Ex-GORGOROTH Bassist Says GOD SEED Is A 'Suitable Name' For New Project

Former GORGOROTH bassist King (real name: Tom Cato Visnes),who recently lost a court battle against guitarist Infernus (real name: Roger Tiegs) over the rights to the GORGOROTH band name, recently spoke to Imhotep webzine about his newly launched project with fellow ex-GORGOROTH member Gaahl (vocals),dubbed GOD SEED. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

Imhotep: So, the obvious thing is of course, why the name GOD SEED? The way I see it, it is a name that has some irony to it…

King: "I am fully aware that this name will be made fun out of because of Gaahl's sexual preferences. I couldn't care less about that part. People with a mindset of 13-year-old kids would do that to him anyway. GOD SEED represent a more spiritual side to us than what GORGOROTH would. 'God Seed' is also the title of a track from our last album released under the 'GORGOROTH' banner and in that respect it symbolizes what is brought from the past. GOD SEED represents the will to grow; the will to be the super man so to speak. I think it's a suitable name for what we will represent in the future. I am also aware of the fact that we use the word God in the name. It will challenge the weak minded in the respect that we in the past used the word Satan a lot, but it's all about the same thing. The God within man and the God within nature. I never believed in a Christian force named Satan. I believe in the God within man."

Imhotep: You have signed to Indie Recordings, a label that is the biggest Norwegian metal label and which is very professional. How did you choose to go for Indie now? What advantages do you see belonging to a native label?

King: "I know the people who work for Indie for several years. I know they are good people and easy to work with. I have high hopes in working with them in the future. The communication will of course be better with a native label than with a label from abroad. They seem very eager on giving their best for me and Gaahl, whether we called us GORGOROTH, GOD SEED or another name."

Imhotep: Concerning the upcoming album, has Gaahl recorded the vocals? And, do you have to do any adjustments musically speaking? I mean, don't you think people will just thinking GORGOROTH no matter, since the music was created under the GORGOROTH banner from the start?

King: "Gaahl has not recorded the vocals yet. He is in Spain as we speak working on lyrics and vocal arrangements. I've always made the music I want to make, and I haven't made any adjustments just because of a name change. If people think of what we made under the GORGOROTH banner in context of what we are doing now as GOD SEED, there's nothing I can do about it. We will of course bring with us what we created in GORGOROTH during the 10 years we worked together as well. So it makes sense..., but now all energy will be put into GOD SEED. GORGOROTH is dead from my side and Gaahl's too."

Imhotep: I know most people, for some wicked reason, are most interested in Gaahl's sexuality and also what you think now in retrospect concerning what happened back in autumn 2007. Personally I think more or less everything has been said and done and said over again. And it seems now that Infernus wish the best for you and that you wish the best for him, despite that there are some economic matters still to be sorted out. Looking forward to seeing both bands on tour together, hehe… Seriously, what's next for GOD SEED, besides the finishing voices on the album?

King: "I couldn't care less about Gaahl's sexual orientation. It has nothing to do with me or the art we are doing together. I never had any problems with Infernus on a personal level and of course I'm hoping he is actually able to bring forward what we created in GORGOROTH. I'm sure he will. GOD SEED will be the banner we'll use for spreading our ideas through interviews, music and live performances. Nothing has changed but a name. I guess GORGOROTH will look more different than us in the future."

Read the entire interview from Imhotep.

Gaahl and King entered the studio on August 25, 2008 in the their hometown of Bergen, Norway to begin recording eight new tracks composed by the bassist for an as-yet-untitled new album. Along with Gaahl, King and Frost (SATYRICON) on drums, the full recording lineup includes Teloch (guitar) and Ice Dale (guitar). ENSLAVED's Herbrand Larsen once again produced the band in the studio.