The following information is a quotation from Cain da Breth's blog on myspace.
So it is here - like finally :). We have really recorded a really real CD and it was released on August the 13th.
The CD is called SANAS, what in old irish means whisper or secret wisdom.
We had two presentation ceremonies - One, a very special one - on a great esoteric festival Bell, Book and Candle in Klagenfurt on August the 16th. The audience was full of witches, wizards and generally mystic people. The atmosphere was unbelievably nice and friendly. Plus for our gig the organizors ordered something very special - indeed a work of advanced magic - a lunar eclipse! So many thanks to James, Claudia and other great people for inviting us on the magical feast. It was our honour. In case you'd like to view some pictures from that event, they are to be found here: Bell, book and candle pix
The second presentation took place at Salmovska literarni kavarna a cosy caffee in Prague, on September the 3rd. Here a lot of our frends and fans were present and the atmosphere was close to a family meeting. The photos can be viewed here: Salmovska 1 or here with the results of the afterparty haha: Salmovska 2
And here's the event itself - pagan "baptizing" of the - a bit special - CD, done in the cauldron of poetry.
I hope we will manage to present some of the new songs here on myspace soon (technical issues). As for sales - the CDs are hard to get because we are so mysterious (this on such a level that we have no distribution channels so far). Anyways we are working hard on changing it.
In the meantime, you can go on youtube and view our videos from live gig in a very special church of Decapitation of St. John the Baptist [video]
Thank you for your friendship and attention and see you on the gig or elsewhere! Take care
“Photography consists of making things become what we want them to be.”
George Lepp, redactor Outdoor Photographer
For more than 7 years the name of Peter Beste has became the equivalent of excellence in black metal photography and maybe the most searched artist on Google regarding black metal stuff. One of the most titrated photographers in the world of darken metal (here I’d like to mention Lorenzo Mariani, a talented artist awarded with different distinctions in his field of work), traveled in Norway, capturing memorable images for magazines, online publications, sites and not least, for album’s cover artwork.
The target of the book: photographic portraits of Satanists: a pure evil bond between the 90s’ black metal generation and the more avant-garde one of the XXIst century; viking bloodlust, hatred for christianity and general misanthropy characterize the Norwegian Black Metal scene.
The roots of this scenecan be traced back to the 1980s where, for the most part, purely theatrical horror film aesthetics of earlier Black Metal music groups were imitated by youths who took their horror seriously. Out of this youthful rebellion morphed an ideology which included a strong identification with a Viking past as part of a quest to reclaim the elements of Norwegian culture that the Christian missionaries took centuries ago.
The subjects of these photographs are trying to reclaim the Norwegian land from what they see as the fantasy past that Christianity imposed on it. They are trying to get back to something more material. Documenting this dark-culture, unique to a country that has one of the darkest winters, Peter Beste shows us how becoming part of a horrifying fantasy may be a necessary tool to actually get closer to real life.
Peter Beste says:
“There's very little differentiation between church and state in Norway, so if you want to rebel, you're rebelling against the church.”
“If you're rebelling, you're partly rebelling against religion, because it signifies authority there. Black Metal fans are also tapping into an very important, pre-Christian part of the Scandinavian psyche. It's like they're following an older religion. They're interested in the pagan and Viking myths, which I found fascinating.”
”For many in Norway, the worst offense occurred when Fantoft stave church, a centuries-old, wooden structure, was burned to the ground … a horrible tragedy that infuriated people; the news got around the world."
"The original intention might have been to eliminate Christianity from Norway … which is a ridiculous goal. Instead they brought people closer together. One church would burn down and two would go up. They didn't end up scaring anybody."
The roots of project:
“As a kid I grew up with metal, so I found the scene very interesting. But in the US heavy metal isn't taken seriously anymore; it's seen as a phenomenon of the 1980s and 90s. From what I read, it was a very intense scene in Norway, where people took it for real. I knew I'd get some amazing images with such strong characters in such a dramatic landscape.”
