Av Rune from Eternal Terror webzine (Norwegian/English) spoke to CELTIC FROST mainman Tom Gabriel Fischer about a number of topics including his vocal technique. Here are a few excerpts from the chat:

Eternal Terror: When did you start with extreme vocals?

Fischer: "I went to London in 1981 and I was there when the first VENOM single 'In League with Satan' hit the market. I bought it and when I listened to it, it was a release to me. I have been looking for heavier metal and at that time, the heaviest I had found was MOTÖRHEAD. So when I played the Venom single I thought that this was exactly the way I wanted my own band to sound. I had formed my own band prior to when I went to London. Though, even the Venom single wasn't heavy enough for me so instead of playing it at the regular 45 rpm, I slowed it down to 33 rpm and that's when I found the sound of my own band. The singer in my band said to me: 'You're insane, that's no longer music, that's noise.' He left the band, as did everybody else, so I reformed the band which was HELLHAMMER, and since we had no singer, I began to sing myself. This was in 1982 and this was how I started."

Eternal Terror: Is there anything you do on a regular basis to keep your voice in shape?

Fischer: "No, not really. I still sing according to the breathing technique I learned 23 years ago, and I am very proud to say that I haven't cancelled a show because of my vocals. With this technique I can sing when I have the flu or if I have a cold; when I am sick I can still go on stage and do a full show. On this tour that we are on right now, there was a flu and of course I got it and had to do 4 or 5 shows with the flu. The only thing I do is that I warm up. I didn't use to do that back in the early '80's."

Eternal Terror: Do you think it can be dangerous to do extreme vocals?

Fischer: "Yes, of course. I have experienced with other extreme metal singers that I've talked to that sing without any technique. Most extreme metal bands arise from the underground in some basement or something and of course you never get exposed to any technique. You are playing with throat cancer or vocal cancer, and that is not a funny thing. I've experienced with other singers that they have similar problems to mine. I live a very healthy lifestyle; I don't drink and I don't smoke."

To read the entire interview head to this location.