Dark Funeral
In the Realm of Eternal Shadows

16.10.2016

“Ineffable kings of Swedish black metal” – that’s how hellish legionnaires from Stockholm like to introduce themselves – are on the prowl again. Of course, the band have never stepped down from their pedestal on the black metal scene, it’s just that their long-awaited studio album "Where Shadows Forever Reign" is finally out after seven years of waiting. During this period of turmoil, it wasn’t easy to approach the band for an interview, and it wasn’t until this summer that we got a chance to learn about the latest developments in Dark Funeral first-hand. However, it wasn’t that easy either, and instead of a comfortable 30-minute chat via phone or Skype I got to talking with Lord Ahriman (guitar) backstage at France’s Hellfest Open Air, and this interview lasted only 10 minutes ...

You returned to Moscow and St. Petersburg last year after quite a long time. How do you feel about those gigs?

We always have a good time when we play Russia. So this time we didn’t expect too much, I guess. And once again we were surprised by the killer crowd, everything was really cool. We enjoyed it a lot.

What can you say about Hellfest? Have you been here before?

Yeah, it’s our third time here. It’s a great big festival, it’s really cool organized, you know. And we have long been familiar with promoters here. So it’s always great to be back here.

This year you have released a new studio album "Where Shadows Forever Reign", but fans have been waiting for this for seven years. Why did it take so long?

Well… First we were touring a couple of years since our last record (“Angelus Exuro Pro Eternus”, 2009 – ed.). Then, as you probably know, we didn’t have a vocalist for a while. We didn’t want to start working on new songs with an incomplete line-up, and trying to find a new frontman took a lot of time. You know, sometimes it’s not easy to find the right person, who can not only be a true professional, but also be close to you mentally. After all, Heljarmadr became our new vocalist. He is a really strong, talented and gorgeous man in many aspects, and he fits perfectly into our family.

What can you say about working with Daniel Bergstrand as a producer?

He is very picky and very demanding. But these are the qualities that a cool producer should have. When you work on an album, he should be the one who squeezes all the powers from you to do a better job. And often he gave us some ideas that didn’t fundamentally change everything, but at the same time improved the material and the process of recording. We got another brilliant experience working with this guy.

Can you name your personal favorite song from the new album?

I can’t really. And I think it’s the first our record from which I can’t choose one favorite song. Normally it’s quite easy, each of our albums has one song that I love more than others. But this time it’s really impossible. Every track means a lot for me, and every song has its own spirit. I don’t know the opinion of the other members of the band, but I really can’t clearly answer your question.

Am I right that you parted ways with the bass-player Natt. Why?

Everything is very simple. Natt decided to go his own way and do other things in life. He just changed his priorities.

Have you found a new member already?

Now we play with a session bassist. His name is Gustaf Hielm. This is a fantastic musician, he also plays in Pain Of Salvation, and played with Tiamat and Meshuggah in the past. So he is quite a versatile musician, and I hope the fans will hear it.

You had two fantastic video released in the past, called "Attera Orbis Terrarum, Part I and Part II”. Do you have any plans to release a new DVD?

Maybe we'll do it again. Now we are touring hard with new material, and of course it would be cool to record something. Things are easy - to make a label interested in it. I definitely would not mind, I love live albums and concert DVDs. By the way, there will be some kind of live-streaming somewhere on the Internet of our tonight’s show here.

All of your records, in addition to the CD, are always available on vinyl. And often you please your fans with all sorts of reissues in this format. You probably have a soft spot for vinyl, am I right?

I grew up on vinyl, and it is very important to me. Whenever we release something new, I ask the label to make it available also on vinyl. Whenever you take LP in your hands, an indescribable atmosphere always captures you, even before you put the record on your player. A large cover with a bunch of small details, a gatefold sleeve, the inner sleeve with lyrics - everything. All these things are surely more understandable for the generation in which I grew up, a generation that didn’t have CD and access to downloads from the Internet, of course. But it’s very cool that in our time there are headbangers who are still interested in vinyl. This is a special magic of musical culture.

Do you keep in touch with past members of the band?

Sometimes we see each others, but now more rarely. Everyone is busy with his own deals.

Too bad that the festival schedule does not allow us to talk longer. Thank you very much for the interview! What are your last words to the fans?

The last time we had a great time in Russia. And I can say from all members of the band - we can’t wait to return to kick your asses once again!

Dark Funeral on the Internet: http://www.darkfuneral.se

Special thanks to Valerie Reux (JMT Consulting / Century Media France) for arranging this interview

Mikhail “IronMike” Shatalin
June 18, 2016
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