Emperor's longtime drummer Trym Torson, also known for his past contributions from Enslaved to Zyklon, has finally managed to release the debut album of his dark ambient/atmospheric soundtrack project Þrymr, titled "Saga of the North" and released via the label Darkness Shall Rise Productions. It was a pleasant surprise to see Trym coming out with such an interesting and impressive musical output that could easily be found in a soundtrack for a TV series, movie or even a video game, but then again, we are talking about someone who plays in a great Norwegian symphonic black metal band such as Emperor and yet highly influenced by the works of composers such as John Williams, Howard Shore, Hans Zimmer and Jerry Goldsmith. After I had heard "Saga of the North", I managed to get in touch with Trym Torson and discuss the subjects of his newly found project Þrymr, while also bringing up the potential of expanding the project into further territories. If you're a longtime fan of Trym Torson's work and you also happen to like his recent efforts for his project Þrymr, then I hope you will stay along for the ride and enjoy this journey that dives further into the viking landscapes.

Vladimir

Greetings Trym, welcome on behalf of MetalBite. How are you doing lately?

I'm doing good, thank you. Been really busy with lots of stuff going on lately, but I can't complain about having too much to do, when it's something I enjoy doing.

The first full-length album of your solo project Þrymr, titled Saga of The North, was finally released on 27th November. I must say that this is such a surprising and also a very master crafted output that you've made, quite different from what you regularly got used to working with in the extreme metal territory. What is the story behind you starting Þrymr?

The whole project started when I had this sort of vision of a viking funeral. I pictured a group of vikings, walking across a battlefield with dead bodies and weapons all over. They carry their leader/earl/king up on a small hillside, before he is being buried or burned. I had this sort of melancholic theme in my head, just sounds, no melodies. So, I tried to create what I had pictured. And this then triggered the need to know what happened before and after the funeral, and also what was the reason for his death.

If I am not mistaken, the project name Thrymr (Þrymr) directly associates to your own pseudonym Trym, but the name itself comes from the jötunn from the Eddic poem Þrymskviða, who stole Thor's hammer Mjǫlnir in demand for the goddess Freyja's hand in marriage as the price for returning it. If this is correct, could you please tell me what exactly fascinated you about this story and what it has to do with your project?

This is correct. So, the story of Thrymskvida in itself, did not really have anything to do with why I chose this name for my project. I was actually looking for some rune inspirations for a client in my tattoo studio, when I found the Thrymr rune, and instantly thought this would be perfect for what I was working on.

In terms of the album's overall execution, I'd say that this is quite epic, cinematic and ambitious work you've made. Were you working solely by yourself on this album or did you also get to collaborate with someone else?

Thank you for saying so. I did it all by myself, yes. But I did speak with other people about things I was not too sure about. Initially I had way too much going on, and one day I realized I had to minimize things, and then started to strip everything down, until I felt there was no more to strip unless the core of the theme was gone. That was a really hard decision to make, but also probably the most important. As this was supposed to be all about atmosphere and emotions for a scene, rather than a huge symphony at the opera.

While listening to Saga of The North, it was very hard not to notice the cinematic elements in the music, especially because some tracks like "Gravferd" present such a scenery that it truly feels otherworldly and divine. Have any significant film or TV series composers played a big influential role in your music?

I have always been a huge fan of music in movies and tv series. It's so intriguing how a single theme can make or break a scene. My personal favourite composers, among many, are John Williams, Howard Shore, Hans Zimmer, Jerry Goldsmith to mention a few. It was really hard to keep the focus about the scene I imagined in my head and not think like I'm used to when making songs for a band.

I know that you were also involved in filmmaking and film production in the past, and just out of curiosity, I would like to know whether you think that your project Þrymr could play a bigger role in the future by composing soundtracks for movies, TV series, audiobooks or even video games, or do you believe that it should strictly stick to being a musical project?

It would be an honour and really cool to be a part of something like that. And I'm actually working on a video game right now. It's still early days, but It's a big project, and I'm really happy and lucky to be a part of it. But at the same time, it's way more work, and not how I anticipated it would be. But that's how you evolve and grow when you have to force yourself to do things that are out of your comfort zone.

I also remembered that at one-point Satyricon made an entire ambient album for an art exhibition in collaboration with the Munch Museum in Oslo, Norway. I honestly think that your music would fit quite nicely for museum tours and art exhibitions about Norse mythology and history. Do you think Þrymr would also be very suitable for such purposes?

I did not want to listen to any other "similar" projects or styles when I made this album. I wanted everything to come from myself, and I also wanted to try and create a soundscape that I felt had the atmosphere and emotions of my visions of every scene. I did try to find authentic viking age instruments, but since that was really difficult, and also the fact that I would probably not be able to play every instrument properly enough, I turned my focus into finding sounds that could create pictures that matched what I had in mind. I did not get the chance to see and hear the exhibition Satyricon did at the Munch Museum. But if you think my project would fit for similar exhibitions, I'm really grateful for your opinion.

You are obviously widely known as a longtime drummer for Emperor, with past involvements in other great Norwegian bands such as Enslaved and Zyklon, and your reputation is highly remarkable, especially now with the new project that is debuting this year. Although you are primarily known as a professional drummer in these bands, have you felt the necessity in recent years to widely expand yourself as an artist with the given opportunity to do Þrymr?

I have been making all kinds of music styles on my own for quite a while, but never had a need to release anything. I actually never intended to release this either, but there was a chain of events that finally led to this. And I must admit that it's way more "scary" to do projects like this, than any records or live shows I have done with any of the other bands I have played with.

As a last question, I'd like to know what are the current plans for Þrymr now that the album is released? Are you planning to work on more material or perhaps do a live show?

I don't have any concrete plans at the moment. I'm having a release party at the mighty Gildehallen at midgards viking museum, and that's the only planned event. As for a live show, I don't see how that would happen. I would need a full orchestra, singers etc. So, unless this becomes a huge success, used in tv series or movies, and sells shitloads, and we all know that's not going to happen. I might do another album, but it would probably be something different from what I did with this project.

Thank you so much for this interview Trym, it's been such a pleasure having you here. Best of luck to you with Þrymr's debut album Saga of The North and keep making great cinematic music. Are there any final words?

Thank you for your support, and also thanks to everyone who has made an order for this album. You all rock!