The other dimension of Dimension F3H

interview made by Rick with Morfeus (Januari 2008)

Alright Brutal Maniacs, grab a few beers, I have a case of BITburger myself. A few smokes if you do smoke. We’re going to have ourselves a good ol’ time once again! Here with us today is Dimension F3H.
Hello and welcome! Thanks for taking the time to talk to us here at Brutalism today! It is much appreciated and we are honored to have you here with us today!
Please give us a short introduction of who you are, and what kind of trouble you are responsible for in Dimension F3H.
Morfeus speaking. I guess I’m responsible for most of the mischief that we are producing. Musical dictator, whip-swinging bastard. Hehe. I compose the music, handle the guitar and vocals live, and generally keep things in order.

For those who are unfamiliar with DF3H, it started as a side project (Morfeus, Limbonic Art). While it may have started that way, it has definitely taking on a big life of its own. In the early stages of the band, did it seem obvious that DF3H was going to take shape into a force to be reckoned with very quickly?
Actually at first I didn’t intend for it to be growing at all, the initial idea was to make an electronic album only, kinda industrial/ambient type thing, but it grew relatively quickly into a metal project. I don’t think I realized at first how quickly things would move, but we released our first album rather quickly, and then everything failed. Our label eventually went bankrupt, and we struggled for a long time finding a new label. DF3H has existed for almost 8 years now, and it is not until 2007 that I feel that we have gotten a few major steps forward. 2008 will be a year that holds many fruitful things for us, and we shall build upon them as best as we can.

When I heard “Does The Pain Excite You?” for the first time, I was completely beside myself! It had all those heavy thrash elements that I still hold in my DNA! It also has a strange darkness about it though. It is a brutal record deep rooted in the early Thrash tradition, and it has a very eerie element to it. How did the sound of the music take shape? DF3H in my opinion has an emotional element in the music that I hear a lot of bands reach for but don’t quite get to the point that you guys have pushed.
Our sound is something that develops a bit over time, sometimes songs come out of the mind more or less complete and just needs to be physically recorded and then they are done, others comes in bits and pieces and has to be shaped a lot until they reach their final form, but all in all I think that the most important factor is that when the songs feel finished, when we have a good feel about them, then they are done. I still have material lying around that’s like 5-6 years old that really has some good potential, but they just never reached the level of finished’ness that we crave, so they lie dormant and wait for the right idea to come by, if ever. Music flows in so many different shapes and forms and expressions, it is just a matter of judging what is good from what is bad, and hopefully make a good choice. Luckily it seems most people seem to think that we make good choices, others thinks our choices suck, but we pay no attention to those people.. :p

The big thing I was really stoked about when I first experienced DF3H was that although members were from “black metal” bands-there was really nothing black metal about it. True some of the elements are mixed in, but to me you can’t tell that Morfeus is in the band or anything like that. DF3H is an entity unto itself and doesn’t house any of the Limbonic Art elements in its music. Obviously this is something you guys set out to do-make music that you were not nessicarly known for making to begin with. When “Does The Pain Excite You?” was finished and you heard it all come together for the first time, did you sit back and say “That’s what I was shooting for!” or did it completely surpass what you envisioned in your mind?
I am pretty surprised by many reviews I see that actually label us BM, which makes me think that many people who review music around the globe either doesn’t listen to the music they review, throw the dice and make some notes on a paper, or they don’t really know what BM is. Ok, I’m exaggerating slightly here of course, but it is a little disturbing. There are, as you say, some elements of BM in the music, but not much. We haven’t really set any boundaries to what kind of music we make at all. Ok, we are in the metal genre, fuzz on the guitars is highly preferred, but besides that we don’t set any rules except the rule that when WE think it sounds good, then it is good enough to use.
When “Does the Pain...” was done, I think that what was mostly on my mind was to write more music. I seldom look back at the work I have done, I listen to it extremely much in the creative process and all up until the album is mastered and we are happy with it. Then I hardly listen to it until we get the final pressed product, spin it a few times, and then I move on to new stuff. And I am never happy with the final outcome, in the sense that I would always think to change something, a different beat here, a new vocal line there, things like this. Probably it is a situation where you just have to say stop. A painter can add new strokes to a painting for years and years and still not be happy. You just gotta put the foot down at some point, stop, and move on to something new. So I am as happy as I can be when we decide that an album is finished, and then when I listen to it a year after, I think that, DAMN this could be so much better. This is a situation that I’m very happy with, because I think that this shows progress, and that I make use of new input in life, new learning, to get better at what you do.

