In the aftermath of The Third And The Mortal’s success; a lot of good Doom/Goth Metal bands has emerged from Norway. Atrox is one of the best of these bands. They have sadly been ignored by their former record label Voices Of Wonder/Head Not Found; a label that shows more and more alarming signs of insanity. Atrox has now signed on the French label Season Of Mist. Rune from Atrox answered the questions.
1. When and where was Atrox started ?? Could you give us a brief biography ??
If I am not mistaken; Gunder from Godsend was one of the founding
members of Atrox. Please tell us more this period of Atrox’s long career.
The beginning of the Atrox story dates back to 1988, when guitarists Skei (Manes)
and Gunder (Godsend), drummer Knarr (Bloodthorn), vocalist Gersa and bass
player Svenn formed a death metal act, then called Suffocation. After releasing a
couple of rehearsal tapes and playing a few gigs as Suffocation, the band changed
the name to Atrox in 1990.The musical style changed as well; the tempo was
slowed down, and the music went in a more doomy, atmospheric direction. Later
in 1990, Gunder left, and Atrox found a new guitarist in Eivind. The following year
a demo entitled "Mind Shadow" was recorded, but it didn't get spread around so
much.
When Knarr left in 1992, the band was kind of laid on ice until early '93, when
Tomas (guitarist, Entropy Nova) joined as a session drummer. In November '93,
seven tracks were recorded at Brygga Studios, of which four tracks were used on
the promo tape "Dead Leaves". The tape was mainly spread out to record
companies, in hope of getting a record deal; we got some response, but nothing
concrete. "Dead Leaves" was then re-pressed and sold as a demo.
Atrox finally found a permanent drummer, Larry, in the summer of 94. At the end
of the year, we recorded three tracks at Granskogen Studios, but since we didn't
get enough time to mix them, we didn't spread them either.
After this recording, Skei quit, and the two guitarists Rune and Dagga (both I Fear)
joined the band. Shortly after this, Danza Ipnotica offered us a deal for a 7 ", and
Head Not Found had a record deal for us. In the meantime vocalist Monika joined,
and bass player Tommy (Godsend) replaced Svenn. We decided to sign both deals,
and in June '96 we recorded two songs for our 7" EP, "Silence the Echoes", at
Studionor. We were pretty satisfied with the results and after the release in April
'97, we have generally gotten great reviews on it (price: $7/50 NOK, p&p
included). The eight tracks of our debut album, "Mesmerised", were recorded in 15
days of September '96 at Brygga Studios. Head Not Found released the album in
April '97, and little by little we've had a lot of good reviews all over Europe (price:
$18/135 NOK, p&p included). Some months after this release, Gersa quit, so now
the line-up is Larry - drums, Tommy - bass & vocals, Eivind - guitars & vocals,
Rune - guitars, Dagga - guitars and Monika - vocals & synth. This line-up is
permanent.
In August '97 we recorded a cover version of the Hawkwind song "The Golden
Void part II" at Studionor. This song will be released on a compilation-CD in the
close future. During the years and due to the many line-up changes, Atrox has
developed and changed a lot, from pure death metal via slow, doomy death metal
to experimental, atmospheric, groovy Epic Metal. After our contact with Head Not
Found ended, we recorded a promo-CD (not mastered!) for our next album at a
friend's studio. We have now signed a deal on Season Of Mist.
2. Please tell us more about your early demo tapes. Any chance of a compilation CD with your early material ?
Our early demo tapes are old and not available anymore. We keep them to ourselves, but who knows. Maybe one day someone will release them.
3. Please tell us more about the ‘7 you released on Danza Ipnotika.
Sergio of Danza Ipnotica contacted us just before we signed to Head Not
Found (B.N.F as you call it). We thought it was cool to do a 7". The 7" is
called "Silence The Echoes" and contains the songs "Silence the echoes" and
"Rise", two different kind of songs. My personal favorite is "Rise". The 7"
was only printed in 1000 copies and we think it was sold out pretty fast. It
was recorded in a crappy studio here in Trondheim during a weekend. The
sound quality is not to good, but it has it's charm.
4. You signed on Head Not Found/Voices Of Wonder. How did you get in touch with them ?
We got in touch with H.N.F trough mail in 93/94. Metal-lion wanted to sign Atrox, but we didn't sign anything before 96 due to line-up changes and other problems. When we felt ready we started to negotiate the contract with H.N.F....
5. Your brilliant debut album "Mesmerised" was released one year ago. Please tell us more about this album. For example the recording, the lyrics, the writing process and the featured tracks.
