ZØRORMR Interview

By Loucifer On July 1, 2010 · Leave a Comment

I recently reviewed ZØRORMR’s “Kval” album (click here) – an album I’d say was one of the best of 2010 so far – and I recently had the opportunity to question the album’s creator, and here is the outcome…

Lou: Thank you for agreeing to this interview. For the benefit of anyone who has yet to hear Zorormr – how would you describe your music?

ZØRORMR: It’s a pleasure for me to be interviewed here at Loucifer Speaks! Never thought about it that I could be here, so I’m really glad. For all of you – those who don’t know what ZORORMR is, it’s simply one of the most horrid one-man-bands of them all (laugh). It’s all about ambient black metal, with raw harmonies and shit. There’s no place for fucking Malmsteen guitars or stuff like that. It’s simple, unpure and maybe primitive. Also very venomous, and real – with rather poor production, ‘cause I’m no Rick Rubin (laugh). If you are looking for black metal music with really dark atmosphere, ZORORMR is for you.

Lou: Which bands/musicians have inspired you the most?

ZØRORMR: So many, I’ll name only few… Carpathian Forest for it’s raw and primitive sound, showing that metal is ugly and doesn’t have to pretend anything, Limbonic Art – for the atmosphere and complexity I wanted to avoid (laugh), maybe some early Mayhem stuff. I don’t know really, because I listen to many sorts of music, from Mussorgsky through Wardruna and Hocico, as well as Anorexia Nervosa. Too many to name, really! Screw this question (laugh).

Lou: What things, outside of music, inspire you?

ZØRORMR: Dark side of the human soul I guess. But not the emo-bullshit pseud-darkness… real suffering, chains of mental oppression, religions and their “one and only true sacred texts”, death… but life as well. Fear and anger… I live a normal life, I guess, but deep inside there’s something that calls upon me, a “dark passenger”… I’ve always considered myself to be the outsider, the accuser… Since reading “Thus Spoke Zarathustra” by Nietzsche I can’t think the same, and it was like 10 years ago? Literature had always a great influence over me. Read the lyrics from the “Kval”. There are many books mentioned and many ideas between the lines to be revealed. I won’t say no more. Give it a try and you’ll know what I’m all about.

Lou: I noticed that you used the phrase “dark passenger” there. I’m not sure if you’re aware, but that’s a phrase that is used commonly in the book series and TV show “Dexter”. Are you a fan of the show? Random question, I know…

ZØRORMR: Indeed, I am (laugh). Glad you’re also a fan of the series. I’ve never had the chance to check out the books, so the only thing I know is the tv series. They are great! It’s kind of sick to be a fan of a serial killer, but he’s so cool (laugh). But seriously, I used the phrase to tell that we all have a dark side in us, a “dark passenger” that lurks in the corners of our soul. Since I don’t kill people and cut them to pieces, I let my passenger out by writing music. And that’s all.

Lou: Where does the name Zorormr come from? What does it mean? And, how do you pronounce it? I’ve been having some real trouble!

ZØRORMR: Good to hear that! (laugh) The name of the project/band (call it whatever you wish) is quite simple to explain. Actually it consists of two words: ZOR (with the O crossed out) – being an intentionally misspelled sor (south in Norwegian) and ORMR – meaning snake in the same language. So the whole thing will have to be: Southern Snake. How to spell it… hmm, that would be a tough one to explain but try telling “su-ur-orm-ar” and try to say it quickly, and you’ll get ZORORMR. Note that the concept of snake has been with me since the very first “Withering Hopes” debut album (under the name of SERPENTORIA).

Lou: Thanks for the pronounciation tips! I’ve given it a go, but I still don’t think I’ve got it! (laughs) I’ll just pronounce it in my own special way! You’ve mentioned that the snake concept has been with you for a while. Why are you drawn to that particular imagery?

ZØRORMR: Since my childhood I have been drawn to the concept of the snake as the powerful and wise deity or being. How it really happened? Hard to tell. Some people are attracted to spiders, others like wolves. I for that matter, found that my “animality” is the serpent. I don’t understand the Christian concept of the serpent, the deceiver and something evil that man should be afraid of. The only thing that man should by scared of is his own stupidity and ignorance. In various cultures around the world the snake is a strong symbol, look at Damballah in voodoo, Nidhogg in Norse mythology, Apophis in the Ancient Egypt. Perhaps they are “not so good”, but I don’t get the whole omnipotent god without a flaw concept. I think that the Greeks were right, that gods are like we, good, evil, right and wrong… But that’s another story.

Lou: Is it still possible for us to buy “Withering Hopes” anywhere? I’ve become a fan now… I must own it ALL!

ZØRORMR: Yeah it is possible through the Witching Hour Productions Webshop (www.witchinghour.pl/shop/) Simply search for it or select “Via-Nocturna” as the manufacturer and you’ll get it. There are only few copies left. It was a 100 copies tight limited edition, and there are no plans for a re-issue.

Lou: What other material do you have lurking out there and is it still available to buy?

ZØRORMR: That’s pretty much it. Both “Onoskelis” and “Yog-Sothoth” (that were recorded as I.A. SERPENTOR) are available for download at my label’s website (www.via-nocturna.com). Oh, and a last I.A. SERPENTOR track were added to the “Obscurum Aeterna” compilation last year, you can download it also. Since I have some plans regarding ZORORMR at the moment I try not to focus on the older stuff. But maybe a retrospective 3xCD album would be a great idea, I’ll think about it when I’ll have some more time.

