1. DARK RECOLLECTIONS: Give us a brief band bio.(current band members , who does what, how long has current line up been together, when did you start the band?) FUNERAL: now consist of Einar-bass, Kjetil-synth, Idar-guitars, Thomas-guitars,Anders-drums and Hanne-vocals.This line-up has been somewhat consistent for about 2 years..As you will notice in the booklet, Christian is no longer in the band..Thomas(after an absent for 2 years) replaced him shortly after the record was finnished due to drugproblems.Idar was in fact originally a replacement for Thomas...and the story continues... I started the band around 1991,with some totally different musicians. Then around 92 I recruted Thomas..A bit later Einar was hijacked from another band , and we got Einars friend Christian shortly after that. And of course our first female singer Toril was recruted shortly before the 94 demo "beyond all sunsets" 2. DARK RECOLLECTIONS:Your demo/ Cd release "Tristesse" was one of the heaviest demos, Cds of the year in which it was released. How do you feel about it now and any chance of it being re-released again? FUNERAL: Its a bit outdated today, but we really was into it back at the time, even though it shines a bit through that it was somewhat a bit hasty recording , not to mention production..But you know, back then we were satisfied just by getting enough reverb on the drums..Its good entertainment listening to it today, spotting all the improvisation and errors etc.!We have infact discussed making a "tristesse" medly for gigs, maybe a re-recording..The future will tell. In jamsessions old riffs often and often make it out of the speakers!! Concerning a re-release I have been asked by several companys, but for now I have said no.I want all the attention on our latest product. 3. DARK RECOLLECTIONS:According to your website you released 3 demos, what kind of response did they receive, and which one represents FUNERAL the best? FUNERAL: I think infact the best response came after the "tristesse" demo..i think that somwhat chocked the doom-world a bit!Today the 99 demo represent the bands current sound.5 of the songs from that demo also made it to the recent record. So for all the die hard fans there is one song left over from the 99 demo that havent made it to the official releases yet..I can promise though that the song will be released in some way or another. Its a great song but it didnt really fit in with the rest of the tunes.Just as a curiosity I can also inform you that around 15 songs actually are recorded just the last 4 years and are still unused.A lot of good doom there!!So filling up at least 2 records are no problem! 4. DARK RECOLLECTIONS: Ever since the release of your "Tragedies" Cd in '95 it seemed that FUNERAL didn't exist as a band anymore, what happened in all those years since the release of that Cd? FUNERAL: Problems recruting talented band members!I can tell you, we went to hell and back trying to get a talented female singer!I think we tryed out arund 10 vocalists during the time.And I got some very entertaining recordings with some of the girls.We made a lot of good songs in that period though, so it wasnt really a waste of time!We also hit The Academy studio in England for 2 weeks in 97 and recorded 10 songs for a future release. We had no record deal at the time, so we financed it ourselves. It was good fun hanging out with the guys from My Dying Bride, Dominion and other cool metal people. Some serious partying as well! Not to mention the great joy working with Mags as producer! 5. DARK RECOLLECTIONS: "Tristesse" Cd demo had a great mix of mournful singing and death vox on it, but since the release of "Tragedies" Cd those two styles of vocals are not a part of FUNERAL's music anymore, what made you decide to use a female singer, and how hard was it to find a vocalist that fit your style of music? FUNERAL: It was me taking care of the somewhat mournful "singing". The fact is that I cant really sing at all, it was just really improvised in the studio, and we thought it worked at the time..A good female vocalist is simply much more beautiful to listen to, thus the change of "style".At the time we got our hands of Toril through some mutal friends. The BIG problem was replacing her! 6. DARK RECOLLECTIONS:Talk about your new Cd " In Fields of Pestilent Grief". FUNERAL:It consists ot 10 tracks, 2 of wich are totally instrumental.The last tune is really a classical composition with orchestration, choirs and so on..Very beautiful, very sad.Music to my own Funeral, really. The other songs are in the typical Funeral vein. Sad, depressing bone crushing metal in our somewhat "new" style. That is a bit faster and shorter tunes in a more in-your-face type of doom. 7. DARK RECOLLECTIONS: There is a new singer on your new Cd, what happened to your previous singer, and how hard was it to find a new singer? FUNERAL: well, I think I already answered this one!And we found Toril to be not good enough really. 8.DARK RECOLLECTIONS: What is the song "Taarene" on "Tragedies" Cd about? FUNERAL: "Taarene" means "the tears" in english. the song is about grief and sadness and what bittersweet feeling that can give you. 9. DARK RECOLLECTIONS:Are you or anyone else in the band involved in any other bands besides FUNERAL? FUNERAL: Yes! Almost all members heve different projects besides Funeral. I have a solo project band called Fallen, which is total extreme doom with loooong tunes, synth and deep melodic vocals(done by Kjetil the keyboardist in funeral).The debut album is beeing released By Nocturnal Music in not too distant future. I also play in an industrial metal outfit(also with amongst others, Kjetil, here on guitar) called In_zekt. We are working on our first demo these days.Kjetil also have 2 blackmetal bands going, one is called Disiplin and I think they are planning a release through century Media or something(Disiplin also consists of a former member from Myrkskog, Savant M, together with the vocalist from Gorgoroth) . Einar is the bassist of Paradigma, beside playing in Mysticum, plus that he has some weird soloprojects going on. Idar is also the guitarist of the blackmetal outfit 1349. So as you can see, when things are quiet with Funeral everybody has enough to do! 10. DARK RECOLLECTIONS:What inspires your music and lyrics? FUNERAL: A serious good old depression helps a lot!And really my miserable way of living is what inspires my lyrics , and of course the aspects of creating a forum for my melancholy.Its therapy, really, to make this shit! 11. DARK RECOLLECTIONS: Any bands from your area you would recommend checking out? FUNERAL: Definatly the abovementioned sideproject bands, plus some other really good Norwegian bands like G?te , Beyond Dawn and Black Debbath! 12. DARK RECOLLECTIONS:Why do you choose the name FUNERAL for the band, who came up with the name and does this name have a special meaning to you? FUNERAL: I came up with the name just because I think it fit the music perfectly. My aim with the music is to create a somewhat similar feeling as attending a funeral. its sad and beautiful at the same time. And of course I am one of the lucky few thats actually composed the music for my own funeral when the time comes. 13. DARK RECOLLECTIONS: any last words, comments? thanks Anders for the interview. FUNERAL: Thanx to you for the interesting questions. doom or be Doomed!! Happy funeral, Wilhelm! In doom,. Anders ALASTOR CADAVERIA DESIRE EVOKEN FUNERAL MELEK-THA SATANIC SLAUGHTER SHINING