All Interviews
Griffin
Griffin
Posted on Nov 7, 2005
by Anders
The Norwegian heavy metal band Griffin has never been among my favorites until I heard their new album "Lifeforce", a good heavy metal album displaying old deeds in a new and fresh packing delivered with some sheer energy. Lately the band has been through a hassle regarding the vocalist position, as their old screamer Pete Beck left the band, returned and left again (due to illness both times) after the recording of "Lifeforce", though things should be settled now with the new vocalist Rolf Bakken. I got a good talk with guitarist and maiman Kei Nergaard about the new album and his influences.
Hi there, will you please start off by introducing yourself?
Hello to you all, I'm Kai Nergaard, guitarist in Norwegian metal band Griffin.
A small introduction of the rest of the band will be great as well, together with a bit about what they contribute to the band with!
Griffin was formed in late '98. During the period between the two full-length albums' releases "Wasteland Serenades" (2000) and "The Sideshow" (2002), we added a second guitar player named Marcus Silver, in order to focus more on melodies and guitar harmonies. Silver was headhunted for the job because of his world-class axe work! Both of the albums, and especially the second one, have received critical acclaim worldwide. After the release of "The Sideshow", our singer at the time, Tommy Sebastian, left the band, and was replaced by Peter Beck. Although Peter recorded the vocals for our latest album, "Lifeforce", he decided not to be in the band anymore, because of some health problems. So the current line-up is: vocalist Rolf Bakken, guitarists Kai Nergaard and Marcus silver, drummer Marius Karlsen and bassist Johnny Wangberg.
You are soon ready with your new release, how do you feel about it?
I can tell you I feel pretty good. "Lifeforce" is a kick ass tribute to the heavy metal genre in general. It's nothing more than good melodies, solid riffs, blasting beats and exciting vocal lines. We have worked together to put up all the elements a good metal album must contain, and I think we have achieved it.
What do you expect from it?
Well, I have heard from some that "Lifeforce" hasn't brought anything new to the genre. Hey, that was not the idea. We aren't supposed to, and we don't want to invent something new, we just play the music we have loved for a long time. We grew up listening to the masters of metal from the 70ties and 80ties, and our goal will always be to focus on the energy and vitality of the best bands from that era, both visually and musically. We haven't done this album to be perceived like a "road-opener" through the new metal-highway. So, if you wanna know what I do expect from this album, I tell you that I hope it will make people feel good.
When you started out to write/compose new material, what did you then want to accomplish with it?
It's just about doing the thing you love most. In first phase, you don't particularly do it for accomplish something. It's like a young talented painter who paints whatever crosses his mind and then he thinks he can and he should share it with people. Then it's the happiness he receives when he sees people feeling good about his work. That's about the same with us as well. We are doing what we like and it's a privilege to share it with others and especially to see they enjoy it.
Do you feel that you have accomplished that?
I will feel it as long as we will play in front of a great crowd and have the opportunity to communicate with them through our music.
Where do you find inspiration when you write music?
Basically, my brain. It has a seemingly infinite supply of madness.
Is there anything specific that has influenced the writing process to the new album?
Yes, my head, and the fact that we wanted to keep the structures of the songs simple and catchy.
Can you mention 3 bands and 3 songs (not necessarily with the mentioned bands) that have meant the world to your way of writing music?
To me, a great influence is represented by Pink Floyd. AC/DC, Accept, Megadeth and Kiss among others have also inflicted my musical directions.
What do you want to bring the world with your music and how do you want people to receive your music?
I want to keep up the good work for metal music and continue what the classic bands begun. As I have said before, we don't want to reinvent the genre and we want people to receive our music like we make it. Just feel it, and have a good time!
Will you initiate us in the lyrical universe of the band, which themes do you touch etc…?
I usually write about madness, dreams and some stuff with a little sexual perversity. Loneliness, anger, frustrations, you name it, anything I can relate too. I like to write in a way that people may interpret their own way, though.
Will you pick out your 3 favourite tracks from the new release and guide us through the music and lyrics, and tell us how you got the idea for the music and lyrics, etc…?
I will only pick one, because the others change from day to day. I have always been very fond of 'Utopia', because no one really believed in it at first, but it has turned out to be many peoples favorite on the album, including our producer, Andy LaRocque. I was jamming along to 'Balls To the Wall' and did a little variation on it. It turned out to be the opening riff. I like the combination of pounding riffs with a little mellow touch, which you can find in the chorus. I think it's the best lyrics I have ever written. Lyrically, it's just a little trip with a dreamlike approach to something better.
How important is the lyrics compared to the music?
I love instrumentals, we have one on "Lifeforce" too, and we usually put on a couple on our albums. It's a nice way for an intermission, but they have to be more than just fills, and needs to be in the right place.
Do you have any touring planned in support of your new release?
Yes, we will be touring Europe next year as an opening band for a headliner that I can't reveal yet. We are looking forward to that.
How do you look upon the future of the band?
I actually have a vision that we sometime soon will be able to do this without losing any money, and that we can play for you fine people on a regular basis, that's all.
Will you share your 5 all time favourite albums with our readers?
