First of all, after a few dates so far, how is the tour going?

The feedback is great, we're very happy about it. It's been packed, we've had a few technical problems, hopefully it will be getting better today. I mean the tech problems have been following us but who cares! Who cares, we just play!

Well as long as you're still having fun!

That's the important thing and as long as people like the music, that's what it's all about!

Originally Susperia has roots from the Norwegian Black metal scene (Old Mans Child, Dimmu Borgir, Satyricon) How has Susperia progressed to where you are now, I wouldn't really associate you with that kind of genre any longer?

How to put it is like, Black metal is at the Earth and we're on the Moon right now, we have nothing to do with Black metal at all, Susperia has never been a black metal band, we use all kinds of style of metal. It just seemed like people chose to call us that because we had associations with the musicians, so they automatically think this will be a black metal band. We've all been involved in Black metal at some point but we never played black metal, our lyrics have nothing to do with black metal. The honest truth is we wouldn't call ourselves black metal as that would be disrespecting true black metal, if we use a blast beat, it's not black metal. Mayhem, Darkthrone, are all black metal to me. Susperia is melodic, happy metal to me. It's all about having a good time and enjoying the music.

Obviously everyone wants' to know how your singer Athera is doing, I read that he's been showing up to rehearsals and helping out?

He's recovering very well, of course he needs a few more weeks to get back in action, so we're going to play a festival in Norway in about a month so he's going to be back with us for that. It's a pretty tough thing for the body, because your lung collapses, they open your chest wide open and they had to move all his blood vessels to his heart and replace them with these about here (points to back of leg) We are lucky he is in such good shape, it's also been very lucky he had his friend there, we don't think he would have made it, then again he is a touch guy. He wanted to do this tour but it would be irresponsible. He keeps on calling me to check how things are going!

How are things going fitting in with the new singer?

It actually went very well, we had about three or four rehearsals with him and he's a great singer, he's spot on. He has his own style, we didn't want him to copy Athera, of course we had to use the lyrics but we didn't want him to copy, just to use his own voice and go with it. He's like opera trained, but basically he plays in a band called 'Guardians Of Time' which is a power metal band who are really good, we just knew him from way back, I don't remember when, I think we had a concert with him many years ago so we just gave him a call to see if he is available, he was like 'Are you serious?! You want me to do this?' He lives about five or six hours from where we are living now, so we drove over a couple of weekends and practiced and it went well, we didn't need to rehearse that much!

Also I wanted to ask about your recent signing to Candlelight Records, how are things with the new label?

Fantastic, it's a funny story because all of a sudden we were out of a contract, they were dickheads, they told us to go to the studio and start recording a new album so we did! Then they said 'Oh sorry, we don't want you anymore!' What the hell! Basically I gave a call to Paula from Candlelight and she was like 'Hmm, without a contract, let me make a few phone calls' and then 'you're on!' That easy! We've got a great relationship with the guys, its a good label and we've known them a long time.

(Drummer walks in and sits behind me)

Now you have a third member joining you! (laughs)

Sorry for having my back to you!

The sheer amount of metal bands that we have in the scene at the moment, do you think it's a positive thing or is it diluting it?

It goes both ways, I'm not exactly following what's going on anymore, I used to follow them bands when I was younger, but not anymore. I think there are too many, the minute it goes mainstream, like Black Metal did, it corrupts itself from the inside. There are so many kids that want to be like their heroes, it's not good because it happened with Thrash Metal, with Power Metal, Heavy Metal and Rock and now it's just repeating itself. So basically it's a good thing that a few good bands make it, but then all the smaller bands that fill the smaller venues; what is it, two to three thousand bands tour every single day in Europe! Most of them are Black Metal, since we're talking about the metal scene! People just get bored because they've seen it all before!

You mentioned idols and rock stars, so when you were younger, who did aspire to be?

(Together) James Hetfield & Cliff Burton! We both got into Metallica, not very original but it's the truth. Of course we listened to Pantera and Slayer, our drummer just listens to Black Metal, Emperor, he started Dimmu Borgir, they got big then he left!

With the new album, is there anything that you did differently this time round to write or record?

The people working around us were different, fresh new start and excellent music as always! (laughs) The process of making this album was a bit different from the last time, because this time again like 'Unlimited', everyone was a part of this album, we sat down and said 'Right lets pick up the pieces of where we left off' We wont copy any albums, because that's unfair to ourselves and to our fans, basically we started writing, the drums were being programmed, vocals recorded. The different thing is, Athera wasn't even singing the parts he was now, he was just making up words and making songs. Also on this album, there was really a lot of work put into the vocals, Athera put his heart into this album, not that he didn't on the previous albums, this time was real and he really wanted it to be spot-on. This time all the vocals were ready so I think that's how it differed. On the other hand, when I went to the studio, I didn't know any of the songs, I just made the bass lines when I was there, all the other guys are usually very prepared, we just decided to make the music when we are there.

So it's more natural?

Yeah! Exactly! And now we have the proof that Athera does not sound like Chuck Billy because Chuck Billy is singing on this album!

That's one of the questions I wanted to ask you! How did that happen!?

Well, I just asked him basically. We were on tour with Testament, and I just turned around and said 'Hey do you wanna do some vocals' so he said 'Sure!' It was actually before the last album, but we work a bit slow! It was so cool that he actually did it, we just had to wait for the right time. Also the clean vocals of Shagrath! Lets not forget him, it's good to hear we can do something different!

It probably allows Susperia to crossover to Thrash, obviously the Testament fans are gonna pick up the fact that you've done a duet with Chuck Billy! So do you think that's gonna be a good thing?

Hopefully, you never know with music, fans and the music industry, sometimes by doing something like this people go 'Ah look, again they try to copy' But hopefully they can see now Athera does not sound like Chuck Billy! They have been saying it since the first album almost, 'Ah Testament copy, Testament copy!'

Drummer: It does!

No it doesn't! Have you even listened to the album?!

I have!

If you could choose anyone to collaborate with, who would it be any why?

Cliff Burton!

A little impossible now!

We already used the best one!

James Hetfield?

Britney Spears & Shakira! That would be original, and cool!

Where do you want to take Susperia next?

The skies the limit! (laughs!)

We wanna go to Australia and Japan, South America. India, South America and festivals, lots of festivals!

Thanks a lot guys, that's it!

Thank you!

Photo Credit: Kjell Ivar Lund