Here they are, the live photos from Elite the 30th of April at Jernverkspuben. I'll just let the images speak for themselves, but as you can imagine, if you've heard their albums, that they were pretty fucking awesome. The photos needed to be viewed in color, though lively enough, these photos cannot come close to the feeling of being amongst the crowd that night. Elite, playing in their hometown for the first time in over two years. It was priceless.
"HELL YEAH"
Houston, we got eyecontact.
CHILLS DOWN MY SPINE, they really gave it their all.
Chris Rudi was off the hook on stage, Hell Yeah!
I like this one, I think it's comic how the guy at the exit has his arm out just like Bent Arne.
Bent Arne brought the axe from last entry, he he.
Chris Rude being his On-stage-bloody-rad Self
Max having a sing-off with an eager fan in the crowd.
As you can see, there was spirit!
Headbanging hard!
Here's a little bit of an artsy one, of Bent Arne's beer and Bent Arne himself in the blurry background.
Near the end of the concert Rainer had a pretty damn awesome drum solo.
On the last song, they yelled out for Tor Arne Fallingen to come on stage, so that the two men who started it all, Tor Arne and Torgeir, could ram the final notes together. It was an utter satisfactory ending to an amazing concert.
With three studio albums released since they started out in 2001, tours around Europe, and are also attending Karmøygeddon this year, starting off by introducing such a well established band, might be hard to top off. This is "True Northern Norwegian Black Metal" right here, and now, on the 30th of April Elite is finally playing live for us once more, for the first time in over two years! In this occasion I thought I'd get in touch, get a little juice, taste the tension, in other words, an interview. When I walked into this cellar where Elite's rehearsal room was located, I got so nervous. I mean, what is that, I know these guys, but the moment walked in there, I was transformed into this interviewer, it was like I plunged down in rank.
If you haven't already googled their music, or clicked the logo, you should definitely give these videos a jolly good listen.
Current band line-up; Torgeir Nordahl (Guitars), Max Røreng(Guitars), Rainer Røreng (Drums), Chris Lind (Bass) and Bent Arne Mathisen (Vocals).
There has been a recent change in line-up, Max Røreng has stepped in as guitarist, a position which used to be occupied by former member Per Valla. Max is maybe new to the group, but has known these guys for years, so when I asked Max how it felt to be jamming with the big boys, he says he's got to admit he's pretty happy with the fact that he was able to join such a well established band.
With their main inspirations from Norwegian culture, and Norse Mythology, their music strikes the mind like the cold steel of a battle axe; massive, brutal and impressive.
It makes you feel like the savage in Berserkerens Manifest, that, and I quote; "gets too much Norwegian Mushrooms and he's going crazy, and he's gonna kill everyone he sees in the whole wide world". Youtube clip here. As the question rose if they, as a band, had any new inspirations, they didn't quite agree on anything particular. They continued gabbing amongst themselves, the members admitted that they rarely check out any modern metal, so they all simply came to the conclusion that the years are catching up with them, and that things were better in the good old days, including music.
However each of the band members has different types of music that influences them, and gives them the urge to make music, so when they get together, the best of all worlds is forged together. I think that this might be the key to the strength and the genuine sound known as Elite.
Bent Arne's wild gaze as he almost effortlesly grims a tale of our ancient heritage, which sent shivers down my spine.
The visual experience beholding Rainer while battering his battery, was an impressive sight as he siezes to appear human.
At the end of the interview, Elite agreed to play some songs for us. Given this powerful pretaste, I'm honestly stoked about their concert. I can't wait! By the way, as the crew clearly pointed out themselves, they're getting old - that means this might their last concert! Which again means; ANYONE WHO'S LOCATED AROUND MO I RANA ON SATURDAY 30TH OF APRIL, GET YOUR ASS DOWN TO JERNVERKSPUBEN AT 2100.
