E- Mail: larzen@online.no



Metal Shuffle are one of the longest serving metal and prog rock magazines in the world. This Norwegian magazine (written in Norwegian) has existed in the last ten years and it is going from strength to strength. Metal Shuffle is not a "hip" magazine that follows the trends and give people what they want. Instead; Metal Shuffle give their readers a massive amount of food for thought. Commercial compromises are unknown words in Metal Shuffle. We do not hide the fact that News From The Infested Graveyard web magazine are very influenced by Metal Shuffle.
# 1/98 of Metal Shuffle has just been released and we caught up with the editor Geir Larsen on e- mail for an interview.



1. When did you start Metal Shuffle? Please give us Metal Shuffle's biography.

- Metal Shuffle issue 1/88 saw the light of day in July 1988. It was just something me and my best friend at the time, Ola Thingstad, did for fun, and the first issue was given away for free at some record-shops in Trondheim. The lay-out sucked, and so did the print quality. Somehow we managed to establish a reputation as a mag worth reading. The circulation was very low (as any other fanzine at that point), but we wrote pretty much about the same things we do today (although the progressive rock scene was not "available" to us). We didn't get to interview artists before around 1991.
In 1990 Haakon Grav entered. He was (we thought) a strange weirdo, but he managed to push the mag's limits. Grav has no shame, so he called up artists everywhere around the world - demanding interviews. All of a sudden (around the summer of 91) we found that the interest in Metal Shuffle was growing tremendously, and myself and Grav agreed to work harder. At the same time Ola Thingstad fell in love, and disappeared (I don't think he saw any future in Shuffle).
Grav and myself continued. We released 4 issues per year in 1991, 1992 and 1993. The lay-out improved (we printed the frontcovers in colours now - the first one was issue 2/93). During these expanding years we did interviews with big bands.
Ever since Metal Shuffle begun, we gave people an oportunity to subscribe, and during 1992-93 this thing exploded. The demand for Shuffle blew our minds. I remember we at some point had to sit down and discuss whether we would continue writing in Norwegian or do what every other magazine had done before us: start writing in English. Grav wanted to do so, but I wouldn't allow it. Still I'm very proud of the fact that we keep selling so many issues that's just understandable for Scandinavians. Once again we eventually reached a crossroad. In 1995 we had to expand, and decided to enter the world of computers. Issue 3/95 was professionally printed (although the lay-out is quite bad), and we hired Martin Kvam as a new author. And then we were three again....
After 3/95 things got wild. We contacted every recordshop in Norway (plus some exclusive ones in Sweden and Denmark) and gave them the opportunity to sell Metal Shuffle. Many of them accepted, and therefore the circulation reached it's peak. Since then we have slowly sold more and more copies. The lay-out and the print quality is now excellent. Today I have a totally different view on these subjects. I now clearly see lay-out and the written word as estethics rather than information. Therefore I tend to be too much of a perfectionist (which again can explain the fact that it's taking such a long time to finish an issue).
In 1997 Grav left the ship. He felt like a stranger in the Metal Shuffle camp he said, and he would instead join the only other metal mag in Norway, Scream Magazine (they are into heavy metal, and only that). Grav and I are still close friends, but the problem is that he only enjoys metal, and that I couldn't close myself off to the world of music. In 92 I discovered the progressive rock scene, and ever since I've tried to integrate this styles within the mag's profile. I find the heavy metal-fans' musicview to be incredible stupid and ignorant. In this "genre" it is not allowed to listen to other types of music. They are unbelievably stereotype, and because of this they will not be able to progress and expand their minds. I think that this is what caused Grav to leave. He once said: I am interested in hard rock and metal while you are into music in general. With all due respect: How can I pretend to be a dull metalhead when there is so much rich music to be found outside the genre?

