ARCTURUS INTERVIEW
(EXCLUSIVE)
The unmissable annual black metal gathering that is Cosmic Void is fast approaching, and to celebrate, we caught up for a quick conversation with Steinar ‘Sverd’ Johnsen of Friday night headliners Arcturus. Arcturus themselves should need little introduction; being one of the first and one of the most important metal bands to come out of Norway, these early pioneers of symphonic, synth-driven black metal led the way for so many who followed. Sverd is the band’s founding member, along with the long-departed Marius Vold, with whom he recently reunited in the band Mortem, and continues to handle the prominent keyboards, as well as taking a heavy role in songwriting in the band.
Cult Never Dies: Hello Sverd! We are, of course, looking forward to your forthcoming Cosmic Void headlining performance – with such an extensive and varied back catalogue, how do you select setlists these days?
Sverd: “It can sometimes be a hard discussion internally to decide what songs to play as there are many opinions in the band, and all the guys have their favourites, and to compress this into what is usually a one-hour festival set can be difficult. So the decision usually falls on what songs can give everybody the best performance.”
For years Arcturus was famous for not playing in front of audiences, with only a few rare performances during Garm’s time in the group. Today you have a strong reputation for your live shows – do you personally enjoy playing live, and how did you feel about Arcturus being a studio-only project for so many years?
“From all the way back to the [debut album] Aspera Hiems Symfonia release show in 1995, I have enjoyed playing live – but unfortunately, not everybody in the band at that time enjoyed it that much, so Arcturus became a studio-only band for many years. Much of the reason I joined Covenant was the promise of going live. However, I finally got Arcturus back on stage, and it has been a blast ever since.”
What’s the situation regarding new material? Can we expect a follow-up to 2015’s Arcturian album any time soon?
“Yes, you can. During the last few years, we have composed and recorded a full album, and by now, there are only a few vocal recordings left before we can send that new album to mix. I can’t give you any release date yet, but once ready we’ll tell you.”
It’s almost a decade since Arcturian, and that album came ten years after Sideshow Symphonies. Are these long gaps due to the music taking a lot of time to create or because the members are busy with so many other bands and projects (including Mayhem, Mortem, Ved Buens Ende, the Kovenant, Borknagar and Den Saakaldte)?
“It’s a bit of both. Arcturus is quite complex musically and it takes time to compose all the different aspects so that the songs each get their own ‘soul’ and sound. In the later years, I have been composing music for two bands, so it’s a lot of songs to create. Arcturus have a new album ready, and Mortem also have a new album finished, composed, and ready to record.”
As you say, you’ve been busy in recent years with your original band Mortem, and you’ve also been playing in the reformed Covenant/ The Kovenant – can you tell us a bit about what you’ve been doing with those bands?
“As mentioned, Mortem is ready for studio, we have made tracks and lyrics for a new full album, we just need a few more details, and then we’ll be in the studio. I can mention that it was put a bit on hold because of The Kovenant reunion, as there were a lot of tracks, 16 in total, to pick and make synth arrangements for. Covenant/The Kovenant are going for many reunion shows next year and many dates have not been published yet. And maybe a new album... who knows?”
Though some more than others, every Arcturus album to date has included elements that were somewhat groundbreaking musically speaking – does that add pressure to the writing process? Does Arcturus have to have a progressive/experimental aspect to it in your opinion?
“Arcturus’ music is very personal for me, with a lot of hidden details; I don’t make things advanced on purpose, it all comes naturally; the composing of music and how things are going in life, there is a connection. All the aspects, frustration, love, passion, different moods, special places that can be described in music... yeah, all that shit makes good music. I feel a bit that I am in my own bubble, just creating what I feel. So no pressure, just a crazy mind [laughs].”
