by Jorge Patacas
Photos: Storm Drabitius
Golden Core is a Norwegian duo formed in 2014 by Simen Jakobsen (guitar) and Johannes Thor Sandal (drums/vocals) when they were kids. Since then, they have been very active mainly on the local scene but also abroad, getting positive comments from both media and fans. Their music is a blend of many different genres, from stoner to black metal, and their lyrics are in Old Norse. “Kosmos Brenner” is the name of their third album that will be released in February 2024 and they’re preparing the biggest concert of their careeer to celebrate their 10th anniversary. Find out all the details in this interview with drummer/vocalist Johannes Thor Sandal.
RISE!: – You started the band when you were 9 and 11 years old. How did you guys get into this kind of music at that early age? Do you come from a family of musicians?
Johannes Thor Sandal: I grew up with rock, punk and metal. I listened to my father’s records and went to festivals and concerts with him since I was around three-four years old, and experienced bands like Iron Maiden, Gojira and Iggy Pop at that age. Both of our families are very much into music, my father used to be a vocalist in a punk rock band in Iceland in the 80’s, and both Simen’s parents are professional musicians; his father plays bass in different jazz bands, among others.
R!: – What were your biggest influences when you started? Did you have any guitar or drum heroes?
JTS: In the beginning, we were inspired by black metal, and the first songs we wrote, like “Swords of Darkness” and “Black Warship” were inspired by black metal. Then we discovered the album “Blues for the Red Sun” by Kyuss and fell in love with stoner rock. Later, our music evolved more into doom and prog, I think. We just do our own thing, mixing different genres and making it our own.
I don’t think we had particular heroes at that time, more like bands we liked. I was very much into bands like Mastodon and Sepultura at that time. Simen I think has always been more into progressive rock along with metal and jazz.
R!: – I know the name of the band is taken from Motorpsycho’s song “The Golden Core”, but why did you choose that one in particular? Did you have other names in mind as well?
JTS: I really do not remember how it came to us. Simen had already started doing music under the Golden Core name when I joined him. We both liked the name, I guess.
R!: – In 2019 you won a contest that allowed you to perform at Bloodstock Open Air in England, how would you describe the experience?
JTS: Bloodstock was awesome. That week we played at Øyafestivalen, Bloodstock and Midgardsblot, all in one week. As you can imagine, this was one of the best weeks of our career. We did a lot of other memorable festivals and concerts that year (2019), like ByLarm, Høstsabbat and Eistnaflug in Iceland.
R!: – You’ve played in concerts and festivals in Norway, Iceland, Denmark and England over the years. Is there any particular festival or country that it would be a dream come true to play?
JTS: I think we’ve already done that. Midgardsblot is the most beautiful festival in the world. I’d die happy if they ever invite us back again. But of course, we would like to do more shows outside Norway.
R!: – Your third album will be released in February and it’s a concept album based on the Norse worldview of the eternal balance of opposites. Can you elaborate a bit more on this concept?
JTS: As you said, it’s about the forces of chaos and the balance between the opposites. It is a fragile world we live in. Life and world order can only exist and be maintained in the balance between these enormous forces of chaos. Without the chaos, there would be no life, but still, it is threatening our existence. What would we do without water and fire? It’s life giving, but still it brings death.
R!: – Has the songwriting process been different this time compared to the previous album?
JTS: Yes. When we recorded “Fimbultýr” we had been doing most of the songs live for two or three years. The process with “Kosmos Brenner” was different. All of the songs on “Kosmos Brenner” are written for the album and have undergone several layers of processing. I think “Kosmos Brenner” is a more holistic album. We also had a larger budget and more time to do this one. Working in Aber Studio in this old haunted house at Berby Herregård where we stayed with our team secluded from the world for eleven days. This made the whole process more creative and less stressful.
R!: – You worked again with producer Yngve Andersen (Blood Command), what would you say are the advantages of working with him?
JTS: After working with Yngve Andersen and Simon Jackman on “Fimbultýr” it was really never any question. We knew what we get when making an album with Yngve. Yngve is first and foremost a good friend of ours, who understands and respects our music, and still is able to give it the extra. To us open and good communication is important when working. Simon Jackman is the best sound engineer we know of, not just saving us lots of time and money, but also making us sound just the way we wanted to.
R!: – I’ve listened to the new single “Kosmos Brenner” quite a few times and it’s clear that it’s a step forward in your career. This song has black metal, stoner, doom and progressive influences, and it’s catchy! Is this the reason why you chose it to be the first single? Does it represent the rest of the album?
JTS: The album has more layers than the first single, but I think it represents some of what you can expect – but not everything. Still, I think people will be surprised when listening to the whole album. It’s nothing like “Fimbultýr” if you’re expecting more of that. Just wait for the second single we will release on January 5th, it’s like “what the hell are they doing now” (laughs). The reason “Kosmos Brenner” is the first release from the album is because it’s the title track, a summary of the whole story told – and one of the short songs on the album.
R!: – This track features the vocals of Ruun’s Eirik Waadeland, well-known in the Oslo’s underground extreme scene these days. Why did you think of him for this song in particular?
JTS: Well again, Eirik is a good friend and a musician we admire a lot. We wanted something more death metal growling in the part he is in, so it was obvious to ask him to participate. He is a great vocalist. He also did some backing vocals on another track on the album.
R!: – Let’s talk about the album and the single cover made by Hedda Gullbekk. Did you give the idea to her or did she come up with the artwork after listening to the music or reading the lyrics? What does the artwork represent?
JTS: Hedda is such a great artist. When working with other artists, it’s important to give them artistic freedom to do what they do best. We just sent the demos, lyrics and the project description of the album to her. The artwork is totally hers. The artwork represents the narrative in the album, the lifeless primordial Yme floating in the cosmos, the circle of life and the universe, the sun horse, the moon and the sun. On the outside, the cosmos is burning.
R!: – Why did you decide to release this album on your own label Helvetes Indre Kretser?
JTS: Well, for us it’s the only right thing to do. We have the label, the capacity, and our own crew who can do things better and with more passion than any other record company we know of. Why should we invest our money in this recording and then give away the master to someone else who doesn’t understand the band or gives a fuck about the art. Golden Core is all about DIY.
R!: – You’re celebrating your 10th anniversary in 2024 with a concert at Parkteatret in Oslo on February 24th. What details can you tell us about this performance?
JTS: It will be our biggest production ever, with some great musicians joining us on stage. Parkteatret is one of the finest venues in Norway.
R!: – I read that this will be the only club concert in Norway in 2024, so what are your plans after that 10th anniversary event?
JTS: We really don’t know what the future will bring. We’re not planning any club shows in Norway after Parkteateret in the near future. Hopefully someone thinks it’s a good idea to book Golden Core to their festival or venue in the summer. But that need to be planned months ahead, because of me living in Denmark and Simen’s studies. If you know a good booking agent then let us know!
R!: – Finally, since you have so many influences in your music, I’m wondering what are your 5 favorite albums of all time?
JTS: “Roots” – Sepultura, “From Mars to Sirius” – Gojira, “Blood Mountain” – Mastodon, “In Times” – Enslaved, “Screaming for Vengeance” – Judas Priest.
R!: – Any last words to the readers of Rise!?
JTS: MÓRI loves you all!
GOLDEN CORE DISCOGRAPHY
Norwegian Stoner Machine – 2017
Fimbultýr – 2019
Kosmos Brenner – 2024
GOLDEN CORE VIDEOS
“Rúnir skal rista” (2019):
“Hrafnaspá” (2019):
“Fáfnis bani” (2019):
“Kosmos Brenner” (Lyric Video) (2023):
