Interview with EINHERJER (Part 1 of 2)

Norwegian Viking metal icons Einherjer are making an impressive comeback with their new album, “Lifeblood.” Founding member Gerhard Storesund talks to us in two parts about what motivates him to keep going strong after 33 years.

Giving it their all—with blood, sweat, and tears

They didn’t realize it was an anniversary until after everything had already been recorded, but looking back, it all makes sense. With their new album “Lifeblood,” Einherjer look back on a long career filled with many ups and downs and celebrate this “lifeblood” that their music has become for them. Founding member Gerhard Storesund talks about this milestone: “We’ve been doing this for a while now, and it’s definitely a milestone that we’re releasing this album. We’ve moved a bit away from the Nordic-historical perspective and are focusing more on human themes. I think that’s how you can interpret the lyrics.” The drummer gets philosophical: “The title ‘Lifeblood’ refers to the people in our lives, the community. We’re all part of something bigger than just ourselves. We’re just a tiny speck in time. Just like the two of us here right now—just a moment.” With a glass of wine in his “man cave,” and the drums in the background, the Norwegian goes into detail: “It’s also about continuity and history. We’ve been doing this for 33 years now, and we started because we enjoy it. I love playing the drums, rock ’n’ roll, and metal, and we wanted to create something. After a while, it becomes a kind of institution, a part of life. Probably even the most important part. That’s who I am. If I’m not making music, I don’t really know who I am.”

Michael Schille

We’ll continue our conversation shortly!

Lineup:
Frode Glesnes – guitar, bass, and vocals
Gerhard Storesund – drums
Ole Sønstabø – guitar
Tom Enge – guitar

You can also find Einherjer in our July/August issue:

Listen to Einherjer on our “Current Issue” playlist: