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BACK
 Gorgoroth
- Practice what they preach
By Adrian "The Energizer" Bromley
Everyone
knows that heavy metal is supposed to be loud and unsafe, but when
it comes to the art and emotion of black metal, that level of rebellion
has always been intensified to a higher level.
Placed
deep within a storm of controversy for almost two weeks now, Norway's
black metal act Gorgoroth have been the focus of attention in the
metal scene worldwide because of their now infamous live show on
state television in Poland. The show -- performed February 1st,
2004 in Krakow -- was being filmed for an upcoming DVD and featured
naked women "crucified" and covered in sheep blood, sheep
heads on spikes, and still more blood thrown about the stage.
In
short: it was quite the show.
But
it seems as though not everyone was into what Gorgoroth had brought
to the Pope's hometown, as crewmembers and TV staff were appalled
by what had taken place. Following the show, after the authorities
were called, police confiscated the film footage from Krzemionki
TV and now prosecutors have launched an investigation into whether
the band's performance breached the country's law protecting religion.
In
one of the band's first interviews with the media in the aftermath
of the event, Gorgoroth's founder/guitarist Infernus talks with
UNRESTRAINED! about just what went down in Krakow.
"We
didn't plan to really have an outcome like that, our only intent
was to go there and film the DVD," he begins. "All the
chaos and media reaction that came from this was a surprise of sorts."
Were
you worried when the authorities were called?
"Not
worried, really. I mean, what was the worst thing they could do?
Destroy the tapes? I don't think they would do that and I don't
think they could really do any harm to us, though they might be
able to put the Polish producer away in prison for a few years.
For us, this will probably help us sell a few more records.
"I
am sure they could have taken us down to the local police station
to question us about that, but nothing happened. As for what is
going on right now, I don't know. I know the authorities had a meeting
sometime today, but I have not gotten back any feedback from it
yet. I know there has been a mention of us possibly spending some
time in a Polish prison, but I can't take that seriously at all.
"As
of now, I can only think that the DVD will be put out eventually.
I mean, I am still working on stuff for it. It would be almost like
they are stuck in the Middle Ages in Poland if they destroyed the
tapes by burning them. I hope to get them back one day…I hope."
So
when the show was over and the chaos ensued, did the band just get
up and leave and try to avoid any kind of confrontation with authorities,
as you obviously knew you had raised some concern and outrage with
your performance?
"There
were a lot of police -- secret police as well -- but we didn't let
that get in our way. We had other stuff to do while still there
like photo sessions, et cetera. They didn't hassle us if that is
what you are implying."
How
do you feel about the way the Polish people and government are reacting?
"The
Catholic Church has always had a great deal of support and influence
with the people for many centuries now. They have such a tight control
on things, more so than a lot of the other Eastern European countries.
They also have some influence on the legal authorities as well,
though I don't really think they could really bring about some kind
of medieval ways of control upon us. I, like you, don't really know
as much as I'd like to know and am relying too on the media to see
where all of this is going."
It
seems as though Gorgoroth heading into the one of the strictest
Catholic countries in the world would be a recipe for disaster.
You must have known this going in to record the DVD there.
"One
of the reasons we decided to work on the DVD there is that the production
company for the DVD does some great work and plus it is very cheap
in Poland to work and get stuff done. But also, we were able to
go over there and exploit the system as much as possible."
Make
a statement when you can.
"Yes,"
Infernus agrees. "I mean, we would have done the same show
anywhere else in the world, but it was almost a symbolic thing for
Gorgoroth to go to Pope John Paul II's homeland and do such a show,
to go to a region that is so strong in its religious beliefs and
bring so much hatred and anger towards it. But at the same time,
we didn't know this kind of outcome would transpire from us being
there."
No
doubt Gorgoroth is in the spotlight right now.
"We
have a lot more legal problems now, bigger than what we are facing
in Poland, so this is just another part of what we do in our lives
and we must face up to it. Like I said, this is just another legal
problem, but if it draws attention to what we are doing, showcasing
us as grown-up human beings practicing Satanism as a lifestyle and
performing metal music, then it's all good."
He
finishes off, "When you are in band like Gorgoroth you want
to go out every time and make people take notice. Right now we have
40 million Polish people who hate us (laughs). That is the position
that we have chosen to be in and so we carry on."
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