HORNA | Interview with Shatraug of the Finnish Black Metal band HORNA

Diabolical Conquest (Travis Swanson): Greetings. First, Sotahuuto and Pimeyden Hehku solidify Horna as one of the most consistently high quality bands I keep up with -- which is high praise, considering the band is notoriously prolific, with dozens of EPs and splits on various formats. Do you find spontaneity to be a boon to the artistic process, or are you just extremely busy?

Horna (Shatraug): Horna used to be quite spontaneous indeed… just looking at the past when we did “Kohti Yhdeksän Nousua” and three months later already recorded “Haudankylmyyden Mailla”, another full length album. The fact is, I used to write music all the time I had some idea, scribe everything down in notebooks and by the time we got to work on the next idea, there was already few more waiting. During the last couple years I finally stopped doing that, let other members join the writing process and we have currently nothing unfinished after the new album is completed.

DC: Despite the often rigid elitism in the realm of raw/true/underground/whatever black metal, much of Horna's output has been relatively eclectic compared to competent, but (in my not-so-humble opinion) less interesting Finns like Musta Surma, Diaboli, and et al. Parts of Ääniä Yössä flirted with gorgeously hypnotic almost drone, while Sotahuuto had elements of crust and thrash (I love the buzzsaw guitars and occasional studio banter, by the way), and I have always noticed powerful strains of a straight-up heavy metal and rock ethic in your music -- perhaps most prominent in songs like "Kuoleva Lupaus" and "Praconium," two of my favorite Horna numbers. What are some of your favorite non-black metal albums? Did they have any influence on these subtle stylistic deviations?

Horna: It's safe to say that all music I hear becomes inspiration and influence in one way or another. I have noticed I'm constantly picking up ideas, even the slightest detail in some song that could trigger a whole new writing process in me. It's a never-ending cycle really… It's impossible to put my favourite non-black albums in any order so I just mention that I like many styles, as long as it's real music made by real people. Currently I'm listening to old Megadeth, In Gowan Ring, Danzig, Metsätöll and for example a band called Neronoia. I grew up with music and I will die with it.

DC: In which way will Horna's upcoming album, the tentatively titled "Sanojesi Äärelle," continue the previously described musical progression?

Horna: We have taken all the familiar elements of Horna and crafted this all into the pinnacle work of our creation, the most diversive yet most focused album up to date. There is a part of everything from the past.

DC: Corvus' vocal performance is still amazingly passionate and diverse. His energy in your last full-length certainly transcends the expectations of traditional black metal vocals. Despite Horna's inconsistent lineup, is it safe to assume the band has found its signature vocalist?

Horna: Yes, Horna does not exist without Corvus, that much is safe to say. There can never again be another vocalist in this band.

DC: Despite your distinct, often oldschool riffcrafting, Sargeist's Disciple of the Heinous Path struck me as a more gloomy and sort of nostalgic affair than most Horna material. The break and beyond four minutes into the title track, for example, had an almost classical appeal. The album was also surprisingly densely tangled and layered, with many subtle nuances to discover upon repeated listens. Will Sargeist continue to evolve accordingly as a separate entity from this path, or does it just exist as a project through which to experiment with ideas that were decided to not suit Horna/Behexen releases for whatever reasons?

Horna: I can honestly say it will be difficult to do something with Sargeist in the future, the standards are just so high it's going to be hard to surpass the two albums we did with this project so far. Needless to say, if we cannot do it, there will be no album again. I will be trying though, no doubt.

DC: You write in your native tongue. Can shed some light on Horna's lyrics and ideology (especially regarding Sotahuuto, being a tribute to Bathory's Quorthon) for non-Finnish-speaking fans?

Horna: The lyrics on “Sotahuuto” are all war lust, blasphemy, perversion, filth, a total representation of what the most primitive and grim black metal concept is. That album has no philosophical approach at all, it's just hatred and shit… Usually Horna lyrics have some theme around each album which the songs are used on but to make a long story short, common themes have been werewolves, superstitions, magick, black arts, Satanism… all the ingredients of black metal you can read anywhere.

DC: To go back in time a bit, Ääniä Yössä was a concept album about the yersinia pestis-induced plague that terrified Europe during the 14th century. However, in the liner notes lurked this cryptic message: "This [is a] vision of those raped by the filth of light..." For some reason I find this sentence fascinating. Can you elaborate on what you meant, and how it pertains to the album's concept?

Horna: It has all to do with the concept really. There would never have been such a huge plague without the religious and the governing people being so blind in their faith. To them it was a punishment from their “god” and we see it as the work of Satan. Perverted reality, feverish nightmares and blasphemous decisions.

