I believe, he developed mentally and spiritually in the last few years and seems much happier and mature now.. and I appreciate that, I mean you shouldn't be stuck with this aggressive black metal image your whole life. It's ok for a while but you should evolve from it. I think Gaahl is actually a thoughtful man, who has a real message. And this message is not based upon lies or fear because that is what he hates about religion and especially christianity.
@RyZombie619 God, haven't you listened to Wardruna? The whole album is a spiritual voyage. His first album with Gorgoroth is pretty good if you ask me, but I'll still choose Gaahl's work in Wardruna over Gorgoroth anytime.
its nice to see him not acting so pretentious and over the top. i cant take him seriously when he does the 20 second silence followed by "satan" routine
@xzidorx true..but i think that he plays a part most of the times. in this interview he looks like a perfect normal person and in other ones he looks insane, scary and also funny sometimes. i think he plays a lot the role depending on the person he's in front of him but i bet that deeply he' s a person you can talk with if you can stand the speech
I'd love to sit down and have a conversation with this man. He seems incredibly in tune with himself spiritually and very wise. I dig the Black Metal culture. There is alot more to it than people understand I think.
"There is alot more to it than people understand I think." I don't want to speak out of turn as i am not involved in the Black Metal scene but form my understanding this is correct, they don't want the fans who get scared away by the shocking imagery, the fans they want are the ones to are able look deeper.
damn.. gaahl actually laughed here.. damn he's changed, i mean in interviews about gorgoroth he was always serious, and i mean reeeaaallly serious. actually kinda weird to see him laughing O.O!
When it comes down to it I always remember what Bruce Lee said, "Absorb what is useful, discard what is not, and make it your own." Simple, effective, and different for each person. I'd love to talk with Gaahl. I can relate to him when he speaks about the energy(God) within all things that connects us to each other. I strongly agree with that.
Fuck RU-vid One of the best interview moments ever was when Gaahl told the 'lone wolf" questioner that he was asking the wrong kind of questions and needed to focus. Love this man. Interviewer isn't half bad either.
I had the pleasure of taking a picture standing next to this gentlemen. I must say he had a very tranquil aura, and it felt like I was standing next to a yoga guru or something. Very nice person, easy to approach. Drinking beer and having a conversation is something I would totally be down for
Its all about being REAL with your art, not even being an artist then trying to perform that art. He's one of a few doing it for the selves first. Despite Gorgoroth's stage it's not about the show or the image But the way the individual percieves these ideas
totally! respect to Gaahl for serving art and life first (it helps that wardruna is kickass). all these conformists who conform to black metal or whatever in order to look like they're not conformists won't understand an artist, so too bad for them. when gaahl talks about satan being about freedom in the gorgoroth days, his fans go "yeaahhh!" but they only perceive the surface of that statement. weiterrocken!
@HydroBud98 looks like someone is on their high horse judging others, because that's the right thing to do. I don't need to explain my religious beliefs to you, we are all free to do as we please, just like you have the right to act like you are. Go ahead if that's what it takes to make you feel better you precious little thing you then go right on ahead your looking really cool
Im with you, brother. Judgement and hatred is only for those who fear what they dont understand. Sadly, even among Christians, I find people striving to be something theyre not, and passing judgement and resentment on those who dont believe or worship the way they do. You are free to worship and believe however you see fit, just because ones beliefs may differ from that of the preconcieved 'norm', does not mean it is wrong. I would expect much more open-mindedness from those who call themselves 'pagans' - which refers to many religious practices from many different parts of the world, and basically means beliefs that differ from that of the common world-religions. Ignorance and hatred should never have part in ANY religion.
@TeamAirsoftBloopers i cant really blame him for being gay though, he lives in the middle of nowhere, im sure theres no internet, or no hot women, or no places to go to see attractive females in his area growing up till now
Joakim Wolm Sorry but he doesn't strike me as the kind of person who would be interested in the etymology of names. Besides I thought that since he hates Christianity so much he might want to change it.
***** You haven't noticed how he is refered to as Gaahl, and rarely calls himself anything but Gaahl? The idea of legally changing his name, is something that I'd reckon Gaahl would be very much against, seeing as he believes as he believes.
NikolajSAndersen He's 'referred to' as Gaahl, his real name is still Kristian, and that's what figures in his birth certificate, passport, and ID. And his beliefs are very hatefully directed against monotheistis religions, which is why I'd exepct a name change to be at the top of his bucket list.