Where does the musical inspiration come from? You guys have a lot going on in your music and I was just curious as to where it festers. DF3H has light-years of originality to it! You guys are pushing elements into heavy music that very few bands are seeking to enlist.
I have no good answer for such a question. I don’t really know where it comes from. I have always had an urge to create. Often I feel that I create the best when I think the least. Just mindless fumbling on the instrument of choice, and then suddenly reality kicks in when you play something that sounds good. That’s the magic, that’s when fantasy has caught something that is valuable, and then you have to use your skills and tools to mold that raw iron into.... Whatever you desire to create at the moment...

In my personal opinion, lyrics are a very integral part of the song. Guitars, drums, keyboards, these are elements that drive home the emotional element of what the lyrics are bringing across. Kind of like horror movies-I don’t think they would have the emotional impact they have if it wasn’t for the music behind the story. The lyrics on this release defiantly have a very personal feel to them-like it’s something you have lived not just seen or heard. My favorite song is Final Solution; I have had those feelings in my life time and continue to have them from time to time. Where does the inspiration for the lyrics come from?
Lyrics are to me extremely important. I think that it is of, maybe not equal value, but near to equal value of the music. I think that one of my main inspirations is life, and all the strange aspects of humanity. People do so many fucked up things, it is very easy to let the mind flow around these things and write about them. Ranging from quirky sexual behaviors to sending stuff up to the stars, I mean, there is an endless resource there.

Out of all the songs on this record-do you have a favorite? Is there one song that just gets blood boiling?
Hmmm, not really, I’m very happy with all the songs, if I were not, they wouldn’t have been on the album. If I should point out one specific song, I think that it would have to be... CyberQueen. It’s a very heavy song, it has quirky vocals, I think it has a good sense of weird fantasy contained, good riffs, and good Ol’ Nr.7. Or Freakshow perhaps. With it’s freaks... or... I don’t know... ;)

With the exception of DF3H, what other bands are all the members apart of currently? If any at all.
Our drummer, Arghamon, is like all drummers taken up in like a 100 other bands and projects, well, almost. He is currently drumming in Sarcoma Inc (although they are not very active these days), Trail of Tears, Lucid Fear, Cutthroat, he has a project called Thermal Pulse, and finally (as far as I know) he has his own little endeavor called Untouched by Humans.
Bass player, Mr.Moe is currently playing in Trail of Tears and Cutthroat.
Our other guitarist, Motvind has actually no other bands, he is fully focused on DF3H, this must be a fairytale or so.
Myself I’m still taken up with Limbonic Art, however not too active these days, we are just relaxing a little and focusing on our other doings. I have also some other shit brewing in the background, but I’m not ad lib to discuss those things at the moment.
So, as you see, we are a bunch of busy bees...

Where did you guys come up with the name of the band? Dimension F3H. I am clueless. Normally I see a bands name and have a couple of guesses about its source. Proof that I read way too much! LOL!! Like in the early 90’s a lot of bands took their names from the Necronomicon, or demonology resources. DF3H-you got me on that one.
Well, the name has actually derived from the original name, which was kinda long and quirky and didn’t really have a ‘bandname’ feeling to it, so we basically shortened it, into a name that was too short, and then in the end found out that if we put dimension in front, it would sound nice, and we would not restrict ourselves to anything. This is OUR dimension, and we do what the hell we want in here....

As far as music goes, what not so brutal stuff are you guys into? I am not saying you guys in particular-but I have to be honest, I am sick of people telling me “All I listen to is this_____”. Yeah BRUTALISM is my life-my passion-my religion! I used to play drums in a death metal band called PROPHECY. But death metal isn’t all I listen too. And here lately it’s not the only thing I get from Twan (BRUTALISM Owner-and crazy fucking dutch guy that reduces me to slavery-LOL) I am a really big fan of Prince, and Lenny Kravitz and stuff like that inclusive for my thurst for all things beyond brutal. So when you guys are not really in the mood for extreme fucking metal-what else is in rotation in your cd player-mp3 player or whatever medium you prefer?
Well, I think that I used to be much more ‘die-hard’ in the past, but I have always listened to other kinds of music. Genres doesn’t interest me too much really, the things that decide if I like a song or not is the sequence of tones produced. If they are made up in a sequence that touches me, then I would like it, whether it is Eminem or Metallica, Madonna or the little guy who posted two songs on a forum on the internet that nobody ever heard of. I have an extremely wide spectrum of music that I like, metal is just a part of what I’m listening to. Actually I think I listen to metal more and more seldom these days, but since I am so taken up with creating metal, then I don’t have the enormous urge to listen to it when I’m done with an 8 hour studio/rehearsal session.

What is your take on the metal scene today? Are there any bands imparticular that you are really into? Old or New school. DF3H is from Norway. What is your take on the scene there and what bands do you feel deserve some recognition?
Dimension F3H, Dimension F3H, Dimension F3H-Im kidding LOL!!! You guys deserve it, but we need to keep the infections spreading. There are really great bands coming up every day, just curious as to which ones you are into at this point there in Norway?
Call me lazy, but I’m gonna knock all these 4 questions into one, they are basically the same.. :D
I do not spend much time sifting through new bands or things like this, I’m mostly listening to the old goodies from the past like Iron Maiden, Metallica, Priest, Annihilator, and all these exceptional bands that I love so much. New stuff, well, I pretty much only listen to new stuff when friends of mine tell me that I have to check out this AWESOME new band from bla bla bla, and in the end I usually end up a little disappointed. I am extremely picky with what I like or not, but if I like something, then it pretty much sticks with me for a looooooooong long time. The Norwegian scene, well, I don’t really know too much about that either, there is a forum that I read regularly to keep track of things, gigs and what not, and it seems to me that there is a lot of activity going on with lot’s of bands being started and bands disappearing and reappearing and what not. I think it is all good, metal is having a strong base here in Norway, even to such an extent that Mayhem is awarded the Norwegian Music Award for best metal band. This is cool I think, people start to open their eyes for metal as being something that is serious, and is carried out by serious people who are working extremely hard to achieve their goals. What it is like around the world, I don’t know, I have been way too little out in the world lately...

Looking back at your youth, is being a musician all you ever wanted to be? I wanted to be a porn star personally, then these weird 3 and 4 letter diseases starting going around and I chicken shitted out of it. So instead of being a global porn star-I just stuck to a 30 mile radius. (LAMO) What other things interest you guys? Any hobbies other than devastating stages worldwide?
Well, I can’t write for all the other guys of course, but myself, I have been wanting to be a graphic designer since I was very young, and hey presto, my business card says... Graphic Designer.. ;)
I am not a musician as a profession, it is a hobby, that I dearly would like to be able to live from. But as the situation is, I have the best job that I could want, and I have the opportunity to go on tour and play and do what I want most of the time, so I can’t complaint.
I have way too many hobbies tho, or, no, I don’t, the day has just too few hours. I do webdesign, photography, guitar building, exercise irregularly, I collect small statues and figures, comics, and probably a few things that I can’t remember right now. :D

Which brings up another interesting question. Touring Plans? Any shows coming up that your guys are really excited about playing?
I’m so happy that I can actually say YES!
We have been struggling for quite some time to get some proper shows abroad, and finally we are going on our first tour. We will be supporting Mayhem on the UK leg of their upcoming tour. 9 gigs, mainly in the UK, but also 2 gigs in Holland and one in Essen in Germany. Then we head back to Norway and Bergen to join in on our labels festival, the Dark Essence Festival 2008 with bands like Vulture Industries and Taake. Then we have some plans in the background, but nothing that we can reveal just yet.

