Interviews: Vingulmork
MK: Martin Kandola (guitar)
JSK: Jostein Stensrud Køhn (vocals)
MSO: Martin Storm-Olsen (bass)
SK: Simen Kandola (drums)
1. Where did you get the idea for the band name? Did you plan it, or did it just come out of nowhere?
MK: The name comes from an area in Norway dating back to the Viking Age. It basically covered the land and forests around what is now Oslo, the capital of Norway. Several of us grew up in those forests, so it felt like a pretty fitting name for the band.
2. Why did you want to play this genre?
MK: For me, I started out playing rap metal when I was a teenager, then gradually moved into thrash, and from there more into melodic black and old-school death metal. So apparently the older I get, the heavier it gets. I once had this idea that I'd start a blues band when I turned 40. That never happened. And that's probably for the best! I just love the sound of brutal music — heavy downtuned guitars, blast beats, growling and all that stuff.
JSK: I was always into metal, so it was really the only option. Nothing else would feel right.
MSO: Growing up on heavy rock and pivoting to various forms of metal like death metal, Vingulmork's combination of power, aggression and melody in a blackened format translated very well to my taste, so I was easily hooked.
SK: I got into metal pretty early in life, and it quickly became something I strongly identified with. It’s been one of the most consistent things in my life for the past 25 years—something that has shaped me, grounded me, and always given me energy when I’ve needed it. I simply love this music, so playing it myself has always felt natural.
3. Did you know each other before the band was formed?
MK: Yeah, we've all played together in one constellation or another before Vingulmork. I knew Jostein really well before we started the band, and we'd already played a lot of music together. Simen is my brother, so I know him fairly well too, haha. Martin Storm replaced our original bass player in 2015, which technically makes him the "new guy" — even though he's been in the band for more than ten years now.
MSO: I joined later, after the band had formed, and after Chiaroscuro had been released. At the time, I played guitar in a death metal band, Defect Designer, where we had been playing with Simen on drums for a little while. We came into talks about how his other band, Vingulmork, was without a bass player, and with a couple of shows coming up. I offered to help out and met Martin K and Jostein for the first time during rehearsals. We hit it off so well that after doing the first of the two gigs, I ended up staying on as a permanent member.
4. Each band member's favourite band?
MK: For the past 15 years or so, mine has definitely been Immortal.
JSK: Iron Maiden followed me my entire life, so for over 40 years haha. If I had to say one more modern band, I'd probably say the black metal band Kvaen from Sweden or the insanely melancholic and brutal Death metal band Disentomb from Australia. I am very much into all kinds of Death metal, but Disentomb really stand out.
MSO: This is difficult, as I typically shift between a lot of bands and genres in what I listen to. If I can stretch the conditions of the answer a little; Devin Townsend Project, Nevermore and Behemoth are high up there on my list lately.
SK: Picking just one is impossible. Deicide, Fleshgod Apocalypse, Death, Immortal, Dissection, Beyond Creation… the list could go on forever. My taste is pretty broad within metal, but I’ve always had a particular love for extreme metal—especially death and black metal, from the brutal and technical to the dark and atmospheric.
5. Who or what inspires you to write songs?
Martin K: Life. It's brutal! Quite often I'll come up with bits and pieces for a song while I'm actually practising something completely different. I get into this sort of flow state where all kinds of stuff starts to surface. Most of it is shit, though. It's really more of a sorting job — figuring out what's actually worth keeping.
JSK: I Write all the lyrics for the band, and they Draw on real life experiences, With a dark philosophical take. For this album, I leaned heavily into realisations that hope is a feeble construct and in the end, the concepts of mercy and resolution are just that - concepts. They are not real Things to be reckoned With.
MSO: A song can often spring form an emotion or a fleeting idea. There's something interesting in bringing that to a complete expression and even see it expand or adapt until it's complete.
