*When did you really get involved into music in general and into metal specific? Who was responsable for your interest in (metal) music?

Got my first metal record at the age of 8. Metallica – ‘And Justice For All’ – It was love at first sight from then on the taste for metal grew larger every year. As a musician Philip (our rythm guitar) and I began playing together in in high school and later we started VANIR.

*Which artists or bands did influence you the most?

There is a ton of bands who inspire us, from death to powermetal. Ensiferum, Amon Amarth, Blind Guardian, Manowar, Immortal the list goes on and on.

*Which instrument do you play and how and when did you learn to play? Did you had lessons in school or private lessons? If so, was that because your parents expected that from you? Or did you learn to play the instruments by yourself? Do yo still follow some lessons?

I personally didn’t take any lessons. When I began singing in a metal band, there wasn’t any lessons and there were no social media back then where you could find inspiration. Therefore, it was hard work and trial and error. I began playing drums as well and recorded our first two records. However, today I am all about the vocals and at this day and age there are many ways to be inspired and learn from others.

*Do you follow other or are you intrested in other styles of music beside metal? If so, what is the kind of music you prefer to listen to?

I must confess I primarily listen to genres of metal. Mostly Power, black, death and melodic death metal. However, I also enjoy classical music especially Tjajkovskij and Bach.

*Is music a full time job for you now or do you have a job beside music? If so, what kind of job are you doing? If you would be really succesful with music, would you quit your other job?

It’s not our full time job. We all have jobs beside music. I have a master in political science and work as a public administrator and project manager. If we in any way could maintain our way of life via music, it would be glorious. But it’s hard to live off music here in Denmark.

*If you could start a complete new band (something like an all star band) with other musicians on other instruments, which artists would you pick for wich instrument and why? Would you still go for a melodic death metal / Viking metal band?

Well, I actually already did. Phillip and I started a Black metal band called Lotan. But other than that, I really couldn’t say. There are at ton of talented musicians out there. I would like to see a Amon Amarth / Dimmu Borgir mix in soundscape.

*If you had been banned to an uninhabited island and you may pick 5 albums to listen to, wich albums would you choose and why?

1: Behemoth – ‘In Absentia Dei’ – Because this record shows why music is best when it is played live! The feeling of the record is so fierce and it’s so well played.

2: Marduk – ‘Panzer Division’ – it’s the core of black metal, no guts no glory!

3: Dimmu Borgir – ‘Abrahadabra’ – Because my wife and I danced our bridal waltz to Gateways.

4: Amon Amarth – ‘Versus The World’ – the epitome of Viking metal, a good album for start to end!

5: Summoning – ‘Old Mornings Dawn’ – Because I need some music to read the books I would bring! Guess what books that would be… The one literary work to rule them all.

*Every new album of a band or an artist is the best one, so they say. So here is a chance to promote you album. Why should a music lover buy your album? What are the standout tracks for you on this new album and why?

‘Sagas’ is and epic album! It’s both melodic, heavy and aggressive. There are some songs that’s stands out for me personally: ‘Dødsfærd’, ‘Day Of Reckoning’, ‘Battle Of Middle Earth’, ‘Black Clad’ being some of them. I think I will let the listeners decide what stands out, there’s something for all who loves viking- and melodic death metal. And I hope that you, dear reader, will check it out, follow us and let us know what you think!

– See “CD-Review” for a review (written in Dutch) for the new VANIR album ‘Sagas’ (Mighty Music) –

*Is there a chance that you will promote these songs through live concerts? If so, would you prefer small clubs or big festivals? And is there a chance we can see VANIR in Belgium?

We hope! Covid has been a struggle when it comes to booking! But we hope the promoters of festivals and venues hear our call! If the write us we will answer! The dragon ships are ready to be boarded! And we hope that Belgium will be one of our destinations!