The over nine-minute epic "Appeler Les Loups" (from the band's third record Blood Of Bacchus) is one of the most stunning achievements of a "metal" band in recent years, the authoritative and spellbinding allure of the song enough to knock cynics dead. The bewitching charm exhibited on the first two records, Burdens and The Silhouette, has been sharpened into a somewhat heavier form yet still robust and earthy with melody and guitar work that hints at forgotten places and promises on the wind. You could hear these songs in times of celebration or recovering from all traumas small and large.

Listen to "Last Sign of Summer" and dare to resist the song's insistent pull which reminds you at your core that time is precious. Guitars hammer down while Carmen's voice seems to reassures with ethereal insistence. She has the ability to sound unsettling yet comforting at the same time, oddly warm and human even when she hits her highest "banshee" notes. Metal fans unfamiliar to Ava Inferi may recognize Carmen's voice if they are fans of Moonspell's recent Night Eternal and Under Satanae albums, on which she had major cameos.

I corresponded via the magical internet with Rune about Blood Of Bacchus, one of the best records of 2009. (Ironically, one of the other very best 2009 albums comes from Rune's former Mayhem cohort Attila Csihar via his vocal work on the newest Sunn O))) release Monoliths And Dimensions).

Noted guitarist, producer and composer Rune Eriksen was reflective and forthright about the deep process of unearthing required to make an Ava Inferi record, as well as how he manages to keep writing from such an honest and artistic place even when the "mass" world can sometimes be on a different, less intelligent/rewarding page. Ava Inferi is a band we are going to want around for a long time, people. They truly do ripen like a fine wine.

MORGAN Y. EVANS: How are you doing today? What are your current moods or activities in this strange play called life? Let's talk about Blood Of Bacchus. How does it feel to have completed and released your third record recently?

RUNE ERIKSEN: Well, today I'm actually slightly hungover due to a Moonspell show at the Hard Rock Cafe in Lisbon, yesterday night. It was a free bar and there should be no need saying I enjoyed the evening according to that. [laughing] All in all, it was a fine show and a successful evening. Apart from being a bit reduced from last night’s fun, I'm trying to finalize some business for Ava Inferi. So, all good and some interesting aspects ahead.

I believe Blood Of Bacchus was a very important release for the band, at least from my personal perspective. It showcased us as a stronger band with a more complete and advanced songwriting, and also with a tighter approach than before. I wasn't really happy with the way The Silhouette came out, in terms of production that is, so it was a good "revenge" releasing this album with almost everything executed and captured according to the initial plan. Don't get me wrong, The Silhouette is a great album as well, I just look very much forward to getting it remixed and re-mastered for the sound to do it justice. [laughing] All in all, it feels good to be a part of such a productive band. Now, with the fourth one on the way I see a brighter light in the tunnel.

MYE: One thing I love about all the Portuguese bands I have ever had the pleasure of speaking with, from F.E.V.E.R. to your band, is the sense of care and also pride, but also sort of utmost humble devotion to and respect for the musical forces you are “channeling”. Is it something about the country or the surroundings? Obviously with your background, Rune, you are Norwegian and now live in Portugal, but the same goes for a lot of Norwegian bands. Is it from a love of nature or just a cultural emphasis? I know in Norway a lot of the culture is supposedly rather conformist, which spawned the black metal scene as a result to rebel against it. I'm not sure, just going on what I have heard.

RE: Well, interesting you should put it like that, as I don't really have that notion about most Portuguese bands. But then again, I'm Norwegian and still to this day I catch myself learning new things about the general views from people around here, also the indoctrinated ones. For me there has always been a struggle here in Portugal to get anywhere as a musician, and the struggle also paints their will and opinions, etc., about the whole process of having or making it as a band. It is granted here that no one will ever get anywhere, (possibly due to history, low general income and that the society doesn't provide any real support, I don't know), so as a result of this no one goes 110% for it either. Obviously there are exceptions, but that is the general view here. Another thing is due to the low morale in creating music on your own, it's common to go by in a covers band, playing bars for a small fee. I think close to everyone I have met here involved in the music scene has had a cover band.

