Interview by: Nkro
First I would like to thank you Sykelig for taking the time for this interview in this the first volume of Voices from the Underground! As
with most interviews, at the start please tell us all a little about Den Saakaldte.
When was it formed and how your band came into existence?
Den Saakaldte started in 2006 as a "one man project" by me. After some time everything changed developed to be a regular band
since good friends like Jormungand, Seidemann and Niklas Kvarforth joined. Right now the line up consists of me Sykelig on guitars,
Kvarforth-vocals, Seidemann-bass, Uruz-drums and Jormungand-keys and effects. We have two official releases so far, the "Øl, Mørke
og Depresjon" and our new and first full length album "All Hail Pessimism". So far we have headlined Inferno Festival in Norway and we
are going to perform live this summer at Party San Open Air...i guess that's about it.
Is there a special meaning behind your band name? How is this reflected throughout your music?
There is NO exact translation to the name as many want to believe. The name reflects to the people, person or whatever, that
distances themselves from the rest of the world and they carry the title of the outcast. My interpretation to the whole thing is quite
weird actually as i see it as "the so called, cold individual". I have been considered to be a "cold" person by other people's sayings...
So...the Den Saakaldte, for me and my interpretation, is also a word mindfuck. You see, if you want to spell correctly the word, that
would be "såkalte". So...i "find" my "coldness" in the "saakaldte". It is a weird interpretation but i like to see in that way. I guess the
name hides pain, sins, sorrow, sadness and at the same time pride...so..i guess it fits with the music quite good.
What other influences would you consider as important when it comes to creating your music? In terms of other music or genres,
literature and or other forms of art you would deem as inspiring?
Things that inspire me i guess is Satan, reality and alcohol. My family also inspires me. Important things when it comes to creating
music can be many...the environment that surrounds you, mental state, alcohol, favourite bands...i draw influences from everything.
The most bizzare and worth to deal with though is the human mind...Den Saakaldte's lyrics are focusing mostly on that. On how the
human mind can turn into different directions and from the moment that the world was burning to consider hapiness..or insanity? It
depends... Always depends.
“All Hail Pessimism” is such a great album, how has the response been so far?
Thanx for your kind words first of all. It is too early i guess to talk about feedback. Haven't read any reviews even yet. But considering
from mail i am getting from people around the world, it seems that people like it and also that people had missed the old fashioned
feeling that Den Saakaldte has. We all in Den Saakaldte like the 1993-97 black metal years and basically our music is based there...with
just some additional elements that maybe take the whole thing a few steps further.
Your songs all have a wonderful atmosphere and ambience to them. Is the recorded outcome exactly as you envisioned it? Or did this
all evolve throughout the writing/recording process?
Actually yes, it approaches the how i had imagined the material back in the days that i was composing it. All the members did an
amazing performance while recording so we are all very satisfied with the album. Of course while recording you discover new ways of
doing things so, yes mostly with Uruz, Seidemann and Niklas, we evolved certain parts. All the songs in the album are very well
thought and placed in a specific position in the album. The album it is considered to be a concept of the dark side of the man's mind.
So...we are actually talking about thoughts that need to have continuation...
I am a Graphic Designer by trade. Who was responsible for the cover art and inlay on your “All Hail Pessimism” release…very impressive.
All the layout and artwork construction was made by Trine og Kim. The persons that are behind layouts from bands like Arcturus,
Ulver, Darkthrone, Ved Buens Ende...to name a few. We are also very satisfied with what they created for us, as they have managed
to succeed, by depicting the "wounded but staborn outcast" i was telling you before...
Each of your members are from some really great, well respected and very busy Metal outfits. Is band practice an intense affair? Do
you get together often to create?
No. If we are going to meet that would be mostly for beer drinking. We don't rehearse and when we rehearse it is only before gigs...
and don't imagine many rehearsals...maximum 3. I am mostly recording my guitar lines in my home studio and then i pass the files to
the rest of the members so as to make their parts. We have constant communication on how the parts should be so, in the end that
we need to record things we all know what to do. It is quite difficult to meet for rehearsals when Seidemann and Jormungand live in
oslo, i live in Notodden and Uruz in Hønefoss...plus, Niklas is based in Sweden so... We are lucky actually that we have 2-3 rehearsals
before our gigs, hahah...
Tell us a little bit about Den Saakaldte gigs, the crazy shit that happens, everything haha.
