OLD MAN'S CHILD

Galder, formerly known as Grusom, is Old Man's Child's only formal member. Galder brings in other musicians at recording time, yet devotes most of his time by himself writing and living the music that is Old Man's Child.

Here is my interview with Galder:

By Martha Hughes

MARTHA HUGHES: I was very happy to receive your new album. I think Old Man's Child writes some of the best new metal out now.

GALDER: Cool.

MARTHA: You've probably done a ton of interviews today.

GALDER: Just in the 'States. There was no interest in the last album ("The Pagan Prosperity"), so this is cool.

MARTHA: How do you describe your music?

GALDER: This is an impossible question. I think this is one of the best qualities of the group. I think we can make music that's so different from anything else. It's a little black metal and a little death metal.

MARTHA: It sounds like it has some of the Viking metal sound.

GALDER: Yes. I don't like categorizing it, however.

MARTHA: OMC's imagery is really vivid. Where does the band find inspiration when writing music?

GALDER: I don't think I have a lot of inspiration when it comes to that. I listen to a lot of music, not just metal. I listen to a lot of classical; I don't have a balance. At home, I have a lot of records. I sit 24 hours a day in my room making music.

MARTHA: So what do you do for fun?

GALDER: Drink beer.

MARTHA: Sounds familiar! (Both laugh). Do you do much research into your Viking heritage?

GALDER: I think a lot of history was false, just a lot of farmers going out having fun. I think "Pagan Prosperity" was more pagan than the rest. I try to make my lyrics different on every album.

MARTHA: Is there a concept behind "Ill-Natured Spiritual Invasion?"

GALDER: I try not to put a concept into anything. But in this album, it's rather spiritual. I just try to write about everything.

MARTHA: Why did you change your personal moniker from Grusom to Galder?

GALDER: Because Grusom was more of a nickname and it made people smile; it was sort of silly. I didn't want to have anything to do with fun. I don't like fun, so I had to change it. Galder is from mythology.

MARTHA: Where does the name Galder come from?

GALDER: Norwegian mythology.

MARTHA: Can you tell me about it?

GALDER: It's hard enough to explain in Norwegian and impossible in English.

MARTHA: What is your opinion on the current state of metal in Scandinavia?

GALDER: The black metal scene is pretty big in Norway. Almost no death metal. In Sweden, death metal is more popular than black metal. And in Denmark, I don't know what's going on there.

MARTHA: They're busy playing soccer.

GALDER: (Laughs)

MARTHA: Who are some of your favorite bands?

GALDER: Now?

MARTHA: Yeah, or your all-time favorites.

GALDER: Covenant, Arcturus, Samael and my favorite band of all time is Slayer.

MARTHA: Do you play live shows?

GALDER: It's a little hard to do tours because it's just me and I have to hire session musicians. We did a tour with Cradle of Filth. We only do one tour a year. If there are festivals, we'll play.

MARTHA: How was it playing with Cradle of Filth?

GALDER: They're pretty cool. And a pretty big band. They'd have over 1000 people at their shows. They're pretty cool, drink a lot of beer.

MARTHA: MARTHA: What were their shows like?

GALDER: They're pretty straight but get drunk on stage.

MARTHA: How is black metal received in Oslo now? Do the local bands get to play many shows?

GALDER: There's no problem with getting shows. The only band who couldn't get shows was Mayhem. They said they were going to use pig faces, so they were banned. The days of church burnings and killings are pretty much over. People are pretty calm. Now if you wear a black sweater, people don't stare at you and call you a Satanist.

MARTHA: What is the most irritating thing about the music business?

GALDER: Perhaps the pressure. All the expectations. You're forced to make each album better than the last. I guess the expectations are the worst. When you work a year with the album and then it gets lousy reviews, that sucks.

MARTHA: Do you force yourself to write music?

GALDER: Sometimes you have to force yourself. You feel like you've played everything. Sometimes I have to put my guitar away and take a break for a couple weeks. I put together all the music and do lyrics last.

MARTHA: So, when you write songs, the music inspires you to write the lyrics.

GALDER: Yes. When I finish a song, I know what the lyrics will be.

MARTHA: How did you meet Gene Hoglan (drummer on "Ill-Natured")?

GALDER: He plays with Strapping Young Lad and I was looking for a drummer. Some of the songs were technical and I couldn't find anyone who could play them. So, I sent the recording to Century Media and they talked to Gene. He was a session musician, so for enough money he said he'd do it.

MARTHA: Why don't you find permanent band-members?

GALDER: I have a lot of people I have to meet and they don't contribute to the music. The biggest problem is the drummer. I need a really good drummer. The last guitarists were really good, but didn't contribute to the music.

MARTHA: What do you plan for your next album?

GALDER: I haven't played guitar for a month or so. I have to take a break once in a while. I never know what the album will be until it is finished.