War Against All

“I wake up in the morning, put on my leather jacket and go straight to my guitars.” Immortal guitarist and vocalist Demonaz is talking about his songwriting process for the past 30-plus years. As he tells Apple Music, the system was no different for the Norwegian black-metal legends’ 10th album, War Against All: first the guitars, then the lyrics. “Is this a battle song? Is this a hymn? Is this a song about the walk to the mountain to embrace the cold? You have to be very firm and insisting. It’s like the language of the gods or something,” he says. “But I always want to capture the listener. I want to bring them into the album and make them part of the journey.” As always, Demonaz is conjuring the frozen and fictional kingdom of Blashyrkh, a wintry realm populated by demons and ravens, in which battle rages eternally. “If you listen to Slayer’s Reign in Blood, it’s a journey to hell and back,” he offers. “It’s similar here. In a trip to Blashyrkh, maybe you will survive, maybe not.” Below, he details each song. “War Against All” “With the first song, you have a few minutes to capture the listener. I wanted to have a fast song because, I think, one of the things that I’ve done as a trademark is to make opening songs like ‘One by One’ or ‘All Shall Fall’ or ‘Battles in the North’—like, ‘Let’s go for it.’ It’s like an invitation or ticket to the album. The bass drum goes and never stops, and there’s not too many riffs—just enough to keep you in the Immortal universe. Let’s start a war, but everybody with us.” “Thunders of Darkness” “I’m not going to slow down on the second track. This is a straight follow-up, like ‘Sons of Northern Darkness’ after ‘One by One’ on Sons of Northern Darkness. When I was listening to my favourite bands, like Slayer or early Metallica or Bathory, the first song is very fast, and the second song doesn’t give in. This is probably the most primitive track on the album. Every time I put on the record, I’m glad I put it here.” “Wargod” “Thi