From Black Metals capital, Norway, comes a new incarnation of depression and carnage, Sahg. Guitarist and vocalist Olav Iversen, explains all regarding this Doom Metal super group.

For those not so familiar with the band could you give us a quick run down of the members and how / when Sahg came into existence?

The history of Sahg could have been a short one, as the band has only existed for about 1.5 years. But in fact, the events have been many and short between. We wrote the first few songs and had our first rehearsals Fall 2004. By the end of the year we recorded our first demo, and sent it around to a number of record labels. The record deal with Regain Records was landed within only 6 months of the band's existence. We started working on the album right away, and put a few demos out on the internet. They quickly spread around and more people got interested. Simultaneously, we played a few concerts in our home town, Bergen, Norway, and got a lot of attention for our live performances already at that early stage. The attention and the response we have got from the media and everyone else leading up to the album release has been overwhelming. Among the band members we joke around that the band is born under a lucky star, but I also think the fact that this kind of music is so natural to us, have caused that the process has progressed so quickly. We all grew up listening to the pioneering metal bands from the 70s, and it has always stuck with us. When we finally managed to get the right members together and had the chance to form Sahg, we knew exactly what to do, and the band's development just progressed very quickly and naturally. The band members have known each other since years back, and have played together in other bands before. King and Kvitrafn have played together in Gorgoroth. Thomas, Olav and King have played in another band together, and Thomas and King presently play together in Audrey Horne. Kvitrafn had to quit the band shortly after finishing the album, and was replaced by Tor, who played with Olav in yet another band a few years ago. So it's a web of different bands and long-time companionship, that has now finally resulted in Sahg.

The reactions have been overwhelming. Both from the media and people in general we have had nothing but compliments, which is a great relief after putting down all that work. The fact that we have done absolutely everything on this album ourselves (song-writing, co-producing, mixing, and cover art) makes us appreciate all the good response even more.

Without wanting to sound sycophantic, ' Sagh I' is a really impressive metal album. How did you approach the recording of the record? The album took in excess of a year to complete, why so long?

We recorded the album over two periods, so the actual prossess wasn't that long, even though it took approx 10 months from beginning 'til end. The first recording period took place at the very end of 2004, before signing with Regain Records. We recorded the first four demo tracks over a few days' period, and kicked out a rough mix (3 of the songs ended up on the album, and most of the parts from the original demo recording are still on there). We made a few copies, and used the network that we had at the time to fish for a record deal. It didn't take long before Regain Records contacted us with an offer we could not refuse. This  was  early  2005,  and we  had to take a break from

recording, simply because we didn't have any more songs to record at that point. After a few months of song-writing and rehearsing, we went back in with a handful of new material so fresh, some of the songs were still unfinished and far from well-rehearsed. This was in June 2005, and we spent the Summer locked down in the studio recording and mixing the new songs, and re-mixing the four tracks from the first recording session. By the end of October, the final touch had been made, and we had to take a break to recover from the insanity the stressful recording process had caused us. We started working on the artwork towards the end of the year, which was another long process. In total, 'Sahg I' took us a little more than a year to create, from demo recordings, fishing for a record deal, more recording, mixing, mastering and artwork. Considering we did almost everything ourselves, that isn't too bad, I think.

We have quite a few influences in common, and I think that has helped the band developing musically so quickly. We all grew up listening to the pioneering hard rock bands of the 70s and 80s, so we all have a strong devotion to bands like Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple. But in addition, I think we all contribute with our individual influences. Thomas (guitarist) is probably the most rock'n'roll based force in the band. Kiss is his all-time favorite band, and he also brings in influences from bands like Thin Lizzy. King and Kvitrafn have been heavily into black metal for years, and have definitely added some elements from that. I am a big Ozzy fan and have my deepest roots planted in 70s and 80s heavy metal, but I also have a thing for melodic rock, so I guess I have added some of that.

