The Metal Crypt - Molde Volhal Interview

Interviews

Interview with Dag
Interview conducted by Mjölnir

Date online: January 20, 2021

Moldé Volhal are a one-man act that came out of seemingly nowhere with their debut EP ...Into the Cavern of Ordeals, which has slowly but surely been getting a very positive response in the underground. I had the opportunity to speak with sole member Dag about the project, where it came from, and where it's going in the future.

What inspired you to start the project, and for how long has it been around?

Hey and thanks for the interest! Well, I dunno really, I just had a bunch of riffs lying around that didn't fit into anything else I was doing. Then I came across someone online using the term "proud metal" and the inspiration to make something epic, fast, and to the point accumulated.

How long have you been playing music, and what inspired you to start doing so?

I have been in several bands and played guitar basically all my life, but I am really just an enthusiastic amateur.

What bands have influenced how you approach music the most?

For Moldé Volhal the main inspiration is, of course, Forteresse, but bands like Evilfeast, RUR, Old Man's Child (the debut), Midnight Odyssey, Summoning, Havukruunu and Draugnim were all equally important.

What exactly does Moldé Volhal refer to? Based on the song titles, I'd assume it's referring to some kind of fortress.

Hehe, I think it's always cool when bands create their own realms and stuff, so I just had to try creating my own. The album tells a story of a guy claiming back his keep through a perilous journey through caverns, etc. Hopefully, the lyrics will never see the light of day, hah!

Into the Cave of Ordeals... has netted a fair bit of positive attention since its release. Were you expecting it to catch on so quickly?

Well, when I completed the album, I sent it to one of the big Black Metal channels on YouTube, and let's just say he wasn't exactly keen on uploading it! The initial feedback on Bandcamp on the cover was also pretty gloomy - as expected, really. But after a while, I saw more and more people who "get it". But yeah - generally people seem to enjoy it and that's very cool.

I'd like to know a little more about the album cover. How did you go about shooting it, and what about it do you feel best represents what you are trying to do on the album?

I don't know how many hours I spent researching for a cover but it's a lot... I didn't just want to use some romantic-era painting or what not. I wanted something old school and more DIY. Then I came across a really epic photo of Quorthon standing on a ledge with his guitar in full colors and no fancy editing done to it. So, I drove out to a cave where I live with some friends and took the photo and smacked the logo on it. Of course, when I was about to take the photo, a family with children on an outing appeared behind the camera so it was a pretty cringeworthy experience to be honest. Regardless, I'm quite curious to how the album would have been received with some random modern metal cover instead.

Do you have any plans to issue a physical release for Into the Cave of Ordeals...?

Yeah, Wolfspell Records released it on MC and CD yesterday. The vinyl is scheduled in late March, I think.

What do you plan to do with the band in the future? Is there a full-length to look forward to at the very least?

I'm planning on getting out of the cave on the next record.

Thank you for taking the time to discuss the band with me. Any last thoughts you'd like to share?

Big thanks to everyone who has enjoyed the music, bought the album and sent messages about it. Respect to Wolfspell Records who spent time and money on getting Moldé Volhal a physical release. Go support! And thanks for the interview and stay safe!

Other information about Molde Volhal on this site

Review: Into the Cave of Ordeals...