Burzum: "I'm done with metal"
Interview with Varg Vikernes
"Pro-Rock" Magazine (#115, 2014)
Anton Andonov

Has Varg Vikernes managed to break completely with the image of the violent youth who fails to remain silent where necessary to preserve his own security? The Wolf changes his fur, but his temper does not. The actor already under the name Louis Cachet once again came into conflict with the French justice and immediately after we sent our questions (Varg does not do phone interviews) about his new album "The Ways Of Yore", the musician was sentenced to 6 months probation and a hefty fine for interracial hatred. However, our third interview with Burzum managed to take place and below you can read what continues to worry the restless spirit of the Norwegian.

Hello Again! Many metal fans were shocked when you started releasing electronic albums again, although this is far from a precedent in your discography. Why do you think? Do you feel any sense that the music will not meet the expectations of the listeners?

No. I just create the music I want to create. My listeners are not a fixed group, just people who also like what I do and want to pay attention to it. In general, metal fans are very conservative and narrow-minded when it comes to music. The good side of this is that they are really loyal and would rather, instead of pirating online, buy the music of artists they like, thus helping them to continue their activities. The bad thing is that they always react violently when their favorite bands change - no matter what direction.

Do ambient albums have anything to do with the peaceful and calm life of a family man, in contrast to your dynamic youth? At least until recently...

No. And as you know, I don't really live in peace and quiet. There's a lot going on around here... As a former metal fan, I'm very conservative and I don't like change. Creating music in my home protects me from more dramatic changes. The reason I'm doing ambient again is simply because I love this type of music.

When you start writing new songs, do you give someone the opportunity to hear them before you officially release them to get opinions? Would you change anything in the compositions if the person didn't like something?

Of course. If those I play them to don't think they're good enough, I review them again, and if I think that's true, I start thinking about how I could change them.

The music seems to follow the direction of your spirit - is it possible that for this reason the next album is not electronic but metal? Maybe something totally different?

If I find the time, I'll find some ancient instruments and use them, but outside of that, I don't have any specific plans. However, I am sure that the next recording will also be electronic. I think I'm done with metal music forever. One of the reasons is that the studio where I was recording, Grieghallen (Grieg's Concert Hall), closed its doors... I am too conservative to look for a new one. Then I'll have to meet new people, find a new studio technician... Too much work, ha-ha.

Your previous album was used as the soundtrack to the movie "ForeBears", which you created with your wife Marie Cachet. Does the tape enjoy popularity among people who are not fans of Burzum?

I really don't know. You probably understand that I don't keep track of whether the people who saw or bought the movie are fans of Burzum or not...

You make a living from your album sales. Do you have any information on which is the most wanted right now? Do the new releases ("Belus", "Fallen", "Umskiptar") sell more than the classics ("Hvis Lyset Tar Oss", "Det Som Engang Var" etc.)?

Again, I have to admit, I have no idea. I guess I could check the sales right away, but I've never been interested in that kind of thing. I don't think about it when I make music. Some albums sell more than others, that's normal. But I don't know if ambient records are less popular than metal. I don't make music to make money, but I make money because I make music.

Do you think that releasing new Burzum album every year will reduce the hunger for your project material?

I don't know, but it doesn't bother me anyway. I am an artist, so I create... I "promised" not to do more than one album a year on my label, and I can say that it "bothers" them. It's not hard for me to write more music, but... In the meantime, I'm trying to put together a role-playing game called Mythic Fantasy Role-playing Game (abbreviation MYFAROG), and I'm writing on my blog Thulêan Perspective, and a lot more. So my creative drive always finds its vent.

Are journalists getting used to the fact that you've opened a new chapter in your life, or are they still asking about your past?

Most of them have really stuck in that direction, I guess that makes it easier for them to throw mud at my name, which will remain for future generations. Old lies die hard, especially when fed by a horde of professional liars (called "journalists").

You continue to have problems with French justice. Isn't it ironic that "freedom of speech" today remains a meaningless concept?

