1. Hello, it's been a long time since we hear something about PANTHEON I. The only notable fact was sound track to film "Someone's Knocking at the Door". Let's begin unconventionally with this. So, try to tell us, what is the film about or what is it like and whose idea was it?

Let’s take it from the start. Back when I played in 1349 we did one music video for the Hellfire album being the song Sculpture of flesh, and the director of that video was a Mr. Rome Ramsies. After the video was shot and finished me and him got talking about maybe do a Pantheon-I video together, but due to financial barriers we couldn’t go through with it. Some time went by and Rome really took to the band and wanted to work with us on some of his projects. Rome then proposed that we do a song for his upcoming movie “someone’s knocking at the door”. So he sent us the script and we read through to gain the feel and inspiration for the movie and then “I’ll come back as fire” emerged. We also wanted to check out what sound the new pantheon-I had after the wanderer and his shadow, so we took the opportunity to try a different studio than last time and even try some new amps for the guitars. After the recording we agreed that this is the sound and aggression we want for our future albums.

2. Let's move straight to your new record "Worlds I Create", which has instantly shocked me with its quality, ideas, sound and practically with everything. What is your impression from it and what does it mean for you? Do you think it means some musical advancement for PANTHEON I?

Thanks for the kind words! World I Create is a huge step for us musically, creatively and production-wise. Pantheon-I will always push the limits within extreme metal, and venture into deeper and more sinister soundscapes.

3. Try to compare "Worlds I Create" with your previous records "Wanderer and His Shadow" and "Atrocity Divine". What's the difference between them, and/or in what it can be more interesting for listener than previous records?

If you line the albums up against each other you can clearly hear the progression within songwriting and musicianship improve on every album. On atrocity divine we had a violin as well so the sound of the band was a bit different from what it is today. Back then we pushed on with some really extreme songs as well like the song key to damnation. We have always had one song that stands out as a full on blast from hell on every album. On the wanderer and his shadow it is chaos incarnate, and on the new album you will find a song called burn the cross. The lyrics has also had a progression From being mythical and dreamlike on atrocity, to extremely satanic on worlds.

4. As I've noticed, the "Worlds I Create" lyrical concept is still based mostly on antichristian themes. Why is exactly this typical black metal theme so interesting for you? What is your opinion on Christianity and/or generally on anyone religion?

It is right that we have had a satanic message throughout our releases, but on our former albums it wasn`t in your face. We did a lot of story based lyrics on the two previous albums, but for worlds I create we approached the theme more aggressively and hard. Regarding beliefs and visions of the afterlife I can only speak for myself because pantheon-I consist of 5 strong willed and highly individual minds. I believe that all religion is a safety-net for the lesser minds and works as a Sheppard for the spineless. In my eyes Christians is just a bunch of pedophile assholes using their system of belief as an excuse to indulge in their sick perversions. All the other religions are just as useless as the next one. There are probably a lot of people out there now saying” well if you don`t believe in god you can`t believe in Satan” well fuck you! It all depends on what you put into the name Satan. I put free will into it and that is basically what worlds I create is based upon. It is not a tribute to Satan, but more of an attack on religion of all sorts.


5. Let's again focus on lyrics for a while. One of the songs is written in your vernacular - Norwegian. This fact is for PANTHEON I premiere. Could you tell us what does this song focus on? And why did you even wrote it in Norwegian, when you never before did? Can we expect some more songs in Norwegian in the future from PANTHEON I?

We have been thinking about doing this for years, and first now we had a song that fitted perfect for Norwegian lyrics. The song is based upon the hate for Christ from a Vikings point of view. The way Christianity swept Norway is a grim and horrific story, and we wanted to write about keeping the Norse believes and standing the ground.

6. One of the great elements on "Worlds I Create" is appearance of clean vocals in some songs. Who sings all these parts? Is it someone from the band, or again it is guest on your recording as in the "Wanderer and his Shadow"

We got good help from a Swedish friend of ours for the clean vocals on ascending. I can`t reveal the name of the person yet because of update issues, but the name of the vocalist is well known in the metal-scene. The felling he brought to the song was well above 100% of what we wanted to achieve and for me the song has turned out to be a personal favorite because the feel of the whole song is in my opinion what makes pantheon-I sound like pantheon-I and nothing else.

7. I noticed that your new record is more technical, progressive. Was it on purpose, or just some kind of consequence of your creating process?

That is the way of progression, and the influence of bringing in a new drummer as well. When me and Sagstad makes riffs we tend to push each other and that always makes things more interesting and advanced. We will always bring new elements into the music if it fits. In the creative process we don’t limit ourselves to what will work live with only 2 guitars, bass and cello. First we create the best possible album we can at the time and after that we do the live bit, and that has always worked for us. We are actually more of a live band than a studio band in my opinion.

8. Let's now return to the near past for a while. Try to clarify us personal changes in the band. For example the violinist leaving, or changes at the drummer post, etc.

Gunhild used to play the violin in pantheon-I but she had to quit after our first album due to studies. After that we thought about a replacement, but we found out that the sound of Pantheon-I needs to be dark and what is darker than just a cello? We also lost our drummer just before going into the studio with worlds I create. Lucky for us we found a replacement fast and it was no other than mads guldbekkhei. He brought us also further to a new level of aggression and power.

9. In the more aggressive passages of your music I can feel a lot of similar elements with the 1349. What are your relationships with 1349? What was the main reason to leave this well running band? (This question is generally aimed on Tjalve). What do you think about their last release "Revelations of Black Flame"?

My relationship with the other guys in 1349 is good. I support them to this day and will until the day I die. 1349 was a band I co-founded with the guys and is in my mind a good 9 years of pure chaos and utter madness so I will forever be by their side spreading the satanic propaganda. The main reason for me quitting was to put all my effort into Pantheon-i. it came to a point where I felt I had peaked within the creative field of 1349 and wanted to take my energy to other pastures. Regarding revelation of the black flame, I haven`t had time to sit down and listen to the whole album yet because of all the work with Pantheon-i. so I can`t give you my opinion on it yet.


10. Try to explain us the PANTHEON I's creating process. Is there some kind of leader individuality in the band, or songs are collaboratively created by all members? What you accentuate the most?

The process goes like this: we gather at rehearsal and one of us have a riff or maybe an idea to start off with and then we just work with it collectively. We almost always make the songs together at rehearsal but ideas and certain structures are sometimes made at home and then brought in later. We also make rehearsal tapes of the new songs so we know what needs to be done to make it a good pantheon-I song. We are constantly making small tweaks and adjustments.

11. Music of PANTHEON I has a lot of energy, is aggressive, technical, atmospheric and beautiful. Does the music you listen reflect in your creations? Tell us what you listen, some bands, styles and so on. What was your music "evolution" as listener in last years? Try to name some albums from year 2009 which impressed you.

Here I can only speak for myself because the musical span between the members is vast.
I grew up with Metallica and to this day Metallica is still for me the best band on earth! And as not so many knows out there I also grew up listening to a lot of grunge like nirvana, stone temple pilots, Alice in chains, pearl jam and so on…

I know that all the bands I listened to throughout my childhood and teenage years has colored my way of playing and creating, so I am not afraid to tell you that I didn’t grow up with slayer, venom and bathory. The last year I have listened to a lot of Metallica’s death magnetic, my dying bride`s for lies I sire and at the gates slaughter of the soul. I know that at the gates is an old album, but it still kicks ass and will do until the end of time.

12. Thanks for your time. If there is something more you would like to say, here's your space.

God, Buddha, and Allah is as useful to people as a pussy is to George Michael.