The Norwegian radio-show High Voltage has been one of the guiding lights in the Norwegian metal scene for the last fourteen years. Inbetween all the turmoil and conflicts inside the Norwegian metal scene, High Voltage has concentrated on the most important aspect of the metal scene; the music. The end result is High Voltage's reputation as one of Europe's best metal shows on radio.
We contacted Ronny Østli, one of the three High Voltage journalists, for an update on this radio show.
1. Please give us a brief presentation of High Voltage.
High Voltages history starts in Oslo, 1987. During the whole career the show
has covered the latest metal releases. We play all stuff as long as it's
connected to metal. We try to avoid the alternative stuff, as there are more
than enough real metal albums to cover. We are on air 2,5 hours every Tuesday
and here you'll find the latest releases, interviews, competitions and
whatever connect to a good metalshow, hah! By the way we are 4 persons
running the show with a different background from the hard rock area. It's
maybe logic when our ages differs from 45 to me as the youngest.
2. Please tell us more about yourself. What is your daytime job and your main hobbies.
I'm getting 26 this Easter and work as a TV journalist in a local TV
station. My main interest is metal. I'm also into movies. Mainly comedians.
And maybe too much time are spent on meaningless PC games. Besides this I
also get some time to spend with some maniacs for a beer or two.
3. How did you get involved in the metal scene in the first place ?
I'm getting 26 this Easter and work as a TV journalist in a local TV
station. My main interest is metal. I'm also into movies. Mainly comedians.
And maybe too much time are spent on meaningless PC games. Besides this I
also get some time to spend with some maniacs for a beer or two.
4. When did you take up your role in High Voltage ?
I used to phone their competitions. I guess I first listened to High
Voltage early 1988. So after a while they would like their listeners to
visit some shows, and of course I turned up there. But I denied to go
home, haha. I first use to be on a regular basis in 1991. Then once a month
or so to present the more brutal stuff, as the others hadn't that much
contacts or knowledge with this music. But nowadays this isn't that
particular anymore. I play some melodic stuff sometimes and the others often
goes more brutal than me. This has to do with our contact network. Labels
have changed their attitude as well. I guess a label like Nuclear Blast is a
good example on this point.
5. Ten years ago the only Norwegian metal bands with record deals was Artch, Red Harvest, TNT, Equionox, Stage Dolls and Blonde On Blonde. What is your memories from those days ?
Is there any demo bands from those days you feel should had got a record deal ?
I guess there are many bands at that time who deserved a record deal.
Many good demo stuff. Of course many of them got it later, but there are a
few. I remember good Thrash bands like Forgery and Decadence from Oslo. A few
of their members joined Red Harvest and I 've often asked for reunions of
them both with no success so far, haha. But I enjoyed that time. Ordering
demos and I went nuts when I heard the first Equinox record. I listened to
recently and I always get nostalgic listening to this stuff. Also I've seen
the two Artch reunion shows. I look forward to their re-releases. Coming
through Metal Blade this spring!! And maybe even a new album too. But all in
all a good period. Also Cadaver is back (as Cadaver Inc.) and their new
stuff is simple enough godly !!
6. What is your first memories of the emerging Norwegian Black Metal scene ?
Mayhem have always been around, and I ordered their album from
Euronymous. Also I received all the flyers from him, and thanx to him I got
into this demo thing. But then it was thrash metal that interested me, and
some death metal bands. From the 90'ies I guess Burzum was the first
norwegian album of black metal I got into . Now I'm frightened if I've
forgotten some. No, I believe so. And the Emperor/Enslaved split. Of course
the Yggdrasill demo from Enslaved. Their best release to date!! For the
later stuff I'm not into them all. But I enjoyed that a local band played
Black metal. And after a while they recorded some stuff becoming an album.
That was fun. I guess no one expected then that this band calling themselves
Dimmu Borgir would become what they are today! With this album »For All Tid»
High Voltage did the first Dimmu Borgir interview ever. But before the show
they called and didn't want us to broadcast it. Well, I didn't, but I still
have the tape. Maybe play it now haha. I've told them I one day will, haha!
7. As an observer and a music journalist, what is your memories from the time of the arsons and the death of Dead and Euronymous (Mayhem) ?
Yeah, what do I remember? The first step of the extremities was this
suicide. Well, I didn't know Dead and can't exactly mean anything of what
happened. But if it's true that he commited suicide because of everyone went
into death and black metal I shared his views in a way. I mean, I liked
being into what everyone else didn't. Also I guess this is what people
startes these arsons. Well, I didn't participiate with that. I loved the
music and hadn't that many friends who did. Therefor I wasn't into any black
circle or whatever. To be honest I don't like christianity or any religion
at all, but burning the churces? No, don't think so. Also that made the
christians stronger together. But back to the question. I remember all the
paperwritng. Have them all cut out. Mostly non metallers laught at this. It
didn't make any respect. Nowadays, I'm more reflected. If everyone play
metal that's ok by me, but if I don't like their band I don't listen to it.
I have no need to be as extreme as possible in the way I look, act etc. But
once it was important, yes.
8. Did these incidents create the Norwegian Black Metal scene or would this scene had emerged whatever happened ?
Hard to say. I guess many younger got impressed and started bands, and
many of them are for sure quite big now. But on the other side the
music business didn't care for this bands. You couldn't read or see any of
these bands other places than the newspapers for arsons and so on. The huge
amount of sales has become after the bands have changed their style. The
bands aren't that big in Norway though most of the actions happened here. I
don't know how much this has meant for the foreign scene. Some came out of
this yes, but how much is hard to say.
