Long time ago, in cold Sweden appeared band that changed face of extreme metal for ever. Bathory. Today, Quorthon’s music lives in sounds of many inspired bands. Among the many names one shines the brightest - Ereb Altor. It’s band that not only captures the unique atmosphere of Bathory music, but also surprises by own compositions. About inspirations and the many other things told me Mats.

At the time of our conversation, you have finished tour with Manegarm and Skyforger and you played some single shows - among others at Kilkim Zaibu festival. How do you rate these concerts? What places do you like the most?

Mats: Kilkim Zaibu were really awesome, we made a special show at that festival with a lot of fire and it was a mixed 90 minute set with both Bathory songs and our own.

When it comes to club shows I think Germany and Poland are really cool.

During the tour of Manegarm and Skyforger, you also visited Poland. This is not your first visit in our country. I must admit that your concert in Krakow was the best that evening. What can you say about our country and Polish audience? Did you have opportunity to see Krakow?

M.: Thanks ! As I said, it’s nice to do some gigs in Poland and the audience is dedicated. I hope we will be back in Poland soon. You have a very friendly atmosphere on the metal concerts and I have made some new friends in Poland. Although I have some complaints about the roads compared to Germany for instance, you have to calculate the travelling time different and that means less sleep.

Yeah, we got a guided tour around Krakow and it was really beautiful and interesting, it’s now my favourite city in Poland.

Do you know Polish metal scene? And if you know, do you have any favourite bands?

M.: The Polish band I have listened to the most during the years is Vader.

This year you visit a lot of festivals. Kilkim Zaibu, Doom Over Greece, Madrid Is The Dark, Hammerfest and others. Is summer festival a good opportunity to showcase your art? Obviously, it's great for fans, who have chance to see many of favourite bands in one place. Is it great for bands too? Some bands have better sound and atmosphere in clubs. Which kind of concerts you prefer?
M.: Yes, of course the summer festivals (and the winter festivals) are very important and you reach a lot of people at the same time, and you get the chance to spread your music to an audience that probably wouldn’t have come on an Ereb Altor club gig if you know what I mean.

We just got back from France (Ragnard Rock) and we had an awesome time there. Our music suits the bigger stages in my opinion since we have a large sound with a lot of atmosphere. Still there’s a certain charm of club gigs and it’s good in a different way. You get a more personal bond with the audience compared to an outdoor festival.

Recently you released album with Bathory covers. Your music contains echoes of Bathory, it's heard very clearly. How important is Bathory for you? Your music refers to Quorthon's later creative period. How do you rate early Bathory albums?

M.: „Right, Blot Ilt Taut” is our interpretaion of seven classic Bathory Hymns. Well I disagree with you a little bit, I think we have more in common with the earlier Bathory albums. The first 6 albums to be specific.
Bathory had a huge impact on me and my world of music and it totally changed everything when I heard Hammerheart for the first time. To me the best albums are „Blood Fire Death”, „Hammerheart” and „Twilight Of The Gods”.

Currently many bands beside Ereb Altor create music under influence of Bathory. Earlier it was Dissection for example. Now it's Watain. As we can see, legend is still alive. But not only popular bands are inspired by Quorthon's heritage. Recently I listened to Brazilian (!) project Goat Worship inspired by early, raw period. Which bands you know and which are recommendable in your opinion?

M.: I believe that a large part of the whole extreme metal scene are under the spell of Quorthon. He was a visionary and a pioneer, I don´t think extreme metal of today would sound the same without his impact.
But no band in my opinion has really been able to catch the same vibe and atmosphere as he once did on Hammerheart and Twilight.

What (except Bathory) mostly inspires you to creating music and writing lyrics? Does art (painting, books, movies, music) inspires you, or maybe nature and its forces are the most important?

M.: I have tried painting for a few years but my skills are not exactly what I wanted it to be... yet..

So I like art but I don’t feel that it actully inspire me musically. I like history and I read history books and also books about mystical things and old legends which inspires me. I also try to visit historical places. I think I get a lot of musical inspiration from our native folk music and folklore.

It’s a very complex question and I have a very cliché answer, but I belive everything in your surrounding environment is actually a source of inspiration.

I don't like to pigeonhole music, although I admit that sometimes it helps if I want to listen to something new. The names of favorite species in some way help to discover new good bands. Your music is described as a viking / pagan / black metal. I think it fits into your music and texts. Very often bands describing themselves as pagan or viking includes to music a lot of folk elements. Nowadays, many folk metal bands teeter on the border of good taste. It's not easy to keep right proportions. Sometimes merry melodies dominate metal, which is pushed into background. Certainly sometimes you play concerts together with this kind of bands. How do you relate to this kind of music? Have you ever tried to experiment with folk?

M.: I am not very fond of the merry bands with merry melodies and corny outfits. Ereb Altor has Swedish folkmusic as an influence but we are a metal band, Scandinavian Metal which in my opinion carries a certain meloncholic darkness which you almost only can hear in Scandinavian bands.

Most of you also creates Isole. Is it difficult to reconcile responsibilities between two bands? I know that both bands regularly record albums and actively play concerts. Both bands had also tour together. Is it difficult to play two gigs in one evening?

M.: We share two members with Isole. I don’t see any difficulties giving both bands my heart and devotion. But I don’t think I will ever go on tour with both bands again because it’s hard to keep the focus when you do two gigs every night. Every live show is important and deserves to be from the heart 100% every time.

Name Ereb Altor is associated with Swedish RPG game "Drakkar och Demoner" and in clear way brings to mind world of dragons, demons, witches and other magical creatures. What is the significance of this name for you?

M.: It reminds me of my youth when I used to play a lot of old Role Playing Games, this was before the computer-age and the games were based on rolling dice and the use of the players imagination.

The first intention was to write fantasy lyric in Ereb Altor but that never happened but the name still remained.

I’m actually quite pleased that we followed our inheritance and followed the path of Norse mythology and Swedish Folklore instead of fantasy. It suits our sound better I think.

Fantasy, nature, sometimes sadness and depression are important themes of your lyrics. But very important is norse mythology too. What do you think: is still place for mythology in modern world? What is the impact of mythology on you and your life? I'm curious, because Poland is (unfortunately) a very christian country, where people don't remember old pagan stories. It seems that nowadays only metal bands use mythological themes and symbols.

M.: It’s a part of our history and we can always learn from history and I find history very exciting and interesting. When it comes to the mythology it’s more of a fascination than something that have a impact on the world or my life.

That's all. You can say a few words to Polish fans. Thank you for your time.

M.: We will always keep the flame alive and we will see you soon somewhere in Poland!

Monotheist