***** It's not his "real" name. It's his christian name. Given to him by his christian family and state-church. The same religion he openly renounces and hates for the imperialist bullshit it has imposed on Norway.
@GoingDownFaster It sounds as though he is starting to realize that the image of the scary "black metal musician" and the persona that goes with it can be silly. And that people tend to focus more on the soap-opera nature that community can sometimes exhibit. He's realizing that it is far more fruitful, personally, to produce music and set ego aside.
never really got into gorgoroth personally. I liked dimmu more. but dimmu wasn't nearly as visually awesome. but wardruna is one of my favorites. eat some mushrooms and it's a whole different beast.
its a wolfcross ( a wolfs head with a cross under) and its not facing down wards...it is centered apart from the wolfs head...what it means noone really knows since it is an artifact from the viking age...some belive it to be a mix of pagan and christian belife...but if it is there is no way to prove it
There are different varieties of vegetarians, for the record. There are moral vegetarians who are opposed to the idea that an animal has to die to feed someone's fat ass and there are also vegetarians who choose to do without meat because of the health benefits. Takes a mighty big person to spew such vitriol at someone who you know will never read it. It's always the case with you lot, though. If Gaahl were to show up on your doorstep you'd be scared shitless to say any of this.
@1ma4ighter Choosing ''a style of satanism'' its like a NON THINKING factor ....i doubt that Gaahl is had claim to be a crowley.... Gaahl though has expressed opposition to the Church of Satan, describing it as a group of "weak people flocking like rats, afraid of standing alone" .... thats a looooong conversation not even 10 comments in a row would have enough space to explain stuff
"Mankind is known to be narrow-minded, so... maybe some [will have a negative reaction]. But I guess it will even out the score in a way. I think it will be positive for some and negative for some. It's always good to have some negative as well. Otherwise you would end up with equality and equality is the worst thing in the world. Equality is stagnation. It doesn't let anything grow. It holds back." -Gaahl on his homosexuality.
@BuchenwaldOvenAshes "February-December 2002, Gaahl was imprisoned for assaulting a man" "AprilDecember 2006, accused of assaulting and torturing a man for six hours while collecting his blood into a cup and threatening to make him drink it" "a fight had erupted backstage, the person who made the remarks had to be hospitalised" "Gayhall"? Really? 28? You're 12, aren't you. Chill out. Listen to Pete Seeger or something. Be nice.
as i understand it only one wolfcross has been found ever and its on iceland...and there are not records to what it is...so as far as I understand it...it is more or less speculation to say what it is or what it is not...i think it is a beautiful peace of work since i like the wolfsheads...and i agree that you might be right about mjölnir...but if you got something more than a guess to back it up i would be seriously interested to see it...since im interested in old norse mythology and art
As a gay man myself I hope one day it will be a matter of fact kind of thing myself, but society loves to categorize people by their differences from one another. We will always notice people by colour, sexuality, weight, sex and whatever else, but society needs to learn not to hate based on being different from one another. We should actually celebrate that we are a diverse species.
My personal opinion is, this being year 2012, that it's not any of my damn business what two (or more) adult people are doing in their bedrooms at their private time and with whom or how. And if anyone thinks that it is somehow their business, well, that's just plain sad. Like Ragnavaldr said, you are making your own reality. If you want to spend it by worrying who is having sex with whom on this earth, it's your call but I feel sorry for you.
Vikings and other 'pagans' before them did not even see sex as 'gay' or 'straight'. Sex with women was for pleasure and procreation, sex with men (or even animals) was strictly for pleasure, no strings attached, they often had sex with men on long boat rides or during their campaigns to satisfy their 'needs' the night before battle so they would not be distracted with such 'needs' during battle.
PART 1sorry its only a theory but when i m listing to gaahl's interviews he seems to be very non self-confident. he took a long time to choose words and dont look very often in the eyes of his oppenent. sorry my english is very very bad.. i'm probably a weird guy too. But what I want to say is.. that it probably needs these sort of extrem insane, anti social human contact beings to create such an extreme atmosphere these art.
Twice the courts have deemed that he has gone well past self defense, and if you consider the Wacken incident, he seems to be set off even by just words. I've got a brother who is army ranger 75th reg, 2nd batt. After all the violence he's seen in Iraq, he still has restraint. At bars, someone can call him names and he wont go until you they lay their hands on him. Once he lays someone out, he's done. Gaahl, on the other hand, seems to like continuing to inflict pain which is f'd up IMO.
