You can write many books about the things we do not know about the Norwegian Death/Black Metal band The Embraced. They have recently released their debut album "In my Dreams…I am Armageddon" on the new Norwegian record label Aftermath Music. The album is good and we caught up with the band through Aftermath Music's e- mail address.



1. When and where was The Embraced started ? Why did you choose that name ?

- The band was formed in July '97 in Trondheim, by Geffo, Holm, Daniel and Frank. Only a month later, a Swedish drummer, Jorgen, from the band Septic Grave, came to fill the missing place, and the band was rolling. We early had the name "The Embraced" ready, and although we are aware there are other bands around called almost the same, we figured to still go with this, as it has a different meaning to it then the other bands...

2. Please tell us more about the promo tape you released before the album came out.

- In September '97 we recorded 4 songs planning to release them on a mini-CD or demo. Shortly after the mixing process we figured we'd wait and rather record a full-length instead, which happened between February and April 1998. Only one of the demo songs made it to the album....(As darkness falls). The band is not 100% satisfied with the demo, but maybe some of the songs will be rearranged for a later release...Some of the songs are played live, though...

3. How did you get in touch with Aftermath Music ?

- Aftermath music is local store right next door to the recording studio. He eventually found out that we had exceeded our studio limit (...and the fact that we were pretty broke...) so he gave us a proposition to release the album and do all the promotion for it! (...and bail us out of the studio...) If he didn't help us out we'd be stuck with the studio bill to this day...he, he, he...(He's done a great job, though...)

4. Please give us a full insight to your debut album "In my Dreams…I am Armageddon". The recording, the tracks, the concept, the line up on the album and the art- work ?

- The album was recorded in a local studio "Studio NOR" wich is a demo studio.We had planned to be finished in 13 days, but ended up with a whole month.We wanted the right sound, so we used a lot of time finding it.(...and I think we did too...)
We are very satisfied with the material, and we think it varies alot in style as well. Some are just rock n' roll death metal (Demon Storm, As Darkness Falls), some are pretty aggressive death metal (Dreamspawn, Remains of Life), one is more the black metal style (Split), and we even got a acoustic guitar track (Last Embrace), that actually was recorded live in the studio...(and still turned out to be excellent!) The whole CD consists of totally 55 minutes of music, divided into 9 songs.
The line-up:
Jørgen - drums
Geffo - guitars
Holm - guitars
Frank - vocals
Daniel - bass

Jørgen and Geffo wrote most of the material on this album, but the next album will be more of a group thing.
The art-work was made by a local friend of us,who is a graphic artist, Hærleif Langaas. We are very satisfied with his work,so we will probably use his talent on our next album, as well...He also compiled all the inlay graphics and put really the whole shit together for us...Actually he also did our intro on the record, which is called "In My Dreams... I Am Armageddon".

5. What is the meaning of the title of the album ?

- It doesn't mean anything special.
We didn`t have a name for the album when it was ready,so we decided to use the artist (Hærleif) name on the picture for the album.

6. Based on the music and the sound on this album; most people will call The Embraced another Norwegian Black Metal band. But you have been marketed as a Death Metal band. Which words would you use to describe The Embraced and your debut album ?

- Well, I think most people will come to the conclusion that there's only one song that can possibly be described as a black metal song ("Split")... The rest is much more technical and melodic death metal. The next album will be more or less the same thing, but with better melodies and power in them...
We agree with the description "Dark Melodic Death METAL!", as we are also promoted with. This is a good description, as we combine such many elements in our music.

7. What is your image and your concept ?

- We don't really have a image or concept to run by... We are just plain metaldudes doing what we feel like doing. All of us has grown up listening to alot of different metal, so when combining the different types, I guess you just got The Embraced.

8. What is your view on the Norwegian Black, Death and Doom Metal scene ? Where do Embraced fit in ?

- Well, in Norway there are alot of black metal bands still, but the quality has been very improved the last couple of years, and the "underground" are pretty much dead. Regarding death and doom metal, this is still genres that are struggeling to get the status it deserves. Black metal seems to dominate the market here. There are alot of good bands in all genres around though, like Bloodthorn, Mayhem, Emperor, Theatre of Tragedy, Atrox, Bethzaida, Mundanus Imperium etc. I think The Embraced is unusual in the fact that we don't try to be original in the composing process.
We have a thing for "old" swedish type death metal and that's what we do... We are very honest about what we do, and don't try to drag this image scenario into the music.

9. Is it difficult to break through in a scene who are so overcrowded with mediocre bands ?

- I guess it might be...people go "Oh, it's just another death metal band", but if they listen I think they will be suprised...(like you did maybe?he, he..) It's very difficult to "break through" really anywhere these days, as it all depends upon the promotion a band gets. Right now I think the "BIG" labels, like Nuclear B. etc., gets far too much of the attention deserved.

10. Do anyone in The Embraced do other bands/project ?

- At this time there is only "The Embraced" that matters. There are some project stuff going around, but that's too far ahead to talk about.We're totally concentrating on the next album at the moment.

11. What is your political, religious and philosophical views ?

- Hmmm....None of us are interested i politics and religious matters...We are anti-religious though. which I guess makes us atheists. Our philosophy is just to do what the hell you want to do !!

12. What is the positive and the negative sides with running a band from Norway ?

- The good thing about coming from Norway is that people from around the world are watching the scene all the time...If they hear something good they always spread the word.
- The negative is that the market for underground music is far from here, and are based down in central-europe.This makes it hard for us to reach the market, with concerts, sales etc.

13. What are your plans for the coming months and years ? Any tour plans ?

- We are now about to sign a record deal and rehearsing for the next album due in the summer '99. There are also some tour plans around Norway in February with Head Not Found thrash/black band, Hellstorm and maybe also Swedish death metal band, Prophanity...This is a while to though, so we'll just have to see if it becomes reality.

14. Do you have a merchandise list ? From what address can the band be contacted ?

- There are no merchandise at the moment (except the CD of course...), but there will be printed some t-shirts/sweaters pretty soon... Also a LP-version of the album will maybe be released during this fall or early winter. Any contact with the band can be made through this e-mail:

ruholm@online.no

or through the Aftermath Music's web site.

Aftermath Music


There will be a "The Embraced" homepage too, but we're drunk all the time so...he, he, he...
It will probably be up in a month or so...
There is right now also a unofficial homepage up at

Prosper in Darkness


If you use snailmail use this:
The Embraced c/o Aftermath Music
Box 721
N- 7001 Trondheim
Norway

Thanks alot for all the support, and STAY METAL !!!

We hope this interview has given you an insight to this band. Their album is a very good Death Metal album in the Scandinavian vein. We wish them good luck in the future.