Echoes of SARKE: A Conversation with Thomas ‘Sarke’ Berglie

Last week, on February 20th, one of the Norwegian bands we all cherish—SARKE—announced its farewell,  after eight full-length albums and seventeen years of existence. To honor the band’s legacy, we had a conversation with Thomas ‘Sarke’ Berglie himself. Put your favorite SARKE album on in the background, and let’s delve into it.

Hello, Thomas. First of all, thank you for the legacy of SARKE and for taking the time for this conversation. Without your inspiration, some of the most beloved albums for generations of metal fans across the world , including the Balkans, wouldn’t exist. We sincerely appreciate everything you’ve done for the scene—both with this offspring of yours and with the other bands you’re an essential part of.
Sarke: Thank you so much for those kind words.

I wonder, what made you decide to bring the SARKE era to an end?
Sarke: After eight albums, and I feel eight good albums, we don’t reach out to the people anymore. Even though we get very good reviews and some people like it very much, it’s just a handful, so the budget does not add up. And there is almost no promotion help in the music industry. I guess we don’t play music that fits any digital world and playlists. That’s totally okay for us, but then it’s hard to get the budgets needed to release new music. And we know, of course, it’s important to play live, something we have not done in a long time. We all also have other bands, so we move on with those.

I see. You know, when we create something that holds great value for us, we often keep certain memories  from its inception tucked away in the drawers of our minds—memories that resurface with fondness over the years. What are some of your most incredible memories with SARKE?
Sarke: For me to record the first album was special. To play all the instruments myself. And to work with Nocturno Culto in the studio. And to see the album get so appreciated. And to play live at Wacken with Tom Warrior was also special of course. To make music for the movie SAGA and to have some roles in the movie was also great. Thats from the album Bogefod.

Wonderful memories. I was thinking recently – one of the things fans love about the band is the rawness and purity of its sound, which blends elements from different eras of rock, speed metal,black metal and other genres. What initially drew you to them? Who were your favorite rock, speed metal, and black metal artists back in the day?
Sarke: The reason why Sarke has so varied styles of music is just because I want to make music from the bands that has inspired me. So I blend all the bands I like into Sarke. I can not mention every band, but I can name some, so you see the range. From Darkthrone and Celtic Frost, to Ac/Dc and Motorhead, Kreator, Black Sabbath, Meshuggah, King Diamond, David Bowie, Kiss, movie soundtracks to mention a few.

I must say, “Vorunah” is a special entity —not just because it’s Sarke’s debut album, but also because it carries a distinct occult atmosphere that immediately etched itself into my mind when I first heard it years ago. Where did you draw inspiration for the album’s lyrics?
Sarke: I wanted to have short dark stories that describes some situations or people or places. Guess I just was inspired by a lot of dark, sick, mental things. I was not used to write lyrics. It was fun, but it was a lot of thinking involved to write everything. I think it turned out great and I am still pleased with them. 

In “Endo Feight”, your latest work, the theme feels quite apocalyptic, somehow a reflection of the rotting world we know today – it is about the inner struggle between light and darkness, dealing with one’s own shadows and fears. And despite that, there is a shimmering feeling of hope in there. What do you see as a “silver lining” in today’s human nature? How can one overcome darkness?
Sarke: That’s true. The new album is some kind of doomsday album. You see on the album cover the clock ticking down to the final end of all. There will always be ups and downs for everything. The minds of many do not always think in a positive way. It helps to have positive people around you, but that’s not always the case. Darkness can also be good if you use it wisely and learn from it.

The connection between music and visual art has always been strong, especially in metal. The cover art for every SARKE release is a remarkable creation. Is there one that holds a particularly special place for you?
Sarke: I always come back to the first album. I like that cover. It’s simple but still very effectful. Our newest album has a cover that means something for me. Very dark and good cover. “Gastwerso” album, too. Beautiful art, same as with “Bogefod”. “Allsighr” has a great sick painting cover. It’s hard to pick one.

Indeed. I’m curious – is there a specific musical instrument you could never part with? I still keep my first acoustic guitar, for example—even though I haven’t played it in years, and it looks like a museum relic.
Sarke: Same with me, I also still have my first acoustic guitar that I still play today. That guitar has made most of the songs for Sarke, Tulus, and Khold. I also still have a cheap Pearl drum kit that I like very much, even though I have an expensive Tama Starclassic set that sounds way better. But still, there is something special about the Pearl set for me.

Since you’ve mentioned before that you like mountain biking, what is the most beautiful nature sighting around you?
Sarke: Yes, I do like to go into the mountains and forest paths, to go along lakes and rivers, and to see and feel nature and the animals. There is good wildlife around here, with deer, elks, foxes, bobcats, wolves, bears, eagles, falcons, and more.

Sounds fascinating. Tell me, what fuels your creative spark the most when composing music? Are there specific emotions, experiences, or influences that drive your artistic vision?
Sarke: I use pictures and paintings to get inspiration to make music. That can be all kinds of dark pictures—other album covers, movie pictures, old paintings, dark posters, pictures of nature. When I make music, I want to create a feeling.

Looking back at your musical journey, I realize that you’ve been playing since the late ’80s and have been part of various bands since you were just 18. How did you perceive the scene back then, and how do you see it now?
Sarke: That’s hard to answer. The difference is not so big for me personally. When you start and you are young, you have time and it’s very exciting. I remember Slayer rolling up in a tour bus on the South of Heaven tour here in Oslo, and I thought that would have been very cool to do. Eight years later, I did my first European tour. Back to the question, the black/death metal scene is way bigger now than it was back then. Now it is endless with bands and album releases.

What’s next for you in the near future?
Sarke: Next now is Tulus. We are working on new songs, and we will enter the studio after the summer. Tulus also has some concerts coming up soon.

If you could give any advice to the new aspiring musicians, what would it be?
Sarke: Now I answer from a band perspective. Play the music you like. Believe in what you create is good, even if someone says it’s not. Do not compare yourselves to these incredibly good players on YouTube. Music is about feelings, the making of  songs that mean something to someone. The biggest bands in the world are usually just average players. Involve the whole band and have fun.

Thank you! Wishing you endless inspiration and success in all your endeavors!
Sarke: Thank you and thanks for the interest in Sarke.

The latest SARKE album – “Endo Feight”, was released last year via Soulseller Records and might be found here: https://bit.ly/3D9harI.