@Amraself In order for that statement to be true Religion would have had to supercede humanity. I frankly doubt that to be a certain truth. Perhaps many people do think religiously but it's a bold statement to declare that "everyone" thinks religiously. There is actually only one certain aspect of human nature, survival. The rest are just an illusory conjuration of conscious idealisms which were indeed created by us, for us as a way to promote falsified hope that may assist us in survival.
lol, not really. in the book he's described as wise honest creature, watches over people and laughes on them and punishes a little for their greed, and bad thoughts, lies hate etc'.. and there is a famous part at this book (there is a film also) where he says that with the passing time we've got cars, spaceships, guns, technology etc' yet the humankind hasn't changed at all. and i meant, that if he was real or something, i hope he'd be like that and not some "KILL DEATH EVERYTHING" or something
@nico1m Unfortunately, good sir, God also smites those who mispell "liar" in their rants whilst calling upon his Great Omnipotence. He is All-Fickle and All-Judging, and Loves only Selectively based on the arbitrary decisions of humans on earth who think they are more important than other humans who don't agree with them. THINK ABOUT IT. Christ not only died for your sins, he said you owe me $20.
@WanderingRover no better, ok. but theres a difference. is this music more satanic or more christian? more pagan or more christian? i believe love is more powerful than hate. and i also believe the christian bible also has some great truths in it. but.... what the religion and churches are telling the masses is lies...misinterprated lies. but some people have varying digrees of bullshit detecting...so each to their own.
@LukeRothwell1 they wouldnt say that to his face, Gaahl would tear those haters apart like a hungry lion that hasnt eatin for days. You can mess aound with rap guys ** hint hint eminien who took a mouth full of balls from Sacha Baron Cohen who was lowered from the roof in a fairy costume to deliver a humiliating blow to one's reputation , do that to a black metal artist chance of death is 100%.
@TheDoomSower The necklace he has on looks like the Wolfcross, which is around 900 A.D. It was recovered in the Foss, Iceland area. The cross is believed to be a representation of both the Heathen Gods, and Christian god. When in the company of the "new" god the wearer could turn the cross upside down to represent the crucifix, were as if they were in the company of pagans, they could wear the right way, as a symbol of Mjollnir. At least, that's what I've learned about it. I wear one too.
he condemns chirstianity and he says he is evil, bible should be burned and shits like that, , but in my view not being a chirstian : he disowns christanity because christianity disowns gays ,, therefore being gay himself and the society failing to recognize he developed a definite hate for the religion, and tried to be complete opposite which seems was a devil he could relate himself too ,, and only way he could vend his anger was thorugh harsh music
ok then, you can stick up for gaahl if you like. good for you. and for the record i was once a state muay thai champ and i have fought meaner tougher looking guys than him so i can honestly say i would not back down from gaahl. who knows maybe he might beat me but he would have to put up a good fight. very often its the guys who dont look mean are the ones who surprise you
As someone else already stated on here, it is a variation of Mjolnir. It is NOT the typical hammer shape, but the cross is inverted to emulate the shape of the hammer. It's a later model, around 900 AD, and was made to pass the hammer off as a cross. In doing so, the christian authorities wouldn't have you put to death for wearing a heathen amulet.
PART 2 whats so damn fanstastic and interessting in evil its much more aesthetic, mystical than every bright, good art. on the other hand theres a lot of cheesy dark stuff, too.. how can i combine the hate on the society, the dark hate on teh one hand and the bright philosophy of veganism and world-improvers stuff on the other hand .. Ying Yang
For all those who are judging Gaahl, do you think you have lived a perfect life? You have not done any harm ever ??I am not saying what hes done is moral, but I have no right to be self-righteous and point the finger..So, shut up and enjoy this man's talent on stage. Rather than following his life and emulating what he did. Hes not preaching you to do it either....
@flabreque I cant really see too well, but it does look like a cross, not Mjolnir. People need to remember that the cross came way before Christianity and even Judaism. It has a variety of different symbolic values that are really beautiful. Also Jesus (real?) got owned on one so its cool because of that too.
Yeah, he's wearing a wolfcross. As far as I know, no one knows if it stands for norse mythology or christianity. I think it's something you have to make up your own mind about and how you interprets it. Both christians and pagans wears it. He's not a christian, not at all. Gaahl is a practitioner of Norse Shamanism.
he is gay and what? he is been enough honest about , there are many can be home or bi , just we shold check actions he did hurt some us? no i no think so , satanism no hurt so never tag someone cause they like someone, i am totally heterosexual , but i think we all should respect each like while the happyness it is ok this is great!