You guys have been in the scene for awhile-do you still get pre show gitters? Out of all the shows I have played, I am still scared shitless before a show. Then as soon as I hit the stage, like not even a minute into it, all that tension just rushes out of me, and all that matters is that moment. Then for the rest of night, everyone feels sorry for my drum kit, cymbals and sticks. Do you still get nervous before you get on stage to deliver maximum ass-kicking?
A little. Hehe.. not much tho, but usually the few minutes before the show the reality hits me, but it’s gone like the wind as soon as I get the guitar on my shoulders. I did however get the shivers when I took over the vocals, and I remember the first show I did as the vocalist of the band, and I sang the whole first verse of the first song completely wrong. Luckily nobody knew the song, so that was no problem, but I got scared so bad, and I thought, DAMN is this how it’s gonna be... Luckily from the chorus and out it was no problem, and these days, well, I enjoy being on stage so much, I don’t let nerves ruin the experience...

Is there any crazy stories that you would like to share with all us brutal maniacs about your lives on the road? Or are you guys like me-a perfect angel? (I have that yeah right look on my face! LMAO)
Well, actually I don’t have much stories, I have not been on the road much. We did like 3 tours or so in total with Limbonic Art, and for Dimension F3H we haven’t even been on the road yet.. hehe. Well, we had a few gigs here and there, but they were all nice and clean and not much happening. I have experienced the broken down tour bus, and a few things like this, but nothing too far out...
Sometimes I wish I had great stories to tell, but... hey, it’s still not too late to get some nice experiences!

Is there a show that just forever sticks out in your mind? A show when you walked off stage and you all looked at each other and went “that was fucking nuts!!”
Well, I think that the show that we did at Hovefestivalen last summer was great. The food, the crew, the stage, everything was totally awesome. Huge stage to play at. Unfortunately there wasn’t too much people to see us early in the day there, most were hung over from the day before, but we had a hell of a time, and for us this was a really kick ass gig!!

If you were given the chance to tour with anyone who would it be? It s a guaranteed thing, someone will make it happen, book the shows, shitty hotels, the whole smear. All you have to do is say who.
Metallica! Or Slayer.

As much as we all hate to admit it, this crazy life we lead will not last forever. When the love is still there and the ability to perform is gone-what do you guys want to do with your life? Any other ambitions when you can no longer take the stage and rock out?
When the time comes that I will not be able to get on stage, I will be six feet under....

What was it about metal that drew you into it??
I don’t really know, probably the mysticism of it. The dark aspects of life and the dark atmospheres. I think this has been a driving force for as long as I can remember. Ever since I was a little kid I have always been fascinated by the dark and occult, and I think that when I discovered metal, I just found a channel where I could force my own darkness out in a ‘safe’ way...

Your new opus is out on Dark Essence Records. How did you guys team up with them? How has the partnership been up to this point?
DE is run by some friends of mine, and when they learned that we were looking for a label, they asked us if we would be interested, and after some time we decided to make a deal with them and see what would happen. So far things have been going great, we have nothing much to complaint about.

Any burning ideas for new shit that you can let us in on??
Well, we basically have our third album written by now, musically the foundation for the entire album is done, at the moment I’m mostly taken up with writing lyrics for the new songs, and they are finally shaping into form, so that’s my main focus at the moment. Getting the album ready for recording, and then we shall see what happens.

Ok I have never asked this in an interview-and by God I am going to start. Because there are too many fucking bad ass bands across the ponds I like to refer to as the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Who in the hell do promoters need to contact to get you guys here in the states, and fuck up weak Americans on stage??
Well, I guess that the wisest thing would be to contact our management, Ultima Management, who you can reach through www.ultimamanagement.com or you can contact us directly through our webpage or myspace page. Kick some American ass...? Well, we wouldn’t mind that...

Any advice you have for young upstarts in their garages, basements, or jam rooms that are bloodthirsty to get out of them and hit the stage?? Here is my advice-beware of the fucking sharks in the water-there are a lot of them in this business! Other than that-if you believe in yourself, your band, and what you do-then that’s all that matters! What is in your heart is all that ever matters!
You just said what I would say...

Well this retarded Texas Red Neck has run out of ignorant questions. In all seriousness-I really enjoyed interviewing you and I hope the feeling is the same on the other end of the key board. Again thanks for the chance to pick at your brain little bit.
It was just a pleasure...
Just finished my Jack...
Cheers!!!!

Last rites?
For all things Dimension F3H visit there myspace page or there official website.
Band:
Interviewer: Rick
Jan 11, 2008
Next interview: Devious, the love brothers

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