DC: Are the band's sometimes spiritual themes merely theater stemming from an interest in the subject, or do you harbor genuine belief in forces beyond the realm of empiricist perception? Do you believe to have any metaphysical experiences?

Horna: It has been both through the years, really. Some subjects have been touched but have not evoked anything deeper within, and some have been life altering, directing the path I have walked on. It gets too personal after this so we continue it in a private conversation if it ever occurs…

DC: Idealism and faith can ultimately blackmail human happiness, regardless of religion. It is typically those with the most fervent belief in words like "justice" who remain idle in the conviction that only some incongruous divinity need entertain such concepts; hence the childish mantra "kill 'em all and let God sort them out." Having expressed an interest in Satanism (correct me if I'm wrong), do you believe human life has any inherent value or dignity?

Horna: For me life is what you make of it. I see worthless use of it every day at work and everywhere I go, the parasite nature of humanity is exceptional. Some people lack dignity completely and just drivel from day to day in their own mad addictions while they never see the simplest choices they could make to have more meaning. Life is a place to prepare your soul for eternity.

DC: This question is somewhat of a staple for black metal interviews: are music and image inseparable? Are the spikes, bone gauntlets and paint just a gimmick for shows and photoshoots, or would without them be like opera without scenery and costumes?

Horna: Personally I hold much value to the imagery of black metal as well, it really goes hand in hand with the music. I have seen many bands who fail doing so, and there will always be those bands whom you know by the first look are not serious in what they are doing. Many claim to paint the face of their soul in a corpsepaint, or dress themselves accordingly, but why are they just a ridicule of the image so often? It really represents the inner self… done with passion it reflects what black metal is all about.

DC: Do you have a stance either way regarding the online piracy controversy? Commercial music and artless radio pop is supposedly more affected by this so-called issue than anything, while it is assumed underground movements such as black metal are immune due to more a devoted fanbase. However, lengthy discographies filled with rarities may fuel a desire to exclusively download even in the music's most fundamental devotees, especially in those who are repelled by the materialistic psychology behind collecting. Your thoughts?

Horna: It's something that can't be avoided so I just choose to accept what P2P leeching has become. There will always be people who want the real thing in their hands while to others it's the same if they got stuff on mp3 online. I doubt the leeches appreciate their digital collections too much… I have downloaded plenty of music in the past myself too but only to notice I never even listened to any of it. The way it all worked for me is that I had a stupid greed to get all that interested me even the slightest bit, without caring about it at all. Hopefully many will get the same decisive moment in their lives…

DC: In the past, you have professed an interest in Nintendo. Which games have the most nostalgia for you? And I know this one's a longshot, but aside from being fun diversions, did any of these games inspire you in any way musically? I ask because much of black metal is almost video game-ish in how it spreads deceptively catchy narratives as a lo-fi backdrop.

Horna: Haha, yeah, I'm still totally into Nintendo. I don't accept any other game platforms and I simply still play my old machines. The games had always been good for imagination and me and my brother really learned English just by playing. Of course, I need to take the stand that we never liked any shooting games, and there were no Counter Strike or WoW back then. I have never caught the interest in those type of games, it's just waste of time being online playing with people. For me it was always something private to enjoy my time with. But to answer your question, yeah, I think the games inspired me musically as well. There are several Horna songs that feature influence from old Nintendo games even though it might be really hard for anyone else to hear it.

DC: Do you have any future splits in mind at this point?

Horna: The only split left to release is the Horna/Nefarious 7” which we had agreed on. No other split release is being planned or recorded.

DC: Is there anything you wish to say about touring?

Horna: But yes, we are planning to strike Europe and the States during the last months of 2008 with full force. It will be the biggest thing for Horna to date but I must also say to everyone who reads this it will also be the FINAL CHANCE you could see Horna live. After 2008 we are through with gigs and touring, so many things have changed in our lives and becomes more and more difficult to get anything done. Even if we had all the money in the world to do it, that's not motive enough. Horna was never about becoming a well paid rockstar so we are doing this only as long as it feels the right thing to do.

DC: Not to promote "scene" mentality, but simply by the virtue of spreading good art, are there any fellow countrymen you wish to plug here? Or anyone at all?

Horna: There's always something… latest Behexen album is great and I recently came across a really promising band called Inmitten Des Waldes. The underground is as thick with promise as it is with shit…

DC: Any final words?

Horna: Hail Satan. Watch out for the rite of darkness and Luciferian light… to the fount of thy word – we come!