For all the MARDUK fans, here’s a new interview with founding guitarist Morgan Hakansson.

MH: How would you compare ROM 5:12 to past albums?

MORGAN: I see it as a continuation. There’s no pattern we follow when we do an album. If we just follow the inspiration it turns out the way it does. I don’t like to compare albums. They’re all as important as the other. They all represent where we were at the certain time period & the new album represents where we are right now

MH: How would you compare the current line-up to past line-ups?

MORGAN: I’am really satisfied and comfortable. Everybody’s focused & putting 100% into the band & that’sthe way it should be.

MH: Does having new members Inspire the way you write?

MORGAN: Yeah in a way, you’re limited with some people to do certain things but for example, whatnot joined the band it was inspiring for me to work with him &we inspire each other. We are really dedicated & we share the visions &ideas of what we wanna do musically,lyrically & concept wise. We like to work together. We just let the energy flow.

MH: Was it intentional to make WARSHAU such a raw live album?

MORGAN: Not the intention, but it’s the way we sound live. It is very raw. It’s primitive & raw, that’s the reflection of where we stand. I like the recording. It’s absolutely no overdubs. We just got a technician down to Poland & recorded. We wanted to do something special & also we had a new line-up at that moment so I thought it would be interesting to do something limited.

MH: It’s cool that there are songs from every era.

MORGAN: Yeah, one thing we’ve always tried to do live; depending on how long a set you can play, depending on if you’re headlining a festival or whatever; is try to play something from every album. All albums are important for us so we like to play something from every album. You always wanna play most of the new album & at least try to do something from every album.

MH: Have you added any newer old songs?

MORGAN: We’ve been trying out different things. I think we’re gonna play a different set list every time depending on where we play. We’ll see. We’re working on it. We’re playing 4 to 5 songs from the new album depending on how long a set list we have & then try to do something from every album. In Europe-which we’ve toured so many times we try to play some old songs that we haven’t done in many years.

MH: Have you rehearsed to where you have a lot of extra songs?

MORGAN: I think we have like 20 songs rehearsed, but it’s no big deal for us to add a few more. We’re home right now so we’re still trying out some different things & seeing what really suits us to play & what we feel we wanna do.

MH: Do you find that different countries want to hear different songs?

MORGAN: Yeah, we try some different shit but mostly we play more or less the same set list with 2 or 3 songs that might change.

MH: On the 1st 4 albums, there’s 4 singers. How’d  you stay focused through all the lineup changes?

MORGAN:  It’s always been my band. I was the one who started the band. I’am the one who will always be here. I like to work with dedicated people. If people are not that dedicated they can leave or do whatever they want, but I always stay focused & know what I wanna do & I always have this unquestionable burning desire to go ahead, & I still have It.  After 15 years, I feel stronger in both body & mind than (with anything) I’ve done before.

MH: Did you have any input on the re-releases?

MORGAN: Yeah, it was done in ways that I had correct input. I was the one who was together with the studio technician during the re-mastering & things like that. We never re-mixed them. We just re-mastered them to push up the limits of the sound. Some of the albums were never mastered to begin with because the labels screwed things up, so it’s great to give them that touch, especially for North America where they never were released before. It’s good that they’re available as regular releases.

MH: I noticed the covers are slightly different.

MORGAN: Yeah, we did some repainting, because we didn’t have the original ones left & things like that.It turned out really good. It’s good to have them available because a lot of people wonder where to get a-hold of them, so it’s good that they’re finally available for the whole world, because the labels we used to have in the past were kind of un-focused.

MH: Do you think you’ll re-release Panzer Division?

MORGAN: That could be possible for the future. We’re thinking about doing something like that for the future, maybe doing some deluxe versions with DVD’s & things like that, but we shall see because right now we’re focusing on getting out & touring, but maybe later on.

MH: What do you think of the various directions Black Metal has gone into?

MORGAN: I don’t know, I listen to those handful of bands that I really like, I just like those I like & I like them because I feel that those are the genuine bands that really believe in what they are saying. I believe that reflects in the music. I like people that are dedicated to what they do. I think I wanna feel the burning desire reflected in the music & I just can feel that with a handful of bands that I like, not only black metal, even if you're talking about death metal.

MH: Do you think there’s a lot of growth left in metal?

MORGAN: It can only get limited with your own mind. There are always things to explore, to do what you want. I don’t sit down & think about it when I create. I let my energy & my inspiration flow & I never question how to do it. Just let the energy flow & it will turn out in some way.

MH: What first attracted you to metal music?

MORGAN: When I was really young in school I listened to things like KISS, Iron Maiden, Dio, Accept, & then you go on & on & search for something more extreme all the time until you discovered thrash metal, & then came Slayer. That’s the way it is, always looking for something more extreme.

MH: What’s your favorite KISS album?

MORGAN: It’s hard to say because they’re all good, I even like Dynasty, some things on that. I think The Elder is an under-rated album as well, “Mr. Blackwell” & things like that, it’s a cool album. That’s good shit. I remember Lick It Up was probably the last album I bought & then I went on to different things.  I was probably one of those few people that really liked Vinnie Vincent, (I liked) everything when he became a member of KISS, Actually I remember I used to have an old bootleg show, I think it was the last show they did with make-up, in Brazil at this huge festival, it was a really good show.

MH: Do you think bands like KISS inspired the black metal image?

MORGAN: Not really, I think it comes from other things. Maybe a little bit in some respects, but not really. I think it’s something completely different.

MH: How would you describe the image of the band?

MORGAN: For me it’s always a reflection of the spirit of the music & lyrics, (it’s) the visual side of it, that’s how I would describe it. It’s just an extension of the music & lyrics.

MH: Were you drawn to bands with theatrical presentations?

MORGAN: Yeah, but it was a combination. Some bands attract you for some reasons. I remember Celtic Frost in the past, I remember seeing early things with them, the “Circle Of The Tyrants” video, the theatrical side also of King Diamond, I remember seeing him live in ’87, of course that’s a huge inspiration.

MH: Who have been the coolest bands to tour with?

MORGAN: We’ve done so many, but of course it was great to tour with Danzig. He’s one of those few musicians that I hold in high esteem because he’d always do what he wanted to do & doesn'tt let anybody fuck with him, he’s always been doing what he wants to do, everything from The Misfits, to Samhain, up until now. He’s a great inspiration for that. I even look upon him as a mentor. Touring with him was of course great.