“I first started going in 2002 and I've made 13 trips in total. The first time I went I stayed for a month, without knowing anyone. Gradually, just by hanging out, I got to know people. It was a long process. It helped when I went back the second time as I was able to show them photographs.”
"I saw Gorgoroth in Milwaukee in 2002, [shot the band] and Gaahl thought I captured his essence, so I went to Norway for five weeks with no agenda. . . . They were very suspicious people. Norwegians tend to be private. But there was never ever fear, once I realized that these guys are [more] educated and nicer than the everyday people in New York. It also helped that I wasn't a long-haired dude."
As a personal remark, I think this project is a pact beyond any devilish aspect: the subjects have received a more than deserved publicity , and Peter knew how to financially stipulate the Norwegian black metal hysteria, just look at the prices listed on http://www.peterbeste.com/store.html
(P.S. We also paid a great deal of money, but we are not sorry about this, we just expected a different approach on Norwegian black metal. 45% of the published pictures are stupid, not because of the photographer, but because of the subject.)
The project … includes 2 books.
His first photography book on Norwegian Black Metal was published in Japan in 2005 in limited edition of 3000 copies. It was published to coincide with exhibition at gallery Speak For from Tokyo and Osaka. Preface is written by Aaron Aites, director of “Until the light takes us”. The English version of the preface is written on black paper and the Japanese version – on tracing paper with black letters.
The book is comprised of 36 pages of photographs of the following: Frost, Infernus, Gaahl, Kvitrafn, Nocturno Culto, Fenriz, Deathanie, Nattefrost, Abbath, Maniac, King ov Hell, Hoest, Enslaved, Mayhem, Snorre Ruch, Samoth, Bard Faust Eithun, Ravn, Valfar.
The second True Norwegian Black Metalbook is a visual testimonial to this dark-culture. Peter Beste and editor Johan Kugelberg have created a unique photographic narration that explores black metal from a truly visceral perspective and offers a confrontational live performance photographs of a savage subculture set alongside the stark beauty and natural allure of a landscape often shrouded in darkness. With extensive contributions from the personal archive of Jon "Metalion" Kristiansen, publisher of the original Norwegian metal publication Slayer Magazine, a unique opportunity is here presented to see original artifacts and ephemera from this secluded rock community, and to read accounts of these events in the words of the people who were actually there at the time.
The second book is comprised of: 160 Pages of photographs of the following bands/individuals: Nocturno Culto and Fenriz, Necrobutcher, Hellhammer, Blasphemer, Maniac, Samoth, Frost, Enslaved, Abbath, Gaahl, Infernus, King, Kvitrafn, Nattefrost, 1349, Dimmu Borgir, Ildjarn, Aura Noir, and many more - interviews/quotes from Frost, Abbath, Fenriz ,Gaahl and essay by authors and Jon 'Metalion' Kristiansen publisher of the original Norwegian black metal publication Slayer Magazine, including 32 pages of original artifacts, photographs, ephemera, and personal accounts by black metal's key figures from Krisiansen's personal archive.
Beste shot on a variety of cameras over the years, including a Canon EOS A2 (better-known in the UK as the Canon EOS 5), a Mamiya 645 and, for the last couple of years, a Canon EOS 5D. On the early trips he shot more than 100 rolls of film each time, all of which he was unable to see until he got home. “ It made it more of an adventure … It made the trip more fun, and meant I could hang out with the guys in the evening instead of going onto my computer and going through them all. Digital is more work because you have to download and retouch everything.”
Beste shot in both colour and black-and-white, and used Photoshop to make some alterations to the images, but never altered them to the point that they could be considered manipulated. “I was less worried about capturing the objective truth than about what felt right,” he says.
The second book includes images of Norway's gorgeous landscapes.
"The whole country is a photographer's dream come true “.
