Interview with Nattsjel of Vidsyn 2005

By Bradley Smith

It seems that a lot of the reviews that I have come across for On Frostbitten Path Beneath have been really positive.  How do you feel the response has been towards it?

Overall the reviews have been very good.  It seems that most of the listeners like what they hear.

Also speaking of positive reviews you have stated that some labels rejected your demo.  What was their reasoning?  I am sure they are regretting it now.  Any bigger label interest now based on your OFPB release?

Most of the rejects I’ve got was because of the similarities with another bands and I’m referring to Immortal here. About 80% of the labels I’ve sent the demo to, didn’t even act professional enough to write me a line when they received the demo.  This is also something I have experienced with other bands where we didn’t get any reply at all.  As for the interest after OFPB release it hasn’t been that much because Vidsyn is signed for 2 more albums on Agonia.  But if we get an offer from another label that could easily be another path we travel.

As a one man band do you feel you are limited in some ideas you want to get across or do you feel it is more beneficial because you have a lot more control over your art?  Or do you feel it is a little of both?

Well Vidsyn is a full band now so I’ll hope that the other band members try to make the band evolve into something better.  As it seems for the future I hope to control most of what’s being made but I will also incorporate their views on things.  When you make all the music you have full control and that can be good but I think that unless you are a musical prodigy it’s good to have others around you so you can test your music on them and make them come with some pointers.

I have had your music compared to Immortal and in an interview I read with you said there are some distinct differences between your compositions and theirs.  What are these differences and how do you feel about this overall impression that people feel?

Vidsyn is more melodic in many ways, every riff I make has a special feeling for me and they are not in the songs just as parts filling the void.  Immortal are much better on the aggressive side, I think no other black metal band can measure with the kings.  I think people feel the similarities in the compositions mostly because of the lyrics, they could as well be written by Demonaz I think.  Vidsyn will never try to fill the empty place after Immortal left the scene.  I only play riffs and make lyrics that mean something to me.  That’s what black metal is all about: that special feeling you get when you crank up your stereo and listen to black metal.

I know you get this question a lot but how did you get Nocturno Culto to participate with his vocal contributions?  Also what about Hellhammer and his drumming talents?  Will you use them again in the future?

I get the question quite often (read: every fucking interview) so I’ll give you the short version:  I’ve known Nocturno Culto for many years so it wasn’t that much convincing from my side.  As for Hellhammer we have common friends and he thought the music was good hehe.  Since a majority of zines and reporters seems to focus more on those people, then on the actual band and music, I think I will avoid doing anything with “famous” people for a while….  Sad but true because they are both skilled musicians.

I noticed you are on Agonia.  I have heard bad things about them from other bands and just from some of my contacts in general.  How have your experiences with them been?

Well you’re on right track here………

Icy and mountainous landscapes are painted into your lyrical topology.  Obviously that kind of imagery is of great importance to you as a person.  What kind of significance does it hold for you and why?

It comes from my surroundings where I live now and where I used to go on holiday when I was a little kid. In the summertime I don’t like to be out that much but when the snow falls down I’m eagerly to get outside and feel the cold. The lyrics come from that side of my personality, why I don’t know.

You have a raven that flies around your house some times.  When was the last time you saw it.  What sort of mystical symbolism does its presence hold for you?

I think it was 1 month ago or something.  Ravens fly over areas to sign death I’ve heard so there must be someone who will die here or have died.

It seems to me that your musical and lyrical style would imply a misanthropic personality.  Do you feel that this is true?  How do you view yourself in respect to the rest of humanity?

The lyrics are dedicated to the nature and I think that it’s not misanthropic to me because it makes me happy to see that side of the nature.  To other people it may be quite the opposite but I write lyrics for myself and not for them.  The lyrics does not contain hate, Satanism or things like that. I use that other dark side of me for other projects.  But to answer your question I respect most humans that deserved to be respected.

Do you pay attention to events occurring in the world or do you isolate yourself from everything?  What types of events draw your attention and is there anything you follow on a regular basis such as the war in Iraq or weather related disasters or sports even?

I watch the news from time to time so I know what’s going on in the world but I don’t let it get to me.

In some of your other interviews you have mentioned a sort of affinity for Norwegian styled black metal such as Darkthrone or Immortal and some others.  It seems you prefer the riff driven old school black metal.  What appeals to you about this style?  Are there any bands in the scene that are truly significant to you?

It’s not so much the style within black metal but it’s the feeling these bands had when they made the music.  Back in the early 90’s it felt like they were more dedicated to the music and they really believed in what they made.  You can hear that everything is played with passion and love for the music.  I think that when black metal exploded as a genre, many bands jumped on the train and rode it because of the attention they got in media.  Too many idiots in other words and also money became so important to the new bands….  I love Immortal, Darkthrone, old Ulver, old Old Man’s Child, old Satyricon etc.

What sort of near term goals do you have as a band for Vidsyn?  When can we expect some new material to be unleashed up on us?

I’m hoping Agonia get their thumbs out of their assholes and release the 10” split with Taake….  It’s has been in their hands for quite a while now…  I plan to take a trip to the mountains and make some songs for the next album that we hopefully record in the second quarter of 2006.

With all the imagery of ice and snow that your artistic visions conjure up, what do you think about death by Hypothermia, freezing to death in particular?  What sort of demise would you like to meet?

I think it must be a good way to die, almost like dying when you swim.  If you ever have been close to drowning you know what I’m talking about, everything seems to be in harmony, you just slip away into the oblivion.  I thing freezing to death in combination with going to sleep in on the top of a mighty mountain could be a good way to die.

Any last howling gusts from the frozen wastes?

If you get the chance, watch us tear it apart live!  I think Vidsyn is better live (when played correctly hehe) than on a CD!