INFERNUS Says New GORGOROTH Album Will Be Released In October

GORGOROTH mastermind/guitarist Infernus (real name: Roger Tiegs) was interviewed late last week by Justin M. Norton of About.com. Infernus discussed his legal battle, the status of GORGOROTH's upcoming album and his thoughts about former bandmates Gaahl and King. Excerpts follow:

About.com: Do you feel vindicated by the decision?

Infernus: I am always more or less angry at someone or something: fellow co-workers, politics at practice here in Norway, the law system, God, and even a few ex-members now and then. But concerning the outcome of this case, which I won, I am of course happy. I am not really surprised about it, but I am content and happy.

This is not just a victory for common sense and reason, nor is it only a victory for me and my band. It is a victory for the music scene. This will set a standard in terms of legal issues in Norway, at least, so that musicians and artists who come up with a concept of their own can focus on what should be their main concern: the creative aspect of their life. People can feel safe not having to do tons of paperwork to be able to protect their ideas and immaterial belongings in case of future issues where, as in this case, there might come some seventh bass player and try to claim the name of a band he had no part in creating.

About.com: Did you ever consider abandoning the case and playing music under another name?

Infernus: Running a court case always represents some kind of a risk. I was not 100 percent sure I would win I have to admit, even though I knew I was right. I allied myself with some rather strong forces working in the same direction, so the outcome was more or less clear. I have problems understanding that the counterparts (King and Gaahl) might honestly have believed they could win a case like this, and it is still a mystery for me why they would not accept my offer not to take them to court. They should just have quit and found themselves another name and started their own band. But they had to do it the hard way, and we all know the outcome of that by now.

About.com: What is next for GORGOROTH now that the court case has passed? Will you finish up "Quantos Possunt ad Satanitatem Trahunt" and begin touring?

Infernus: I have been in studio rehearsing/arranging/doing pre-recordings for this album for more or less a year now. We are using the studio of my new drummer and co-producer Tomas Asklund in Sweden, Monolith Studio. We will work pretty effectively in the upcoming period to (finish) rehearsals for future live activities as well, when all the guys are here doing their part of the recording. We are looking at a mix in the end of June, then mastering in July. There will be an October release on Regain Records, the label I chose for GORGOROTH back in 2005, before the legal issues came up.

About.com: What will the new music sound like? Can we expect something in the vein of "Under The Sign of Hell" with Pest and Tormentor back in the band? You now have close to what many consider the classic GORGOROTH lineup back in place.

Infernus: I would like the listener to decide what it sounds like. It never, in my eyes, looks especially good having a musician or songwriter going on in an interview pestering people with his or her own personal opinions on topics like this. I can say we are working hard on it and are going to be able to stand behind this product upon release around October this year. It is time for some real metal.

Read the entire interview at About.com.