Divided Multitude started up in 1995. Basically, we were meant to be a cover band, but already on our first rehearsal we started making some riffs and melodies, and we focused on writing own material from day 1. We recorded a demo in 1996 and another one in 1997. This gave us a chance to get a track on a CD released by Frontiers Magazine, and after the release we got in touch with Sensory Records, who signed us the same year.

The debut album "Inner Self" was released in 1999, and the toured with the Swedish band Hollow after the release.

Since we only had contract on one album on Sensory, our second album "Falling To Pieces" was released on another label; the Italian label Elevate Records. The album was released in 2002, and we toured Norway and played festivals after the release, high-lightened by our gig at ProgPower Europe.

Then we had a period of low activity between 2004-2007. The reason for it, I think, was that our label went out of business, and we had to start all over again. We still did some gigs and wrote some new material, but it was a "slow" period. Our drummer left the band in 2007, and we had another change of drummer in 2008. We were also involved in other bands in that period, like Triosphere, Wattamezz, Tal Rusha.

But in 2008 we recorded our third album "Guardian Angel", and got signed on Silverwolf Productions in 2009, and the album was released in 2010. After the release, we toured Norway with Saint Deamon, and later that year we toured Europe with Danish metallers Manticora.

2011 was a year of festivals for us, and writing new material.

In 2012 we recorded the main part of the album, and finished it up in 2013. So now it's out: " Feed On Your Misery", released on Fireball Records AS in April 2013.

And next up, is the European tour with Fates Warning.

01. Esperanto

This is actually the riff from "Reborn" latino style. I wanted to call it "Esperanto", because, like the title, it sounds Spanish, but it isn't......hehehehe. At the end of it comes into the "Feed On Your Misery" riff latino style. And it sounds different than other intros :-)

02. Feed On Your Misery

This is an up-tempo song, that I think wear different "faces". It got this aggressive feel to it, but is still very melodic. Basically a thrash-metal song with a touch of Pantera and In Flames.......and with the keyboards, it's a typical Divided Multitude song. The lyrics is about how far the media is willing to go, or push people to get their headlines. It it based on the "News Of The Week"-scandal in the UK.

03. What I See

This one starts up with a In Flames-Mercenary groove, and moves into Divided Multitude land in the verses and the bridge. It also has a killer chorus. Eskild wrote this one :-). Lyrically it's about living the life as an actor in a soap-series.

04. Scars

This is a song about the ultimate deception or treason. I had the Molotov-Ribbentorp pact (Non-aggression pact, between the Soviet Union and Germany) in min writing the lyrics. I can also be related to a personal level, so it relates to different situations and levels. Musically it's a typical Divided Multitude-track I think; melodic, aggressive; added some progressive "spice"

05. The World Is Watching

"The World Is Watching" spins around the desire, or desperation some people got to be on TV, and in the media. All the shows popping up as a result from this as well. This one starts a bit different, since, it goes directly into the verse of the song, and it's up-tempo, with loads of energy all the way.

06. Crimson Sunset

This song has a riff that I wrote back in the time I was involved with Triosphere. It was never used, so I just brought it back from the abyss, and finished up a song on it. And yes, it does have a Queensrÿche-feel to it, especially the opening riff. Still I think we turn it into a Divided Multitude-song throughout the song. Lyrically, this is our environmental song, and how we treat what is to be handed over to our children; the next generation.

07. 2 4 7

This is also a song on the media, and the glorification of being on the screen. The belief that being on the screen will solve everything. Musically, it's a true Divided Multitude-song, with some rhythmical patters, keyboard/ guitar harmonies, and heavy grooves.

08. Vicious by Heart

Lyrically this song is about being a victim of mind games, and being pushed down by the mob.Musically this is a heavy tune, still pretty simple in its structure, with a heavy groove all the way. This was a song that was almost 10 minutes, but we stripped it down. So now we have loads of solo-themes as left-overs hahahahahaha...

