Some time ago, in the beginning of September, Stagedive published a review of Leaves' Eyes latest effort Njord. Here's the link again if you want to (re)read it: Leaves' Eyes
A bit later, we send some questions to Liv Kristine which we recieved a bit later. Unfortunately the content stayed on out inbox and we almost forgot about it. Nevertheless we stillpublish it since Liv took her time to answer the questions and gave us a lot of interesting information about the band, previous releases and Njord.

Enjoy the reading!

First of all, we would like to know how it feels to release a new full length record after so many years. Do you still get exited when it happens?
Liv: The day it happens reminds me of that day when I finished my master degree at the university. It's great to have the album finished and out in the shops. The mixing process of "Njord" was quite long and took a lot of strength and sleep-less nights. The first thing I did was to go for a long run through the forest. What a relief, what a great moment.

What are the first things you check after the release, is it the press exposure/reaction or the fans reaction? And what's the most important one to you?
Liv: I am checking a handful of reviews inbetween all the interviews I am doing, but the fans' reaction is just as important! I remember very well back in 1996, as the first Theatre of Tragedy album (my ex-band) was released, and the press chopped off our heads, because we were a gothic metal band using a female soprano voice in contrast to the male one, introducing the "beauty and the beast" concept - How could we be so rude
and bad! A few months later we got voted by the audience to be the "Band of the year"..."Best song of the year" in a number of music magazines. I am so grateful to my fan base and friends who always have supported my bands! You give me so much energy and inspiration!

Why did you pick a Norwegian title as title for the record while -in fact- most members are German?
Liv: The title "Njord" says already a lot about the concept.  I love the "sound" of the word  (I am a phonetician). It reminds you of "north" and "fjord", however "Njord" is the god of storms and the sea. He was incredibly important for the Vikings, either as farmers, fishing-men, traders or warriors travelling across the seas in their long ships. I always let the music speak for itself. If I feel that a song or an album demands a very different lyric or concept, I would concentrate on this. We work on every song until it has reached its individual character. I will never try to force my art - I will only try to work and progress together with it, let it speak to my heart, and shape it in the most perfect way. Everything I do comes from my heart. The fact that I am Norwegian, will always play an important role in my music, concepts and lyrics. My German, American and Russian bandmembers let me decide. Even before I entered school I got interested in myths, old tales and history. My mother used to read to me before going to sleep. In Norway, where I was born and lived for 20 years, we do learn a lot about Scandinavian history, especially the Vikings, at a very young age. Of course; I also miss my homecountry, especially since I became a mum in 2003. I think this is a natural process that takes place in humans when they become parents and feel the importants of their own roots, heritage, and their love for their family. Norwegian nature will always play the most important role for me in my artistic work.

Is there a concept behind the lyrics?
Liv:The lyrics mainly deal with characters from northern mythology (e.g. Njord, Fröya'sTheme, Nine Wave Maidens, Ragnarok), or with places and historical happenings (e.g. Scarborough Fair, The Battle of Maldon, Emerald Island, Irish Rain, Les Champs de Lavande). This is why I found it necesary to deal with all these different languages. "Vinland Saga" is based on Leif Eirikssons discovery of America, even the EP, Legend Land, which followed soon thereafter. "Njord" has a much broader concept, travelling through history, and into Nordic mythology. It has always been important to me that our sound and art is authentic, and that our audience really get the feeling of being on a wonderful journey. I feel that our music needs a special well-written and interesting concept, and I want to travel through time and space, taking our audience into an amazing and positive feeling and state of mind.

As a band, Leaves' Eyes seems to like to release a lot of mcd's as well, starting with the debut mcd "Into Your Light" in 2004.  What's the reason for this?
Liv: After the release of "Vinland Saga" and "Legend Land" in 2005, we needed some time to finish our next production. We started to compose for "Njord" in 2007, and we had planned to release the album in 2008, however we just built a complete new studio from the ground as we had to leave the one we had rented before. Moreover, we were forced to renew the complete studio equipment and recording system after moving into the new studio. This took about at least a year. In the middle of all this, we had to
produce our DVD, which is a "monster" project of six hours playing time. Of course we had troubles finding a new bass player and drummer, as our two former members decided to concentrate on their other jobs. Nick Barker, who was our drummer for a while, unfortunately had to step back from metal and music business during a difficult period of time in his life. We suddenly had a phone call from England, in which he was terribly sorry to tell us about some serious personal problems he had. It is quite
difficult to find a new drummer, especially because he or she has to be able to play the songs by Leaves' Eyes, Atrocity and my solo project. However, we needed to get through these extremely busy and hard times to get a new perspective on things, and to settle down. Since the first demo recordings for "Njord" we have been able to achieve goals that we thought back in 2007 would be quite impossible.