It's not only ironic, it's also very sad. We are free to express our opinion, but only when it does not conflict with "their" interests. You'll probably ask me, "who are they?" As Voltaire said, "to learn who rules over you, simply find out who you are not allowed to criticize".

Do you happen to communicate again with old comrades like Fenriz, who are also doing their best to isolate themselves from modern society? Have you ever heard the new stuff of DarkThrone?

I heard something of DarkThrone on YouTube that sounded like Celtic Frost, so maybe that's what you're talking about? Yeah, of course, they're doing something totally different. Otherwise, I don't communicate with other musicians, whether they are isolated from society or not. I see no reason to do that. I wish Fenriz and the others all the best, but they are not part of my life.

As you yourself mentioned, Pytten's Grieghallen cult studio recently closed its doors. Do you feel any nostalgia for those times, and is there anything from working with him that you will always remember?

Of course, but everything changes sooner or later. Pytten was, and still is, a wonderful man, and I have only good memories of our meetings. The same goes for the studio, but there are some not so pleasant moments. I certainly feel better without my former "friends" from the metal scene.

The posts on your website and on your blog are really encouraging. Have you thought about putting them together in a book or books, such publications are likely to be successful among your true followers?

What I was thinking was to collect only the articles on mythology and publish them in a book. However, the internet may not exist for a long time due to energy problems and much more... Let us not forget that the world is rotten and will soon be destroyed. And we must preserve what we can of our own culture.

You and your wife Marie Cachet have a website about ancient European philosophy. Do you hold the view that nations that do not know their past have no right to a future?

Yeah. And in general, all the nations of Europe fall into this category because of the actions of certain individuals and groups. At least for the last 70 years.

Judging by some of your articles, true European genes are slowly disappearing. Do you think this is pre-planned by individuals, or is Globalization a natural process that cannot be stopped? How do you imagine a world that is a mish-mash of different cultures and genotypes?

It is entirely intentional and planned by "them", as it has been repeatedly written and discussed in various places. I suggest you run a search for Barbara Spectre on YouTube to find out what I'm talking about. They also want you to believe that the process cannot be stopped. This, of course, is far from the case. We can stop it very easily if we really want to. And I, along with many others, work to teach many more and decide to take this path. Humanity will fall into total barbarism and will most likely destroy itself very soon. However, no matter how much they want it and try, not everyone will obey.

The last few years have been marked by people on the streets who have stood up to their governments. Is democracy exhausted as a way of maintaining the functions of society?

Democracy is a fiction: we are free to vote for any party or politician we want, but "they" choose those parties and politicians... That is, we vote for those "they" gave us to choose. This is democracy. Besides, "they" control the media, flood us with information about the candidates, and even if one of their "enemies" manages to sneak in between the drops, no one will know him, or we'll only have heard lies about him. They have no chance of being elected. I can't tell you here and now the solution that I have in my mind... Oh, and I can only add that the internet is probably the reason they will fail. "They" cannot control the entire flow of information, the dissemination of facts, and this will "destroy" them. It will destroy their lies and their plans.

Thank you for this interview!

Thank you for the interest and courageous questions you asked me. Wise are the readers who follow your magazine.

Author: Anton Andonov (© 2014 "Pro-Rock" Magazine, Bulgaria)

On 8 July 2014, Varg Vikernes / Louis Cachet was found guilty by a French court for spreading interracial hatred. The Norwegian's blog posts, published between March and June this year, attacked Muslims and J**s. At first, the musician refused to plead guilty, claiming that another person had written on his blog. "Even now, there are about 350 people on FaceBook who claim to be Varg Vikernes".

This is not the first time Vikernes has had problems after serving a 16-year sentence for the murder of Euronymous. On 16 July 2013 he was arrested on suspicion of planning a terrorist attack after his wife bought four rifles. The charge was later dropped due to lack of evidence that Varg actually intended to commit such an act.

In other languages: Български