2. What is the philosophy behind Metal Shuffle?

- The main thing for me at the moment is to break down barriers created by music rules. That is to let the hardrock-fans understand they don't have to lock themselves in a corner, but rather listen to music in general with an open mind. I try (discrete) to tell our readers that they will miss incredibly amount of golden art if they only accept metal. As it is today, Metal Shuffle is a magazine containing progressive & symphonic rock, hard rock, metal, indie and every other cathegory of music that I personally take pleasure from. I don't like cathegorizing music. It's so damn silly. I often feel that people (and not only the metalfans) only will let themselfes listen to a record if they can be sure that it fits the cathegory they are into. This is all wrong. They don't have any respect for or knowledge of musical heritage and history. I wonder why they think they can't listen to Bartòk, Django Reinhardt, A-ha and Burzum at the same time. I do.
This is the main philosophy.On a more practical level I'd say it's still very important for me that Metal Shuffle is a magazine you get get almost for free. It costs 25 NOK (which is a little bit more than £2). This is to show that we are 100% independent, and that we're doing this on idealistic terms.
Another aspect regarding our philosophy is the freedom of speech. Music journalists in general are very cowardish. If this is due to fear of being punished or pure ignorance I don't know (although there are some truth to the saying: every music journalist is a failure when it comes to playing in a band, and therefore he settles with the second best: writing about it). In my honest opinion every individual that is commenting on music (this goes for any other art direction as well) should know a little bit about how the instruments work, a little bit about theory, a little bit about history and a little bit about arrangements. The 3 writers in Metal Shuffle today have their own bands (Martin's got Grooveyard, Frank Bøkseth's got The Embrace and I've got Procosmian Fannyfiddlers).

3. You are one of the true veterans in the Norwegian Metal and Prog Rock scene. How was the scene when you started up Metal Shuffle?

- Awful. As for the metal scene: it was growing, but too much locked in unnatural settings. We had glamrock, speed, thrash - & death metal, classic hardrock and the melodic synthshit. There was nothing else, and image seemed to be of more importance than the actual music. There were no willpower to experiment or to expand the expressions. You either liked Poison or Slayer. With Nirvana's "Nevermind" these horrible categories was crushed. Therefore I really liked what was happening in the music scene during 1991-93. People were experimenting regardless of trends and how they looked. We got Nirvana, Soundgarden and Alice In Chains (which I enjoyed tremendously during this period) plus the raise of the Norwegian black metal scene (which was exiting, fresh and totally new). After a while things get boring, and that's mainly because when something new has been created, it becomes a fashion - something everybody else rushes on to and wants to be a part of. Suddenly you have 1000 Burzum-wannabe's and 1000 Nirvana-wannabe's.
In 1988 there was no such thing as a progressive rock scene. The only band from the old school that still sold records was Jethro Tull, but musically they had a very bad period (1982-89). It wasn't until the Swedish band Änglagård emerged in '92 that things got interesting. From 92 we have witnessed the resurrection of prog -rock. The new bands contains musicians that are unhappy with the limitations today’s categorization puts upon them as creative artists. They don't care what their music is being called. The new prog-scene (as far as the quality goes) was born in Sweden, and this country still has got the best bands. Things are also happening in the UK, in Italy and in the USA. Time will tell if the prog-scene will be something other than an underground phenomena.

4. Regarding the Norwegian Metal and Prog Rock scene: What is the most positive things that has happened in this scene ?

- The black metal thing, most definite. You must bare in mind that on a global scale Norway has got nothing else than Edvard Grieg, A-ha and to a certain degree Arne Norheim. Burzum, Emperor and Darkthrone managed to change this around 1991-92. Remember also that when Burzum's debut album was released it contained a sort of music never ever heard before. Norway had created a totally new musicstyle. And what more: it was good! On the prog rock scene, I'm sad to say nothing's good has come out so far. We are too afraid of experimenting. The CD's that's been done by Norwegian artists under the banner of either "progressive" or "symphonic" rock are weak.

5. Regarding the Norwegian Metal and Prog Rock scene: What is the most negative things that has happened in this scene ?

- When it comes to the prog rock scene, everything's been bad. The metal scene is far better (thanx to our evil hordes). The fact that every single 14 years old jerk is picking up a guitar and copying his black metal heroes, is very negative. I can't see any will to reinvent music.

6. There is an old saying from the French revolution who says: "The revolution eats it's own children". Do you feel it is just what is happening with the Black Metal scene today ?

- Oh, yes. It's a natural phenomena though. It goes for every other wave of music, fashions or art: When you present something fresh and new you will see pathetic copies popping up everywhere. The world can't really help it. That's why we have historical epoques (baroque, impressionism, expressionism etc, etc). And when you've had enough of one thing, there will (hopefully) emerge some sort of a protest. Nirvana and Burzum were protests, and a couple of years later - see where we stand. History repeats itself.

