A little before the beginning of Swedish blacksters Marduk’s performance at Sin City, we had the chance to talk with the guitarist and main man of the band, Morgan Håkansson. I don’t know how certain conclusions can one make after a conversation of a few minutes, but it seems to me that with such a determined and focused in his cause person, it is no wonder Marduk has been going strong for almost twenty years now. And from what we can tell, the future lies still ahead of them. So let’s see what Morgan had to say…

Interview: Artemis Kostaki, Foteini Paschalidou

Rockpages: First we’d like to ask you about the brand new “Wormwood” album. Some parts sound a lot like Funeral mist and make us wonder how much did Mortuus contribute to the new album?

Morgan: Of course it’s natural in one way to get some sounds that remind of Funeral Mist, because he’s the main character behind that band and we work a lot when we write music together, complete the songs together, the music, the lyrics and vocal arrangements. I don’t see any big change, I don’t think about it that way.

Rockpages: 2009 was another very busy year for Marduk. As if touring was not enough you recorded a new album, worked for other bands too, Mortuus also worked for his own band…What gives you the strength to work so much and constantly? Is it challenging for you?

Morgan: No, not challenging…I mean we are highly devoted to what we do so we get energy flown and I think it’s a great pleasure to work hard for what we do. We believe in power of music and also believe in being able to perform in as many areas as possible; to be in all parts of the world. I mean we have to work constantly because this is what we enjoy to do: perform and work towards the same goals. We don’t like sitting around, we always work with something.

Rockpages: How come you wrote a song for Nefandus?

Morgan: I wanted to do it because I know the main guy for many years from like the early years. He also has another band, Ofermod, and he actually wrote the lyrics for us for this latest album we did, so it’s a mutual thing. I asked him to write lyrics for us and he was proper to let me speak through one of his songs. It just happened!

Rockpages: What do you think about the Scandinavian black metal scene today? Do you believe it’s the most dominant?

Morgan: I don’t know if it’s the most dominant in the world but I think we have a lot of strong bands that come from our area. I don’t say it’s the strongest; that’s up to other people to decide. I think a lot of parts in the world have really strong scenes with modern great bands and great artists. Scandinavian scene is strong but maybe not the strongest.

Rockpages: How long are you planning to tour and what was touring like so far?

Morgan: When it comes to touring for this album it started out very early. When it actually came out we were doing shows in Holland for some warm up for this album. When we got home the album was just released. We planned 30 gigs in Europe then we get back home for nine days and then we have another 25 gigs in the USA. But then the tour is not over; we work on going to South and Central America and then Asia and another European trip in May…and maybe back to the States! We’ll see because I believe we should reach as many territories as possible to play.

Rockpages: Speaking of a trip to Southern and Central America all black metal bands say it’s great to perform there!

Morgan: Yes, It is!

Rockpages: So how is playing in North America?

Morgan: I think it’s great as well but you can say South America is different. They are hungry for music down there. All the bands have been touring in North America for 30 years now, while in South America not many bands have taken the opportunity to go there. Therefore the crowd is still very hungry and I think as a band it’s going to great to be there because people are very dedicated to the music. In the States you can also find people like that but still there’s something unique about South America. We were one of the first bands that played in Guatemala, El Salvador, Costa Rica. We are also working on getting back to all those countries this summer and actually for the first time play in Hondura.

Rockpages:  Are you still recruiting young blood for the Marduk Legion?

Morgan: Yes we are! (laughs) If you’ve been around for 20 years you still see a few old faces that always come to the shows but you still see new people too. People come to the legion as you say! Many young people who are hungry for music are coming to us.

Rockpages: How do you view the whole situation with the reunions and the fact that older bands that reunite are more popular and have more dedicated fans than new bands with original sound like for instance Katharsis or Secrets of the Moon?

Morgan: I don’t know but some people are more like “let’s split up just to be able to come back and make a thing out of it”. Some people are popular and some others aren’t….what really matters to us as a band is to do what we do. I mean marching across and spreading our message and I don’t even care what everybody else is doing actually.

Rockpages: With the current economy situation and downloading is it possible for bands like Marduk to live solely from their music?

Morgan: Yes, it is because you know we are a band that also tours a lot. Downloading affects all the bands but it’s possible to do things about that as well.  Of course it is stealing music but people still buy albums, and many people instead of buying the album come to shows and support the band in another way…Streaming is both negative and positive you know.

Rockpages: All your late albums have the greatest production and the artwork is absolutely stunning! Do you still see Marduk as an underground band?

Morgan: Yes, I still think we are much an underground band…it depends on what you are looking upon being underground. To me we have always been underground but some people have problem and think different way. I believe this music is very much underground despite of how much it has grown.

Rockpages: Would you like to tell us what your favorite black metal album is?

Morgan: That’s really hard because there are so many great albums! It seems impossible. I would have to make a list of ten but something that strikes my mind for the time being is also a Swedish album, so I would say “Under the Sign of the Black Mark” from Bathory.

Rockpages: That’s what Abbath told me too. Here’s an odd question, which personality represents the ultimate or distinguished black metal figure for you?

Morgan: What do you mean “figure”?

Rockpages: Hmmm, Fenriz?

Morgan: NO! (laughs). I don’t know who would be the right. I mean it’s hard to put something like that. There are many still great characters that are strong, dedicated and love what they do. It’s hard for me to say anybody. I don’t even know anybody in my eyes.

Rockpages: Let’s look back in the old Marduk era. What’s your best moment and which are your worst memories?

Morgan: It’s hard to say because it’s hard to summon up 20 years! There’s been a lot of high points and low points…I mean every touring has highlights and lowlights. There’s so much happening! We work strongly for what we do and there are so many achievements that I’m proud of but I don’t know any specific one. Same goes for the albums. Someone asked me “what is your favorite Marduk album”? It’s hard for me to say because even though when I look back on songs maybe I want to change this or that but still I’m proud because they represent what we were at that time. Back in 1995 we did a song like that and I cannot change it. I’m proud of all my albums and all those people who played in the band. I learn from my mistakes. At least I think so! (laughs)

Rockpages: And we are proud of you!

Morgan: Thank you! (laughs)