Metal pages of the past

"Alver was approached during a drunking binge at Elm Street (Which was all but uncommon. In those days, you would find me in one of three places: Elm Street, our rehearsal space or Czral's place). We knew that Fenriz was probably leaving at some point, the need to cover our ass felt paramount. We decided to secretly give Alver a tryout. Not very well thought through, we arranged this very secret meeting in the same timeframe we would normally rehearse. 30 minutes to an hour later Fenriz showed up with bass in hand ready for rehearsal. I will leave you to imagine the next awkward few moments" - Vicotnik, liner notes for the reissue of Monumental Possession

Often the most radical bands and people tend to get liberal and softer while they develop. Would you see this kind of development possible for Deathspell Omega? No, that's impossible. It's mostly teenager that still have a need of evolution. We know who we are, what we think, and what we fight for. The message will never change, nor will the music get "nicer". Black Metal is a tradition, and to experiment musically or lyrically should be punished by torture Source: Northern Heritage zine, 2000.

Ihsahn: We were in touch with other metal bands quite early. We went to meet up with Darkthrone and even sat in on rehearsals where they rehearsed for the [1996] Goatlord album that they originally planned to release after [1991’s] Soulside Journey. We had contact with the Old Funeral guys and some people who are now in Enslaved. The first time we got Ivar [Bjornson] from Enslaved drunk, he was twelve. Source: Louder Than Hell: The Definitive Oral History of Metal