Interview with Pelle of In Solitude 2009

By Bradley Smith

Your new album has recently seen the light of day in both CD and LP format.  Can you tell me about what this album represents to you and why it was important to have it come out in both formats?  What is so special in your eyes about vinyl?

- The album represents us, the five parts of the puzzle that builds In Solitude. A writing process of the more organic kind and the artistic expression that is the outcome, and the darkness that is the outcome. The experience of building worlds, depths, hellfire, visions, feeling and darkness cant be described. And our relationship to vinyl isn’t more than preferring it that way. But we have no problem with those who prefer CD, it’s an individual choice. And we want to make it possible for those people to experience our album to.

Art plays an important part in advancing the message of a band.  Do you agree and how did you choose the artist (Affe Piran) for the cover and what exactly are we looking at?  What sort of impression did you want the album cover and the album inlay art to make and how does that play into the overall message and mood of In Solitude?

- If you view upon our band as a body, every limb is equally important. And deserves equally as much passion and dedication to become whole. So, everything from lyrics to insert to songs to t-shirt motives has to work as one, and album cover of course. The album cover is painted by the sick mind of AP, who is the only person at the time that really understood what “mood” and “message” we were searching for and had the skills to make it when the cover was going to be done.

I know you have a short tour coming up with some European dates.  What does a live show from In Solitude feature?  Is it more of a ritualistic atmosphere or one of ultimate metal showmanship?  What material will your setlist comprise of?  Are you excited about the KIT festival? 

- Well, I just got home from the tour and I am very satisfied with the results and all the shows, specially KIT. And yes, there is a ritualistic atmosphere that is very important to the band. To not only take a look into the darkness but actually taking one step further into it.

When listening to your album I am reminded of the magic of when I first heard early Mercyful Fate.  There is a certain eeriness and darkness to this style to me which even surpasses Black and death metal.  Do you agree and what elements do you think make this music so synonymous with darkness?

- Well, the elements of darkness are nameless and older than time itself so its quite hard to but words on why a Black Metal band like Mercyful Fate create genuine evil. And this interview obviously doesn’t have enough space to even go on here. 

Since we are discussing Mercyful Fate, what do you see as In Solitude’s musical influences?  What ideas and moods provide inspiration for musical creation?

- We take inspiration from feelings we get. Be it from music, art, poetry, death, the occult, the beyond, literature, album covers, mythology and the devil himself. But since namedropping sucks, I leave that to others.

There appears to be a strong link between the music In Solitude plays and Satanic Mysticism.  What sort of satanic religious beliefs do you and your bandmates adhere to? 

- There are no religious beliefs, but we stand on the left hand path and dwell in all darkness, and death.

On a similar note, though the roots of In Solitude are steeped in the lore of early metal it seems there is more of a philosophical and aesthetic kinship with black metal somewhat like say…Dissection.   Do you agree with this and What do you find appealing about these aesthetics? 

- I don’t know if Dissection would be the first band I would compare us with on this subject but, yes of course! Philosophy and aesthetics are two of the poles that holds up our temple, be it towards the black metal or everything beyond that.

It seems that there is a “new” musical trend rising up in the Swedish metal underground embodied by the likes of yourself, Portrait, Enforcer and Wolf.  What do you think triggered this rearward journey towards the early roots of metal?  Is there anyone else we should keep any out for?

- I don’t know and I don’t care.

Fenriz of Darkthrone recently started up a “band of the month” to highlight lesser known bands that possessed soul and that true metalheads should keep an eye out for.  In Solitude was the first band to get such recognition.  Have you noticed any increased attention because of this and how does it feel to have such a well respected personality like Fenriz hailing your band?

- Well, I guess these things go on within the walls of the internet and if that’s the case I don’t have that much to say. I don’t keep track on these kinds of thing but it would not surprise me is that would give us more attention. A lot of metal insects tend to start appreciating art when someone “better” than them tells them its okay.

Satanism stands in opposition with Xtianity.  But with the rise of Islam how does this new foe pose different challenges for opposition and what methods to defeat it should be used?  What is your overall impression of Islam?

- Impressions are irrelevant when you can study them and look the beast right in its eyes. And I find all religions very interesting. But my hate towards them lies on a spiritual level. But I love their texts, their oppressive ways and temples.

What are the near term future plans of In Solitude?  Can we look forward to any new musical output? 

- We will play at the Hard Rock festival Muskel-Rock this summer and then concentrate on writing new material. And hopefully we will play more in Europe later this year.

I’ll leave any Final Words of wisdom to you and can you help us as to how can we unseal the gateway?

- You must find out how to unseal the gateways yourself, be that your mission and pole-star. Go into the darkness, eat the poisoned fruits and find your inner snake!