Earlier this March, one of the more interesting and musically diverse Norwegian record labels, specifically Gymnocal IndustriesA very dark and stomach-piercing musical grenade was sent to me titled . Omnivore by an appropriately named band this means warThis album has more or less always been in rotation here since then. Fierce, powerful death metal with plenty of grooves and atmosphere is the trend right now, and this talented troupe definitely deserves a wider audience. Geir Ingemar Henriksen (Kill-Tech) and Bjørnar Kristiansen (Dwaal) take turns handling the vocals and lyrics, while Birger Steneby (ex-NoPlaceToHide) and He Børre Jul-Larsen handle the riffs. RAMzine met with vocalist Björner Christiansen for a short conversation about all things This Means War.
Hi Bjornar, how is your day today, what have you been up to?
B: Hi! Today was a very good day.I walked my dog for a few hours and played a little diablo 4So far so close to perfect.
First, let’s take a quick look at the history of This Means War and the events that preceded the release of a great and inspiring piece of work. Omnivore. What inspired you to start the band? Also, where did you meet and become friends?
B: First of all, thank you for your kind words. The history of This Means War began when Birger (guitar) and his Børre (guitar) decided they wanted to make music together again. They had played in a band called Fallen Saint in his 80’s and felt that the band wanted to pick up where they left off. Then they reached out to Gail and me to add vocals.
Do you remember what your first rehearsal or writing session was like? Musically speaking, did it resonate with you immediately?
B: This Means War is a strictly studio-based project for now, with Birger and Børre working together or independently. I don’t have any plans to play live, so I won’t rehearse. We talked about it, but it looks like they’re working on the next release instead. As for the content, I can only speak to my first thought, but it was instantaneous. I loved the groovy mix of thrash and death metal, and the lyrics were fast and hard.
This Means War is classified as death metal, but it clearly has quite the groove And it’s not just a nod to thrash metal found in your song material. What musical influences do you have in common, and what bands and artists have shaped you? Do you have your own creative vision over the years? And who or what inspires you to create something? Do you compose your own music?
B: I know the 80’s and early 90’s thrash and death metal bands are the main inspiration for them. Bands like Slayer and other obvious bands. As for the groove, Lamb of God is a big fan of Lamb of God, so I’m really happy. Bole has been away from the metal scene for so long that his bizarre riffs come from a truly genre-less space, and Birger has played in several bands since the 80s, making what he thinks possible without regard to restrictions. has great insight into how it works himself. That’s the essence of This Means War. We don’t care about labels, we make tracks that feel right.
How does the creative approach the writing and arranging of This Means War? The process usually unfolds, but do you share ideas digitally before coming together to try them out?
B: Bohle and Birger digitally exchange files and argue politely until the gold is found. Then Gail and I get the track and get together in Birger’s home studio to record the vocals. Simple, but it works.
I really like the album artwork, and it instantly clicks with me, but what is it all about? symbolizes and means to you? It’s certainly very impressive and surprisingly dark.
B: Thank you! One of the big themes of this album, at least for me, is how death not only eats and decomposes, but also leaves new life. So artwork is a visual representation of those themes. By being consumed, new life is born after death.
Tell us a little bit about the lyrical aspect of this record and its words, themes and ideas. The album as a whole revolves around it. I often hear short song titles.”outcast‘ and ‘deception‘.
B: Gail writes his own lyrics, so I can only talk about my lyrics and themes. My concept, albeit loosely, was death and how new life grows out of it. A corpse rotting in the river (‘she is in the water‘) How life grows in water, or how war burns everything and scorches the earth (‘Omnivore‘).That’s also why I suggested Omnivore as the album title. It’s a title that encompasses all loose themes, a true mission statement. As for the future, I love the lyrical concept that runs through the album, so I’ll be writing in the same vein.
What kind of year will the rest of 2023 be for you, and how are you currently working on band activities? Are you working on a new song or are you planning some gigs around the country?
B: I know Birger and Børre have started working on new songs, but so far there’s nothing ugly in my inbox.I hope to announce something soon so that I can strengthen the energy around me Omnivore. As for the live performance, I really want to make it happen. I need more time to rehearse with the members.
Thank you very much for your time.good luck in your future I’ll do my best.
B: Thank you for speaking with us. Thank you for your continued support.
https://this-means-war.bandcamp.com/album/omnivore-doctrine