Throne of Katarsis - Norwegian Black Metal

REVIEWS

>> Reviews of Unholy Holocaustwinds
>> Reviews of An Eternal Dark Horizon

MUSIC SAMPLES

>> Funeral Moonlight
taken from Unholy Holocaustwinds
>> Symbols of Winter
taken from Unholy Holocaustwinds

INTERVIEW WITH IMPERIUMI DECEMBER 2006

How did you originally come in contact with Duncan and Paradigms? How would you characterize the relationship between the band and Duncan?
Duncan contacted us in 2005 regarding a CD release of our demo Unholy Holocaustwinds , recorded in 2004. He was very eager to release this CD, and this was a good thing for us; to have a dedicated contact person. We had, and still have a good relationship.

In my opinion, Paradigms Recordings has quite a beautiful label policy: to release quality music for open-minded people. Add to that the beautiful hand-crafted packaging and limited edition releases. How does all this go with Throne Of Katarsis and the EP you released through Paradigms? In other words, what do you think about the label policy?
I agree that the packaging is special, and is does look good. A very good stroke indeed. And it is a good thing that there is still labels that seeks the obscure and the different kinds of audio art, even though we more often cooperate with labels that deal with black metal only.

In black metal especially some of the more special releases are often limited, and many of the people within the scene are very fanatic over getting a particular edition of a certain album. Do you share this enthusiasm about limited editions and uniquely packaged sleeve designs?
I share the same enthusiasm to a certain point. If it means that I have to spend a ridiculous amount of money to get it, I don`t buy it. The music is the most important thing, and it is always available in re-issues or bootlegs. But I try to buy all the releases I find interesting on vinyl when they are released, and I appreciate extensive releases with all the extras, like posters, gate-fold covers and neat design. I also have this thing for limited releases, the release get a bit more special.

Paradigms has released bands of very different styles so far. Obviously, style wise Throne Of Katarsis is perhaps the most extreme band on Paradigms yet. Do you see the versatility of the label to be only positive for Throne Of Katarsis? Or do you think some of the other releases/bands fight against what Throne Of Katarsis stands for?
We had no idea which kind of label Paradigms was when we signed there for this release. I guess we assumed that this was a Black Metal label, but we didn`t give it much of a thought really. I have to admit that we wheren`t too enthusiastic when we heard the other bands, or projects, and neither when we saw the add in Terrorizer Magazine. Not quite our style to be honest, but at the same time we didn`t really care. We felt things where going our way anyhow, we got to do the cover art, and also to release a t-shirt through Paradings as well.
To be a part of such a extensive catalouge might have some negative effect due to the fans that wouldn`t know of the Black Metal part on the label, and would then again never find this product. We don`t see this as a big issue, and what other bands on the label might think of us we truly don`t care, even if they would fight against our sake. This would be a fight they could not win.

Where would you personally draw the line of differences in music style, on the one hand, and ideology, on the other hand? I mean, is there a type of people you wouldn t like to sell your CDs to or is there a sort of people with whom you wouldn t like to be on the same label?
My opinion is that there should be a connection in both the music style and the ideology, and blasphemous Black Metal is not for everyone.

Have you actually followed the path of Paradigms so far? If you have indeed heard some of the other bands on the label, would you care to say a couple words about them?
I can`t say I have. Our release was number 003, and I heard a couple of samples of the first two bands back then, but haven`t heard anything ever since.

In your own words, what does make Paradigms different from any other label?
As I haven`t heard too much of the music released on Paradigms, I can only say that the package is quite unique, and that it seems that it appears that the label commit to very alternative music.

While definitely being one of the most extreme bands on Paradigms, Throne Of Katarsis is, in my opinion, also one of the most traditional ones on the label. Several other bands seem to give great emphasis on experimentation on different levels, whereas you mostly keep to the structure and style already having been made famous by many Norwegian black metal bands. How important originality is for Throne Of Katarsis?
We enjoy long, dark and cold tracks, and when we feel that we have created music to enjoy for ourselves, we have succeeded. Our prophecy was and still is to craft purified and atmospheric occult Black Metal in the true vein of the early 90-ties Norwegian Black Metal, and focused on spreading the unholy message through our blasphemous lyrics. We do not think about what others might think of our music, neither how the audience will react to our songs being played live. This is a total ego trip. Originality has never been an issue, the music comes natural.

It would seem you have been recently signed to Candlelight Records. How did you come in contact with them, and what do you think about their current roster? What else can you tell me about your future endeavors?
We`ve been in contact with them for almost a year now, after sending them a raw-mix of some of the tracks from the forth coming album. They seem very enthusiastic, and we`re looking forward to release the album under their label. There`s lots of bands I`ve never heard which is signed on Candlelight, but at least there`s some great Norwegian bands like 1349 and FURZE, and EMPEROR of course. The future looks bright, we will to do some live shows when the debut is out, and hopefully some touring. We are already deep into new material for later releases, and there will be lots coming from this band in the future.

If there s anything additional you d like to say about Paradigms and/or Throne Of Katarsis that I haven t asked you about, please feel free to say it here.
I can inform that Unholy Holocaustwinds will finally be available on vinyl. Warfront Production will release a limited set of Unholy Holocaustwinds on 10' MLP format. 650 copies will be made available, including gate-fold-cover with printed inner sleeve and an A2 size poster. Also the 150 first copies will be on colored vinyl and include a logo-patch.
Our full-length An Eternal Dark Horizon will be released early 2007. To get more information concerning gigs and releases; stay tuned at our website.

On behalf of THRONE OF KATARSIS, the Unholy Norwegian Black Metal Cult;
-Grimnisse
December the 18th, anno 2006