MetalAssault recently spoke with KVELERTAK frontman Erlend Hjelvik on a variety of subjects including the band's debut album, their recent North America tour and the visa problems, plans for the rest of the year, their unique musical style, popularity in Norway, singing in Norwegian, the early years, the band's name, his favorite tracks from this album, and last month's LA show. An excerpt is available below.

Metal Assault: You use Norwegian language for your lyrics. What was the reason for choosing your native language? Was it because you thought it would sound more natural?

Erlend: "When we started out, we didn't have any ambitions at all so we just felt stupid to sing in English. 90% of the bands in Norway have no chance of making it outside of Norway anyway, so it seems kind of useless to me for them to sing in English. Also, it just feels more natural for me to sing in Norwegian because it's the language we speak. I just feel silly when I sing in English, really (laughs). So yeah it's just the way I prefer it to be, and by now I think it's a very important aspect of our sound."

Metal Assault: But do you think you'll continue singing in Norwegian, considering the fact that you're become successful in America as well now?

Erlend: "Yeah, I think we'll stick to Norwegian. It doesn't seem to make any difference whether it's in Norwegian or not. People in the States seem to get into it regardless of the language. Good music is good music, regardless of what language the vocalist sings it in, I guess."

Metal Assault: When you started out, how did you arrive at the name Kvelertak?

Erlend: "I don't know, I can't even remember any word (laughs). I think it was the name one of the guitarists came up with, and I can't remember how we figured it out. In Norwegian it means 'chokehold.' I just think it's a good sounding band name."

Click here for the complete interview.

Kvelertak were recently confirmed for the Wacken Open Air festival, which is scheduled for August 4th - 6th in Wacken, Germany.

Acts on the recently sold-out W:O:A 2011 bill now include: ACCUSER, ALBERLOUR'S, APOCALYPTICA, AS I LAY DYING, AVANTASIA, BATTLE BEAST, BLAAS OF GLORY, BLIND GUARDIAN, BLOWSIGHT, BÜLENT CEYLAN, BULLET, CHILDREN OF BODOM, CRADLE OF FILTH, CRASHDÏET, DEVILDRIVER, ELÄKELÄISET, ENSIFERUM, EXCREMENTORY GRINDFUCKERS, HAIL OF BULLETS, HÄMATOM, THE HAUNTED, HAYSEED DIXIE, HEAVEN SHALL BURN, HELLOWEEN, HELLSAW, HORCH, ICED EARTH, IN SOLITUDE, JUDAS PRIEST, KATAKLYSM, KHOLD, KNORKATOR, KREATOR, KVELERTAK, KYUSS LIVES!, MAIDEN UNITED, MAYHEM, MORBID ANGEL, MORGOTH, MOTÖRHEAD, NEGATOR, ONKEL TOM, ONSLAUGHT, OZZY OSBOURNE, PRIMAL FEAR, THE PROPHECY²³, PUSSY SISSTER, RABENSCHREY, RHAPSODY OF FIRE, RUSSKAJA, SALTATIO MORTIS, SEPULTURA, SEVERENTH, SHINING, SHRAPHEAD, SIRENIA, SKÁLMÖLD, SKI KING, SKINDRED, SLIME, SMACK BALLZ, SODOM, STIER, STORMZONE, SUBWAY TO SALLY, SUICIDAL TENDENCIES, SUIDAKRA, TAUTHR, TOKYO BLADE, TORTURE SQUAD, TRIOSPHERE, TRIVIUM, TSJUDER, VAN CANTO, VENOMIN JAMES, VICTIMS OF MADNESS, VISIONS OF ATLANTIS, VOLCANO, VREID, WARRANT.

For more info visit Wacken.com or the Wacken Open Air Myspace page.