly challenging the perceptions of what black metal should and shouldn’t be. With each release they’ve expanded the genre and created music that remains both heavy and traditional… but also avantgarde and unique. So, I present to you an interview with Enslaved skinsman, Cato… hopefully we can shed some light on their new album “Isa”, the rigors of playing underground metal, and highlight some of the top fishing spots in North America…

Global Domination: “Isa”... quite frankly the album kicked my ass pretty good. I’ve always liked and admired this band… but, with the release of this album… I was amazed. I’ve never heard such a unique collection of music. The album manages to be heavy and melodic and progressive and avantgarde and black metal and… well, it’s just good music. Now, especially after I’ve gushed about the release for a couple of sentences, how satisfied are you with this album?

Cato: Pretty happy. Not everything went smoothly during the recording, but we have to save some extra luck for the next one. But I think the five of us all agree that it’s the best Enslaved album so far, even though we cannot be considered 100% neutral on that subject. But the feedback from others supports that conclusion.

Everyone feels that they have to classify music, so what do you consider Enslaved… now?

Northern metal maybe?

What types of inspirations led to the creation of this release (songwriting, lyrics, etc.)?

I am close to saying stress, because the whole thing was recorded in a hurry, with just a little or no rehearsal. Apart from that I had a fucked up day-rhythm when I recorded the drums, so I almost played asleep. Normally I don’t drink coffee, but this time I had to. Sometimes I was so tired that when I heard what I had recorded the day before, I had almost forgotten what I did. The lyrics deal with more personal matters and can be understood in seperate ways.

How was the transition to Tabu Recordings… how did this label change come about and why?

We wanted to go a step foreward, but due to the lack of enthusiasm from Osmose we felt it was time for a change. The guys from Tabu are extremely hardworking and enthusiastic. In other words, we needed a label that was just as eager we were. For the first time we have also made a video to the title track.

Do you ever wish that the music of Enslaved could be world famous, ranked right up there with international stars like Britney Spears and Shakira?

Yes and no. Of course it would be a dream to make a decent living from your hobby and passion, but on the other hand I think we, like most Norwegians, are very down to earth, so the idea of touring like Metallica for two years would kill us. But you never know. We still love doing our daily stuff here. Grutle and I are addicted to sport fishing, Ivar is a guitar teacher for younger kids, Arve and Herbrand also play in other bands, three of the other guys have girlfriends and so on. It would mean a drastic change in our lives if we should be world famous, But who knows? Humans are quite adaptable. But so far I’m happy to just be “Mr. Nobody”!

Would you tour with the aforementioned artists, if they asked you?

Would THEY? I think that would be one hell of a wierd tour! But frankly I think that will never happen. We’re a metal band and goes off better with other metal bands I guess. But without a doubt it would mean a tour with much better conditions than the normal ones with crappy food, no shower after the gig, filthy nightliners with little or no sleep and so on.

If so, would it be ‘cause they’re both pretty hot… or ‘cause you like and respect their music?

Basically because they are hot! I don’t listen to much of their music, but I actually like one Britney song, namely “Stronger”! One can clearly hear that Max Martin has his roots in heavier music.

I hear that you have shed your “viking” image… in favor of, well, the “fisherman” image. How’s that working out for you?

Well, when I entered the band it was because Grutle and I had been fishing together for a while. I’ve been fishing all my life, I love the hobby and am also making a living out of it by writing articles, translating books, having slide shows for clubs, etc. It’s more like gag for the media. I think we are a pretty special band with two extremely dedicated sportfishermen in our ranks. It will never affect the music, so don’t worry. The old Viking spirit is still there!

Now, obviously your “image” on stage is not that of fishermen… but, as far as image goes… how important do you think it is to the music of Enslaved and to performing artists in general?

Grutle is the perfect frontman, but the viking helmet he wore in the past is long time gone. Apart from that, the spiritual thing is important. Lately we have started using a huge video backdrop with “videos” to every song to set the moods. Cool stuff that hopefully separates us from a lot of other bands.

What other past times, besides fishing, are you guys fond of?

Hanging out drinking beer, checking out other bands, (later this evening Krisiun and Behemoth play here in Oslo, where I live), Grutle and I love cats (he and his girlfriend have 13 of them!), watching cool movies, cooking and so on. Arve and Ivar are high on music, Herbrand is a cool, relaxed guy who also runs a studio.

I’ve been pretty wrapped up in the US presidential election of late, like many people around the world. I know Enslaved is not a particularly “political” band by nature, but what is your opinion on the situation in the US… with four more years of “W”?

I personally believe that USA and the rest of the world would be better off with a Democratic president rather than the Republican Rebel George “Walker” Bush. I doubt that the world will be a better and safer place for the next four years. But one must always hope. And now Arafat is dying as well. Well, ol’ George will have enough to fill his days with, that’s for sure.

Would you ever consider physically moving away from a country if you were morally and socially opposed to its elected leader?

Since I live in Norway that is (hopefully) not an issue, but hypothetic…. eh…. Sorry, impossible to answer. If so, Sweden, here I come!

Do you think Americans are a bunch of dummies for getting so wrapped up in politics?

Well, (gotta be careful here, yet honest) they sure as hell aren’t making too much effort to prove those who think so wrong. In general it seems like they don’t know too much about what is going on elsewhere in the world. They seem to be living in their own little bubble, but on the other hand the attack of 11/9/2001 made them brutally aware that maybe they should look outside their own borders. But to make it clear; 11/9 was a sad day for humanity in general, and the USA specifically. The Americans didn’t deserve that, no one does! I remember that day so very well. The very moment I heard about the first crash on the radio, I left my working station at the office and turned on the TV. Minutes later the second plane hit, and I instantly knew that the world was never going to be the same again. The radical muslims are probably the worst example of what you get when you mix a brainwashing religion with politics. What really pisses me off is that the muslim terrorists hate us just because we have almost full freedom and don’t rub our noses in the sand five times a day to praise that pedophile massmurder Allah! What’s that for a reason to take thousands of innocent lives? Fuck ‘em!