Then there are photos of musicians with spiked wristbands and black-and-white corpse paint on their faces, often embellished with fake blood. These two striking subjects sometimes meet: A long-haired musician, his belly hanging over the brim of his leather pants, corpse paint covering his face, takes a stroll through a forest or fjord. Other photos find musicians crossing paths with other Norwegians en route to said fjord.
In one particularly memorable photograph, a musician known as Kvitrafn, from the band Wardruna, stands on a city sidewalk as an elderly woman passes by. Her mouth is open, her expression seemingly a mix of fear and disdain.
“Explaining and defending Gorgoroth is a thing you get used to doing when you choose to playing a band like this. People will always have a strong opinion on what we do and how we do it. It’s really quite easy: Gorgoroth is an extreme form of art. When it comes to the music many people can relate to it until they hear the high-pitch screaming vocals. It’s like opera , either you get it and relate to that way of expressing moods and atmospheres, or you don’t get it and see it as noisy screaming. The visual part with make up and spikes is a way to enhance the musical expression. We put faces to the music. All artists and musicians have own way of expressing mood and atmosphere.”
Kvitrafn
The portrait "Gaahl of Gorgoroth" (2003) exemplifies the way in which the Norwegian Black Metal lifestyle goes into and beyond the horror exterior.
“I see murder as mercy in a way. My ideea is to teach, so for me to murder is not the rightthing to do. Instead a more effective way would be for me to chop off person’s arms which is a worse punishment, the way I see it. If I am attacked or if someone enters my borders to disturb me ; and does so with full intention, then I must teach him. Basically , the attack against you is not significant, it is the idea that you have been attacked that is. You have to go to the mind that has attacked, enter it and correct it. I don’t think an eye for an eye is effective. It breeds equality , and I don’t thinkpeople are equal. That idea is disrespectful to people and disrespectful to all that is holy. The idea of an eye for an eye breeds ignorance and breeds acceptance for the one that crossed the border. That is all I can say about my trail of violence. I justify it. I don’t practice violence if there is no need.”
Gaahl
As a conclusion, photography has always been a matter of art and handicraft, of understanding the tools of the trade and how to use them, as it is of skills and ability to capture an image that will attract the viewer’s attention and be able to send a message. His success in reflecting so well the terrifying image of Norwegian black metal is also a result of making the subjects feel relaxed, in their element, as long as the lens was pointed at them. A good photography always assumes a correct recognition and answer towards the subject.
Hello, Legion. Please tell us a bit of the history of your new band. We'd like to discover it's path from the beginning until now and the reason of its birth.
Hey! Devian was founded by me and Emil as our new home in the metal scene. After leaving Marduk I was sorting out all the loose ends to be able to get back in the game, it was never the life or the scene that I did now want, I just didn't have anything more to give in Marduk, so I took my leave.
How was the process of choosing the name and then changing it from Elizium to Devian and how does the new name reflect what you were looking for?
Emil came up with Elizium and the rest of us could agree on it since the way things were then and the way the early music sounded it seemed to fit pretty good. The only thing though was that since there’s been a ton of Eliziums already it felt a bit generic. When we got a good slab of material together and the soul of the band started to show a bit more it felt like it didn’t fit at all so we searched a new name, my hottest candidate being Ninewinged Serpent, but the one name that we all could agree on was Devian, from the word Devious we see it as someone non conformist who kicks the world square in the ass.
Was it initially intended for B.War to be part of the band? What happened?
He’s a family man in TX and could not go on the road or be there with the rest of us to write and rehearse so he chose to step off so we could focus as hard as we want and need to get this band going. A true friend and a class act!
Is it just a coincidence that so many ex-Marduk members are the founders of Devian?
Well Emil is like family to me, and so is Bwar so it was a given that we still wanted to play together when we quit that band. Blood is thicker than water.
Devian also went through some changes regarding the configuration, right after the recording of the album. Will this affect the band? What are the reasonsbehind this event?
Sometimes not everyone thinks realistically I guess, the line up we had said that they were all dying to do this full on but when it became a reality our guitarist figured that he’s been a bit naive about his commitment so he chose to step off. We still remain good friends though and we sincerely wishes him the best with his music.