9. We have witnessed an explosion of Norwegian Black Metal bands during the last two years. What is your view on this development ?
Well, the bands sounds more and more the same. Some have done something
different and that is exiting. But I think it's the same with all kind of
music. Some bands are good, then I listen to them. Some sucks, and then I
don't listen to them. It's as simple as that. But I don't like alternative
stuff. Hip hop stuff like Bermudas and Emperor-hats doesn't sound good to me!
10. Please list your favorite five Norwegian Black Metal albums.
Oh, a hard one. Only black metal? Hmm, let's see…..
I guess Dødheimsgard "satanic Art" turns to be my favourite.
Some other very strong ones are Zyklon B "Blood must be shed", Mayhem "De
Mysteriis.." , Old Man's Child "The Pagan Prosperity" . Ehh one more. maybe
Dark thrones "A Blaze….." ? It has a very cold and brutal production. Yeah I
think this is my list. maybe? Oh I also like the Emperor mini. It has to be
raw and brutal. I like some parts of these symphonic bands, but nothing that
deserves to enter the favourite 5 list!
11. It has always puzzled my why Norway do not have a Grind Core and Death Metal scene. Why do you think such a scene does not exist in spite of the rest of the world where this scene is more vital than ever ?
Quite strange actually. I mean, there are people into everything
everywhere, but why not Norway? I don't know. I think that goes for all the
Nordic countries. I don't know where Repulse, Morbid etc earn their money?
Can you tell me? I have a clue that maybe the politics has something to say.
It's quite aggressive music, and maybe inhabitants in dictatures and
countries of war use this to get out some frustration and aggression. I
don't know, just a thought. All in all Norway is a good country.
12. I guess this is not your favorite subject, but what is your view on the worldwide Grind Core and Death Metal scene ?
What I have noticed is the growing quality. It seems like the musicians
get better and better and the productions of the albums are mostly good. I
guess they have to do it like this to be noticed. At least I don't like bad
records, haha.
13. What is your view on metal scene in Eastern Europe and Russia ? Is there still a kind of a Skoda complex in the Norwegian metal scene ?
Good question. What I think is the problem are the bands possibilities
to get outside their countries. If their records were available in Norway and
the records are I can't see why they shouldn't sell. Last year I heard End
Zone, and to me they absolutely have potensial. But Norwegians don't go to
Russia to buy records!
14. Back to Norway again. What is your view on the scene regarding record labels and distribution ?
Haha, to me running a metal show, all the brutal labels over here are
very nice personally. I'm glad I'm not into the business side of it. Maybe
they wouldn't be so nice then. No, seriously. Those I know seems to be very
serious. To me it seems like the metal labels in Norway only release a few
records every year of quality instead of releasing a bunch of shit. I think
that's the correct way to do it.
15. A quick glance at the High Voltage website gives the impression that (German) Power Metal and Heavy Metal is very popular in this radio station. Is this music the main (very unhealthy) diet of the members of the High Voltage clan ?
I think that may be a problem. Well, I can't stand this happy, happy
music. Horrible, but the other guys for sure can. And that's good to cover
all sort of metal. Also this has to with release dates. Sometimes many albums
of this style comes, sometimes other styles. But I've heard from some labels
believing they're not into our concept due to this, and that's WRONG!!! We
cover everything, not only this and throw away that! I'm glad you asked this question so I can
clear up this terrible mistake !!
16. How is Norway like these days ?
Rainy!! Well, I think we have many good bands. This interview has been
very focused on black metal, and of course Norway have many good bands in
that genre. But there are other goodies as well. As I'm more into thrash
metal I like Audiopain and Aura Noir. Oh, I can't remember all bands on a
sunday morning like this. But I look forward to the albums of Susperia (new
band of Tjodalv from Dimmu Borgir) , Cadaver Inc. Hopefully a new Artch
album won't be far away. And if you get the chance to see Red Harvest live,
please do. Here we talk power!!
17. Are you involved in any bands as a band member, manager or advisor ?
Of course you know Minas Tirith and Tulus, haha. That's why you ask.
Well, both bands live at their best and are good friends of mine, but no, I
have no time working for these guys anymore. They deserve people who have
time to do it, and I hadn't. I told them so. Actually their answer was that
my work is better what they could do their self. But I think they deserve a
person to give 100 %, what I no longer can. Beside this I play guitar in a
black/thrash band called Vesen. Nothing recorded so far, and want be for a
while either. We have to learn how to play first, haha. No, serious, I think
we'll plan something for the summer or something.
18. To which address can record labels send you promos ?
Promos can be sent directly to me at:
Ronny Østli
Dønskitoppen 12 T
1346 Gjettum
Norway
19. Anything you want to add to this interview ?
Yeah, I would like to thanx you for showing interest for our radioshow.
Very nice. I know many have heard of High Voltage. Maybe someone got answer
to some questions here. Hopefully of the show, not me personally! Thanx! And
I would once again say High Voltage support everything from Prog. AOR to the
harder, darker stuff. But we try to avoid hardcore, alternative. All in all
we have only 2,5 hours a week. Please.