-The Albums-
mpomusic: You have just released the new album
Undeceived. Rumors go that you are about to sign a major deal. Some say it's with Century
Media. Are there plans to work out such a deal?
Chrizter:Yes it is true that we are in
negotiations with another label. However I can not reveal which one. We will inform you
through our website though if we decide to sign a deal.
mpomusic: What strikes me about the new album is
that it's printed in black and silver only, so it just looks a bit like the AFTE site with
its black background and silver-colored fonts. Why such a sober look for the CD? Is there
some kind of reason behind it or was it just chosen for the dark look of it?
Chrizter: We had really colorful covers on our two
first albums, so it was time for a really cold cover. To honest with you I love it. I
think it fits the music really well.
mpomusic: There's a song on the new album called
Time Stands Still that's both lyrically as musically from your hand. The lyrics seem to
deal with a personal struggle of yours. Is that correct? And if so, is it to deal with it
yourself or even to communicate about this with your public. In other words, what is the
idea behind writing that lyric?
Chrizter: Those lyrics deal with a struggle that
I've had. The song is about sinning the same sin over and over, about coming to a point
where you're actually addicted to a sin. I just wrote down my feelings on the subject one
time when I was really frustrated, and I know that a lot of people can relate to it, and
hopefully it'll help them get past that problem.
Rogoth: hey that's cool to say. I think a lot of
people will read things into it. from what I perceive it's about something sexually.
masturbation perhaps?
mpomusic: Rogoth speaks from his own experiences!
He must have thought you were writing about him!
Chrizter: To me this is very personal, so I am not
going to let you know what my problem was, but you can apply the lyrics to any sin that
one have fallen in to. Sin is unclean whether it's a sexual sin or any other kind. By the
way I don't believe masturbation in it self is a sin. But thinking unclean thoughts or
watching porn definitely is.
mpomusic: How are the reviews going?
Chrizter: Great, I haven't seen a bad one yet : -)
-The Touring-
mpomusic: On the last US Tour you did your
release-party for Undeceived along with the release-parties of King Diamond and Sanctus.
At least, that was scheduled. Can you tell us something about the whole thing?
Chrizter: The King Diamond release show was a CD
release show for his new CD. So the King wasn't there himself... Extol, Sanctus and one
other band played though, in a theater in Ventura, California.
Rogoth: Hey, man, how was it like, this
CD-releaseparty? Was it a cool thing to do?
Chrizter: It was cool, but it would have been
cooler if more people showed up.
There was about 200 people there, but the venue was so big, it felt like 50.
mpomusic: What kind of memories do you cherish
from the US Tour?
Chrizter: Cornerstone is always fun. Playing in
front of 2000 people of course, but also meeting new people and friends. Our favorite show
on the tour was club 412 in Ft.Worth Texas. The people there know how to ROCK!!!! Also
touring with Gnashing of Teeth was really nice.
Rogoth: What I've been wondering about is if the
band is trying to do a European tour. You've been to the USA so many times that you can
dream the place. You're gonna do Christmas Rocknight in Germany. But besides that, are
there plans to rock this part of the world?
Chrizter: We'd love to do a European, tour, but so
far we haven't had much of a distribution in Europe, so people simply don't know we exist.
Now that we're in negotiations with a label for distribution in Europe, hopefully we'll be
able to do a European tour some time soon.
-The Band-
mpomusic: The band plays an extreme metal style
but there are all kinds of influences like black metal, thrash and some other styles. The
basis is still death metal I think. How would you like to describe the band's musical
direction?
Chrizter: My definition of our music is
"experimental death/black metal". It's quite a wide description, and that's the
point, 'cause people hear different things in our music. I've heard a lot of different
labels on our music from different people...
mpomusic: What kind of labels? Some people think
of Extol being a black metal band but I can't agree with that. So, what do people say
about Extol's style?
Chrizter: Well, we hear a lot (from Americans)
that we are Hardcore or Metalcore. Some people say we're a prog-metal band, some say power
metal, and one labeled us Jazz-metal : -)
mpomusic: Those are some weird labels! I guess
they forgot what metal is in the US.... Another question. Svein Sander from Antestor once
told me that Extol has its rehearsal room in their church. I don't know if this is still
the case but how does your church think about the band considering its extreme style?
Chrizter: We're just getting another place to
rehearse now, but we've been rehearsing in the church for as long as the band has existed.