How do you see the musical evolution of the band since this first release?
Liv: Our debut "lovelorn" was a very fresh start for the band, and we got fantastic reviews. Well, you shouldn't forget that my band members have more than 20 years of experience with metal, and I myself have been around for over 15 years. This is something that is unpayable. The experience makes you the artist you are, and Leaves' eyes is definitely a magical composition of professional musicians with music coming from our hearts. "Vinland saga" and "Legend Land" even entered the charts in 2005 and the press gave us wonderful critics. Now, with "Njord" we have reached new
heights, which I think is fantastic. Music is a part of my life - and a dream coming true. My other dream to become a mother has also come true so I consider myself to be a very lucky person! "Njord" was, like every album,  recorded in our own studio "Mastersound", and it was produced by my husband and singer in the band, Alexander. He did a fantastic job as an engineer. He is the one who had the most sleepless nights, installing the new recording system on our new studio computers, and being responsible for the mix, as already mentioned above. We spent all our money on this production, however, there are three perfectionists in the band, and we are artists that give 110 % into our art. Everything we do comes from the heart! : "Njord" has a power to it
that even is more intense than any previous production I've been part of. Technically, we constantly have new ideas and aims. We have our own studio and therefore we have the oppertunity to specialize in technical tasks concerning album and DVD productions. "Njord" has even a more bombastic but delicate sound that "Vinland Saga", because techniques allows it. Moreover, the classical recordings done in this huge formation is
something we hadn't done at least to this extent on the previous albums. We met the director of Lingua Mortis, Victor Smolski, at a Leaves' Eyes/Rage concert in Greece in 2007 and we talked to him about having his orchestra playing on the album. From the very start, Alex said we need a real 40-person orchestra, and we need a 25-people choir to make the album sound bombastic, impressive and authentic. Viktor did a fantastic job. The classical parts were recorded in Minsk and sent as sound files to our studio. I am so proud of my bandmembers that we achieved this goal together! The feedback of the album "Njord" has been absolutely amazing. Many journalists and fans have already pointed out that they believe and hope that 2009 will be the beginning of a wonderful journey for Leaves' Eyes. I hope the universe hears this!

In the beginning of 2009 the band also released it's very first DVD, which covered a show in Belgium on the Metal Female Voices Fest. You will also play on this year's edition of the fest. How do you feel about this and can we expect something special?
Liv: I am so happy to be back in Wieze this year! My sister (Midnattsol) and Tarja will be there as well! We love doing acoustic shows because then we are able to show our audience that we do not need a huge technical plan and a huge stage to play a good show. In an acoustic situation we play accapella and the audience is much closer to us. I like the intimate athmosphere. On the other hand, I also enjoy playing at big stages with a load and wild audience. I like both! "Scarborough Fair" is one example of a song played in an acoustic version as well, which can even be heard on our EP as a non-album track on "My Destiny".

Despite the loss of After Forever, the Gothic metal scene still produces a lot of high quality cd's while a lot of mediocre bands jump on the train of popularity. What do you think is the reason why Leaves' Eyes still remains one of the top bands in the genre?
Liv: Well, I also miss After Forever, they were a good band! I hope they will hang out maybe in Wieze, backstage!? The main reason why we differ from other bands is, firstly, the fact that we have a broad concept behind every album we do. I feel that our music deserves a special well-written and interesting concept, and I want to travel through time and space. For me history has always been extremely interesting. As I left my home
country Norway after 20 years and moved to Germany 12 years ago, I had more books about the Vikings with me than clothes and shoes. Yes, I am still searching for interesting books. Moreover, I was lucky to visit York's Viking Museum last week-end. I will always stay Norwegian in my heart. This feeling became even more intense after I became a mum in 2003. I think that's a natural process. I travel to the north as often as
possible. Before we retire, we will return for good! I just can't live without my family and the amazing, impressive fjords and mountains, and the more intense seasonings' changes. Norwegian nature will always play the most important role for me in my artistic work. Secondly, I grew up with heavy metal (e.g. Black Sabbath/Ozzy) on one side, and classical music (e.g. Grieg, Tschaikowsky) on the other side, so when I formed my ex-band Theatre of Tragedy together with the lead male singer back in 1994, it was clear to me what my music should sound like: bombastic, romatic, heavy, and it must include contrasting elements.  Leaves' Eyes is not at all a Viking-metal band, although my lyrics and concepts are based on Viking's history. We mix metal, probably gothic metal, with real classical music, and even folk instruments, and then we have contained the"beauty and the beast" image from my early days with Theatre of Tragedy, with main focus on the soprano female voice. I am still sticking to my roots, but there's a continuous progression in me and the band with every album.

Songs like "My Destiny" and "Take The Devil In Me" sound a little bit more 'modern'. Is this the new development, or just an experiment?
Liv: We never plan how a song should be. We just work on it until it has reached its perfect individuality. It's all about "pure luck", how a song turns out. We let the music speak for itself!

The last question: which Leaves' Eyes song would you recommend to a person who -let's say- has one more song to live and wants to listen one of your tracks. He/she has never heard your music before.
Liv: I guess you should watch the video for "My Destiny", or "Elegy" first. However, "Froya's Theme" is my favorite among the 18tracks written for "Njord". Froya is the goddess of sex, and, later, also of war and death - a curious juxtaposition of responsibilities. One of the Vanir, she came to Asgard as a hostage accompanied by her father Njord and her brother Frey. She married the god Od, who deserted her, and here's when our story begins. Froya could nort accept that her husband had "eyes for
other women", and went after him. It is said that she was crying tears like stones of gold, crashing down onto the earth. Finally, she finds him and there's a reunion between the two. As I heard Thorsten's (guitars) demo version of this song, I instinctly thought that this is going to be an epic, longer, musical piece. My other "fave" is "Irish Rain". I love the uillian pipe and the whistle and it's skindeep atmosphere.

Now, let's hope you were able to read these about their latest effort, it was a whole lot of information we got here!