Right before 2020 ends, I had the opportunity to talk a bit with Thomas Eriksen, leader and thinking head of the band Mork, about the new album, Katedralen.
Hello Thomas and first of all, thank you for your time. Would you mind introduce yourself and Mork for someone who doesn’t know the band yet please?
Thomas Eriksen (everything): Mork is a Norwegian Black Metal band formed in 2004, in Halden, Norway. The band has two sides; the creative and recording side is a one man endeavor, by myself. The other side is the live band, that has toured the world since 2015.
Where does the band’s name come from? What is the connexion between the name and Black Metal you play?
Thomas: I made up the name Mork back in 2004, when I wanted something that connected the nekro esthetics and visuals with the sound and music. Mork is derived from the Norwegian word “morken”, and means decayed.
Mork is about to release Katedralen, the band’s fifth full-length. Are you satisfied of the work you achieved on this album?
Thomas: Definitely. This is my best effort yet. I started writing and recording for this album already whilst recording Det Svarte Juv. From the first ideas I understood that this was going to become something special.
What can you tell us about the album cover and the album’s name?
Thomas: I guess it has to be around 12-13 years ago when I came up with the concept of Katedralen. Then I thought about making a concept EP about a journey and about reaching that enormous cathedral in a vast and dead space. However, it was shelved. I did a couple demos though, that remains in the vaults. A couple of years ago the idea of bringing the title back again came back. Katedralen is a place at the end of a long and hard journey where lost souls gather and is held in eternal incarceration. I explained this to the artist, David Thierree, and he really delivered. David did my last album art, as well, and I really enjoy working with him.
I noticed that there are many influences in this album, like clean vocals on Arv, very Old School roots on ?Det Siste Gode I Meg,? slow and oppressive tones on ?Født Til Å Herske?… What are your main inspirations to write music and lyrics?
Thomas: I couldn’t put my finger on anything particular. I create spontaneously and out of my own mind and body. What comes out, is what ends up on the record. I suppose I have an ability to be in touch with my darker sides and sadness.
There are also some guests on this album, Nocturno Culto from Darkthrone, Dolk from Kampfar and Eero Pöyry from Skepticism. How did you choose them? How did those collaborations happen?
Thomas: Ted (Ted Arvid Skjellum, aka Nocturno Culto, ed.) has been involved with Mork before as well. He did a track on my second album Den Vandrende Skygge as well as perform that track with us onstage. Since we are buddies it was not hard having him come over and do the vocals on this new track. The same goes for Dolk, we are friends and one day I asked him. I thought the track was majestic and could fit his style and touch. Both tracks turned out great. Regarding Eero, that’s an interesting story. Back in the day when I discovered Black Metal and started digging around in Metal subgenres, I also came across Skepticism. I heard their track Sign Of A Storm which just overwhelmed me completely. I had never felt so empty and hopeless in my life, as when listening to that track. The band is credited as being the creators of the Funeral Doom genre. This has stayed with me through the years. When writing and recording the title-track for the new album, I came across this end riff that reminded me a bit about Funeral Doom. And I thought it would be something trying to get in touch with the Skepticism organist. As I did the bass on the latest The Deathtrip album, I noticed that they were signed to the same label. So I got in touch and got to meet up and get to know Eero, before their gig in London just before Covid this year. Great guy and his contribution to my album speaks for itself. A milestone for me.
The last song, ?De Fortapte Sjelers Katedral?, is the longest of this album, and even of the whole Mork discography. What is the idea, or the message of this song?
Thomas: Since the EP I talked about never was realized back when, I wanted to make the title track of Katedralen a bit special. It is not a concept album, so I tried to put most of the envisioned theme into this track. So it is a journey through a vast desolate land and finally reaching the cathedral at the end, where they dwell forever. It is my very own epos, in the Mork catalogue. A proper album closer as well, in my opinion.
Is it easier for you to compose everything by yourself instead of composing music with other people?
Thomas: Definitely yes. I am an only child and have always been forced to use my creativity. I am at my fullest potential when creating in solitude.
How did you discover Metal music back in time? What about the most extreme part of Metal?
Thomas: I first discovered Metal through the vinyl collection of the older brother of a friend of mine. That was back in elementary school. I found Laaz Rockit’s Annihilation Principle and copied that to my walkman, and that was it. The extreme Metal, is as mentioned previously in this interview, something that happened a bit later. I was about 16 when I got to see Mayhem live for the first time. That triggered a yearning and curiosity about what else is out there.. or under there.
Do you remember the very first time you picked an instrument up? How and when was it?
Thomas: Yes, that was at the age of 11 or 12, at a friend’s house. I grew up at Isebakke, which my first album is named after. There I met my earliest friend. He had a strat knock-off that I tried out. We were hugely into 70’s Punk Rock, so that is why I ended up getting into music and playing an instrument in the first place.
You come from Norway, which is one of the most famous countries for Black Metal, what can you tell us about Black Metal scene here?
Thomas: I don’t know what to say. There’s many people playing Black Metal here, both young and older. So, the genre is alive and well. Since Norway is a quite small country, most of the people into the genre does know each other. But there are clicks here and there, some loners and you know. Probably the way it is everywhere.
You mainly use norwegian language for your songs, is it important for you to keep using this language instead of english?
Thomas: I get no real feel from English sung Black Metal. The Norwegian part of this is really special for me.
What does “Black Metal” mean for you? About music, of course, but also the attitude.
Thomas: To me it is about solitude, and doing what I feel is right for myself. So, it is egotism in short. Also, it is a good way of releasing frustration, depression and other darker parts of my mind and psyche.
Do you have any hobbies, or a day-job aside from music? What would have been your dream career if you didn’t begin music?
Thomas: I have to do other stuff to be able to feed my economical habits, and paying the bills. Hobbies, let’s see. Mork takes up a big space in my life, so there’s really not much room for hobbies at this point. Dream career, hmm, thats hard. Perhaps being payed alot for doing my podcasts. Haha.
I saw that ?Mork? is supposed to play the album release show on March 6th, what can we expect from future live shows?
Thomas: Yes we are to infiltrate the legendary Rockefeller in Oslo, which will be great. Mork is a good live band, and we deliver energy and power every time.
Do you have a special pre-show ritual before getting on stage? How do you feel when you’re on stage?
Thomas: I won’t tell. When on stage however, I feel whole, if that describes it. It’s a great rush and rewarding feeling being able to bring my music to the stage.
What if I ask you to compare Mork’s music with a norwegian dish? Which one and why?
Thomas: Probably something raw and expired with larvas. Because it’s nekro. And, I am a lousy, well, not too skilled cook.
What is your best and your worst experience as a musician ever?
Thomas: Worst would be leaving the stage after a really rough show, not being happy with one’s performance. However, that rarely happens these days. The best thing is seeing how far my creation has reached and is still reaching beyond .
Last question: which bands would you love to tour with? I let you create a tour with Mork and three other bands!
Thomas: We would love to tour with good friends, first of. How about a package of Mork, Satyricon, Dimmu Borgir and Darkthrone.
That was the last question for me, a huge thank you for your time, last words are yours!
Thomas: Thanks for the attention. We have played France once, which was in Alsace last year. We would like to come back and spread our plague in your country. Personally I love Paris. I’ve also been to the riviera, which was very nice. I digress.. Keep supporting Black Metal, and of course Mork. Pick up some merch and vinyls at the bands website, to keep the flame burning. Can’t wait for you to get to experience the new album Katedralen on March 5th 2021. See you out there. Hails and horns.