Interviews About Albums: HERMIT DREAMS - DESPERATE ANOMIES (2026)

In this new interview, we sat down with the Norwegian Experimental Death Metal/Experimental Doom Metal band HERMIT DREAMS to ask questions about their album "DESPERATE ANOMIES". 

1. What can you say about this new EP/CD?

'Desperate Anomies' is the debut album from the new band HERMIT DREAMS from Norway. The band comprises members with long experience from the Norwegian metal scene. The lineup for the recording is:

Eirik Waadeland: Vocals (Ruun, Celestial Scourge)

Eyvind W. Axelsen: Cello, upright bass, bass guitar (Diskord)

Martin Storm-Olsen: Banjo, guitar (Vingulmork, Defect Designer)

Bjørn Tore Erlandsen: Drums (Aspherium, Bolverk)

The music can perhaps be classified as experimental death/doom metal, with emphasis on the experimental part.

2. What is the meaning of the EP/CD name?

The name of the album reflects the music's desperation and its overarching lyrical themes.

3. Which one is the composer of the CD/EP?

I (Eyvind) wrote all the music, and the lyrics are written by Eirik and me. All the members have been active in arranging the songs.

4. If you had to pick one song, which one would you pick?

I guess you could pick the second song on the album, 'Directionless Gaze', since it would give a good representation of the overall sound of HERMIT DREAMS.

5. Is there a special message in this EP/CD? If there is what it is?

There is no 'message' per se. Rather, the theme of the songs is an exploration of feelings of loneliness, anxiety, despair, wonder, and confusion.

6. Are there some lyrics that you'd love to share?

Here's an excerpt from the aforementioned song 'Directionless Gaze', which I think captures the overall theme of the record pretty well:

as the seasons shift

on a molecular scale

I grasp for a reason

I grasp for some semblance

a vague remembrance

of treason

of endless, relentless, repentless deception

forged in the chasms of the initial conception

of hope

7. Which inspirations have been important for this album? Like musically or friends, family, someone you'd love to thank especially?

An important inspiration has been the search for new sounds and new sonic landscapes. This has been achieved, at least to a certain extent, through the use of untraditional (for the genere) instrumentation, such as banjo, cello, and upright bass.

In terms of people worthy of thanks, I would like to mention Kim Diaz Holm, who did the front cover; Andreas Tylden, who did the layout; Colin Marston, who did the master; and Espen T. Hangård, who provided important input during the mixing and mastering process.

8. Something to add?

Thank you very much for your interest in the album! It is available on all major streaming services, as well as on physical format from Chaos Records, so I hope people take the time to check it out.