Interviews - Live 4 Metal

Interview with Olav Iversen of Sahg
April 2008 by Steve Green

I guess Sahg could be called a supergroup, as they feature members of Gorgoroth, Audrey Horne and Manngard. Well forget about those bands as Sahg are influenced by the big hitters of the 70s, such as Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple. Their second album Sahg II blew me away, so I was pleased to be able to find out more about the band from vocalist Olav Iversen.

The biog that accompanied my promo states you had a lot of problems with the recording process. What went wrong?
The problems started when we had to leave the studio after only recording three songs. The landlord came in and said he was going to tear the building down, so we had to pack our stuff and leave. This was the first big mishap, which already then forced us to change plans. Finding a new studio took time, because all the studios were booked for some time forward. Also, we had some technical problems regarding digital file formats and boring things like that, which put us even further behind schedule.

Considering the problems you encountered, you must be happy with the way it has turned out?
I think the hardship eventually led to something good. It made us focus even more and try even harder, so I think the result came out better than it would have done without it. It added an extra nerve and a new dimension of energy to the album. I think this album is a big step forward for us musically, and regarding song-writing and production.

The vibe on II is so laidback and chilled, especially on Echoes Ring Forever, was the writing process as relaxed as the songs sound?
The writing process was easier this time, I think. The songs came pretty naturally, one after another. I think we managed to let loose, and ignore whatever pressure was there following ‘Sahg I’. It was also a goal for us to be more open-minded about what kind of songs we could write and have on the album, and I think we have achieved that.

The sound on the album is fabulous. Who did the original production and what difference did Rob Caggiato’s mix make to the overall sound?
The album was produced by the band and Bruno Guddal, who also plays drums, percussion and keyboards on the album. We have a very similar idea of how the band should sound, and a lot of creativity also came out of the co-operation. Rob Caggiano and Paul Orofino mixed the album on the analogue desk in Millbrook Sound Studio, which definitely preserved the organic feel and added the overall final touch that the album needed.

A Regain advert in the new Terrorizer says that the new album is for fans of Ozzy and Sabbath. If I’m honest I can’t really see the Ozzy connection with your voice. Where do your influences for Sahg come from?
Our foundation of influence lies with the classic heavy rock pioneers from the seventies, like Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath and Deep Purple, but we are also big fans of a lot of bands from the eighties and nineties, like Ozzy, Iron Maiden and Soundgarden. The whole idea of starting Sahg, was to dive into the music that we have listened to since we were kids, and make our own interpretation of that.

While doing some research for the interview, I found so many sites that were offering illegal downloads of your new album before it’s released. How much does that frustrate you, both in terms of being ripped off and with the disrespect they show for musicians?
I think we have reached the point now, where everyone should have realised the downsides about music piracy. So, I do not agree with those who still spread music illegally over the internet. I think everyone should pay more respect for artists and song-writers, and the hard work they do.

How did the US tour with Celtic Frost go? And did you watch them every night?
The tour with Celtic Frost was a great experience for us, and was a good first step into the enormous US world of music. Despite the fact that we were the wild card on the bill, and quite different from the two other bands musically, we got very good response from the audience. I got the impression a lot of people were taken by surprise, but in a positive way. I watched Celtic Frost play every night, and enjoyed it more and more throughout the tour. A great live band.

This time around you are touring Europe with Doom legends Trouble, you must have a good booking agent?
Yes, we have been blessed with some good touring opportunities so far, and we are very happy to be on this tour with Trouble. Also, it is timed well with the release of our new album, so it is a great opportunity for us to get out and play the new material across Europe.

Who would be the ultimate band for you to tour with?
There are many bands we would enjoy touring with, but right now, I have a dream of some time going out with Down or Black Label Society. And the rumours are getting stronger about Led Zeppelin gong on tour again also, right?

What happens after the tour. Do you go back to your other bands, or do you try and promote the album as much as you can?
We have a few one-off shows lined up in Norway, and we are expecting a quite busy festival season, even though not many shows are confirmed yet. We are also planning another round in Europe before the end of the year. In addition to that, we will start writing for another album as soon as possible.

Is it hard trying to juggle life on the road with different bands and your normal lives back in Norway?
It hasn’t generated any big problems so far, but of course, you must make some sacrifices to be able to go away on tour for several weeks. The key is to just use the time you have at home as well as possible.

Are you all fulltime musicians? I read somewhere that Tom (King Ov Hell) was a primary school teacher!!!
We all have our irrelevant but life-saving activities in between working with music. But what King is doing right now, besides the music, I honestly don’t know.

Good luck with the album and upcoming tour with Trouble. Is there anything else you’d like to add?
We hope a lot of people will check out ‘Sahg II’ and come see us in concert. We promise no one will leave disappointed!