Entrevista de Peso com Rune Folgerø (Atrox)

Rune Folgerø é mais do que uma pessoa do Norte com um nome estranho que habita no Norte da Europa (mais exactamente na Noruega). Rune é também o responsável pelas vozes e samplagens na banda de avant-garde metal Atrox, desde que a antiga vocalista Monika Edvardsen abandonou a banda - logo após a gravação do álbum Orgasm - levando a uma mudança drástica na sonoridade da banda.
Rune Folgerø fala-nos da banda e do último álbum Binocular, do forte espírito musical que se vive na Noruega e apresenta-nos alguns valores futuros.

Música de Peso - According to some sites, Atrox formed in 1988, but people had to wait until 1997 to hear the first LP, Mesmerised. What took you so long to release the album?
Rune Folgerø - Back in 1988 the guys in the band were around 15 years old, and recording albums, and even more – releasing them - would have been quite difficult. Atrox has also faced quite a bit of line-up changes since the beginning, so the young age and stability within the band has been working factors here. - but it must be mentioned that there was, nevertheless some recordings done prior to the first album, like the demos “Mind Shadow” and “Dead Leaves”. The band also needed to get a record deal and that did not happen before 1996, when Atrox signed to Danza Ipnotica for a 7” and Head Not Found for an album.
Another factor is that the band has always used some considerable time making new material , not releasing anything until 100% satisfied.


MP - After 4 LP's, Monika and Pete left the band. Why did that happen exactly?
RF - The main reason for this was that the members of the band had different opinions towards what musical directions Atrox should take and therefore it was hard to create music that all involved parts were satisfied with. You could say that Atrox was moving towards a dead end musically. Even whilst recording "Orgasm" there was a certain doubt about the musical direction Atrox was taking. Not seeing eye to eye (hearing ear to ear) musically was the main reason. Wanting to try new styles – and not wanting to be under the "metal" label where some of the members view. Monika and Pete was also not to found of doing gigs, and the others wanted to play live so we were not agreeing on this point of view either. So some things had to be changed for continuing Atrox, and in the end it turned out to be something positive for the band.

MP - The albums before Binocular were more aggressive, more extreme and now you have a great progressive, groovie and funky sound. Do you think you could make Binocular like five years ago, with the old line-up?
RF - I still feel there's quite a bit of aggression left in the band , and at some levels the intensity and "aggression" is way higher on this new album. But I guess that's a matter of opinion, and what you are hearing in the music. "Binocular" is wastly multilayered, and the fact that the Guitars aren't that dominant anymore, I can understand that this gives the album a "softer" finish.
The extremeness you are describing is due to Monikas extravagant, experimental vocals, there's still a lot of the same references in the compositions instrumentally.
The change from a flamboyant female singer – to the more streamlined vocals of todays line up has also clearly changed the sound. And here- in the Vocal department – things are even more aggressive – more catchy and melodic maybe – but also fitting in with the music, on a totally different level.
5 Years ago – Rune Sørgård wasn't in the band (taking a little break in Sweden) – and most of the material on "Binocular" comes from ideas and compositions he was making while he was there. When he returned to Atrox, and Norway he had his computer full of material he wanted to present for the band – and this new electronic influence was something that changed the whole soundscape drastically. So – the answer would have to be – no! - I don't think that would have been possible. And even more – within the band nowdays – there's a greater variety of musical references- not at all coming only from metal – backgrounds – we merge our heads and instruments together to create the Atroxphere.

MP - Was this the sound that you were looking for? Which bands do you consider to be your greatest influences?
RF - I must say that we are indeed very satisfied with the material on "Binocular", and yes, we did find most of the things we set out to find on this album. We even had a few surprises – discovering more than we initially thought we would. Coming from all sorts of musical backgrounds, it's not easy to mention the influences as a whole for the band. But our music may appeal to listeners of bands like: Arcturus, Ulver, Ved Buens Ende, Manes, Sepultura, Pain, Tim Burton productions, Fields of Nephilim, Paradise Lost, Silverbullit, Aryeon, Stephen King books, Faith No More, Mr Bungle, Peeping Tom, Mesuggah, Killing Joke, Peccatum, Rammstein, Frank Zappa, DHG, Voivod, Cynic, Aghora, 3rd & the Mortal, In the Woods, Fear of God, The Gathering, Madder Mortem, Devil Doll, Anathema, Katatonia, My Dying Bride, Diamanda Galas, Red Harvest and so on.

MP - Rune Sogard was also involved in How The World Came To An End, from Manes. Can you establish a comparison between Manes and the "new" Atrox?
RF - It is quite fair to draw these lines – and make a comparison between the two bands, both bands from Trondheim sharing some musicians – and the involvement of Sørgård – the use of electronics etc. But Manes was more of a musical colloboration, whereas I feel Atrox is a much more rooted band. And musically – of course the instrumentalists leave their signatures. But the album “How The World Came To An End” was mainly written by Manes members Cern, -viNd- (from Atrox) and Torstein.

MP - Why do you think that Northern Europe countries are so prolific in great quality music?
RF - Personally, I find it very difficult placing good music geographically , but I truly believe the winter climate up north does certain things to the human mind. We are known to be more patient and "Slow" compared to the more continental stereotypes. The waiting people – waiting for spring- long winter hibernation. The feeling of seeing/hearing something different and "exotic" is something we all come across when we encounter something from a different culture. But being in the midst of it, living in Norway- it is quite difficult to look upon this matter from the inside.

MP - Are you already thinking about what you're doing next? RF - We always have the next step on the Atrox ladder in mind, and we are well into pre-producing and making material for the next album. But there is still a lot of promotion and presentation of the material we have right now to be done. We are hoping to do a European Tour before 2009- and this is one of our main focuses at the moment.

MP - If you have to choose, which band(s) would you say it's going to be the "next big thing"?
RF - There's so much happening in the music scene – and it's hard to follow it all, but from Norway I believe that "Animal Alpha" will have quite a break soon. AND -There is this new band from Trondheim called "22" that I really think deserves to make it. CHECK THEM OUT! A crazy young bunch of good musicians – progging and funking up most musical references, one of my local favourites.

MP - When will you come to Portugal? (eheh)
RF - We are hoping to go touring as much as we can, to meet the audience and present our stuff... and there is as I mentioned earlier a plan for a European Tour soon. Maybe if someone from Portugal are willing to give us some hints and inside information, it will make it all easier (eheh). Both Season Of Mist - and the band are promoting the stuff – and things are happening.. We are building our network and expanding the Atroxphere- hope to see you out there one day!