Can you tell us about the contribution of each member in the band? The lyrics, the whole concept, the sound and public image …
We all write and push each other to be as good as we can be. Everybody bleeds into everything and at the end of the day its not someone’s original riff or idea, it’s a Devian song. We all are pretty likeminded and everything about the concept of the band has been growing naturally and keep on developing by itself. Its fantastic to see what a beast Devian is becoming feeding on our input but kind of getting its own life.
"Ninewinged Serpent", launched on October 22nd 2007, is your debut album. So far it evolves well. Can you tell us about the making of the album, the message that Devian stands for and what you expect of it, thinking also that some fans might see you through a "Marduk filter" because of the past involvement?
I think NWS is a great debut, especially considering the band was sprawled out over different countries working in and out of our respective homestudios. Its really exciting being out on the road tearing it up and see what works how with the crowd. The thought behind the NWS is individualism and that pain and hurt is nothing to fear as long as you’ll get where you wanna go. We chose to illustrate this through Lucifer’s nine day fall which I think is the uttermost symbolism for someone who is so strong and secure in himself that he pisses off from a place he can’t stand so he can go his own way.
Of course people will relate with Marduk because its such a huge part of my musical past, and it’s a past that I'm really proud of too so it’s all good.
Are you already preparing a second album? What should we expect?
Yes, the second album is now basically written. We have all the songs as rough drafts and we keep writing and improving what we have since Emil brought a mobile studio on the road with us. The new songs is a natural continuation of the NWS but two leaps forward since we now are a tight team that work continously with rehearsal after rehearsal until the material really feels ready. Expect heavy pounding metallic onslaught!
Do you intend to release a media material also? With photo sessions, live material, studio recordings and all that?
We haven't decided what the new release will look like once its finished, the main thing is always the music and then we ll see what other stuff we have that might be interesting for people to get.
Is Devian a new concept or is a natural evolution that you've reached? How would you think your involvement in other bands has influenced you?
Devian is who we are now, would I still be in Marduk that band would sound different than what it does today. Even if the old lineup got together and tried to create another Heaven Shall Burn it would not work because what comes out sincerely and naturally has a lot to do with where you are at in life, and once you evolve you can never change back without it sounding shallow and fake. All the things I have recorded has been things that needed to come out, triggered by one thing or another. I like the route that Devian is on and is gonna break my ass to push this as far as possible.
I can't help myself and I always ask about instruments. I find it nice to know what you like to work with and why.
Joinus only plays Gibson, Tomas ESP. Probably because of their heroes and the techinque they use when they play. Roberth plays Rickenbacker and Emil plays Adams.
You already have a lot of live experiences. How do you feel on stage? Any unpleasant experience? Maybe even with Devian?
Well you know not all shows are as good as your best ones, some tech fuckups, other circumstances like deceases or what ever beyond your control might fuck up your day. Ive been jumping through the floor of the stage, been electrocuted by the microphone, had power cut outs, been food poisoned and fainted on stage from dehydration, in Mexico I got the yellow fever but chose to play anyways and afterwards I was hospitalized for a week getting injections with antibiotics in my ass for five days in a row. But it’s just to buy into the situation or go do something different.
Devian is already set to tour with Vader and reach Romania also. Do you have any particular feeling regarding the arrival to this destination? If you'd have the time what would you like to visit?
It’s gonna be excting since I’ve never been there before. I would love to see a lot of stuff being an old fan of Vlad Tepes. I read the book prince of many faces in my late teenage years and I’ve always thought when having the time I should go there and watch some of the historic locations with own eyes.
Do you always play or plan to play with your own equipment? How is your performance affected if not?
Yes we do as far as possible, we make it our business to have gear and back up gear so that we can always deliver a good show.
What's more important for you? The concerts or having your album sold, seeing that people appreciate Devian's work from this point of view also?
