SUSPERIA: We are definitely a live band

Metalfan: Hell-O, there! How’ s life in Norway.
Cyrus: Hi -Life is great, I’m just moving in to a new place so everything is busy.

Metalfan: I know booze and cigarettes are expensive like sh*t in your country, how do you manage to survive?
Cyrus: Hehehe – Yes I guess it is expensive to people who don’t live in Norway. We don’t really notice the prices most of the time. Of course we always bitch when costs go up, just like anyone else, but the high prices are what we have been used to since we were old enough to start spending money. It’s only when visitors tell us or when we go abroad that we notice how high our prices are compared to other countries. The way the whole country is set up with wages, health services etc means that everyone manages to survive. 

Metalfan:  Some of our readers don’t probably know your history so well. In that case, could you talk a little about the highlights?
Cyrus: Well here goes with some highlights. You can find the full story on our website www.susperia.net  if you want to know more. Me and Tjodalv originally got together to write songs – this was while Tjoldav was still with Dimmu Borgir. But then it grew and we wanted to have a proper band so Tjodalv left Dimmu and we got in the other guys and Susperia was born. We recorded a demo, which got us a deal with Nuclear Blast. We recorded two albums for them ‘Predominance’ and ‘Vindication’. Then we moved to the TABU label. So far we have released ‘Unlimited’ and the new album ‘Cut From Stone’ with them as well as the ‘Devil May Care’ EP. The EP actually got to number 19 in the Norwegian singles chart – which was fantastic for us. We’ve toured with bands like Dimmu Borgir, In Flames, Testament and WASP just to name a few.

Metalfan:  Tjodalv and Memnock appeared on one or two Old Man’s Child studio albums. Were they full members or just guests? Why did they leave OMC?
Cyrus: Memnock appeared as a guest on the albums but Tjodalv was actually a member of the band. Tjodalv left because he was also in Dimmu Borgir at the time and it got too much to be in two bands.

Metalfan: You’ve got the chance to release your debut album, Predominance, under Nuclear Blast’s signature. How did they get to sigh with Susperia?
Cyrus: When Susperia formed we recorded a demo and sent it out to a lot of record companies. We had a lot of labels chasing us – I think it was about nine or ten. Nuclear Blast gave us a good deal and convinced us that they could do the best job for us, so we signed with them.

 
Metalfan: Predominance was engineered by Lars Szoke and mixed by Peter Tagtgren. Are they easy to work with? We all know Tagtgren from behind the microphone; how is he in his private life?
Cyrus: They were really cool guys and good to work with. It was the first album for Susperia so we were guided by them really. We just wanted a great album so listened to what they had to say. Peter in his private life is very much you get what you see, a good guy that is easy to get on with.

Metalfan: Vindication, your second effort, was released one year later in the same recording/production line-up. There is a note on the booklet saying: “All effects are created with vocals & guitars. No synthesizers were used on this album”. Are synthesizers uncool and not true, or why else would you like to underline not using them?
Cyrus: At the time keyboards were something that we definitely did not want to use. A lot of bands were using them and we wanted to get away from having the synths. It was early days for Susperia and we were looking for our own musical identity. I have nothing against using them in the right situation, but at that time it was not for us.

Metalfan:  2004 meant a new album, a new record label and a new technical team. Could you please give us more details about Unlimited? What’s the main difference between it and the previous 2 studio albums?
Cyrus: Unlimited was a fresh start for us. For the first time we all got together as a band during the writing and everyone had their opinions for the songs. We went away for a couple of weeks to Memnocks’ cabin, took some beer with us and wrote songs. It was a different way of doing things for us but the result was our best album at that point. Unlimited gave us more identity; it was a step to developing our own sound. The main difference from the first 2 albums is that we managed to bring more melody to the songs without losing the heaviness.

Metalfan:  After almost a decade you are in the same line-up, which is very unusual especially when it comes to metal bands, if you ask me. What does it take for 5 guys to get along so well? What keeps you united?
Cyrus: We’ve been together so long that we know how each person works, but we still have disagreements. Being in the band is like a marriage – we believe passionately in what we do that sometimes we argue and fall out with each other, but we always make up in the end. Respect I think also plays a big part in helping us stay together. It helps that we are all friends outside the band. We are always round at each other’s houses, having a beer and talking music.

Metalfan:  Tjodalv was initially a bass and guitar player, and in Susperia stays behind the drum kit. I know very well his performances as a drummer. Was he a good guitarist? Does he still know to play the guitar and the bass.
Cyrus: Well he was good enough to play guitar and bass at the time of the recordings of Old Mans Child and Dimmu. He still knows the basics for playing a tune.

Metalfan:  What are your real names, if you don’t mind me asking?
Cyrus: They are all Norwegian names – some easy some difficult to pronounce. We chose other names for ourselves because it was much easier for people to pronounce.