09. Seconds

"Seconds" is as song about how media make priorities on news, based on what is most "commercial", not necessarily the most serious new. It's about profit running the media. This is a song that we re-arranged several times to make it fit the Divided Multitude-formula, and it turned out really cool.

10. Transparent

Transparent is a song about being transparent, and not belonging any anywhere. And it's about the efforts to be a part. But in the end it's about surviving it, and rise strengthened from it. "Larva turn to butterflies". Musically it's a kind of ballad, but it turns into this heavy tune.

11. Reborn

This is a song of playing the roles expected from your surroundings, in every context. This can be a burden for many people, and it can create a distance to who you really are. And it's about breaking out from this, and to show who you are.

Three years have passed since the release of “Guardian Angel”, and “Feed On Your Misery” is finally out! It has already received rave reviews from the critics. What are your own feelings on the positive reactions?

Ahhhh.......we are really happy that the album is so well received. We feel that this is our best album, so far. So it's cool to see that reviewers also share our opinion. It's just amazing :-)

What’s the biggest difference between your previous three albums and this one?

I believe this is a natural continuance from our previous albums. It's in the same alley as before, but it's now more metal than prog. I also think we wrote songs with the same formula on "Guardian Angel." But this time the tracks are even more "effective", and has maybe has more elements from other genres in it, like thrash, melo-death together with the other influences we've got.

Could you please tell us a bit about the artwork – who made it etc. and how important do you feel it is to have a cool artwork?

The art-work is done by Per Spjøtvold. He got the lyrics for the title track, and he came up with the front-cover. I think it reflects the album-title perfectly, and it's different. Great job, Per !!!!!

Since the title-track is linked to the "News Of The World"-scandal, it was really cool that he came up with the newspaper idea.

It always cool to have a great cover, and we've been lucky to have gotten the chance to work with really good cover-designers all the way.

Is there any track that means something special for you on the album?

Hmmmm......it kinda changes. I think all track are good, and I have a special relation to all of them. Lately Reborn has been my favorite.

Who and what has inspired you musically on this album?

Ohhhh.........there are so many things and bands. We try not to sound like any other band, so we just mix all the bands and music we've listened to throughout the years, and make our own sound out of it. But bands like Pantera, In Flames, Nevermore, Mercenary, Megadeth etc. and of course bands like Fates Warning, Queensryche, Dream Theater, Symphony X, but also bands like Slayer, Iron Maiden, Metallica, Anthrax.....I could go on forever :-)

Tell us about the recording of the album, and how it was to work with Jacob Hansen once again?

Jacob is just great. He knows how we want it to sound, and he is really professional, easy to work with, and a great friend. Maestro !!!!

The recording of the album was done in our own studios. We did guitars, bass and vocals in my studio. Background vocals and keyboards was done in Eskild's studio. For the drums, we hired a studio for the recording. And the Hammond Organ was recorded to a friend of ours, in Black Lodge Studios.

Then we sent all the files to Jacob, and he mixed and mastered it.

Two members of Divided Multitude are already a major driving force of Teodor Tuff. So how do you see the future of Divided Multitude and Teodor Tuff? Will one eat the other, or can we expect both of them to continue growing and contributing to the metal scene?

We have a fine balance on how to be members in two bands. It's about good planning, I think.

We have started to write new material for the upcoming Teodor Tuff album as well, so we hope to record it next year.

Now we're in a touring period with Divided Multitude, and we hope to do as many festivals as we can next year. I hope to be done writing my tracks for the Teodor Tuff album in December. And then we kick off 2014 with Divided Multitude again.

Thank you very much for taking time out to answer my questions. Do you have any last rants for our fellow readers?

We want to thank everyone checking out the album, and thanks for the support.

And for you who haven't checked it out, feel free to do so :-)

Do come check us out live on our European tour, opening for Fates Warning in October.