Main questionnaire:

How’s life in Sweden around this time?
It’s hot because it’s in the middle of the fucking summer.

First of all, tell me why did you choose for this band name? Does it have any specific significance for you?
SVARTSYN is a Swedish word and stands for a disease of very deep pessimism, a pessimistic outlook. The name works perfectly for us.

Our readers would appreciate if you’ll present a bit the history so far of the band and also your background as musician in the Extreme Metal scene!
SVARTSYN started back in 1991 under the name CHALICE. Changed name to SVARTSYN in 1994. So far released four albums, one demo, one 7” EP and one Split CD.

On what kind of philosophy is your music founded?
The end of the world, and on true feelings: hate. Black Metal must inspire to destructive thinking and action. And our music only works for evil. Our music reeks of isolation and suffering.

Who are the rest of the band’s members and how did you get together to bring to life SVARTSYN?
Today SVARTSYN only have two members, Ornias and Draugen. Members that have been involved with SVARTSYN in the past are Whorth, Kolgrim and Surth.

Your latest release is called Bloodline. What can be said about it?
It’s an album recorded back in 1997/1998. It showed what was about to come. It was released though 2001 as a limited DLP.

How were the recording sessions in Sunlight Studios?
Working in Sunlight was a great experience and we learned much from it. It made us produce and record by ourselves on the other albums.

The cover image is quite interesting; it has a sort of "cult" feeling into it. Who was responsible for it?
Chadwick St. John draws the bloodline cover. It should illustrate Cain cutting his brother, Abel’s throat.

I see that “death” is one of your major subjects on this album. What brings you to sing about it and what do you think death actually is?
Death is a kind of rebirth. I believe death is equal for change. Total death is equal with cosmic destruction. The body is just a shell, the soul is shapeless and have no gender and can take any shape or form in a new body. Ending the spiritual life is total death.

Is SVARTSYN a studio project or you have something more developed regarding it? What do you prepare for the next round?
SVARTSYN should not be considered as a normal band. SVARTSYN is a band that rarely makes interviews which I hate. We don’t play live. But we have had our minds on doing two or three shows when the next album is out. Hopefully we will begin during the autumn to record.

Individual questionnaire:

How’s your daily life in Sweden?
My daily life is not important for people to know. But any way, work, reading, war games.

Do you consider yourself as an artist that likes to guide himself upon the first impressions and natural environment or the social aspect of our life is an important element in your musical formation?
My music is anti-social and reeks of isolation, it works only for evil and are to inspire into destructive thinking and action. And based on Black feeling and hate. We are not musicians or artists; we are messengers of chaos and death.

Why do you think that many artists in the human history have discovered the beauty of the dark side through their creations? What has the "Dark" so attractive and alluring that makes people to fall in its edge?
Humans have always found the unknown, the dark side inspiring. Hate and evil. Perhaps we all find inner-strength there with all the sins and the hidden desires. The perfect state of mind.

General questionnaire:

What’s your view upon the Black Metal scene in Sweden?
Sweden has the best bands in the world! Acts like DISSECTION, MARDUK, FUNERAL MIST, OFERMOD, ONDSKAPT, ARCKANUM, WATAIN, SVARTSYN… and so on.

Is there the live scene well organized?
I guess it is. I don’t know really.

Who is the best artist/band that Sweden has delivered so far?
MARDUK is bigger than everything that has spawned out of Sweden.