Metalfan:  Let us draw closer to your most recent release, Cut from Stone. What did you cut from stone with this album?
Cyrus: Hmmm – well as far as I am concerned we “cut” our best album so far. All bands always say that the latest album is their best, but I really believe it with ‘Cut From Stone’. Working with Daniel Bergstrand was cool, he brought more warmth and feeling to the whole album. The songs feel really human. I learned a lot from seeing him work. We are really pleased with the result. And we’re getting really good reviews for it. 

Metalfan:  I find it quite modern when it comes to the sound and some of the riffing reminds me of good old Pantera. If you would have to label your music, how would you describe it?
Cyrus: Pantera is just one of the bands that people mention when they listen to our last couple of albums and I can see what they mean. Everybody always is looking for a label to make a comparison. I can understand why, but sometimes in metal there are too many labels. I would describe our music as melodic thrash. I actually saw a review recently that described us as “blackened thrash”!!! So there is another label in the metal dictionary now.

Metalfan:  I know that some months ago Tjodalv broke his ankle in a “freak accident”. Could you be more specific?
Cyrus: Tjodalv was unloading his car and slipped on some ice that was under the snow. It had been raining, the rain had turned to ice and snow then fell on top. He fell on top of his leg and broke the ankle. He was taken to hospital and had to have an operation, they put pins in his legs and things like that. He’s only now starting to think about playing the drums again. I think it will be another couple of months before he is playing properly again.

Metalfan:  How was Cut from Stone received by the publications and the fans? Have you got the chance, taking into consideration Tjodalv’s recovery, to play any new tracks live? If yes, how did the public react?
Cyrus: From what the fans are saying, they like it. They tell us that it kicks ass!  Most of the reviews from publications around the world have been good so far. The response in America has been especially good for us. ‘Cut From Stone’ was the number 1 most added album at the Rock Radio stations over there on the week it was released. The only negative reaction so far has been from one or two magazines in the UK, which is really strange because we have received good comments from our fans over there. The reactions from the fans in the UK do not match what the magazines have said.
When it comes to playing live we already toured with WASP in May when the album was released. We had to use a session drummer, Anders Haave from Blood Red Throne, he did a really good job and the audiences really loved us.
 

Metalfan:  How would you describe Susperia, a live or a studio band? Where do you feel more comfortable?Cyrus: We are definitely a live band. When it comes to the studio most of the band just want to get their parts recorded and get out. Personally I enjoy both. I have my own studio and I am always recording ideas for songs. But also to play live is a cool experience. You get such a buzz from being on stage and performing to a crowd.

Metalfan: Did you film any videos? Describe your latest, please.
Cyrus: We have not yet recorded a video for any songs from the new album. We are talking with some people and seeing what ideas they have. So we should make a decision soon.

Metalfan:  In the Norwegian metal scene you seem like being friends with one another. How could you explain that?
Cyrus: If you mean with other bands then yes it’s true. We hang our regularly with the guys in Dimmu and Old mans Child. Everyone just gets on with each other. We all just want to get the chance to play music and if we need to help each other we do. As you know, a lot of musicians in Norway don’t just have one band. As we were discussing earlier Tjodalv was in Old Mans Child and Dimmu at the same time. That kind of thing goes on all the time. Maybe it’s because Norway does not have a big population.

Metalfan:  What is your opinion towards pentagrams, Satanism, black metal, face paint, etc.?
Cyrus: I think that maybe it’s had its’ time. It was a part of metal that pushed boundaries and got a lot of attention. But now nothing fresh comes from that scene. It’s become commercial and a lot of bands just copy what’s gone before, they don’t do anything new.

Metalfan:  What do you think about Varg Vikernes knifing Euronymous to death, back there in 1993?
Cyrus: All that is history now and it should stay there.

Metalfan:  What do you know about Romania, my homeland?
Cyrus: If I’m honest not a lot – but I understand that it’s a great place to play shows. I always like to learn about new countries and touring gives me that opportunity. Unfortunately we have not had the chance to play in Romania. Maybe it will happen soon.

Metalfan: Is there anything you’d like me to ask you? If there is, please answer that question.
Cyrus: Here goes – What do you think of the Internet and downloading?
Cyrus: It’s a good way to find out about new bands, but when people start to download the music for free then they are fooling themselves and cheating the bands. If people expect music for free then there is no future in new music because there will be no money from record labels. I am already hearing from other bands that say that record labels do not have as much money to give them for recording and promotion etc. The big bands will survive but the smaller bands will not, which means there will be less choice in music. 

 
Metalfan: Please tell me something about Susperia’s future plans.
Cyrus: We are looking to do some more touring later this year – probably in Europe first. The album has just been released in the USA and is doing well so we hope to get over there to do some dates when the right tour comes up for us. Also we are already thinking about the next album and I have started putting some ideas together for new songs.

Metalfan:  In the end I’d like to thank you for your time and patience and wish you all the best. You have the final words.
Cyrus: Thanks to everyone who has bought the new album. It is our statement about how we think real melodic thrash metal should be!! If you beg to differ, go buy it and see!!
Thanks for the interview!
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