7. What is your opinion about Dimmu Borgir and Cradle Of Filth's socalled "selling out" contra socalled "true underground" Black Metal ? Is this a discussion based on jealousy or is it a fundamental discussion about the "soul" of Black Metal ?

- Black metal deals with true feelings. On this they all agree. But a musician that's able to make a living out of his music can of course have as strong feelings as an amateur. There's a lot of jealousy involved, but the newcomers have absolutely no right to envy the success of Satyricon. I feel more sorry for a band like Emperor when a band like Cradle of Filth is getting fat.
All this true-this and true-that is blown out of proportions. I couldn't care less. The only thing that's really sad is that the wrong bands are gaining success. Burzum, Emperor, Sigh, Mayhem and Bal-Sagoth should have been the best-sellers if the world was built around quality criteria. Cradle Of Filth has nothing to offer (regardless of the members' true feelings or not).

8. Norway is currently ruled by a political party called Kristent Rødt Faenskap. What is your view on living in a country under a christian wanker rule? Have these paedofile christian wankers put any restrictions on your activities ?

- Not on my activities, but I sure wouldn't mind if they all drowned. KrF are one of the worst political parties in Norway (the other being Sp - a bunch of farmers). KrF affects me though. They put restrictions on things I enjoy.I'ts become unbelievable expensive to buy tobacco and alcohol (which I must have, all the time), and I never liked the idea about the state interfering with Metal Shuffle (due to the system we pay the state 23% of the costs it takes to print the mag). I say: fuck 'em. KrF is also quite frightening. They are the nearest we ever get to Orwell's "1984"- Big Brother-effect in Norway. They'd like to control every aspect of your life: when you're asleep, with whom you go to bed, how many winebottles you drink etc, etc. In Norway it's not allowed to be in bad shape! How can they do this? When I talk to KrF-people I pretend that I'm really trying to become an alcoholic. Their faces go pale.
Why did so many Norwegians accept KrF ? Unfortunatly I have a feeling that the black metal scene (with the killing and the burning of churches) must take part of the blame.

9. Could you please tell us more about how you create the magazine from the first beginning of one issue to it's release ?

- Like every other magazine, I guess. I've got alot of projects going on all the time, so when I find time to work with Metal Shuffle the process is pretty quick. At this point we've saved up alot of interviews and reviews, so I take some days to set up the mag. And when we've filled up the pages it's done. There's really nothing more to it.

10. What kind of distribution do Metal Shuffle get ? Where is it distributed ?

- We do the distribution ourselves. It means a lot (and I mean ALOT) more work to do it on your own, but it is cheaper and you have more control over things.
It's mainly distributed in Norway (in the recordshops) but also in Sweden and Denmark.

11. Your Norwegian "rival"; Scream Magazine,has established itself with an own record label, website and only God knows what. The Scream magazine has become a sort of business empire. Have you been tempted or do you plan to take Metal Shuffle down the same alley as Scream Magazine? What is your plans for the coming months and years?

- I liked it when you said "DOWN the alley". No, I'm not tempted to build me a business empire. Quite the opposite actually. I like it just the way things are at the moment. More organization would mean more time out the window. Perhaps a website will occur some day, but that's it. Me and my pals in Procosmian Fannyfiddlers have talked about establishing a company for some time now, but this would be a recordlabel and a novel publishing company. Time will tell. Metal Shuffle's only plans are to keep the ball rolling, and to make the magazine bigger & better. Money is not important.

12. Please name your favorite bands.

- I've got 10 favorite bands (in no particular order): Deep Purple, The Beatles, Emerson, Lake & Palmer, Jethro Tull, Free, King Crimson, Kiss, Gentle Giant, Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin.
I'm quite fond of the 70's. As for the 90's, here are the best groups: The Tea Party, Emperor, Jet Black Joe, Anekdoten, Änglagård, Zbigniew Preisner (composer), Arcturus + Jellyfish.
Best heavy metal acts ever: Iron Maiden (80-86) + Motorhead.

13. Do you have a merchandise list ?

- Nope.

For more information; contact Geir Larsen through Metal Shuffle's e-mail address

His band Procosmian Fannyfiddlers can be found on this web site.