From Rituals to Rage: An Unholy Communion with Savarak of Andakt

I had the pleasure of catching Andakt live in Oslo at the Revolver on May 25th, where the intense performance left a lasting impression on me. After the show, I had the opportunity to meet with Savarak (the mind behind Andakt), and we instantly bonded over our shared love for metal and carpentry. Our conversation led to an unexpected but meaningful gift—a handcrafted metal shield, one of the unique pieces he creates and sells at their shows.

It’s clear that Savarak’s passion for both his music and his craft runs deep, and today I’m excited to share the darkness that lays behind the origins of Andakt, the themes that drive Savarak’s sound, and much more in this interview. Check out the full interview below!

Can you tell us about the formation of Andakt in 2021? What was the driving force behind creating the band?

Andakt started out as a solo-project during the pandemic in 2020. At this time I had a break from my other band Raumer because my son Storm was born, and I had to focus on him. I had 4 hours every evening to work with music after he had gone to bed. So the few hours had to be meaningful. I spent 2020- 2021 writing and recording Incubus.

How does your music reflect the themes of Satanism, Shamanism, and Anti-Christianity? How do these themes influence your songwriting and overall sound?

Let’s start with Christianity: I grew up with parents who were Christians on both sides, a father who was a pastor/priest and a missionary, so I've had enough of religious indoctrination. For me it became an internal hatred, which has built up over the years. Black metal always been the way of expressing myself. Satanism for me is all about freedom, and when religion turns you into a mindless sheep the opposition must arise. Shamanism has different aspects, it’s very individual and depends on what you’re searching for within yourself.

Black metal has a long and storied history in Norway. How do you see Andakt fitting into the current Norwegian black metal scene?

My vision is to create something that stands out in this mire of black magic. there are too many copycats out there doing the same thing. On future albums I will keep Andakt incorporate different genres.

I'm very proud of the Norwegian black metal heritage, and honor it, but times change and so does the musicians. We can’t be locked to the old days anymore.

**Your full-length album Ritual of Angzhar has been well-received. Can you walk us through the concept and creative process behind this release?**

"Ritual of Angzhar" was originally supposed to be called "Dark Shamanic Ritual", but was changed when I had progressed further with the songs and lyrics. During the production of the songs, I went through a hellish time trying out medication for AD/HD. This involved anxiety attacks and extreme outbursts of anger. That's when I came up with the name Angzhar. The Ritual of Anxiety. The one song Jjelevandrer was written during a seizure, so it is very personal. So this album are all my emotions and anger channeled through the music.

What are some of the challenges and advantages of being a black metal band in Norway today compared to the early days of the genre?

The challenge is to start from scratch in this genre, then build up. As I mentioned above, too many similar themes and music so it's a competition. This is where the underground comes into play. In this genre, it is the underground environment that helps one to build up, through mutual promotion, buying merch and trading. Labels such as Cold Northern Breeze, Screaming Skull Records, Blod Buse Teip Trøkk are labels who are very helpful for bands that are on the way up.

Andakt have 2 CD digipak releases from CNB where I got 25% of the CDs, which is a very good deal for underground bands. Daniel Andrè Bjørndalen is the master behind Blodbuse Teip trøkk. He makes every Cassette from scratch, buys empty cassettes and then record the tracks to them. Then he does some very cool visual painting, and makes them special for every release. Ritual of Angzhar has one release, and it looks absolutely insane.

Norwegian black metal has often been associated with controversy and extreme ideologies. How do you navigate this legacy while staying true to your artistic vision?

There will always be controversial elements mixed into the music, theme and lyrics of Andakt. Just the name itself puts every Christian in pillory, as this is a sacred ritual that is carried out in practice for a deep conversation with God under 4 eyes. Try it yourself, search for "Andakt" on YouTube and you will find "Andakter" shared by The Norwegian Church, which shares videos daily. This can be both positive and negative for me, but I am the only one who has taken this name and used it into the black metal genre.

You’ve mentioned influences like Satanism and Shamanism. Can you share any specific rituals or beliefs that directly inspire your music?

I have no specific superstitions, religious or otherwise. But I know that the only person I can trust is myself and that is the essence of wisdom. But I have always been interested in the spiritual, especially with spirits and ghosts. Haunted places where things have happened that cannot be explained. The shamanistic aspect is more a inspiration of self evolvement.

With the rise of digital platforms, how do you think the global black metal scene has evolved, and how does Andakt engage with your international fanbase?

Digital streaming platforms destroy the income of artists, and the value of the music because it means that the bands do not earn money from the hard and demanding work of producing songs, albums etc. But there is also a positive side to this, its easier to discover new music, and if you really love the music you listen to, you can buy the album.

For Andakt's part, I want my fans to buy my physical releases, not because of the money I get, but for the simple reason that it is something else to actually own the music and hold it, feel it.

How people choose to listen to Andakt is up to them. If I was totally against streaming, I wouldn't have the music published. But that’s how the world is now.

What are your thoughts on the current state of black metal worldwide? Do you see any emerging trends or shifts in the genre?

Very little. There are far too many copies and people doing the same thing. Besides, Black Metal is starting to become a trend. If you go to Gardemoen airport, you will see advertisements for Black Metal, but not meant for the music, but the face paint. I think this is very stupid.

What can fans expect from Andakt in the near future? Are there any upcoming projects, tours, or collaborations you’re excited about?

Fans of Andakt can expect a new concept album. The name is already announced, and it’ll be called «Enebakk Archives». The lyrics contains history from Enebakk’s old times, with a twist of artistic freedom and creativity. This album will future Andakt’s new drummer Lothe, so be ready! I will collaborate on some new releases from other bands as well. Keep your eyes open for new releases.

What advice do you have for new and young bands trying to make a name for themselves?

Be yourself, no rules. Stay true to your identity. Keep on recording, making albums and play live. Search for new ways of creating music, themes and ideas. Work on live show performance, scene show. Remember to release new albums, and not only play live. Your fans need to know the songs you’re playing.

When you're not crushing metalheads with your sound you told me you're a carpenter, tell us more about what got you into it, and some of your badass creations like the metal shields you sell at gigs!

I’ve always been a creative soul in the every day life. Since i was a small kid, I always wanted to be a creator of some kind, and carpeting has helped me achieve that. It was not until i met my father in law, that I really got the flame to build houses.

It has always been my passion to create things to my band, for the sake of the scene show, and the live experience. The shields I made has been a lot of work, but in the end it’s worth it! Live props are really important in black metal. It creates a atmosphere while playing your songs, and brings your audience into the atmosphere as well!

Thanks to Savarak for paying us a visit and chatting, go forth and listen to Andakt and support!