Hi! “The Host” marks your first concept album. What inspired you to take this narrative approach, and how did it alter your songwriting and recording process?
I have felt like doing it for a long time actually. My goal was to still keep the same occult essence in the lyrics, but presenting them in a story form instead. In this way a little more focus is given to the lyrics, it is almost demanded that the listener read the lyrics and by doing that while listening to the album they will get the full experience and the focus that (our) music deserves.
How did the historical context of 17th-century Sweden influence the themes and storyline of “The Host,” and what elements did you deliberately choose to alter for artistic purposes?
Almost everything is altered. It is not a ”historically correct” story based on any specific event, other than the fact it happened that soldiers during the 17th century entered pacts with the Devil for protection in battle and other mundane purposes. In the end in all the documented real events, the soldiers that stood accused almost always showed regrets about having done so. But our story takes things further so that the storyline itself becomes relevant from an occult iniatoric perspective.
Can you elaborate on the symbolism of Midsummer’s eve in “The Blood Covenant,” and why this specific time was pivotal for the character’s pact with the Devil?
The Midsummer night is one of the most important ones in Swedish folklore and folk magic, especially divinatory workings. It is a night when the borders between us and the unseen are thin and when the enspirited aspects of nature are extra strong. It is a holiday of ”pagan” celebrations, which also made it extra fitting as the story is set during a period in time when the influence and decrees of the church were so strong.
What are the key philosophical or moral questions you aim to address through the protagonist’s journey and the central theme of seeking truth through the ‘Adversary’?
The story is set in the 17th century, a time when the church was the most powerful institution in this part of the world, and it dictated the ”rights and wrongs” in a very straight-forward manner. It taught how to live your life in a correct way, which opinions that were correct etc. Above all, it dictated what was not correct, with great focus of course against idolatry and witchcraft – practices that in my opinion may lead people away from the thraldom of the cosmic status quo. The forces behind these decrees are still very much active in modern day times, albeit in a more covert manner. We are still fed with what the ”correct” opinions currently are, and authorities still do their best to keep the masses distracted with bullshit instead of searching for the truths beyond.
What does the occult represent in the context of “The Host”?
Everything. If you consider the worldly authorities as avatars of the demiurgic forces you will see that the conflict portrayed is both above and below. And there are a lot of details in the lyrics that I hope those with an interest in religion and the occult will notice, related to the blacksmith for example. The whole story is really about occult spiritual initiation in the end.
Anders, you mentioned exploring new musical directions on this album. Can you detail some specific elements or techniques that mark this evolution in your drumming and overall sound?
All of us have developed our musical skills over the years of course and it is hard to mention any specific techniques that would mark the evoluion in itself. But the comment was more about the song writing, and that we have stretched our sound both towards the more melodic (like ”One Last Kiss” and ”Voice of the Outsider”) and towards the more aggressive side with ”Sound the Horn” and ”Sword of Reason”, without loosing touch with the essence of Portrait’s trademark sound.
Reflecting on nearly two decades of making music, how has your approach to crafting and presenting thematic elements in your albums evolved?
I think the thematic ”vein” has always been present, but as you grow older and wiser (haha!) and become a better musician you also search for new challenges I guess. Maybe not in a deliberate way, but rather subconsciously, and when taking inspiration from inside yourself instead of by looking at what others are doing, the end result also becomes much more personal. And powerful, in my opinion.
How does “The Host” differ from your previous albums?
The biggest difference is that it has other songs on it. Haha. But I would say that it is a natural progression of our previous releases, and another step towards perfecting our sound. I think it might also have a bit more focus on choruses, and it is maybe a bit more straight forward than some of the previous albums. But that’s maybe just how I feel about it right now, when been obsessed with the songs, the story and everything else related to the album for almost two years now (since the writing process began).
In the context of “The Host,” how does the notion of pacts with the Devil serve as a metaphor for personal or societal struggles?
That part is not a metaphor really. As I mentioned earlier one need to see things from a ”as above, so below” perspective regarding the story, and witchcraft/magic is not separated from the temporal. If the intent of performed magic is to have and effect on the temporal, it will have exactly that if performed correctly. But that doesn’t mean that it is limited to that either, which is also one of the main ”points” of the story: the soldier asks for mundane gains but in the end receives more transcendent insights.
What’s next for Portrait? Thank you for your time!
We have European shows lined up this autumn and in the beginning of next year we will hopefully head off to South America for the first time. Thank you!
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