@WanderingRover i think you need to open your eyes. shure some people do just hate xtians for that reason, but personally i think it would be hard to do... theres plenty of other reasons to hate xtians. hey, im not hating you to make me appear more badass.
People speak of Gaahl's sexuality because metal is viewed as such a "masculine" genre in music. so when a metal icon is gay I think a lot of peoples reaction is "WTF?" and they find it both ironic and humorous (or sometimes even disappointing if they were a fan).
@jfcmjfcmjfcm He has been wearing the same necklace FOREVER, it has always been a "normal" cross that he has worn... why does that shock you.. he's not a satanist and for that matter the upside down cross was first seen in the biblical days to ward off wrongful spirits.. not to portray satanism....
wow i was right about gaahl i've always thought during interviews when he was in Gorgoroth he was just using a character and telling interviewers what they wanted to hear especially in that head bangers journey movie i can't stand that biased garbage film it gives black metal a bad rep
Just a forewarning to everyone, you'd better think twice before posting a homophobic remark. Hes been taken in-and-out of police custody like its his job. But I dont think he gives a damn anymore about what ppl say about him being gay. Positive or not. Just a friendly warning. :)
I feel as if Marilyn Manson and Gaahl could get along very, VERY well. They've the exact same beliefs, views, morals, and thinking processes. They sound almost exactly the same in their interpretations of everything... And they're both complete hardasses. XD
Why do people keep saying that gaahl is a satanist? he is clearly a shaman and pagan in his own words he uses satan as a way of speaking out against christians as he said its there language since satan means resistance thats his own words.
who cares if he's gay. he's a great figure in black metal let alone a very intelligent man more power to him. leave is private life alone and just enjoy all of the Gorgoroth music that make your eyes bleed. more power to you Gaahl!!!!
@TheMistressdemona i know hes not a satanist, hes a anti christian, and on gorgoroth live shows and on pictures you always see him wearing that upside down cross. So i just dont get why he would wear a normal cross when hes anti christian.
i dont protect ghaal i never been a fan of him or gorgoroth. but still i dont hate him for beeing gay. and who are you to talk about the essence of black metal. most the of the members in Enslaved, Tåke, Immortal and Dimmu Borgir agrees with me.
Eh...Egyptians maybe? Early Slavs also had the cross symbol, as also the Ancient Greeks. Christians used just a torture method as a symbol that resembles the pain of the so called son-of-the-God. IF he ever existed.
@UnorthodoxWarfare that's actually the reason i'm assuming so. . .Crowley was such a person, "fock what every1 else says, i'll do what I want". . .it was just an assumption, relax, i don't wanna debate here
@TheShezz33 while i agree with your sentiment, lol, that's incorrect. They made a whole movie about Rob Halford and how his bandmates freaked out when he told them he was gay. That was the movie Rockstar, with Mark Wahlberg...
IDK if hes Gay or not, does'nt make him anyless of a person or musician. Besides, his music kicked some serious ass and I love his mjolnir!! Yay Norse Mythology and Paganism! :D PS- Thanks for uploading. :)
Gaahl carves his own path, he is an extremely intelligent man. Who gives a rats arse if he's gay, he is truly amazing at what he does. Anyone who says otherwise just proves to us how utterly disgusting our world has become.
There is nothing wrong with being gay. I am not gay myself. But everyone has the right to be what they want to be. Not all gays are like femine shallow ones you see on Tv shows like Will & Grace.
who cares if he is gay - a lot of legends are/were gay and it is irrelevant to worry about that part - note it, move on, and concentrate on what's important: in this case, the music and art
i believe that he fell in love and grew out of death metal or watever the fuck that music is classified as i dont like it anyways but i am fascinated by gaahl the human not too many people like that
I think he himself said in an interview that he made a guy he tortured drink his own blood. The sheepkilling ain't true but didn't they have severed goat heads at gorgoroth-shows?
@nmbr1kornfan It's not an inverted cross, it's an old nordic symbol known as "Vargkorset" or "Wolfcross". It was used both by nordic pagans and christians during the time.
Because it's not a christian cross. It's sometime called a "ulvekors" ("wolf's cross") and been found in Iceland and Norway - it dates back to the Viking age.
Everybody stop!!!! I know he's gay, not everyone needs to say it cuz everyone knows it already!!!! So what he's gay..... 2010 years ago their were also gays
@guitarszzz he admitted in a magazine that he's gay.. like rock hard nov '08 orso but you're right it doesn't matter its just intresting for some people..
