Albums of Purgatory interview Koldborn's Rasmus

Albums of Purgatory: Firstly, whats the band up to right now?

Rasmus: We have just parted ways with our singer, so it stands pretty still at the moment. Heinz (guitar) is on tour with HateSphere until April 29^{th and I’ll spend the next month looking for singers, so we can run an “audition” when he returns from the tour. We have got 4 offers so far, so I’m really looking forward to hear what they are able to do.}

AoP: How would you describe the Koldborn sound?

R: Like an 18-wheeler with 180 mph., filled with hate and brutality. We are here to destroy everything!! We sound like a Death Metal band, ‘cause we are a Death Metal band.

AoP: How did you get involved with the band?

R: I’ve known Heinz since we were like born, not that I can remember the first years. We started a band back in 1994 called Icon Of Sin, and just played coversongs of Sepultura, Grave, Entombed, Motörhead etc. We actually got rid of Heinz later on, since he wouldn’t let his hair grow.

When Icon Of Sin died and as the years passed by, Heinz and I talked about making a Death Metal band, which faced the surface during the x-mas in 1997.

AoP: Have you been involved in any other projects and if so how do they compare musically to Koldborn?

R: I’ve played in a Trucker-Punk band called Pitstop a couple years ago. We played our own songs + some coversongs of: The Ramones, Beastie Boys, Black Flag. It was really fun and really simple, just straight-ahead and cheap beers. Punk rules!

I also play in the Danish Black Horror Metal band Denial Of God as session drummer. The deal is that I have to record their album and then I’m done. It’s pretty straight-ahead Black Metal and that’s the reason I’m leaving the band. My main genre is- and has always been Death Metal.

AoP: Can you remember your first live gig (how did it go)?

R: Our first show, was at “Loppen” in Copenhagen, where we played with Usipian and Mareridt. I remember being pretty nervous since it was the first Koldborn gig. But the show went great, and people really liked and I remember that we sold 27 demotapes after the show. And I was like “hey, what the fuck is going on? We are just a bunch of farmers, so it was totally awesome.

AoP: What are your favourite Koldborn tracks?

R: That would be “Of Sins Sublime”. It’s just crushing, in your face, no-shit Death Metal. I think you’ll hear more of that on the next album, where we’ll get more brutal!! Just blast, destroy and fuck off!

AoP: What are your favourite all time songs?

R: Sepultura “Arise”, Misfits “I turned into a Martian”, Danzig “Mother”, Obituary “Turned inside out”, Iron Maiden, hmmmmm, I won’t pick anyone out, since there so many awesome songs.

AoP: What was the first record you bought?

R: I think it was W.A.S.P. “The Final Command” or Megadeth “So, far, so good, so what”

AoP: What would be your dream band line-up?

R: That’s a hard one, but this could be a cool/wierd line up in my opinion: Derik Roddy: Drums, Zakk Wylde: Guitar, Devin Townsend: Guitar/Vocal, Rob Zombie: Vocal, Corpse-grinder: Vocal.

AoP: If you could do a cover of any song for a tribute album to any band, what would you choose and why?

R: It would be “Arise” with Sepultura. I love the whole album and I still remember when I first heard the title song. I was like “ooouuuuuuhhh this is fucking bad-ass” That song can still amaze me today. And the funny thing (or maybe it’s not funny, depends) is that we are planning to do a cover of “Arise” and I hope we can make a heavier version than the original.

AoP: What do you think of the position of music in general today?

R: When I look at the modern “scene” I’m not really impressed. There’s so many bands which I don’t think come out naturally. I think the whole “casting” thing has taken control. I know it’s mostly used in Pop music, but I’m sure that many New Metal/Rock bands are casted as well.

I’m just happy by playing Death Metal. It doesn’t really get “hyped” and shit, it’s more like: It’s just there and has always been. And I think that if you can do things your own way and believe in that, then you’re on the right track. If you’re being told what to do, play, look etc., you’re dead!!

AoP: Which other bands in the scene stand out for you at the moment?

R: A Danish band called Mnemic. It’s kind of a mixture between Strapping Young Lad, Fear Factory and Meshuggah played in their own “special” way. If you’re into the named bands, you just need to check ‘em out.

I’m also really into “The band everybody hates” Slipknot. It’s in my opinion the only “New Metal” band that plays Metal! They have a lot Death Metal stuff in their music and I just love the way they play. A lot of bands could learn a lot by watching Slipknot, it’s total destruction!

Also Andrew W.K. rules. It’s Party Rock ‘n Roll. Straight-ahead and no bullshit. And it’s actually Donald Tardy (Obituary) who plays drums.

AoP: Do you have any funny stories about the band you can share with us?

R: No, not really. I think we are the most boring band in Denmark. We eat cookies and drink coffee when we rehearse. So I guess we’re the wrong band for that question. Sorry.

AoP: What do you see in the future for Koldborn?

R: Future? Well, I’m moving to Aarhus - the city where Heinz and Kim lives - hopefully during the summer. As soon as I’m up there, we can rehearse on regular basis.

But the first thing is to get a new singer, so we can make a new record, and get out touring, ‘cause we haven’t really toured on this record. But I don’t see a “big future” since we are a Death Metal band, and it was never the plan to grow “big”. But who knows? We’ll see.

AoP: Thanks again for the interview and good luck for the future.

R: Thanks for your support and all the best with your zine. Take care and up the holders!!