Norway's own noise mongers Red Harvest return in February with their new album "A Greater Darkness". With a long cold winter upon us, TurboNatas warms the soul with talk of all things metal.

All good here. Just heard that everything is going well with the printing of the album, that the promotion copy is right around the corner… Finally some time to relax a few weeks, before we must gear up for gigs and the album release in February.

The bands new album, "A Greater Darkness” is scheduled for a February release. What can you tell us about what the new record has in store for us?

Nope, we try to do something new every time. At least I like to think so. This one is heavier, darker and more varied. The entire band has also been more involved in arranging all the songs than on IPP. And that makes the whole thing more interesting.

Lyrically previous Red Harvest has tended to focus upon a more negative plane, particularly when in relation to the future of mankind? Much the same from “A Greater Darkness”?

This time its less future-fear and bio-mec. This album is about knocking at the gates of hell, and you are actually allowed in.

What is the significance behind the albums title?

It is about all those dark, sick and twisted stuff inside our heads. Our fears, our nightmares, our secret lives and addictions.

What was the recording process like for the record? Did you return to Subsonic Society Studio’s for the recording? Where you in the studio long?

The recording, mixing and mastering went very smooth. Cause when all the songs were rehearsed and ready, we were all very aware of how we wanted everything to sound and in what direction we were heading. We recorded guitars, bass, guitars and most of the vocals in MultiMono studio, synth, samples and some additional stuff at Lrz Lair. And we mixed at TopRoom. We did not work every day. I think all in all it took one and a half month. But we prepared and rehearsed maybe six month, working on pre-production, lyrics, writing and those things.

We hope to do some one off gigs and as many festivals as possible in the spring. So, we will wait and see when it comes to tours. Personally I like to be on tour, but not all of us. And that is something I just have to live with.

Yes that is true. We did a small tour in October and we were very clear to the guys booking that one that we would evaluate everything after that tour and give them a feedback if we wanted to do more. I am not going to go in details here, but obviously our “no thank you, we are better off without you” was ignored. They have booked a tour with us co-headliners – that way they get more money up front from the clubs. So I guess their plan is to tell the venues later that “Red Harvest pulled out”. I just hope this is not giving us a bad reputation and that the truth about that “management/company” will come to the light one day.

After what I hear it has been very good. So far I have only read one review that has been a bit mid-enthusiastic. And that is fair… after all you can't please them all.

The DVD was filmed during your performance at the 2005’s Sonic Solstice Festival. Why such a delay between filming and the actual release?

Our label filmed three other bands that night and had to prepare release for them too. There is also a limited edition of the DVD that comes in a metal box. That box is made and printed in the Peoples Republic of China, and they had to wait for it getting shipped to France. And we had to get the extra material digitalized..

How did you approach selecting the set list? Do you look upon it as a greatest hits type show?

No. Not really. We went on a three week European tour one week later, so we played the songs we had planned to play on the tour more or less.

Did you find having camera’s about the stage at all distracting to your performance? Did you approach the show any differently than you would normally?

Nope, it was business as usual. Maybe even more relaxing and smooth than usual actually, cause the venue the gig was filmed in is great, we had our crew there, it is our home town… really nice.

Red Harvest appears very proud of the title of one of the angriest bands in metal. What fuels this anger and drives you on?

Norway is famed more for it’s contribution to the Black Metal scene than any other, but what is the Norwegian scene really like? What makes it such a hot bed for Black Metal reactionaries?

For me personally, I am not interested in who plays in what band and what he did and said ten years ago. Living and working here with good friends that like the same music that I like, is a privilege. Many people have tried to find out why that black metal thing happened so much more here than in other countries… I doubt I can give the right answer. Maybe it was Phil Collins with the song “Another day in Paradise” that made our minds go black around 1989? Or the multi coloured Bermuda shorts? Who knows?

I will try to relax for a week or two now. Red Harvest will get together again in January, start rehearsing for the live gigs and wait for the album be released. There is always shitloads of interviews and stuff to take care of, so there is plenty of things to do.