IN LINGUA MORTUA - Lars Fredrik Froislie
After releasing their debut album "Bellowing Sea - Racked by Tempest", which is a pleasant surprise, In Lingua Mortua seems to be a very promising band from the legendary Norway. Metalzone conducted an interview with Lars Fredrik Frøislie (vintage keyboards, bass and vocal). \r\n
\r\nMetalzone: Firstly, I would like to thank you on behalf of metalzone for your time to give us this interview. To begin with, would you like to tell us about your new album? \r\n
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\r\nLars: The first album "Bellowing Sea - Racked by Tempest" was made back in 1999 - 2000 and recorded over several years. It was finally released in Αugust 2007. It features people from bands like Shining, Urgehal, Kvist, Asmegin and White Willow, and musically is a mix of many things, but an emphasis on extreme-metal (specially Norwegian black metal from the 90’s) and 70’s prog-rock. \r\n
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\r\nMetalzone: Truly Norwegian black metal, in combination with saxophone and flute..You were influenced from a wide range of music. How did you manage to combine all this kinds and why did you finally come up with the idea of playing black metal instead of other style? How all these hearings affected your music style? \r\n
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\r\nLars: Well I like many types of music, and when I started making this music I guess I had some rather unusual influences which I mixed into it. If music shall evolve and progress this is almost a must, though not necessarily of course. I do play other types of music as well, but In Lingua Mortua allows me to unleash lots of anger and fury, which may be healthy (almost like therapy). \r\n
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\r\nMetalzone: Would you tell us something about your lyrics? What inspire you most? \r\n
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\r\nLars: The lyrics are a mix of Van der Graaf Generator’s song "Α plague of lighthouse keepers" from 1971, Dante’s inferno, Homer’s Odyssey and much more, transformed into my own. Right now i’m reading more late 19th century naturalistic theory and literature. Very depressive and inspiring. \r\n
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\r\nMetalzone: As I’ve read, you had a lot of problems releasing your first album. What about the discography company you are now? Are all these problems belong to the past? \r\n
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\r\nLars: Releasing the album wasn’t that difficult, and lots of record labels, big and small, showed their interest. A friend of mine and I decided in the end to start out own label, "Termo records", since we were so tired of being ripped off, but also just to learn from the experience, see how the business works, have full control and so on. We’ve seen over the last few years that the music business is really in a lot of trouble since everyone is downloading music, and it affects so many people, not just musicians and record labels, but shops, distributors, recording studios and so on. Seems like I’m the only one I know, who hasn’t ever downloaded an album. What’s the fun and excitement in that? \r\n
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\r\nMetalzone: You are recording a new album..Some more information about your upcoming album? \r\n
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\r\nLars: Yes, it will be pretty wild and unique but also hard to get into I think, since it’s so eclectic. It’s very progressive (in the 70’s way), lots and lots of Mellotron, clavinet, heavy sax and vintage instruments (including a huge 1974 Ludwig kit to get that John Bonham sound). There will be lots of guest musicians this time too. You can hear some preproductions of some randomly selected songs on www.myspace/inlinguamortua. \r\n
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\r\nMetalzone: Why do you think a fan of black metal should listen to you? \r\n
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\r\nLars: I don’t make music for most people Ι think, but Ι guess some black metallers are more open-minded than others, and those are welcome. Fans of prog-rock (like King Crimson and Anglagard) and avantgarde music can also perhaps like ILM. \r\n
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\r\nMetalzone: I think that this question is a little bit unimaginative, but I would like to hear your opinion about the metal scene in Norway nowadays, as this country is extremely famous for the monsters of black metal. \r\n
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\r\nLars: It has stagnated the last few year I think. It’s become so much the same old shit in poorer versions, with musicians only listening to a few bands in one genre, making it boring. Of newer stuff I like Shining (they’re Swedish basically, but Niklas is living in Oslo these days, so..), Thorns (Ι hope he’ll release a new album soon), DHG and Enslaved. The metal scene itself is bigger than ever, but it doesn’t mean it’s better. \r\n
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\r\nMetalzone: How do you see metal in general today? There are a lot of groups coming up and trying to play pure black metal. Do you think one should be afraid of this situation? Is there a possibility for metal and especially black metal to lose its quality? \r\n
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\r\nLars: There is a danger of that and only the test of time will tell. I work in a metal-shop in Oslo and I listen to a lot of metal, but more and more I think it goes months between the really good releases. But that’s just my personal feeling. And like I said, I listen to all types of music, so I won’t waste time by listening to crap (in any genre). \r\n
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\r\nMetalzone: Any live performances you have given? If yes, which one you will remember and why? \r\n
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\r\nLars: Not yet, but maybe after the second album is out.
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\r\nMetalzone: Have you ever been in Greece? \r\n
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\r\nLars: No. I’d like to see Parthenon and other ancient stuff though. \r\n
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\r\nMetalzone: Thanks a lot for this interview. Is there anything you want to share with the metalzone’s fans? \r\n
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\r\nLars: No, I think the interview itself sums it all up. Thank you. \r\n
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\r\nhttp://www.inlinguamortua.com \r\n
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\r\nhttp://www.myspace.com/inlinguamortua \r\n
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\r\nAliki Maxoutoglou \r\n
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