Funeral Rain Press Corps

Hat are somewhat new to me, and after listening to the newest album Vortex of Hate I had a couple questions for the Norwegian duo, including the importance of True Norwegian Black Metal and Web 2.0. Answers are below, enjoy.

For starters, let’s introduce readers to you. Who is in the band, and what instruments do you two play?

The band consists of Undertrykker and Nevresch.
Nevresch: Guitar, Bass and backing vocals.
Undertrykker: Vocals, Drums and guitar.
Both of us write music, but Nevresch is by far the more productive of us.

What kinds of effects, if any, are you using on your instruments and vocals, and what kind of recording equipment do you use?

Nevresch: There are no effects used on the vocals. On the guitars we used a Zoom pedal, and for the recordings we used a Audiofire 4.

You two have been at it for awhile, since 1993, but with a 10 year hiatus. Why did you take the break, and what brought you back together to create more music?

Undertrykker: The break came because of school and life in general. We moved away from where we grew up and didn’t really have much contact with each other in this ten year period. When we met up after all this years we started discussing music straight away, and we were pretty much into the same music. I had made some riffs, and when I showed them to Nevresch he liked it a lot. We then decided to get a rehearsal place and things progressed from there.

Being a “True Norwegian Black Metal” band is sometimes less important nowadays than it was in the 80′s and 90′s. What’s your opinion on the TNBM tag?

Undertrykker: Hat is not a TNBM band, this is a tag used by Carpathian Forest, Nattefrost, Taake and some other bands as a stamp for the “True” Norwegian bands. We are not a part of that community. Being Norwegian and growing up with Darkthrone and the other great bands of the early era has of course influenced our view on what black metal should sound like. I don’t really care what country bands come from. The most important thing is whether or not they make good music.

In today’s modern world, Web 2.0, social media and social networks are taking over the way people see and interact with almost everything. How is Hat utilizing this to help spread your music?

Well we do have a MySpace page. We use this to promote our music. We are probably not the most active band on MySpace, but we do answer mail on a regular basis.

Where do the members of Hat look for inspiration? Other bands, movies, or just inside of yourselves?

Undertrykker: I get inspiration from all sorts of things. My favorite thing is to sit at public busses and just listen to all the stupid conversations common people tend to have with each other. I mean why waste your breath on talking about the weather every day of your life..

Nevresch: I get inspired in the mental state of purgatory. Inspiration has its upsides and downsides. I have to act on it, but it always brings me into katatonic chaos.

The songs on Vortex of Death are not primarily in Norwegian. Is that intentional, or do you use English because it fits the mood of the song better?

We don’t have an intentional plan that the songs should be written in English. On our first album The Demise of Mankind four of the songs are written in Norwegian, on Vortex of Death two of the songs are written in Norwegian.

Lyrically, what is your primary focus? Is there a particular theme to Hat’s lyrics?

Undertrykker: My primary focus is the annihilation of the human race. I have always been a misanthrope and my lyrics show this. I am also very fascinated by death and the suffering of others, so this is another topic that tends to reappear. Hail the mass murderers out there.

Nevresch: Annihilation and anti cosmic prayers.

Do you two work day jobs, or are you career musicians?

We both have day jobs.

What other bands are you currently involved with?

Nevresch: I have a project called Det Vidaapne Gap. It is a project in development. This is not the traditional kind of Black Metal. I prefer calling it Introverted Apocalyptic Metal. The whole composing drains me, so its a prolonged process.

For those that have never heard Hat before, who would you compare yourselves musically to?

The reviews tend to mention Gorgoroth, and other second wave black metal bands.

Finally, is there anything else you’d like to add to this?

Check out Abyss Records, they have all the Hat merchandise available: t-shirts, patches and of course our albums.
Thanks for your interest.