All the members contribute to the song-writing. Our common idea of how we would like the band to sound makes that a great way of developing, and at the same time it creates a great variety of songs, depending on who wrote it. Most often one of us come up with the basic idea and we arrange out the song together in the rehearsal room, but we also write songs together from scratch. Our lyrics build mostly on the doom metal tradition, and again the old classic bands have been of great inspiration. Doom metal lyrics are a unique lyrical expression, that play an important part in setting the right atmosphere for the music. The lyrics take inspiration from myths and stories that are fascinating because of their dark mystique, and originate from a lot of different sources, everything from books and movies to religious and mythological tales. That said, Sahg is far from a religious band. We simply behold and interpret the tales our own way, because the spiritual and super-natural appeals to us. A lot of the lyrics bring up subjects that are timeless and that are just as relevant today as hundreds of years ago.

You chose to release the album via Regain Records, how did the deal with Regain come about? Did Gorgoroth being signed to the same label have any bearing on the decision?

When we came to the point where we wanted to send around a few demos to fish for a record deal, Regain Records were one of the obvious choices. King knew the Regain guys after signing to them with Gorgoroth, and it was only natural to use the network we had at the time. Regain's good reputation and growing status as a significant international metal label, also obviously had an impact on our decision to sign with them.

Given that you all have other commitments with other bands are you finding it difficult to juggle your time and energies between numerous projects?

So far, that has not been a problem. In periods we have to work with several bands at the same time, and it can be busy, but S ahg is top priority to all of us right now. We will have to deal with problems like that if and when they occur in the future.

Sahg is a full time band for all of us. If that hadn't been the attitude of all the members, I don't think the band could function 100 per cent.

Probably. We are very much aware that Sahg sounds totally different from our other bands. But we don't look upon that as a disadvantage. Hopefully, it will wake people's curiosity, and lead them to check it out.

How did you enjoy playing the Inferno festival ? Sounds like some killer bands were on the bill, anyone you particularly enjoyed seeing live?

It was a great experience for us to be on such a spectacular bill. Being one of the outsiders on the festival, both musically and experience-wise, we didn't know what to expect from the show. But the venue was packed, the crowd was great and we had a brilliant time on stage. I saw quite a few of the other bands, and Witchcraft and Keep Of Kalessin were big positive surprises to me. Also it was great seeing legends like Emperor and Cathedral for the first time.

What plans do the band have to tour in support of the album? Or will touring be restricted by your commitments to Gorgoroth, Manngard and Audrey Horne?

Our other bands have been put on a 'break' around the 'Sahg I' release. Everyone totally respects that Sahg is a priority to us now. Many of the members in the other bands are in several bands themselves, so they understand how that works. Our main focus for the months to come will be touring. We are currently working on confirming a number of festival dates, both in Norway and Europe. Hopefully, a few UK gigs will pop up as well. So far, the dates that are confirmed are Stone from the Ground Festival in Germany and Hole in the Sky in Bergen, Norway. We have also been presented with the opportunity of joining a North-American tour running from September to November this year, as a support act for a legendary metal band. That will be a great follow-up to our US release later this year, and we are very optimistic that it will become reality.

Doom Metal at the moment is going through resurgence in popularity. What are your thoughts as to why bands like Black Sabbath, Kyuss and St Vitus have come back into vogue recently?

I really don't know, but I guess it's just one of those things that come and go. Most of all, I think it is more of a media-created thing, and that there really isn't a sudden increase in the number of doom fans that create these 'trends' in the first place. Don't get me wrong, I think it is a positive thing that our kind of music gets some attention. But I think the interest for doom metal has been there all along, and will continue to be if the boost of attention quiets down.

As mentioned, touring will be our main priority throughout the Summer and Fall. We are a new band, we are hungry to get out and play our music and we are excited to see what the reactions will be like. Towards the very end of the year, we plan to start working on the next album. We already have a few ideas flying about, and new ones keep popping up all the time.