Vreid: In-depth Interview With Hvall

By Kate Wilcox

April 26th 2011, Hawaiian Ocean View, Hawaii: Formed from the ashes of Windir after the tragic demise of band leader Valfar, Norway's Vreid have achieved rightful success of their own over the course of four prior full lengths, each providing a unique portrait of a band refusing to remain creatively stagnant. Vreid keeps the energy going with their 5th album, "V". I had a chance to talk with bassist and founder of Vreid, Hvall, about the album, the band and their future plans.

Kate: Thank you for doing this interview, how are you?
Hvall: Doing ok, thanks!

Kate: Have you heard a lot of feedback on your latest album "V"?
Hvall: It's been amazing, we've been getting a lot of great feedback all over the place. It went all over Europe and then the States and it's great to get such good response for the new album.

Kate: Can you give us some background of how Vreid came together?
Hvall: All of the members have been playing together since 1992. We've been in a couple different bands together before Vreid came together. We've had some lineup changes but we've been going at it for many years.

Kate: What are your personal views on the album, how do you feel about it?
Hvall: Well, it's really hard to describe. It was really natural but it seems like some extra elements came into place as well. The production and everything came out just the way we wanted.

Kate: You did the recording process yourselves?
Hvall: Yeah, that was a really interesting process. To take the time and experiment, for me that was an interesting and important thing to do.

Kate: With goes on and what doesn't go on the album, is the whole band included with that?
Hvall: I pretty much write the framework for all the songs and then I kind of involve one member at a time and let them put their own signature on it and then we work on the arrangements together.

Kate: It seems like there's a lot more diversity on this album, I heard a lot more of a thrash metal influences, is that a big influence with you or the rest of the band?
Hvall: Oh yeah, absolutely. Always been into bands like Sepultura and albums like "Arise" and we kind of wanted to go back to the days when we started and find some of the feeling and just by doing that some of these elements came out. I think they've always been there.

Kate: You guys have gone through some different lineup changes does this feel like a good lineup now? Everyone meshes pretty well together?
Hvall: Yeah, absolutely. I think that's one of the strongest things about our band. We were friends back before we even started this band, grew up together and that made a really strong bond in the band. Which is kind of rare these days. To be able to play with people that you trust is kind of a special thing these days.

Kate: With five albums under your belt now how do you think you guys have progressed over the years?
Hvall: We definitely have the same focus that we had when we started. We're always searching for new things but we also have the classic elements coming in too. But we find new angles to keep our music fresh and new.

Kate: What are some plans for you guys are you going to be touring?
Hvall: Yeah, we'll be doing a lot of festivals over in Europe and then we're planning a tour in North America as well for September.

Kate: Any words for your fans?
Hvall: Hope they enjoy the album and hope we see as many people as possible on the North American tour!

Kate: Thank you again, I really appreciate it!
Hvall: Absolutely, anytime. Thank you!

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