The Pastor and elders have no problem with that at all. They are very supportive to Extol.
Tribal_S: I was wondering if all of you guys grew
up in Christian homes or if you guys became Christians later in life?
Chrizter: Yes, all of us grew up in Christian
homes
-The Person/Musician-
mpomusic: You're known as the guitarist for Extol.
How did you interest in music start?
Chrizter: That's a good one. Well, I've always
liked music I guess. When I was about 12-13 I started listening to bands like Petra and
Whitecross, and from there the bands just got harder and harder. Also, my mom is good at
singing and my father used to play lots of different instruments.
Rogoth: Petra? Come on, man! You must be joking!
How is it possible that you turned out as a guitarist for Extol?
Chrizter: Hey, I said I was 12-13! I bet you
didn't start listening to Vengeance Rising when you were 5.. : -) That's where it started:
Petra, Barren Cross, Stryper and Whitecross.
Rogoth: Okay man, just kidding.....:-)) Did you
check out secular bands too? I mean, at the time you were 12 Guns 'n Roses was big and
some other bands. Perhaps you listened to Metallica.
Chrizter: Actually I didn't start listening to
secular music until a few years back..
Eirik: Hey christer. what bands do you listen to
and get inspiration from?
Chrizter: Lately I've been listening to Spiral
Architect (Sceptic's Universe), King's X (the new one) Galactic Cowboys (the new one),
Cynic and Spastic Inc.
Johannes: What are your ideas of Christian people
listening to "evil" and perhaps satanic bands like Slayer, Cannibal Corpse or
Danzig?
Chrizter: I think it's an individual thing. I
think for some people it is not good to get into secular music at all. Personally I enjoy
listening to some bands who are not Christians, but who don't have anti-Christian
attitudes. I enjoy the music. When it comes to blasphemous lyrics, I don't listen to that
at all, no matter how good the music is.
mpomusic: How did music become a part of your
life. I mean, when did you decide to learn play an instrument and why? Was that an early
desire, maybe to start a band later on? Or was it a family thing as your brother is also
active in music plus your parents being into music?
Chrizter: I started playing guitar when I was 15,
but I think that both Peter and I have inherited our musical understanding from our
parents and grandparents. The reason I started to play guitar was that I wanted (and David
wanted me) to start playing with him. He had been playing for 4 years and wanted someone
to play with.
Rogoth: Man, who are your influences as a
guitarist then? I'm sure not Bob Hartman from Petra. Which guitarist do you look up to and
why?
Chrizter: Actually I've never had any major
influences from guitarists in bands that I like. The two guitarists that have influenced
me the most is Emil Nikolaisen and Ole Børud...
Rogoth: Ah, the guys you have been playing with in
Extol! I play guitar too and I was wondering what kinda gear you use.
Chrizter: I use an Ibanez RG770 on Marshall jmp1
pre-amp and Marshall 9200 Power amp with Marshall 4x12
Tribal_S: I have a strumming technic question for
you. Since you play in an extreme death metal band I hear a lot of chugs and gallops. Now
the band I am in is a very heavy band and we use chugs constantly but I find myself
downstroking a lot. My question is, how can I make my wrist more relax so I can down and
up stroke to get the chugs I need? Do you know of any good exercises?
Chrizter: I don't know, you'll just have to
practice so that you can get faster I guess. That way you'll relax more when playing the
chugs.
Simehiri: Being a musician in a experimental/tech
band... do you ever
find yourself over-analyzing or getting caught up in technique when you are writing music?
I am a massive fan of Extol and am in awe how you guys weave such complex music so
intricately. Basically, I myself have a hard time playing with a band because I
over-analyze my music. Any advice for a chronic perfectionist?
Chrizter: I don't over-analyze when I write music,
but when I listen to music, sometimes I find it hard not to analyze. Sometimes it's good,
but sometimes I just want to enjoy the music for what it is without having to analyze.
Rogoth: There's something else I've been wondering
about. On Burial you thank in the credits "the girlfriend I don't have (you better
find me soon.....I'm tired of waiting)". On the new album there's the same sort of
phrase. Are you desperate or is this just an open invitation to all the girls to send in
photos along with perfumed letters? :-))
Chrizter: On Burial I was kind of desperate, but
then God thaught me how to be patient, and wait for the right timing. So, as you can see
on Undeceived ("It's ok, I'll wait") I'm not at all desperate. I lay the whole
matter in the hands of God.
