Bylec-Tum#10, Italien – Ole/Hagal (Englisch) 
                
               
               First 
              of all, would you introduce Hagal to the readers? 
               
              We`re a Black Metal band from Hamburg/Germany. Hagal was founded 
              in 1998. Karg was our debut and the only output so long. It`s from 
              1999. But we`re recording a new opus by now, so: Hagal will kill 
              again! 
               
              The music of your band can be seen as a sort of Pagan/Black metal, 
              also if you describe it as pure Nordic Black Metal stuff, am I right? 
              There are lots of acoustic passages and some atmospheric parts which 
              make me think to a Pagan Metal-inspired group... How important are 
              those influences for Hagal? Are your lyrics based on the Pagan Myths 
              or are they about pure Black Metal topics (Satanism, Occultism…)? 
               
              They are based on the pagan myths. They`re about the nordic mythology, 
              the world of ghosts and very personal battles with society, expressed 
              through old myths. The pagan influences are very important to us, 
              they`re our soul! The atmospheric parts you mentioned are necessary 
              for the music, but we also need them to express the deeper meaning 
              of the lyrics. 
               
              I think that Hagal is not so famous in the Underground Black 
              metal panorama; how are the responses to your CD “Karg” in Germany 
              like? 
               
              Here in Germany we`re quite well known. We had very, very positive 
              reactions on “Karg”, regarding a lot of mags like “Ablaze” or “Legacy”. 
              We`re on many underground samplers and have played a lot of gigs 
              in northern Germany. I`m very happy the way it is, but get more 
              and more happier the more CD`s you order for your distro. You in 
              Italy know the old Black Metal spirit, which I often miss in my 
              own country. Thanks a lot for that!!! 
               
              I’ve noticed that “Karg” has a very good production, still being 
              a (full-lenght) Demo-CD. Are you the same producers of your CD? 
              Are there any labels interested in your proposal and so, have you 
              found a serious deal for your band? 
               
              No, we´re not signed. But I hope this will change with our next 
              output and yes: We have produced our CD by ourselves. 
               
              The German Black metal movement: let us know your opinion about 
              the local bands, live-shows, Magazines, and all the other Underground 
              addicts to the cause… 
               
              Local bands: Some are great (Nargaroth, Nagelfar, for example), 
              but most are shit and just embarrassing, they don`t earn to be mentioned 
              here. There are quite a lot of live shows here, underground concerts 
              and stuff. The same with the mags: Many mags, the most of them very 
              good. The biggest are “Ablaze” and “Legacy”. I know a lot of people 
              here, other B.M. bands and so on. Yes, I think it could be great 
              if all that loosers going round in our scene would just fuck off 
              and die! 
               
              Is Hagal a live-band? How many shows have you performed in your 
              zone? 
               
              No, Hagal isn`t that classic live band, I think no B.M. band is. 
              B.M. is too personal to fully express it to others, you know? But 
              we love to play live and have played a lot here in northern Germany. 
               
              Your lyrics are in German language. Why this choice? Have you 
              ever thought to sing in English for a clearer diffusion of your 
              music’s message between the masses (if there is a precise “message”)? 
               
              The lyrics are in german, so I can express my emotions the way I 
              feel them, and I don`t have to translate them, because translated 
              emotions wouldn`t be so strong, you know? That`s the whole reason. 
              But who knows? Maybe I write the next lyric in english? I do not 
              plan something like that. But our next output will be in german 
              language, too. 
               
              You are a trio, but I don’t know who is the main leader of the 
              Horde (is there?). Who is the greatest composer of music and lyrics 
              in Hagal? 
               
              A.F. , our gitarist/ shouter, is the master-mind behind the music. 
              I`m the master-mind behind the lyrics. There`s no leader, we`re 
              all equal!!! 
               
              I know that you are a man of culture, seen that you usually visit 
              many places around your country (and of course you’ve visited my 
              country, am I right?). What do you think about the different places 
              that you’ve visited in your life until this moment? What do you 
              think about Italy in particular? 
               
              How could you know? I`m suprised, you`re right. I love to travel 
              a lot, meet other cultures and Metalheads from everywhere. I`ve 
              been in Italy for 5 or 6 times. I think one of the most exciting 
              places is Florenze with its old buildings. I didn`t like Rimini 
              much...too many people, although I love to take a bath in the Italian 
              sea. I think it have to be great to live in Italy, isnt`t it? Besides, 
              I like Norway and Sweden very much - a lot of woods and lakes. And 
              California, it`s great! 
               
              What do you usually do in your private life when you’re out of 
              Hagal? Which are your ages, jobs, hobbies…? 
               
              A.F.: 24, student, plays the guitar all day, haha. Besides, he eats 
              pop-loosers! Dirk, 22, is going to learn something, which has to 
              do with music, also plays the guitar all the day and composes music 
              on his PC. A quiet nice and lovely person, whom all people like. 
              Ole (me): 21, student, I really like playing drums of course and 
              football. I spend a lot of time with my girlfriend. I`m studying 
              “Media and Journalism”, so I`m going to be a journalist in the future. 
               
                 | 
            |