They change all the time, but I'm pretty sure Pink Floyd's "Dark Side Of The Moon" and "The Wall" will be on my top five as long as I live.
Thanks a ton for answering my questions, if you have anything to add, feel free to add it now!
Thanks a whole lot to you too. Keep the spirit alive! For all the young and talented musicians; go confidently in the directions of your dreams, live the life you have imagined!
Hello to you all, I'm Kai Nergaard, guitarist in Norwegian metal band Griffin.
A small introduction of the rest of the band will be great as well, together with a bit about what they contribute to the band with!
Griffin was formed in late '98. During the period between the two full-length albums' releases "Wasteland Serenades" (2000) and "The Sideshow" (2002), we added a second guitar player named Marcus Silver, in order to focus more on melodies and guitar harmonies. Silver was headhunted for the job because of his world-class axe work! Both of the albums, and especially the second one, have received critical acclaim worldwide. After the release of "The Sideshow", our singer at the time, Tommy Sebastian, left the band, and was replaced by Peter Beck. Although Peter recorded the vocals for our latest album, "Lifeforce", he decided not to be in the band anymore, because of some health problems. So the current line-up is: vocalist Rolf Bakken, guitarists Kai Nergaard and Marcus silver, drummer Marius Karlsen and bassist Johnny Wangberg.
You are soon ready with your new release, how do you feel about it?
I can tell you I feel pretty good. "Lifeforce" is a kick ass tribute to the heavy metal genre in general. It's nothing more than good melodies, solid riffs, blasting beats and exciting vocal lines. We have worked together to put up all the elements a good metal album must contain, and I think we have achieved it.
What do you expect from it?
Well, I have heard from some that "Lifeforce" hasn't brought anything new to the genre. Hey, that was not the idea. We aren't supposed to, and we don't want to invent something new, we just play the music we have loved for a long time. We grew up listening to the masters of metal from the 70ties and 80ties, and our goal will always be to focus on the energy and vitality of the best bands from that era, both visually and musically. We haven't done this album to be perceived like a "road-opener" through the new metal-highway. So, if you wanna know what I do expect from this album, I tell you that I hope it will make people feel good.
When you started out to write/compose new material, what did you then want to accomplish with it?
It's just about doing the thing you love most. In first phase, you don't particularly do it for accomplish something. It's like a young talented painter who paints whatever crosses his mind and then he thinks he can and he should share it with people. Then it's the happiness he receives when he sees people feeling good about his work. That's about the same with us as well. We are doing what we like and it's a privilege to share it with others and especially to see they enjoy it.
Do you feel that you have accomplished that?
I will feel it as long as we will play in front of a great crowd and have the opportunity to communicate with them through our music.
Where do you find inspiration when you write music?
Basically, my brain. It has a seemingly infinite supply of madness.
Is there anything specific that has influenced the writing process to the new album?
Yes, my head, and the fact that we wanted to keep the structures of the songs simple and catchy.
Can you mention 3 bands and 3 songs (not necessarily with the mentioned bands) that have meant the world to your way of writing music?
To me, a great influence is represented by Pink Floyd. AC/DC, Accept, Megadeth and Kiss among others have also inflicted my musical directions.
What do you want to bring the world with your music and how do you want people to receive your music?
I want to keep up the good work for metal music and continue what the classic bands begun. As I have said before, we don't want to reinvent the genre and we want people to receive our music like we make it. Just feel it, and have a good time!
Will you initiate us in the lyrical universe of the band, which themes do you touch etc…?
I usually write about madness, dreams and some stuff with a little sexual perversity. Loneliness, anger, frustrations, you name it, anything I can relate too. I like to write in a way that people may interpret their own way, though.
Will you pick out your 3 favourite tracks from the new release and guide us through the music and lyrics, and tell us how you got the idea for the music and lyrics, etc…?
I will only pick one, because the others change from day to day. I have always been very fond of 'Utopia', because no one really believed in it at first, but it has turned out to be many peoples favorite on the album, including our producer, Andy LaRocque. I was jamming along to 'Balls To the Wall' and did a little variation on it. It turned out to be the opening riff. I like the combination of pounding riffs with a little mellow touch, which you can find in the chorus. I think it's the best lyrics I have ever written. Lyrically, it's just a little trip with a dreamlike approach to something better.
How important is the lyrics compared to the music?
I love instrumentals, we have one on "Lifeforce" too, and we usually put on a couple on our albums. It's a nice way for an intermission, but they have to be more than just fills, and needs to be in the right place.
Do you have any touring planned in support of your new release?
Yes, we will be touring Europe next year as an opening band for a headliner that I can't reveal yet. We are looking forward to that.
How do you look upon the future of the band?
I actually have a vision that we sometime soon will be able to do this without losing any money, and that we can play for you fine people on a regular basis, that's all.
Will you share your 5 all time favourite albums with our readers?
They change all the time, but I'm pretty sure Pink Floyd's "Dark Side Of The Moon" and "The Wall" will be on my top five as long as I live.
Thanks a ton for answering my questions, if you have anything to add, feel free to add it now!
Thanks a whole lot to you too. Keep the spirit alive! For all the young and talented musicians; go confidently in the directions of your dreams, live the life you have imagined!
Griffin website
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