Lou: “Kval” is one of my favourite albums of 2010 so far (seriously!) and I was hoping that you would be able to talk to us about some of the tracks on it. I’ll start off with the obvious one, the one that really hooked me in – “Misanthropy”. I’m a huge fan of Devilish Impressions (and Crionics, although I’ve yet to really hear any of their stuff with Quazarre onboard), and I was wondering how Quazarre ended up on the album?

ZØRORMR: Thank you for your kind words. I was anxious to see how people will respond to ZORORMR, since it’s a totally primitive production, no fucking “Metal Timbaland”. Raw, simple and sweet… I hope (laugh). But to answer your question… Quazarre and I go a long way back… 6 years I think! Since our first meeting we’ve been collaborating in various ways, not only drinking you know When I’ve finished the writing of “Misanthropy” I knew that a solo part is very much needed! Since it was to be the main promo track for the album, I thought who might play a classy, yet fucked up old-school solo for ZORORMR, and the first person I thought about was Quazarre. He took the track home, then arrived to my studio and played this wonderful piece! We’ve been talking about doing something together for some time now, so be advised that this solo for ZORORMR’s “Misanthropy” is only a teaser before what is to be recorded as VITROFYRR. A project we’ve formed back on the 9th day of the 9th month of the 9th year! Hell, it’s going to be a fucked up shit! A surprise to all the fans of DEVILISH IMPRESSIONS and mine (if there are any, laugh). I’m currently writing the ambient, electronics and keys for that matter, and the album is planned to be released around 10/10/2010!

Lou: Are you able to tell us any more about the Vitrofyrr project? Does the album have a name yet? Are you able to tell us anything about the music that will be featured on it?

ZØRORMR: Well, the VITROFYRR album is in the making. That’s all that’s solid right now. We have like 2-3 pre-recorded songs and many in the making. The album is yet untitled, and will have around 8-9 tracks of maximum 45 minutes. It’s a kind of side project that you don’t fuck with, going like “this note here, this there, it has to sell to the fans of…”. We don’t give a shit about that. This is going to be a straight, “in your face” album that will show a whole new Quazarre and me. The actual recording is set on August this year, post production will be done in September , so a month later it shall be available in stores (hopefully). For now, stick around to the VITROFYRR MySpace and you’ll know more soon (www.myspace.com/vitrofyrr)

Lou: What does “Kval” mean?

ZØRORMR: It’s the Norwegian word for suffering – the keyword and the main idea to all the tracks behind this album. Music must have meaning for me, some kind of a message. I can’t write a single note if I’m not sure about that it will tell a story, or depict an idea. So there must be a message included, and all those messages form up a concept. This album is not telling a single story, for I’m not as good at storytelling as KING DIAMOND is, but there is a main topic, and all the tracks in a way reflect that topic.

Lou: Is there a track on the album that you’re particularly proud of? If so, which one?

ZØRORMR: The obvious choice would have to be “Misanthropy”, because it’s the “in your face” hit single (laugh). Just after finishing the mastering I thought that “Revelation 9:11” is the best track on the album, because of it’s massive murk atmosphere and a variety of different sounds used! Read the lyrics! The bible quotes are simply powerful! Also, can you stop banging your head to the line “Nightmares, they never go away…”?

Lou: I understand that you played all of the instruments and wrote all of the tracks on the album yourself (apart from the guitar solo on “Misanthropy”!). Was there a reason why you chose to work alone on this project?

ZØRORMR: Yeah, I played all the guitars and keys. The drums are programmed by me. The production is also mine alone. Why do have a DIY project? (laugh) It’s a one-man band like in the old days! There is no need for other musicians, except for guests, to participate. I’m an individualist and don’t like comprise in art or life. Running a four or five-man band is a challenge I can’t afford right now, due to the lack of time and shit like that. But who knows? Maybe ZORORMR will have a bigger line-up? If we were to be a concert band, perhaps. Time will tell.

Lou: Do you think that you will ever tour with Zorormr? If so, you should come to London. We’ll have beers and you can teach me how to pronounce Zorormr!

ZØRORMR: It’s not so simple, but thanks for the invite. I would love to visit GB. Touring with a one man band is easy, but playing live – that’s a different story (laugh). I don’t have a “live line-up” right now, so any gigs and stuff like that will have to wait. I would love to play live, that’s a kind of a silly dream of mine… But dreams do come true, don’t they?

Lou: How long did the album take to write and record?

ZØRORMR: Well, I’ve started writing music for this album in late 2009, but the real work was done in the last months of Winter 2010 – February and March mostly. In April the vocals were recorded and the post production took place, so it wasn’t that long. Since I’ve been the sole man behind the knobs and instruments it had to take some time. There was some rush in the end because of the premiere date set to early, but I’ve made it so the album was available on Walpurgis Night as intended.

Lou: Are there any ongoing themes running throughout the album? Are there any messages that you wanted to convey through the music?

ZØRORMR: As I’ve said it’s an album about suffering, but it’s not about physical pain or shit like that. I’m no masochist (laugh). Also notice the recurring God/Satan topics, good & evil… I don’t think that there is a message that says: “do this”, or “do that”. I’ve wanted the listener to have a better knowing of me, what I’m afraid of, and what’s inside my head right now. There are no simple answers or omnipotent truths. There is simply questioning and denial mixed with longing for truth.

Lou: Thanks again for taking the time out to answer my questions – it’s very much appreciated!