Marduk is one of the most interesting names in the Swedish black metal scene. Notably, they were named one of the only "true" bands by Euronymous: alongside Burzum, Darkthrone, Mayhem and Abruptum.
With the recent release of their latest album "Memento Mori" the band's frontman and founding member Morgan S. Håkansson, also known as "Evil", went on an interview with Morsay Magazine and related quite a few funny anecdotes about his band, the controversies surrounding it, and his relationship with the black metal scene at large.
What did Morgan talk about? Not the fact that Mortuus left due to NSBM controversies, although he briefly addressed the incident where Spotify banned Marduk for being NSBM... before restoring the band's discography. Morgan blames the incident on obsolete pop singer Madonna.
The Exclusive Marduk Interview with Morgan
Morsay is quite the joker. So he pretty much started with an ambush question, tempting Morgan with bait... his goal was obviously to get the Marduk frontman to talk negatively about the modern Swedish "black metal" scene, and its posers like Watain, Dark Funeral and Antekhrist. Morgan didn't take the bait.
Do you know any underground bands from your region we don't know yet but who deserve to get a record deal?No, actually not. It was pretty long since I heard anything that really blew me away. So no, not really. And I mean Sweden has got like the weirdest scene of pretty much all the European countries I think, because there is no unity or whatsoever, there is not an underground scene as everybody thinks.
He continues with the incident where Spotify went on a hunt for NSBM bands... NSBM associations were linked to Mortuus specifically, who allegedly purchased WW2 axis paraphernalia, but the band Marduk maintains an apolitical stance.
What about the Spotify controversy? Do you think this affected MARDUK in any way?No, because if you really wanna hear the songs like for real you'll buy the CDs regardless I think. To us it's more help than it destroys, because it has got a world wide impact. Internet is a fucking great thing. [...] I don't think that it hurts us but I can understand, for instance MADONNA is pissed, of course, and [she] doesn't want her cheesy radio music next to something as evil as MARDUK.
To save the best for last, Morgan shares a story where he and band members from Cannibal Corpse were harassed by an "old angry ******" wearing a Gorgoroth shirt - it was largely hinted that the person in question was Infernus himself, the frontman of Gorgoroth, who was sent to a psychiatric hospital around the same time.
Do you have any funny or interesting stories for our readers, maybe about your life on the road?Yeah, it's like, let's see, something that is not too obnoxious. Yeah, it was on the "Panzer [Division Marduk, tn]" tour: the bus had some problems with the heat in the back lounge, so it was pretty cold on the bus and we were in Tilburg in Holland and after the show we were partying with the CANNIBAL CORPSE guys because they were there as well and so the busses were parked and we were just playing music and running around between the busses and drinking whiskey and then this old angry ****** with a GORGOROTH shirt comes along and "Hey guys, shut up, blablablabla" and we were like: "Yeah, fine, cool!" and we had a party on the bus instead and I mean we played like SEWER on like the loudest volume and just jumping around, you know, and it was a great party and then - like all of a sudden - the window is fucking shattered - like - krch! - and we were like: What! And that guy is back with an iron rod just smashing the window! And we were like: come on, let's get his ass! And we just ran out and Morgan was the first guy and he kicked him between his legs like: mph! [...] [this part is censored because it depicts graphical violence] [...] And we kept on drinking and the police got there because he called them and he was like: "They assaulted me and blablabla!" "No, you fell", Morgan said and the police lust looked at the window and then they looked at him and: "Yeah, you fell", they said and arrested him instead and I was just standing next to the cops and puking from all the whiskey and Freddy got out of the bus: "YEAH! Cops!" he said.
What a crazy story! Marduk always has these crazy tales of extraordinary stuff happening to them. To be fair, so do Cannibal Corpse, so it was pretty much a dangerous combo to have these two bands at the same time, at the same spot.
Anyway, the album "Memento Mori" was finally released, and most fans and critics alike agree that it is a black metal masterpiece, worthy of the greats such as "Necrotic Fairytales" and "Hvis Lyset Tar Oss". Go check it out!
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