ONDT BLOD - Rise Above ! (Norway - Melodic HardCore - Interview with Aslak Heika Hætta Bjørn).

Hello ! Can you introduce yourself and tell us how it all began for you - your encounter with this musical universe, what appealed to you, what fascinated you and what made you want to get into music?
My name is Aslak Heika Hætta Bjørn, and i am a writer and the singer of Ondt Blod. I think i decided that i wanted to be in a band the first time I saw a live show (the local speed metal band human mind (RIP) at our local gymnastics hall) and became convinced that hardcore was the way to do it when I was handed the single “A shot of inspiration” by the northern Norwegian hardcore heroes Turdus Musicus in high school.

Tell me about the band... How you met - the current line-up - past experiences - and above all - WHY the need to form THIS band?
Ondt Blod consists of five guys from Kirkenes in Finnmark, a small industrial town on the Russian border — about as far north and east, and as far from Oslo as you can get in Norway.
We had all played in different bands while growing up in Finnmark, but Ondt Blod really started when we all ended up moving to Tromsø to study. Suddenly we were living in a city with a lively underground scene where you could catch punk and hardcore shows several times a week. Before long it became clear that we’d rather be the ones on stage than the ones standing in front of it. The band actually consist of the same lineup today as when we played our first shows in Tromsø in 2012.

Describe your sound and explain why I should listen to YOUR band at all cost ?
Objectively speaking, I think we’re the best band in Norway. So if you’re looking for a sales pitch, that should be enough to get started. Fast, angry, but still melodic — and with a bit of a wink in our eyes. What’s not to love? (Indeed.... ! Ed.)



Lyrical and musical inspirations/influences ? How important are the lyrics for you ? Are there any specific messages or thoughts you try to develop and share through your lyrics ?
Musically, I think Ondt Blod rests on two different angles. The guitar players come from more of a metal and heavy background, while the rest of us always leaned more towards punk rock. The idea has always been that it should sound hard as fuck and pissed off, but still catchy — something that works both for a mosh pit and as a pile up singalong. When we started the band we were really inspired by bands like Gallows and Everytime I Die, but also by the Norwegian hardcore tradition with bands like JR Ewing and Snöras. Since then it’s kind of drifted in all sorts of directions, some trash, some emo, a lot of pop-punk.
The lyrics are very important for the band, and a big part of our identity is that we sing in the Northern Norwegian dialect. Using Norwegian makes it harder to get away with clichés than if we were singing in English. It also means the audience can relate more directly to what we’re singing about — whether it’s social issues, Sami culture, broken hearts, or drinking a million beers.

About the band's discography... Imagine someone who doesn't know your band at all and wants to get interested in.. Which release would you recommend to start with, and why?
We have released three albums, and two ep´s. I think that our new album "Bauta", which is out now a great entry point. Easily our best one yet. 

About your latest release ?
"Bauta" was recorded at Aber Studio over ten days and nights in February 2025. It was produced by our longtime friend and producer Yngve Andersen, who’s worked on all of our records, with the mad lad Simon Jackman engineering and handling the tech side of things. The album came out on March 13 through Playground Music, and is available on all streaming platforms as well as on vinyl.
The cover artwork is a print by the local artist Dagfinn Gjerde, and we’re happy and proud that he let us use this motif from the place we come from.
Recording "Bauta" was a long time coming, and it feels both great and a little nerve-wracking to finally be back eight years after our last album. On this record we’ve tried to explore what Ondt Blod can be — the heavy parts are heavier than we’ve ever done before, and the more melodic songs reach even higher. At the same time it still feels like classic Ondt Blod, and it’s been great to see how well the fans have received it.

Future plans ?
We’re playing a release show for "Bauta" at John-Dee in Oslo on March 26, plus a couple of festivals this summer. After that we’ll rest on our laurels for a bit, before hopefully coming back with some new music before too long.

Your most insane dream with the band would be ?
Listen, if we can keep doing what were doing, and people will still show up and go bat shit crazy at our shows, that would be a great dream. Wouldn’t hate to headline Glasto or Roskilde either.

Your BEST & WORST concert - as a band - and why ?
I think our worst show were in Dresden in 2018. The promoter sent us on stage half an hour before showtime, and the four people who had bought tickets showed up halfway through the set. Humiliation.
We toured Europe and Japan and played big festivals as Wacken and Summerbreeze. But i think hands down my favourite show was the release gig of our last album, "Natur". The venue was sold out and filled with friends, and the band was at performance. Pretty sure our release gig at March 26. will top it though ! (That's all the bad luck I wish for you ! - Ed.).