What about the Swedes… are they a bunch of dummies?

I love Sweden and Swedes! Of course we make jokes about each other, but if I were to move to another country it would be Sweden, no doubt at all!

If you had to pick which country was better between the US, Sweden, Norway, and Djibouti… which would it be?

UN has spoken; Norway was ranked as the best country to live in. But I would prefere Canada to USA, I guess. Djibouti has islam for a religion, so that is totally out of the question. One might say that the world would be a better place without Bush running the USA, but a world without islam would without any shadow of a doubt be 1000 times better! At least!

Enslaved’s sound has developed quite a lot over the last few years…which leads me to believe that you guys are taking on more and more influences. What types of music do you listen to when you’re not pumping out the Enslaved hits?

I’m a metalhead, but also like other kinds of music with something to offer. Influences are Deep Purple, Rainbow and Kiss from the 70’s, Metallica, Slayer, Anthrax, Helloween and the classic Bay Area thrash bands from the 80’s, a lot of Tampa Bay death metal bands from the 90’s and a lot of other stuff. Grutle and Ivar also love prog from the 70’s, like King Crimson, old Yes, Rush, Pink Floyd and so on. Arve is into more 80’s metal. Herbrands musical preferences I don’t know too much about, actually. He is a quiet guy.

How important is visual media, i.e. music videos, to the success of bands today?

With more and more bands around, it’s pretty obvious that you both have to deliver quality music AND yell loud to get heard, so a video is pretty important if you want to get out of your basement. We live in a demanding world, so we have to deliver the goods. That’s just the way it is, like it or not.

Any plans to produce a video for any of the tracks off “Isa”?

As mentioned above, we have made a video for the title track.

What is your favorite NHL team and player?

We don’t care too much about ice hockey I’m afraid, but there was quite a fuss here in Norway when Espen Knutsen was drafted to the Anaheim Mighty Ducks, but I don’t have a favorite team. Also Norwegian Anders Myhrvold played in Colorado Avalanche (I think they won the Stanley cup that year), but again, no favorite team. Player? Well, one can’t not mention Gretzky, SuperMario, Dominator, Fedorov, Peter Forsberg, but I would probably mention Miroslav Satan because of the name. I’m too young to know too much about the legend Bobby Hull from the Chicago Blackhawks. His son was/is also a good player I guess?

Does it piss you off that we have no NHL hockey this year?

The players are on strike again, huh? Doesn’t bother me that much, but I have some friends that are into hockey big time, and they suffer. We’re getting quite a decent comfort checking out Champions Leauge, Premier Leauge and the new Nordic Royal Leauge. But that’s soccer, and I guess most Americans think soccer suxx….

How would you resolve a salary-cap dispute in a professional sport?

The problem is probably that the players already have earned so much money so they can afford to have a year off. On the other hand, the sport is extremely hard, the match programme is incredibly tough and the season is long. At this stage of the conflict maybe the players must miss the game before they can get back to the negotiation table.

If you could compare your new album, “Isa,” to a wild animal…what would it be and why?

Wolf or wolverine. Strong, smart, independant, shy, lurks in cold and unfriendly environments. (And sought after by the government, haha..) They actually hunt them down when they kill sheep here in Norway. Now there are almost none left here! Keep the big predators alive!

What does the future hold for Enslaved?

Hopefully improved age for starters. I also guess we all have to take a shit during the next 24 hours. The album is already released in Norway exclusively some week ago. The video will actually have its first screening on national television later today. The 8th of November “Isa” will be released in the rest of Europe. In the US, the 7th of February. We’re planning a European Tour starting in Feb. 2005, but there are still some parts missing in that puzzle. Hopefully we will also be able to do a tour in the US and southern part of Canada during the summer 2005. If so, Grutle and I will stay another week to try fishing for White Sturgeon in the Fraser River in British Colombia. Another dream is to visit Texas and fish for Aligator Gar, but the coolest thing would be fishing for Giant Bluefin Tuna off Morehead City in North Carolina winter time standup style!

What did you think of this interview (please don’t hurt my feelings!)?

It’s cool and not like the normal “13 on a dozen” interviews we normally do. We care a lot about sports (even though I don’t share most Americans’ affection for hockey, baseball, basketball or American football) and we follow the world’s political situation closely. I personally sat up all night and morning to follow the election in the US. Too bad John Kerry didn’t make it (or Al Gore four years ago, even though he actually did!) – I think it’s cool to get some questions that are not only related to music. There are more important issues in life!

Any last comments?

Basically ALL reviews on the new “Isa” album point out that the album needs time to grow into your head. Therefore, give it time! Enjoy life in general, music in particular, treat everyone as you want them to treat you, keep away from drugs, take some time off to enjoy Mother Nature (best experianced accompanied with a fishing rod), keep yourself fit and healthy and make life a good thing for yourself and others. After all, it’s all you have! Hm..seems like I can run for the Nobel Peace Prize!!

Thank you for your time, and for your latest cd “Isa”... it has been in my player more in the last two weeks than any single cd should. Good luck with the release of the album and your future live appearances! Thanks again!

Actually, we’re the ones to say thanx! Without ‘zines to spread the word we would never have been able to make albums. So thanx from us 2 U Rance!

Interviews