Einherjer are a Norwegian viking metal band that performed at Wacken Open Air this year. We had the chance to chat with them about women in metal!

Benedetta

Hello Ole and Tom, how are you doing today?

Einherjer

Great! Good, thanks.

Benedetta

Awesome. So you’re playing Wacken in the 35th anniversary of the festival. How does it feel?

Einherjer

It feels great to be back and I’ve played at Wacken a few times. Fantastic festival.

Benedetta

Since you have a lot of experience playing live shows and you have experience also in the making of music, do you think that the life of an artist is a lonely life?

Einherjer

I think you have both parts of the spectrum here, because Tom has a family and I’m all alone. But as a musician it could be both also. Before I joined Einherjer, I recorded one album where I did everything myself, and that’s probably why Frode called me when they needed a new guitarist. That was a lonely experience, but being on stage, travelling with basically colleagues and buddies, that’s not lonely at all.

Benedetta

Do you think that we will ever have some equality between men and women in the metal world?

Einherjer

Yes, I believe it should already be so. People are stubborn, and I can understand that. They like what they like, especially when you grow up listening to a kind of music. Let’s say you’ve been an Iron Maiden fan all your life, and that’s what you like. When you reach a certain age, you stop letting new things influence you. You always go back to what you grew up with, and I think that plays a part of it. I believe it’s easier now, hopefully, than it was before. Remember in the 90s, many bands from Norway came out, both male and female vocalists, from the gothic metal area. That did something, but it’s probably a long way to go still, because of traditions. The musicians we meet, I don’t think they wouldn’t mind the equality at all. It’s an open-minded community, the metal community. I think I may have misunderstood the question, because my mind went to only the vocalists. There’s more than that. Jeff Beck had a bassist, and she was absolutely fucking incredible [Tal Wilkenfeld, ed]. One of the best bass players I’ve ever seen. I still remember me and my dad watching Jeff Beck concerts on YouTube, and just being in awe of this girl playing like a god on the bass. I also think vocalists first, too. I’m also the drummer in a band called Evig Natt, with a female vocalist called Kirsten. I think they maybe need some glass ceilings sometimes, maybe because of the support of the band, but I always hope that we’re on the way forward.

Benedetta

Guys, thank you so much for taking the time to do this interview, and for being such good sports. Is there anything else that you want to add to our viewers and readers?

Einherjer

Well, if you play guitar, you should really check out Paul Reed Smith guitars. They look very vintage and bluesy, but they work really great for metal as well. And low output vintage pickups are underrated in metal. And for shorts, if you like metal, you should give Einherjer a listen. I mean, if you have time, of course.