Not much to say actually... People say that we look, like every member of the band is in a totally different reality and in our own
worlds, that there is a weird vibe and insanity wandering on stage and that Niklas looks homicidal in a totally different way compared
to his performances with Shining. I guess it must be good. Last year that we headlined Inferno Festival, we had a mirror on stage
were Niklas was discussing different things with himself when he wasn't singing...It was interesting alright.
How was it working with Avantgarde Music for the release of “All Hail...”? Are you happy with how things are turning out? Promotion,
distribution, marketing wise?
Also too early to say... So far everything is great. They are doing the best they can for us and they never interferred with our music,
our layout or whatever. So..they have my respect for that.
How much more now have you absorbed in connection with the music business and how to navigate your success in the current
state of things?
I just want to play music and people to be able to appreciate it or not. That's all. If i have to do music business things that's not my
choice but it is a bit unavoidable since i prefer not having a manager or something like that. I am too back in the 90s i guess, hahah...
Which albums (metal/non-metal) do you see as essential?
Emperor-mini, Darkthrone- A Blaze In the Northern Sky, Burzum-Det Som Engand Var, Pentagram- Review Your Choices, Ulver-
Vargnatt, Ved Buens Ende-Written In Waters, Fleurety-Min Tid Skal Komme, Arcturus- Constelation, Mayhem-Wolf's Lair Abyss,
Master's Hammer- Ritual, The Cure-Pornography, Beyond Dawn-Revelry, Death In June-The World That Summer, Cocteau Twins-
Treasure, Dead Can Dance-Spleen and Ideal....Just to name a few. I listen to quite a lot of different genres actually.
What do you do in your spare time (if you have any)? Do you have a day job?
Well actually my free time is zero lately...and it will be even more less in the near future since i am becoming a father pretty soon.
Yes, i have a day job, a house to keep up with and family. I am not living in caves or forests as many think or wish, hahahah...
I know its early, but what’s next for Den Saakaldte?
We are going to release a split EP on may as we are quite into vinyl releases. Vinyl is cult. Also we are confirmed for Party San Open
Air this summer. After that there is some talking about a mini european tour but nothing is certain yet.
Thanks again for your time, is there anything you would like to add? Any closing words?
No.
WEB: http://www.myspace.com/densaakaldte
with most interviews, at the start please tell us all a little about Den Saakaldte.
When was it formed and how your band came into existence?
Den Saakaldte started in 2006 as a "one man project" by me. After some time everything changed developed to be a regular band
since good friends like Jormungand, Seidemann and Niklas Kvarforth joined. Right now the line up consists of me Sykelig on guitars,
Kvarforth-vocals, Seidemann-bass, Uruz-drums and Jormungand-keys and effects. We have two official releases so far, the "Øl, Mørke
og Depresjon" and our new and first full length album "All Hail Pessimism". So far we have headlined Inferno Festival in Norway and we
are going to perform live this summer at Party San Open Air...i guess that's about it.
Is there a special meaning behind your band name? How is this reflected throughout your music?
There is NO exact translation to the name as many want to believe. The name reflects to the people, person or whatever, that
distances themselves from the rest of the world and they carry the title of the outcast. My interpretation to the whole thing is quite
weird actually as i see it as "the so called, cold individual". I have been considered to be a "cold" person by other people's sayings...
So...the Den Saakaldte, for me and my interpretation, is also a word mindfuck. You see, if you want to spell correctly the word, that
would be "såkalte". So...i "find" my "coldness" in the "saakaldte". It is a weird interpretation but i like to see in that way. I guess the
name hides pain, sins, sorrow, sadness and at the same time pride...so..i guess it fits with the music quite good.
What other influences would you consider as important when it comes to creating your music? In terms of other music or genres,
literature and or other forms of art you would deem as inspiring?
Things that inspire me i guess is Satan, reality and alcohol. My family also inspires me. Important things when it comes to creating
music can be many...the environment that surrounds you, mental state, alcohol, favourite bands...i draw influences from everything.
The most bizzare and worth to deal with though is the human mind...Den Saakaldte's lyrics are focusing mostly on that. On how the
human mind can turn into different directions and from the moment that the world was burning to consider hapiness..or insanity? It
depends... Always depends.
“All Hail Pessimism” is such a great album, how has the response been so far?
Thanx for your kind words first of all. It is too early i guess to talk about feedback. Haven't read any reviews even yet. But considering
from mail i am getting from people around the world, it seems that people like it and also that people had missed the old fashioned
feeling that Den Saakaldte has. We all in Den Saakaldte like the 1993-97 black metal years and basically our music is based there...with
just some additional elements that maybe take the whole thing a few steps further.
Your songs all have a wonderful atmosphere and ambience to them. Is the recorded outcome exactly as you envisioned it? Or did this
all evolve throughout the writing/recording process?
Actually yes, it approaches the how i had imagined the material back in the days that i was composing it. All the members did an
amazing performance while recording so we are all very satisfied with the album. Of course while recording you discover new ways of
doing things so, yes mostly with Uruz, Seidemann and Niklas, we evolved certain parts. All the songs in the album are very well
thought and placed in a specific position in the album. The album it is considered to be a concept of the dark side of the man's mind.
So...we are actually talking about thoughts that need to have continuation...
I am a Graphic Designer by trade. Who was responsible for the cover art and inlay on your “All Hail Pessimism” release…very impressive.
All the layout and artwork construction was made by Trine og Kim. The persons that are behind layouts from bands like Arcturus,
Ulver, Darkthrone, Ved Buens Ende...to name a few. We are also very satisfied with what they created for us, as they have managed
to succeed, by depicting the "wounded but staborn outcast" i was telling you before...
Each of your members are from some really great, well respected and very busy Metal outfits. Is band practice an intense affair? Do
you get together often to create?
No. If we are going to meet that would be mostly for beer drinking. We don't rehearse and when we rehearse it is only before gigs...
and don't imagine many rehearsals...maximum 3. I am mostly recording my guitar lines in my home studio and then i pass the files to
the rest of the members so as to make their parts. We have constant communication on how the parts should be so, in the end that
we need to record things we all know what to do. It is quite difficult to meet for rehearsals when Seidemann and Jormungand live in
oslo, i live in Notodden and Uruz in Hønefoss...plus, Niklas is based in Sweden so... We are lucky actually that we have 2-3 rehearsals
before our gigs, hahah...
Tell us a little bit about Den Saakaldte gigs, the crazy shit that happens, everything haha.
Not much to say actually... People say that we look, like every member of the band is in a totally different reality and in our own
worlds, that there is a weird vibe and insanity wandering on stage and that Niklas looks homicidal in a totally different way compared
to his performances with Shining. I guess it must be good. Last year that we headlined Inferno Festival, we had a mirror on stage
were Niklas was discussing different things with himself when he wasn't singing...It was interesting alright.
How was it working with Avantgarde Music for the release of “All Hail...”? Are you happy with how things are turning out? Promotion,
distribution, marketing wise?
Also too early to say... So far everything is great. They are doing the best they can for us and they never interferred with our music,
our layout or whatever. So..they have my respect for that.
How much more now have you absorbed in connection with the music business and how to navigate your success in the current
state of things?
I just want to play music and people to be able to appreciate it or not. That's all. If i have to do music business things that's not my
choice but it is a bit unavoidable since i prefer not having a manager or something like that. I am too back in the 90s i guess, hahah...
Which albums (metal/non-metal) do you see as essential?
Emperor-mini, Darkthrone- A Blaze In the Northern Sky, Burzum-Det Som Engand Var, Pentagram- Review Your Choices, Ulver-
Vargnatt, Ved Buens Ende-Written In Waters, Fleurety-Min Tid Skal Komme, Arcturus- Constelation, Mayhem-Wolf's Lair Abyss,
Master's Hammer- Ritual, The Cure-Pornography, Beyond Dawn-Revelry, Death In June-The World That Summer, Cocteau Twins-
Treasure, Dead Can Dance-Spleen and Ideal....Just to name a few. I listen to quite a lot of different genres actually.
What do you do in your spare time (if you have any)? Do you have a day job?
Well actually my free time is zero lately...and it will be even more less in the near future since i am becoming a father pretty soon.
Yes, i have a day job, a house to keep up with and family. I am not living in caves or forests as many think or wish, hahahah...
I know its early, but what’s next for Den Saakaldte?
We are going to release a split EP on may as we are quite into vinyl releases. Vinyl is cult. Also we are confirmed for Party San Open
Air this summer. After that there is some talking about a mini european tour but nothing is certain yet.
Thanks again for your time, is there anything you would like to add? Any closing words?
No.
WEB: http://www.myspace.com/densaakaldte