I can understand this to a certain extent, unless you are really bleeding for your art. Then playing AC/DC or ZZ Top covers in a bar is certainly not your flavor. I would have a hard time being adopted into such a role myself though, although I'm not making a point of criticism here. For me it's about the passion of being an artist, as you mention initially here as well, and not just being a musician for the sake of playing. But then again, it's probably due to not that many other options if you wanna do a full on music thing down here, and that's quite a shame really as there are talented kids all over. But, I guess it's kinda demoralizing when you have to scream so extremely loud to get heard.

For me and my case, I'm an artist to the bone. That's all I can say. I am totally addicted to making music and to dwell in those universes and I put all my efforts in my creations. It was never about the money but about the flame that's burning inside of me. When you say passion, aka, love of nature etc., I believe it's the same for everyone who has the real deal inside. The old BM thing in Scandinavia was built by genuine people with a burning desire for what they did, much like myself, although the fire for black metal was never so strong. My passion was more about extreme metal in general, but it's the same thing. It's all believing for something, and I'm sure they exist all over the place despite cultural or geographical differences.

However, you have a point in the fact that the cultural aspect brings forth a different kind of expression as well. Take the Fado for example and how passionate it is, and how it reflects the inner most feeling of the Portuguese heritage. Heartfelt indeed.

MYE: I love that the band has managed to so well combine the “somber” and “melodic” elements and still have a sort of gothic quality but respectfully also reigning it in to the point where it is majestic rather than self-parodying. Moonspell is also masterful at this, but Ava Inferi really excel at creating other realms of deep thought that feel like autumnal excursions or a walk beneath dark, rolling clouds. How did you all inspire one another for performances this time?

RE: Good question. The things that make me go on about this kind of expression is probably my rather introverted nature. I guess to a certain extent that my problem is that I'm thinking too much. Everything gets analyzed to the extreme, especially about my own condition in my ups and downs. It sometimes gets a bit out of hand as well, making me close myself in and not picking up the phone or answering mails for a long time. It's always some source that I feel requires heavy thinking. It didn't always use to be like this though, but I guess the more conscious you get, the harder things are. Life is not easy, and if you see things in a bigger picture, it sometimes gets scary as well. I mean, there are so many things we don't seem to get, albeit it's the obvious complexity of nature’s turn. A small digression here, but I guess if you analyze or compare this answer to your question, then you know what I mean. This is where Ava Inferi gets through. I used to say that it represented a different side of me, and that it was similar to the one feeling of coming home tired from work and to open up a bottle of vintage wine and just dwell in the moment. The thing is that this state of mind is what became me over the course of chaos over the years, and therefore I'm having a hard time motivating for more extreme music as well. Getting back to that heartbeat of old. Take Mezzerschmitt as an example; I'm working on it and I have done so for over two years. I don't have a single song ready, only some riffs. This is how hard it is for me to step up and do something bleak these days. It will be released when my mind is set for it, not sooner. You know, it has to be real and heartfelt, and right now my heart’s mostly pumping for Ava...in a musical sense obviously! Sometimes, being under the influence of Champagne or white sparkling wine I get the excess out, the moments that really get you up and full of it. Then I can create a fancy Aura Noir riff or 3...ranting here... [laughing] But you get my point. Ava Inferi is the product of realizing our reality, or should I say realizing the I.

MYE: What can you tell us about the title Blood Of Bacchus? Are you just celebrating the essence of reverie/debauchery or is it also about nature? It's funny, the band’s music has always had a sense of abandon but you also exert such self-control musically in something like the older song "Fate of Mountains", like Katatonia or slower bands, really making the most of the potential majesty in a slow riff.

RE: No, Blood Of Bacchus is not so much about debauchery, although it has its echo in the album. It's more of a celebration to the creative forces in us and the ups and downs in life. Mostly downs, but never losing hope out of sight. It's about loosing the chains, about feeling your true self and celebrating the divinity in us all, to be alive. That, and a healthy dose of tough days or unfortunate memories. All drilled into shape in the name of Bacchus. Some French magazine put the tag "Epicurean Doom Metal" on us once! [laughing] Well, don't know if I agree, though.

