HAT Love Norway and Detest Most Everything Else
When heavy metal scholars call Norway the epicenter of the black metal movement, it's tough to argue with them. With a population that's roughly half of Los Angeles, the Northern European country has still managed to boast some of the most important artists in the genre. HAT are a direct product of their country's excellent tradition of churning out primitive black metal.
The duo formed in the early '90s, but didn't any material till a few years ago. However, HAT (Norwegian for hatred) just released 'Vortex of Death,' their second album jam-packed with some of the most acerbic lyrics you'll hear on any black metal record this year. Noisecreep spoke with HAT members Undertrykker and Nevresch and asked them about Norway's rich history of black metal. And as you'll read below -- they love their country, hate Christians and don't want unity within their music scene.
What is it about Norway and its culture that you attribute the high number of black metal bands to?
Undertrykker: I think our long and dark winters contribute to that a lot. Norwegians as people enjoy being secluded and are elitist by nature.
Nevresch: I think the events that took place here in the early '90s can take a lot of the credit for the black metal scene's size. The ideology behind the music made some of us ask questions and helped many of the youth at the time to become more critical to their upbringing -- the morals in society and the history of the Christian filth.
Growing up, did you get into heavy metal through the more traditional sounding groups and then gradually gravitate towards the heavier stuff?
Undertrykker: I started out quite early with Metallica, Slayer, Sepultura and those kinds of bands. But when I was 14 to 15 years old, I heard Darkthrone's 'A Blaze in the Northern Sky' and it blew my mind. Then I got ahold of the first Burzum album, and from there it was no turning back. Black metal has since been a very big part of my life.
Nevresch: My start in metal was very traditional. I started with Kiss and then moved on to Mötley Crüe and so on and so on. My first introduction to black metal must have been the bands Rotting Christ or Samael.
Is there any kind of unity between the bigger artists and bands that are still more on the underground side of things? Are the bigger groups supportive of HAT?
Nevresch: Black metal people dislike other people. So there should be no unity within it.
What do you think are some of the biggest misconceptions people outside of Norway have of your country?
Undertrykker: I don't think there is any big misconceptions out there about Norway. We are a self-centered bunch of people with a lot of money.
What up-and-coming Norwegian bands should we all check out?
Undertrykker: Lately I have listened a lot to a band called Nekromantheon. They are a brilliant black thrash band. Orcustus is another great tip, for those who haven't already checked them out.
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