KVELERTAK

THE GENRE-MASHING RAGERS ARE TOURING WITH FUCKING Metallica.

So, Metallica: how did that happen?!

VIDAR LANDA (GUITAR): “They asked us, and we said yes! We’ve played with them at festivals, and met James in San Francisco. He came to see us play there, and we’ve been in touch a bit since. But this our first proper tour with them, and we’re the main support. Whaddya know!”

You’re playing some of this country’s biggest venues... “Yeah, we’ve only really done shows like these in Norway, supporting other bands. We did an arena show with Foo Fighters in Norway, and a big tour with Ghost in Scandinavia, too. They actually have the same kind of audience as us – a lot of young kids mixed with a few older guys. That band’s getting huge.”

Are you comfortable doing arena shows? You have a great live reputation, but it’s a whole different beast. “It’ll be fine, but it’s gonna be interesting. We’re more used to intimate club shows, but the arena tour we just did with Ghost helped, because there was some stuff there we had to get used to. We started using in-ear monitors and stuff like that, which is good because Metallica won’t have any monitors onstage!”

What was Papa Het like to hang out with?

“He was just really stoked about the show! I was filming a lot back then and I had my camera with me, so I did an interview with him. He was really cool, but it was surreal, because the Crown Prince Of Norway was there as well. He was in San Francisco, so he made going to that show an official part of his trip. So you had the Prince Of Norway with James Hetfield making fun behind his back!”

It must be strange getting attention from that level of personalities. Did you ever foresee this happening?! “Not at all! But that happens for every record with this band. As soon as things start to slow down and we get used to where we’re at, Metallica call and ask us out on tour, or Dave Grohl takes a photo holding our CD. There’s always something!”