It has been more than two years without any contact with the scene and some people thought he died, but no. Tom Orgsen is alive and well. He left the music scene after the disbandment of his extreme metal band REÄLM in 2011 but now he's ready to come back and claim the Black Metal throne again.





Let's make a bit of history: he formed the extreme metal band REÄLM back in 2010 and the next year, they released their first and only album, The Sacred Chants Of Death which achieved critical acclaim and commercial succes (peaked at #5 on the charts and sold over 3 million copies world wide). They also made some well received live performances during their Blackening Your Souls Tour 2011, including shows at the Total Annihilation, the Festival For Japan and the Kick Off Festival. After finishing their first tour in May 2011, the band started to work on their sophomore album (entitled Diabolus Sanctus) which was planned to be released sometime between November 2011 and February 2012. REÄLM released the first single off Diabolus Sanctus in September, called Our Lord Shall Rise, this single became their most-successful peaking at #6 on the Airplay and #5 on the Digital charts. A new single was confirmed for November but before its release, Tom Orgsen released a short statement saying the REÄLM was breaking-up. The new single and their second album were never released and there were more questions than answers.



Tom before joining REÄLM, in 2006


With just one album, REÄLM became one of the most important Extreme Metal acts all around the world, so, Today, after more than two years of silence, we have the pleasure to talk with the master behind the band: Tom Orgsen.





It's great to hear your voice again! You know, it's been a while since your last contact with the press...How are your things going this days?
Yeah, I know, I think my last interview was two years ago...Well, things are going great now, thanks.


Can you tell us...Where have you been?
I moved from Oslo to Stockholm with my wife...For the last years I've lived here in Sweden and I've made some journeys too...I went to Japan, China, Russia, France, etc.


But what happened after REÄLM disbandment? We never had a good explanation of the break-up.
A lot of shit happened those days...We were working on our second album, we were almost ready to release it and I was looking forward to that. A new single was coming on November 2011 but it was never released. What happened? After releasing our debut album and selling millions of copies, we turned from a local band to a world known one, we were called as the new hope for extreme metal, the thing is that it's almost impossible for such a heavy band to achieve so success. With money, people change...with a lot of money, they change a lot. I started to note things I didn't agree and that's why the managers and producers wanted me out of the band, that's impossible, it won't be REÄLM without me or without Tomt (Atle, drummer) or Terje (Lundsten, bassist), we were the founding members. Some people wanted to make us a more commercial band, a hits band...but you know, we were a metal band not a pop one. Things inside the band were getting worse every day, we were fighting every single hour and there was no more fun. Things changed a lot after meeting success, I thought 'months ago we were the best friends and now that we have money we are public enemies...what the fuck is happening?'...I realized we reached a point of no return. It was just not the same, it all changed a lot and I wasn't willing to leave REÄLM in the hands of fools who were just seeking money. I decided to finish all that shit...It wasn't healthy for none of us to be arguing every minute.



So REÄLM disbanded because of the producers and managers who were pressing the band a lot?
Maybe, yes...But we have some fault too. I've always known what I wanted for me but the others were not ready for that, they were not sure of themselves.


Is it possible to have a come-back of REÄLM?
It's quite impossible. I see no way to return. I haven't talk with the other guys in several months, except for Terje, he's still a good friend of mine.


What happened with Diabolus Sanctus, was it ready to be released?
That album was almost ready for the release. We had finished the recordings and just some mixing and mastering work left. Remember we had Scott H at the studio during the recording, he was great but his job wasn't finished...It wasn't his fault we just told him 'we are going to stop', he tried to make us release the album but I was really angry with everything and said no.



Don't you want to release it? Considering it's almost finished...
Mmmm, it's a hard question...There a days I want to release it, because I think it's a great album and that REÄLM deserves a decent ending but there are other days I fucking hate that album...I remember all the shit that happened during its recording and I want to destroy it. But talking about this days, I would love to have this album out there. It could happen sometime, but if I do that, don't expect a come-back of the band, REÄLM is over.


What have you doing this years? You didn't release any project or album.
I live for music but I have other passions too. For the past years, I've been studying history at the Stockholm University and I've worked as a singing teacher here in Sweden. I took a break from the professional singing.


Would you like to return to the stages?
Yeah, I would love to. I'm working on a really ambitious project right now. I've been writing songs for the last two years so I have a lot of available material.



Are you confirming a return?
I never left. I just took a break but I never stopped to work...I have a lot of songs recorded and it would be great to release an album again. But I won't confirm anything, I'm not like that, I make what I want at the moment. For the last years I wanted to study and teach, that was I did. I will release something in the future, that's sure.


Something with your brother maybe?
He has his own projects, he's very busy right now. We have recorded some things the past months, it's great to have a brother like him, he's always there if I need a drummer *laughs*...Talking seriously, I have a lot of ideas for new projects but I don't know when I'm going to release them. 2014 sounds like a good year...you'll have to wait!


Do you want to say something for the metal fans out there?
Be ready guys, I have a lot of devastating stuff coming!



Thank you for your time, Tom and good luck in your future projects!
Thank you so much, it's been a pleasure...Bye-bye!