MYE: What do you think about bands like Arab Rot who are combining so many disciplines? Your band is also very groundbreaking musically, though in a different direction, but then you also do stuff like your band Aura Noir which is gnarly and more traditional evil but still confrontational and gripping in its own right. I love “Death Mask", by the way.

RE: As for Arab Rot, never heard of them but I will def check them out now. About the wide variety of mind settings, I guess I touched a bit on the subject in a previous answer, but it has to deal with me and my moods. I sometimes feel that I could do any given style of music as I have a little piece of it all inside of me. I have a tremendous light in my heart, and also the means to emanate a different and (very much so) darker beast. Its all in the unbalanced and or chosen moments. However, I'm trying to stay in the middle, and I must admit I never thought it would be so demanding really. One thing is when you are "unconscious", then you don't know any better as its almost like you are acting out of instinct. But when you get to the point where everything has to be analyzed and felt by your own essence, almost to the very core, then you realize how sharp that knife edge really is. Any movement is a wave and a wave goes somewhere with speed on it, causing something else to rock by or lose its course. This is the tricky explanation about how what you do will eventually come back to you or set a certain frame for another thing in your life. This goes for my bands as well. I set sails for the absolute negative on ORDO AD CHAO, and I found it, setting the moods for a cathartic The Silhouette leading to a fruitful joy of emanating more green and earth-like things in between, also heard on Blood Of Bacchus.

However, there is a bliss in doing the rawness at times, but not all the time. I need the balance and it suits me fine to have a little bit of it all. Taking the best bits out of each direction without losing balance. However, I sometimes lose the balance, though! [laughing]

MYE: How do you feel the band has grown since your inception, in ways either surprising or hoped for? What is the communication like between you, Rune, and Carmen and the others? What did you want to expand on with this latest release?

RE: I know the meaning now of building something from scratch. And no matter how hard it is or has been, I still think it was a good thing for me to learn it this way. It's something so honest and heartfelt in this creation that would be felt differently if it was an already established band I joined (done that!). Although, I must admit I feel like we have been sometimes overlooked by people who should have had a look into us. And that is the bitter pill to swallow, not being able to reach out to your audience. I feel like we have been in between chairs (if I can say that) since the beginning. but things are too complex to create a specified and narrow thing for us. It's too much influences and free will at stake, something we will never lose. It feels a bit like; either you get it or you don't. I must add that if I had taken a slightly different path after I quit Mayhem, like if I had done doomy death Metal with growls and powerful production, I guess I’d be a lot further with the band as of now. This is the ugly beast of association. I did something so opposite than what I used to do that people don't see the red thread in between albums or bands in my career. But that's just the initial glare. If people took the time to look into this entity and to feel our presence there would be different takes on the whole issue. But in this modern day and age where you have to be either the most extreme or something "fucked up" to be heard, it's easy to forget the real and complex spirituality out there. Just true and heartfelt music without really crossing out too many inventive borders isn't the "hip" cup of tea for the masses . There is a huge difference from vintage wine to wine in a box as well, but it seems like today's music "lovers" just want to get "drunk"...fast and cheap. No wonder things are what they are! [laughing] Maybe I'm sounding bitter here, but that's not really it. I just don't have too much good things to say about the general views upon music. All this being said, despite being off track regarding to your question, we will continue the fight.

As for communication, it started off with being me bossing everyone around. I had to shape the concept first in order for the others to know what they were a part off. Now, its a totally different thing as all of the involved members have seen inside this thing we created and are accustomed thereafter. And that's the biggest difference with Blood Of Bacchus from our previous offerings, it's more complex and whole spirited. I feel it's a positive spin in the band these days, to deliver better and better live performances and we all learn from each other and are getting more and more connected as a unit. I feel a brighter light coming, It's coming when we have obtained the right symbiosis. Only then will we be able to lift ourselves truly.

MYE: How was it playing the Hellhounds fest with Tiamat and The 69 Eyes? Your bands would be amazing to see alongside one another!

RE: Yeah, it was cool but at the same time I felt we were a bit off the bill. I guess we were too slow a band for being a support act as The 69 Eyes went on after us, and they have this rock’n’roll attitude with a bit more up tempo songs. But all-in-all it was a great experience for us as a band, and we definitely grew a lot as a band on that specific tour. Kudos to The 69 Eyes and Tiamat for having us there!

