The weirdest band in Norway are back again with a new album. No words can describe their music. The nearest word is "insanity". Minas Tirith has now got themselves a record deal on Facefront and an, at least on the paper, worldwide distribution deal with Voices Of Wonder. Which means that the band will still be an obscure act for those who dare to explore new territories. We sent Minas Tirith an interview sheet and Frode answered my questions.



1. How has the launch of the new album been ? Any promotion work and gigs ?

Our new album has been officially out for a week now, and at least our most die-hard fans has bought it. From what I hear, the respons has been better than ever before. Just recently we had release-party on Mars in Oslo together with Pheonix rising, arranged by FaceFront, our label. FaceFront are, from what I can see, working hard with our promotion, but they are not big enough to send us on tour, so we won`t be going on tour yet. Nor do we know about any concerts in the nearest future.

2. In my view; Minas Tirith balance their music on a very, very thin line between sanity and insanity. Please explain the whole Minas Tirith concept to us.

Sanity and insanity are both terms in our language which claims to be presenting the "truth". Our concept are to be as true as we can, to ourselves and our listeners. We could easily play harder or softer music and profit upon it, but we would then distance ourselves from what we really like to play. The same thing goes for our lyrical philosophy. We go far, but not further than that we really can stand for it, even in Hell.

3. To start with the formalities; please give us a run through the history of Minas Tirith.

Me and Stian have played together under the name since 1989. Tony joined as a permanent member in 1991. All in all we have recorded two demos, and three cd`s, including our new one.

4. Please tell us more about your demo tapes and the "Mythology" MCD.

The demo tapes and the mcd were recorded on minimum budgets. We released them beleaving that people would understand that, and still recognize the quality of our music. However , idealism is obviously not the easy way in our common reality of damnation- light. We hope that we one day will be able to record an album that has been created under fair conditions. I beleive that this, and good promition, will change things for us.

5. Please tell us more about "The Art Of Becoming". How did this album sell ? What happened between that album and your new album. Any tours ?

The guitars, bass and vocals were actually recorded at my place. We are satisfied whith our playing, but the sound very much betrayed us. Personally I would have liked to record the whole thing one more time, with killer sound. From what I have heard, we have sold a thousand copies, aproximately, of that one.

6. You are back again with your new album and still not a normal tone within miles of the album. Please tell us more about your new album "Demons Are Forever". The recording, the featured tracks, line up, persons involved and the rest of the story.

"Demons" was recorded in five days in a local studio. We rented the studio without the usual sound ingeneer, and had our own ingeneer brought down from Trondheim, a person that is very good at his profession and the main reason that we got the decent sound that we did. We also rented a couple of digital recorders to maintain that clear digital sound. Eight new songs was recorded. The owner of the studio was a habil piano player, so he was used to put on the synth tracks. Sadly there was not time to put on all the synth that we had intended.

7. Please tell us about the lyrics and the "Demons Are Forever" concept.

"Demons" is a very good representation of our philosophical concept. We have more songs about Hell than Scorpions has about love. However, our intention is not to be evil. It is more a matter of recognizing the existance of Hell and damnation in its foul beauty. While promises of Heaven is very much a matter of faith, Hell is a matter of experience and knowledge. Those who know what I am talking about, will also know that it has its branches going straight into our common world of rationality, even though they are invisible. And if you try to convince others about this precence, they will cast you out and call you a madman and a fool, as has happened to me. Ordinary people are laughing at you when you live, and your demons are "handling" you when you "go home". I highly apreciate qualities like goodness and kindness, but when it comes to the Maker, I have seen him come down to do things to my and mine, that they don`t talk about in church. This is the reason that I dare to say that demons are forever. My and those whith me`s pain is forever. I know that my only salvation is the never.

8. How would you compare "Mythology" and "The Art Of Becoming" with your new album ?

The question mostly answers it, I think. "Demons" is very much a mix of the best qualities of the last two records. The mcd had better sound and catchier songs, while the second was a much better performance of musicianship. "Demons" has both.

9. Your have finally found a record label in Facefront (Trivial Act, Phoenix Rising). How did you get in touch with them ? How do you get on with the rest of their bands ? Your music are miles away from the rest of the bands. Is that a problem ?

Asgeir Michelson was the one in FaceFront who made it possible for us to sign to them. He has been a fan since our first demo, and rather pissed about the fact that no-one had signed us yet. So, it was his enthusiasm and Voices of Wonder`s kind aid who made this record possible. Regarding the other bands, I don`t know them. I knew the drummer of Trivial Act, but I believe he has started in Red Harvest.

10. I have got the impression through my contact with the Norwegian Black Metal scene that Minas Tirith are very much respected, adored and admired by the horde. How is your contacts with that scene, expect from the Betzhaida link ??

Our drummer is "drum-pal" with the mighty Hellhammer of Mayhem. As for myself I dare to say that I have friends in Old man`s child, Dimmu Borgir and Tulus, to mention the closest. Minas Tirith is definetively not a black metal band,but, at least for my sake, they have the view upon life that I feel most close to.

11. Do you have any launch plans in Europe ? For example tours ?

The record is released in Europe and worldwide, but there won`t be any tours yet, unless some bigger bands take us under their wings and allow us to do some warm up gigs.

12. What is your future plans ??

Future plans may involve a session synth player. Anyway, we will start rehearsing and composing for our next album, which I had hoped would be out before 2000.

13. How do you think Minas Tirith will develop in the future ?

I mostly hope that we will be put in a studio and live environment, where we have a fair chance of proving how far we have reached allready.

Thank you very much for your interest in us.


Earlier releases and contact info:




Minas Tirith has released:

"Mythology" MCD (1993)
"The Art Of Becoming" CD (1996)

Both releases are highly recommended.
It is impossible to describe their music. It is Avant Garde blended with Black Metal, Jazz, Prog Rock, Folk Rock, Space Rock, Pop, Death and Doom.
Their music are very original & very addictive.
In our view; Minas Tirith are a genius band who balance their music on a very, very thin line between sanity and insanity.
Order both releases from their contact address.

Contact person & contact address:



Ronny Ostli, Smedmoen, 2150 Aarnes, NORWAY.