Well without getting out and play the album won’t sell since this kind of music will never be pushed in mainstream forums like TV and radio, so it’s like one thing gives the other, but I like them both. We are two different bands like that, one thorough and precise one in the studio and a wild bunch just bursting with energy when being on stage.
When playing live, do you first get informed about the place where it will be, the sound and space available etc? Because in Cluj Napoca, at the last Marduk concert, a few months ago, the sound was nearly a disaster and the place too crowded. Would Devian choose not to play in such conditions?
I’ll never cancel a show under no conditions. I’ve been playing under bomb threat several times, had political lobbyists trying to shut down clubs etc, I’ve always said fuck it, I’m there to deliver and I will no matter what.
I must thank you for your time and collaboration, it was a pleasure doing this interview. Would you like to say something to your readers and listeners? Oh, and, if I were to be Black Santa Claus, what gift would you like from Transilvania?
Thanks a lot for taking an interest. See you all on the road!! You could bring me the remains of an impaled victim from the good old days down there ;)
Update : It comes comes out in the US and Europe on June 1, but now, Peter is accepting pre-orders for the deluxe edition (currently not offering the regular version).
True Norwegian Black Metal Hardcover. 208 Pages. 11.25" x 14.25" Vice Books - June 1 2008 $60
Deluxe Limited edition of 666 Includes hand numbered silk screened slipcase (measuring 11.25" x 14.25") 20x26" Silk screened black metal logo poster Signed 8x10 Peter Beste print $200*
Ordering Info:
Paypal to: peterbeste5000@yahoo.com
or Money Orders to:
Peter Beste 302 Bedford ave #252 Brooklyn NY 11211
*If you are ordering from outside the US please add $25 for shipping. Shipping is included in domestic orders.
*Pre-orders will ship approximately 2 weeks before the release date of June 1.
*Deluxe Edition will retail for $250, this is a limited offer
*If you want to pre-order the book by itself, you can do so on amazon. com
“I think it is a strong and real movement in the Black Metal scene, though some use it mainly for image, while others are serious and real about it. True Black Metal music must have some lyrics about Satan; it’s a must in this form of music!”
Equitant
True Norwegian Black Metal is a visual testimonial to this subculture. Peter Beste and editor Johan Kugelberg have created a unique photographic narrative that explores black metal from a truly visceral perspective and offers a confrontational live performance photographs of a savage subculture set alongside the stark beauty and natural allure of a landscape often shrouded in darkness.
Beste’s access and insight into this world is unprecedented and has yielded an amazing photographic journey, along with a very popular documentary series on VBS.tv, also available on his myspace True Norwegian Black Metal book account.
With extensive contributions from the personal archive of Jon "Metalion" Kristiansen, publisher of the original Norwegian black metal publication Slayer Magazine, a unique opportunity is here presented to see original artifacts and ephemera from this secluded rock community, and to read accounts of these events in the words of the people who were actually there at the time.
The book is comprised of: 160 Pages of photographs of the following bands/individuals: Nocturno Culto and Fenriz, Necrobutcher, Hellhammer, Blasphemer, Maniac, Samoth, Frost, Enslaved, Abbath, Gaahl, Infernus, King, Kvitrafn, Nattefrost, 1349, Dimmu Borgir, Ildjarn, Aura Noir, and many more - interviews/quotes from Frost, Abbath, Fenriz ,Gaahl and essay by authors and Jon 'Metalion' Kristiansen publisher of the original Norwegian black metal publication Slayer Magazine, including 32 pages of original artifacts, photographs, ephemera, and personal accounts by black metal's key figures from Krisiansen's personal archive.
True Norwegian Black Metal will be issued via Vice Books on May 15th. We can pre-order this book on Amazon.com now, or order the deluxe version from Peter Beste starting in mid-April.
True Norweigan Black Metal Photo Exhibition: NYC: Steven Kasher gallery opening May 8-June 7th Also: London, Stockholm, Oslo, Berlin, Los Angeles (dates t.b.a)