MYE: What were the hardest things to track about this new record or techniques you have learned to achieve your unique sounds? The balance of strings and rich guitar tones on a song like “Tempestade” sound killer!

RE: The studio session is always a hassle with Ava Inferi. [chuckling] It's always something unexpected that happens and this last time was no exception. However, the actual recording is usually the easiest thing for us to finalize. It's merely issues from the outside that's causing problems. During the recording of Blood Of Bacchus we actually slept in the studio as well, as there were nothing available around the area, but it was also a question about convenience as we could record more or less any time we wanted. However, the day we were supposed to drive Bandido, our drummer, to the airport, the fire department knocked on the door to the studio.
I was stinking of wine when I opened the door as we had been partying the night before...

Anyways, they had received an anonymous phone call from one of the neighbours there claiming there were people sleeping in the studio after hours. (Yes, this was us.) They clearly stated that this was against the rules and that the studio was a fire trap and the possibilities for shutting the studio down was an option. I tried in my best half-drunken manner to convince them that we weren't sleeping there, we just arrived very early to start work. Let it be mentioned that the reason I said this was due to the studio owner’s intuition the night before that something was in the air, and that if anybody asked us if we were sleeping there, we should say no. Anyways, my lie didn't pull off as it was clear that the 3 mattresses on the floor had been in recent use...although I tried my luck further and said that it was to rest in between shifts. [laughing]

This event turned to be a big hassle, and we even hit the front page in the local newspaper that "heavy metal band with members from Portugal resides in fire trap" or something like that. [laughing] That was just the tip of the iceberg and it even resulted in this council meeting where voting if the studio should stay or go was on the agenda. That was a few very hard days, as we didn't know if we were to be thrown out of the building or not. It could literally happen any time during our stay! All went fine in the end though and the studio survived. [chuckling] Another thing is that one of our session artists had a car crash on the way to the studio, ending up with a totally smashed car and broken equipment. Ambulances and madness...I have several stories as well, but I'll save them for my book. I tell you, it felt like we were recording an album that was not supposed to be. [laughing] Kinda like The Number Of The Beast or something. Thanks anyway for your comment on "Tempestade". It's actually one of my favorites as well, along side "Appeler Les Loups".

MYE: Something like your work in Mayhem was very brutal and raw and then Ava Inferi has so much atmosphere. How does it feel to have had so many projects that can be given their proper homage while still allowing you to show different sides of yourself? Metallica's James Hetfield thinks a musician shouldn't have side projects because it dilutes the “main” band, which I understand, but also I think there is something to be said for having the freedom to explore things that would work outside of one band well and be a disaster in another group!

RE: Although I see James´ point, I don’t think it wouldn't work for me. I have so many different ideas that I'd like to fulfill, so...if I brought them all into Ava Inferi now, it would be a myriad of styles clashing. Although Ava Inferi is the child of my heart and main band, and no matter how much I love to go onstage or rehearse/compose for the band, it is also some kind of "release" or fullfillment to do something different that you don't have to over-analyze all the time. Just trying to free myself in the moment...

MYE: What places did you retreat to when writing this Blood Of Bacchus album? It seems like it required a lot of contemplation? Also, what do you think is on the horizon for the band? When hearing your music I imagine someone reading fortunes beneath a sky of crows.

RE: Basically trying to detach myself and my memories, closing some doors while opening others and coping with the present. The time this album was created was in the aftermath of my split with Mayhem, so I guess it's fair to state that this was my haven in that time. Letting it all go, and not having to worry what was going on on the outside, if you get my point. Very cathartic in that sense as well, like any other Ava Inferi release for that matter.

As for the future and Ava Inferi, I see fullfilment. However, I am aware of the fact that it indicates tons of work and effort to spread our name to the masses as well. I think we are getting there slowly though, placing one stone at a time, doing it properly in our own speed. And now, with the fourth album in the works I am even more enthusiastic about the future. I have always been a firm believer in that we can do whatever we want if only we believe it strong enough. That is Ava Inferi for me.

MYE: Cheers, Rune! Metal fucking life!