Interview:

Being an atheist and a man of science, I believe in no other existence than the one I am currently enjoying. Life is an all too short journey from cradle to grave, and I intend to get the most out of it. Naturally, I have chosen to play Extreme Metal. The human brain is the most powerful entity, and its many complex interconnections continues to spawn creations beyond the mind’s own capacity. After all, the mind has created God and Satan. Somehow, fed with energy like feelings or temper, or even substances, the mind begins to produce music. Tones and pulses are simply energy that will eventually become a song. As if this process was not worth enough reverence, the music itself is interlaced with words, adding to or completely reshaping the atmosphere. The song is unleashed upon the world. By clashing with endless sets of unique neurons the music will incite feelings close to, or far from any original purpose. People will mosh to that song, and they will live for that song. People will die to that song, and people will die for that song. Somewhere, someone will pick up a guitar and jam to that song. This complex fabric of events and destinies, of cause and effect, of human splendor dangerously entwined with human stupidity, is far greater than anything because it is everything. As vast as it is, there is room for nothing else. I acknowledge, enjoy, and exploit the myriad of emotions born from music but I will never give it any further significance because it needs none.

“I acknowledge, enjoy, and exploit the myriad of emotions born from music.”
– Anders Härén, guitarist in My Own Grave