Mesmerised were recorded in Brygga Studios here in Trondheim. The album
contains both old and mew material (from 90 - 96). Due to this, the material
recorded is rather different in style. Concerning how the material was
written, the old songs where rehearsed almost like cover songs, at least that
was the way I felt. The new material Atrox wrote together was of course
written in another way. The normal process is that an idea is presented for
the band, and whole band contributes with their stuff, until we are
satisfied. When I look back one our debut album (Mesmerised), I wish we had
done it somewhat different, but I think it's only natrual to see it this
way, because a band always progress and become better. Still, I think
Mesmerised is a good debut album.
6. The relationship with HNF/VOW turned sour after a while. Please give us your version of this.
The relationship between H.N.F/VOW and Atrox didn't really turn sour, but
the lack of info and interest from their side led to the contract's end. It
was a one-way conversation, we asked questions but never received any
answers. We were actually ready to go into Brygga Studios again to record
our second album, but we were given false info and everything fucked up! We
talked to HNF/VOW and we agreed that it would be the best for both parts,
that they released us from the contract. We were happy and that's the end of
the story.
7. I have heard that "Mesmerised" has only sold 700 copies world wide despite of some brilliant reviews. The sales figure are well behind it’s sales potential. Do you have plans of buying back the legal rights for this album and re- release it on your own record label/ another record label ?
If anybody wants to release it, contact us. I think it's a good idea, but
it's a bit to late I guess. If it should be released again, it has to be in
the near future. The essence of Atrox is to seek progression and try to find
new ways to express ourselves musically, so I think it would be wrong of us
to release Mesmerised after releasing our second (first on SOM) album. That
will only bring the listeners back in time and that is not our intention.
8. You got out of the whole record deal and signed on Season Of Mist. Please tell us more.
Bloodthorn, another Trondheim band, which is sign to SOM, talked to SOM about Atrox. SOM showed interest and we signed with them in August 98. We are satisfied with the contract and we are going to Tico Tico Studios (Finland) in April 99 to record our second album (this will be a killer).
9. What can we expect from the first album on Season Of Mist ?
The new Atrox album will be excellent. I feel that we have grown a lot, both as a band and as individuals. It will be released in mid May or in September 99. The material is much better and the Atrox sound will be taken a step further.
10. It is my impression that the new Goth Music scene follow the same pattern as the Romantic New Wave scene did 20 years ago with bands like ABC, Duran Duran and Human League. The similarities are striking. The Romantic New Wave scene was a reaction to the Punk music; the new Goth Metal scene is a reaction to the Death Metal scene. What is your view ???
I'm not really into the goth scene, so I wouldn't really know. Nothing lasts
forever, so it's only natrual that styles change. If you look back in time
musically, trends have a tendency to go in circles, if you catch my drift.
Trend- no trend - trend and so on. If you follow trends you are not true to
yourself, and that stinks! Seek for your own style and sound !!
11. Following my last question; what would you call your music ??
We can't seem to agree on this question within the band, I think you have to
see each song as a separate piece. Maybe then they can be categorized. Atrox
is always going to be a metal band, but what kind of metal it is going to be
is not for sure.
12. You has been compared to the larger-than-life legends The Third And The Mortal because of your vocalist, who are the sister of The Third And The Mortal’s former/present vocalist. What is your view on this comparison ?
I don't think 3rd is a very good comparison for Atrox. Both bands like to
experiment, but 3rd's experiments led them away from metal. That will never
happen with Atrox. Still, I can see why people compare us. We are both from
Trondheim, have three guitars and of course the vocals. But if people have
heard both bands as they sound today I don’t think they would compare us
anymore. Atrox is metal, 3rd not.
13. Are any members of Atrox involved in other bands/projects ?
Monika, myself and Ann-Mari have a project called Tactile. We have scored a
record deal, and we will release a full length CD during 1999. The music
does not resemble Atrox or 3rd at all. We have been told that our music is
gloomy and weird. Look out for Tactile.
14. What are your plans for the coming months and year ?? Any tour plans ??
As mentioned earlier, Atrox is going to record the new material in April 99. In July we are going to do two or three gigs in France( maybe Tactile will do a gig to). After the studio visit we will try to do some concerts in Norway too.
15. Do you have a merchandise list ??? From what address can the band be contacted ? Do you have a web site ?
Atrox e-mail address: eivindfj@stud.idb.hist.no
or soendro@online.no
Atrox mail:
Atrox
PO box 159
7073 Trondheim
Norway
No Atrox merchandise list available yet.
Website under construction
see this page for links to Atrox site
Thanks for the interview, I hope we can do another one for the next album....
That is a deal. In the meantime; get yourself a copy of their debut album. It is a brilliant Doom Metal album