Stumbled upon this band in the Vampire-Magazine guestbook, I thought it was a nice move to present this great Norwegian band to you all. I reviewed their demo CD, you can find it somewhere else on these pages. I had a talk about the band with both John Espen and Andrè (also known from his other band 1349). Enjoy…
Hey all, how are you? I first have to start with a cliché question: could you introduce your band to our readers?
Andrè: Hey, well “Pantheon I” is easiest described as an extreme metal band. For the time being we are based in Oslo (Norway), and consists of 3 members. We formed the band in 2000 and have recorded a demo which is availible on our website. The music is both old school and melancoly black metal, and there are elements where we use violin and cello to create the melancoly feeling.
How did things started with the other members of the band ?
JE: It all started when Eirik and I became classmates, we started jamming together and found out pretty fast that we had something strong going on. And after a night with jamming we went to a Pub in Oslo and hooked up with this guy. Eirik knew him, but I didnt. The first thing this guy said to me was “Hey, I’m in your band”… And later that evening I found out that it was Andrè from 1349….
Andrè: I had played in a band with Eirik before which split up but me and Eirik continued jamming for a while. Later Eirik called me and said he had began jamming with a friend from school and he asked me to join, and the first time we jammed together it was like we had played together for years.
How did you come to a collaboration with the session members, for instance Sareeta of Ram-Zet etc.
JE: Well, Eirik knew Silje (the girl on cello) from another music project so he called here up and asked if she was interested in playing cello on our demo, and she said yes rigth away. Nice girl (hehe)…
Andrè: I had known Sareeta for some time and wanted to use her skills on the demo. So we gave her the demo and she liked what she heard.
So, talking about other members and bands. Norway is – of course – known about its huge and productive blackmetal scene. What do you think of the scene in Norway today?
Andrè: The scene here in norway has been very turbulent the last couple of years, but it has also grown stronger and more focused. And in a way the scene has found it’s roots again.
JE: I think that the next couple of years, Norway will produce more and more black metal with a high standard…
And the scene all in common?
Andrè: I can only speak for the scene her in Norway.
JE: Not to brag, but Norway is still and will always be the best black-metal nation, and we will see to it that it stays that way.
Are you a part of that scene and do you have contact with the other bands there?
Andrè: yes, we are a part of the blackmetal scene in Norway and we have contact with almost all of the bands within the scene.
Do you think it’s a good point for your band that you have Andrè in the band, because he also plays in 1349, this band is already quite known around the world in the blackmetal scene.
JE: I think that the presence of Andrè in PANTHEON I has given us quit a lot of promotion and attention…
How does he look upon this band? I suppose 1349 has his priority?
Andrè: I have more than enough time for both bands so it’s no problem for me. 1349 is as important for me as PANTHEON I and PANTHEON I is as important as 1349.
Are any other members of Pantheon I active in other projects/bands?
JE: If you check out http://www.internal-oblivion.tk you will find another project with me Andrè and Eirik in. INTERNAL OBLIVION is a slown down melancholy death metal band..
What is the story behind your band name?
JE: We had a couple of names before we decided for PANTHEON I. We felt that this name stood out from all the others. The meaning behind the name is that the human body is a pantheon (shell) carrying a soul just waiting to die.
Tell us something about your concept. (The murders etc.)
JE: We wanted to carry the concept behind the name to the extreme… That the body is a shell carrying a dead soul. So if you strip this own, you’ll see that it`s all about death.
Where are your lyrics all about?
Andrè: Our lyrics are also based on the concept behind our name.
What is your recent playlist? (what do you have in your CD player for the past days?)
Andrè: Cannibal Corpse “The Bleeding”, Cynic “Focus” and Cult of Leviathan “Black Mass Massacre”
JE: Metallica “Master of Puppets”, Immortal, 1349 “Liberation” and Trollfest…
What can we expect for the future with Pantheon I?
Andrè: You can expect a future album as soon as we have found the rigth label for us. We are also planing on a couple of live performences and possibly a tour next year.
Do you have any last words? Or would you like to add something?
JE: Check out our homepage for more info about PANTHEON I at http://www.pantheon-i.tk … You haven`t heard the last from us!