Rogoth: Yeah, indeed. Man, that was just what I
wanted to ask. Because the change is so obvious. I heard you like one of the girls in the
band Umbrella....but on the other hand you're so occupied with being in the band. Does
that hinder you? Your time is limited perhaps and I guess people (and also girls) look up
to you.
Simehiri: No, no, no, Rogoth. I was merely busting
Christer's chops about Henriette (drummer of Umbrella). I found out about Umbrella
from the Shofar page and my Norwegian friend who is really into them. Um, but Christer,
I'm sure God has a girl for you, just keep in His will, man.
Chrizter: Rogoth, where the heck do you get that
from? (about Umbrella?) Yes, I am very occupied, but when I get a girl I'll just have to
cut down on some other things...
-Everything Else-
mpomusic: There's an official website for the
band. But to my idea it looks a bit label dominated with few updates and hardly
interactions possibilities between the band and their fans. It's as if it's the label's
bandpage, instead of the real official site, if you know what I mean. How do you look upon
the official site yourself? Are you happy with it or do you miss certain things?
Chrizter: Our webmaster works for Endtime, so you
are correct. I like the site a lot, and both the band and the label want to make it look
as professional as possible. I do agree though that it should be updated waaay more often.
By the way, there's going to be major updates on our site within next week.
mpomusic: The looks of the site is good of course.
But how much do you have to say about it, as a band? Take for instance the links-page.
That seems to be dictated by the company rather than the band's favorite links or
whatever. Or am I looking a bit negatively upon it? Take for instance a site of the band
Tourniquet. They have all kinds of feats that will attract people all the time. They have
boards to hang out with other fans, they have a page referring to all kinds of interviews
with the band on the internet, they have a lot of MP3's and other cool things that makes
you want to come back all the time.
Chrizter: I understand what you're saying, but the
thing is that none of us in the band is abled to run a website (I'm working on it though),
so Endtime does it for us. And Samuel (webmaster) is a very busy man, so he can't spend
all his time making all kinds of special features for the site.
Simehiri: Yeah, updates would be greatly
appreciated. I actually missed your show in Colorado because the date was a day off at
your official page. I was bummed, but it's a simple mistake. I'll just have to check out
Solid State's tour date for concert confirmation next time.
Chrizter: I'm so sorry about that (you missing the
show) That never should have happened.
mpomusic: I would like to see a personal touch of
the band to make it a real official site. The reason I bring this up is because I wonder
about your idea of artistic freedom. To me the website suggests your not entirely free to
make it the band's site. What are your ideas about artistic freedom and how far can one
go? Take for instance some of the T-shirts of Cradle Of Filth or Marduk. What do you think
of that and is there some kind of limit you can describe, if there's. one?
Chrizter: About the website, e-mail Samuel at
Endtime (endtime@durling.com) if you have suggestions. We want him to do the site. By the
way we're getting playlists for every member on there soon (they will change every month).
To be honest I haven't put much thought into the artistic freedom thing. To me, Cradle of
Filth is just silly. The reason is that it's all just image, it's all about the money
mpomusic: I just had one other question in mind
about the artistic freedom thing. I can agree that Cradle Of Filth is a money machine. But
what about Marduk. I'm sure you know them and saw their shirts like the F*** Me Jesus
shirt. What are your ideas about artistic freedom then. Is it unlimited or where do you
put the limit?
Chrizter: Actually I know very little about
Marduk, and I haven't seen the t-shirt that you are mentioning. I guess people have the
right to say whatever they want, or mean whatever they want, but I think most of the bands
who have such a blasphemous, anti-Christian views are tired of religion. The man-made
thing. You know, all the outer things. They are against Christians (=human beings), but
not against God or Jesus, because if they had experienced God they'd never say anything
like that (on the t-shirt).
To be honest I can't blame them. There are too many hypocrites in the body of Christ...
Simehiri: How did the U.S. tour go with Tor and
John of Lengsel? Is Lengsel on hold for the time being? Oh, and bring Crimson Moonlight
with you to Cornerstone next year!! Heh heh...
Chrizter: The tour went really well. Lengsel is
not on hold. Right now they are rehearsing and making new stuff for their new recording
that will start around February/March. |