6. Where was your last gig?
JSK: Actually, Our last gig was in Lithuania at this amazing little festival called Serna Tusas. We had a blast. This was last summer, as we spent the Whole year between then and now getting the album ready!
7. Where would you like to act?
MK: Anywhere there's a good atmosphere, cold beer and good people who actually want to hear us play!
JSK: I Guess some of the many amazing smaller metal festivals around Europe would be great.
8. Whom would you like to feature with?
JSK: Honestly, we play With all kinds of band within the metal genre. We don't really care for purism and gatekeeping within metal. It's all the same fucking scene, so if someone wants to do a show With us, we will absolutely do it!
9. Whom not?
JSK: Haha that is a much harder question to answer. I Guess arrogant People who behave like they are above the other bands, the sound guy, the venue staff etc. I have seen that a few times, and it really sucks.
10. Have any of you ever suffered from stage fright? Any tips for beginners on how to beat that?
JSK: Not really in a crippling or inhibiting way. But I always get a little nervous before a show, and I think that is healthy. It's a sign that the performance means something.
MK: Absolutely. I've played a few shows where it got pretty bad. I used to have this problem where my hands would actually cramp up while I was playing, and eventually I started worrying about it happening before every show. Which, of course, only made it worse. That's the thing — as soon as you start thinking too much, everything gets worse. So you basically have to tell your brain to shut the fuck up. If it won't listen, drink beer until it does. Apart from that, practising a lot definitely helps!
MSO: A lot and still do. I do my best to lock out the daily static and focus only on the music and the show for the duration of the gig.
SK: There’s always some degree of stage fright, at least for me, but I actually think that can be a good thing. It means it matters to you. As my brother said, the best way to deal with it is preparation—practice until you know your material and trust what you’re doing. And having good bandmates around you makes all the difference. When you trust the people you’re on stage with, it becomes much easier to relax and just enjoy playing.
11. What bands have inspired you the most?
MK: For Vingulmork, I'd probably say Immortal is my biggest influence. But more generally, I've always been heavily inspired by '90s rock and metal. Pantera in particular has been with me pretty much all the way. And Dimebag is simply my favorite guitarist of all time.
JSK: I'd have to say musically, probably the 90s Death metal scenes in the US and Sweden. I mean, bands like Dismember, early Entombed, Deicide, Cannibal Corpse, Incantation, Jungle Rot, I mean - you can't really argue with that. Absolutely mind melting for me as a kid. The bands from the era and those scenes made me want to play Extreme Music.
12. What's the weirdest thing a fan has ever asked you for?
MK: I'm not even sure he was a fan, but this huge bearded guy once asked me for my sweaty tank top after a show. I had absolutely no idea what the deal was, but he got it. I think he even paid me 200 kroner for it. Pretty weird.
JSK: To feel how sweaty my beard was after a show. It's fucking dripping. I don't judge - People like what they like - but that was pretty weird.
MSO: I have been asked if I saw the band that just played (us) and how I liked it.
13. What do you think of your fans?
MK: The few I actually know are fucking great. They show up at our gigs and help create a great atmosphere. One of them has even tattooed Vingulmork across her forearm, which is insanely cool. Then again, it is a pretty awesome logo!!
JSK: I second that. Amazing People always.
14. What do you think of our site?
JSK: I think it's a really good one, honestly. And not only as an isolated site. I think sites such as this are part of the backbone of the underground, doing interviews, features, promotional stuff and reviews for bands in the absolute underground. It's extremely important and impressive when you consider the time and effort put into such sites. So we thank you for doing what you do!
15. Something to add?
JSK: YES - please support the small labels who put Money into underground bands like us. Consider buying a physical copy of Our album from the labels Crime Records, Likskue Productions and Schattenpfade Support Circle. Those labels are pure idealists who don't make any Money off releases, and only do what they do to support the Extreme metal underground. Also - thanks a lot for doing this interview, we appreciate it!
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