Though Black Metal started out in the 80s, courtesy of metal pioneers such as Venom and Bathory, it wasn’t until the early 90s that the genre really took off when, in Norway, the mystique of Black Metal became just as important, if not more so, than the actual music.

At its simplest definition, an ethereal/atmospheric quality, accompanying theatrics and a philosophical slant towards Satanism distinguished it from other forms of metal. At its most complicated, the lines between theater and reality blurred completely: The singer of Mayhem blows his brains out with a shotgun; his band mates gathering pieces of his skull to use in necklaces. Burzum’s Varg Vikernes is sent to prison for burning churches and stabbing Mayhem’s Aasarth Oystein, aka Euronymous, to death and Bard G. Eithun, aka Faust, of the band Emperor is imprisoned for murdering a man who’d made advances toward him.

Today, the darkness of Black Metal remains but the music has distanced itself from the absurdity of its history (though, mind you, not the absurdity of its imagery). The range of influences has expanded and the musicianship grown, Satyricon standing at the genre’s forefront – praised as much for their innovation as their brutality. On the eve of the band’s first ever Australian visit, the well-spoken and friendly Satyr (singer/songwriter/lyricist/guitarist) took his time when answering [FasterLouders] questions. Perhaps it was due to his shy and introverted nature or perhaps the phone line between Sydney and Scandinavia had a problematic delay – however his intelligence and attitude towards his craft proves that Satyr is not only an icon in the world of Black Metal, but is talkative and lively; a great conversationalist. Now notorious for taking extended periods of time in between releases, Satyricon have once again returned with their latest album Now, Diabolical, which has seen the band alter their sound and style. Differing from its predecessor Volcano the new album pays more attention to the detailed approach toward Black Metal, which in turn has revealed a far more prominent rock vibe and has again further split their fan base.

“We’re are actually very happy with Now Diabolical - but we are always happy to release an album and the response to this album has been tremendous,” explains Satyr who only moments ago finished a show. “The record company too is doing a very good job promoting the album. So overall, we’re very happy with the way things are going at the moment.

“”These songs are very direct,” he explained. “Instead of 12 or 13 themes per song, there are just a handful of themes that carry each song, because I wanted the album to have an extremely solid framework – something that was undeniable and unquestionable, something that was very insistent and full of authority. A way of achieving that is to concentrate on purifying the power of a few themes, as opposed to never letting one theme establish itself.

“I think too many metal bands sound like they play music for other musicians, that the song has no higher purpose or that they don’t look for a special atmosphere or anything like that,” he continued.

“They just play and say, ‘Look at me, I can shred.’ It’s very typical and it’s really sad.”

But Australia isn’t Europe in terms of touring, and according to Satyr, “I think Australians will have a different understanding of extreme-metal music.”“It’s kind of weird,” he continues, “because Death Metal is a part of what I call extreme-metal music, It seems like there is a lot of confusion as to “what”, when it concerns Black Metal and Death Metal. Europeans pinpointed a long time ago what Black Metal is and what bands are important. If Australia can identify with this then I’m impressed. For instance, the American kids don’t seem to have the slightest clue about that, so you find yourself in a situation where a band that is not popular in Europe at all… can do really well in America, while other bands that have very solid standings in Europe are not doing very well in America. It’s hard to predict what Australia will be for Satyricon.”

Image will always have a place in Black Metal (corpse paint, black leather and spikes) however, within the band’s fourteen-year career; appearance has always evolved with the musicality of the band.

“We talk about music styles that include a visual aspect that somehow fits to the music or its atmosphere – that in turn induces some experience of wholeness, of totality. Nonetheless – I prefer that Black Metal bands’ make use of visual elements that they feel are right for them and their own expression, and that they have a clear understanding about what they’re doing – when I’m not onstage and not in the public eye, I wear Dolce & Gabbana shirts.”

Luckily for Australia, Satyricon adopted the help of Roadrunner Records in order to visit our shores for the very first time this December, “we have been trying to make it to Australia since the mid 90’s – it was only with the help of Roadrunner Australia that we could make it happen this year” Satyr said. He hopes the band will be well received by Australian audiences, “because touring Australia is something we’ve always wanted to do. Every band that has a little bit of common sense must want to play in Australia. [Now, Diabolical] is doing really, really well in Europe, and as a band we are really excited just to see what could possibly happen in Australia. That’s the honest truth.”

Satyr assures me that the stage show is something to behold: “Frost’s elaborate drum kit, with almost every percussion accoutrement attached to a frame [that] HR Giger would be proud of, takes over most of the stage, like an overbearing steel tarantula. That’s not to mention my mic stand, which looks like a mass of spinal chords, with four black candles in the corner adding a final touch. That’s only the aesthetic setting – we truly are brutal on stage”

Considering it is only Satyr and Frost (drummer) who record on the albums, there will be additional guitarists, a bass player, a keyboardist to reproduce a sound that “can only be justified by a live Satyricon live show.”

When asked what Satyricon would be remembered for after they decide to call it a day – Satyr has no hesitations in telling his overall vision. “It’s important to make records that will be remembered ten years from now, than to sell 10,000 or more records. I think our records will stand the test of time, and they’ve really helped to shape the direction of Black Metal. That will be the legacy of Satyricon; in the way that our records affected people’s lives and hopefully inspired people to get into the genre and play this music”

For Satryicon  tour dates click here