NIFELHEIM: We 'Approved' Anti-CLIFF BURTON, -DIMEBAG Comments Before They Were Published

Swedish black metallers NIFELHEIM have released a statement to BLABBERMOUTH.NET insisting that they "approved" the comments that were attributed to them in the latest issue of Sweden Rock magazine where they appeared to be disrespecting the memories of both METALLICA bassist Cliff Burton and PANTERA/DAMAGEPLAN guitarist "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott.

BLABBERMOUTH.NET received an earlier statement from someone claiming to be in NIFELHEIM (which we believe to be a member of the band that wasn't speaking for the group as a whole — although NIFELHEIM is denying this) in which the bandmembers played down their controversial comments as a "bad joke" made during "a private conversation" that was "totally taken out of context" and "blown way out of propotion." Sweden Rock magazine naturally took issue with this claim and confronted the band with the facts — which are that NIFELHEIM "read and approved every single statement before it went to print," according to editor Thomas Väänänen. NIFELHEIM subsequently released what it calls the only "official" statement regarding this matter in which the band unapologetically stands by its published Sweden Rock quotes.

"The article posted on Blabbermouth [on December 7] is NOT an official statement from the band NIFELHEIM," the group's guitarist, Apocalyptic Desolator (real name: Johan Bergebäck),writes. "NIFELHEIM was informed by Sweden Rock magazine of what was going to be printed and NIFELHEIM approved their quotes before the release of the magazine."

Niklas Göransson, the Sweden Rock writer who conducted the interview containing the inflammatory statements, also stands by the original story and insists that all quotes in the article are "accurate," having been "approved by the band" prior to the magazine going to print.

"Upon reading the 'NIFELHEIM' statement on Blabbermouth this past Monday, I immediately called Tyrant [bass; real name: Erik Gustavsson], Insulter [of Jesus Christ; drums; real name: Peter Stjärnvind] and Apocalyptic Desolator to demand an explanation," Göransson writes in a statement that was released to BLABBERMOUTH.NET. "However, all three of them were as surprised as I was, and claimed not to know anything about it. Seeing as it was both my and Sweden Rock magazine's credibility being questioned, I asked them to rectify the situation. I was promised this would be done by way of them sending a proper official statement, in which they confirm that all quotes in the article are accurate and approved of by the band prior to the magazine being printed, from the NIFELHEIM booking account. This now having been done, I assume the Blabbermouth statement [that was posted on December 7] and its content can be disregarded as false."

In the Sweden Rock article, which was based on an interview conducted in late September during NIFELHEIM's Finnish tour with WATAIN, NIFELHEIM bassist Tyrant is quoted as saying, "MÖTLEY CRÜE and MUNICIPAL WASTE are likely the worst bands in the world. Next to METALLICA."

When reminded that the day before marked the 22nd anniversary of the passing of METALLICA bassist Cliff Burton, Tyrant said, "That's right. I laughed and pissed on a photo of him. Speaking of which, when did that Dimebag Darrell [late PANTERA/DAMAGEPLAN guitarist] die? Damn how I cheered! Fucking glamf*g. One - nil to NIFELHEIM. Too bad Phil Anselmo [PANTERA singer] didn't die too; that was probably the only time I wished PANTERA had actually played."

Video footage of NIFELHEIM performing at the Metaltown festival on June 27, 2008 in Gothenburg, Sweden can be viewed below.