“A massive thank-you to Fosen Fire & Rescue, the Norwegian Civil Defence, and the Red Cross…”
It isn’t every day that two of the greatest creative geniuses go missing. Yet, that’s exactly what appeared to happen on November 13: My favorite musical hooligans, the legendary Mr. Snorre Ruch of Thorns and General Gribbsphiiser of Slagmaur, who doubles as a truly outstanding photographer and filmmaker, reportedly disappeared on a hiking trip, causing us all to fear for their lives. In a beautiful new video with spectacular cinematography just posted on Slagmaur’s YouTube channel, we are offered a behind-the-scenes glimpse into what really happened.
“Operation Master of Deceptions” turned out to be a case of what one might call brilliant performance art, or rather mind-blowingly sophisticated trolling, for a good cause. The whole affair caught the attention of media outlets large and small, members of the metal community throughout the world, and so forth. To accomplish their master plan, those involved magnificently designed the perfect-looking website Fosen Folket to post news updates.
Surprisingly, the magic trick was carefully and expertly orchestrated with the help of none other than Fosen Fire & Rescue, the Norwegian Civil Defense, and the Red Cross. Not even Hurricane Amy was able to stop these dauntless “Norwegian Giants.” The video shows us, for example, that real grenades were used to, by way of their smoke, enhance the horror-like vibe in the photos that accompanied coverage on Fosen Folket.
The whole saga was treated as a real exercise for both training and artistic purposes. The General fortunately understands the importance of high-quality press photos for such organizations, for whom recruitment and volunteer engagement are crucial. He thus penned:
“It is important to remember that all of this was done on a voluntary basis and out of goodwill. This project is a tribute to the everyday heroes who regularly operate in real-life emergencies and form the safety net that keeps you and me safe.”
Thank you, General, for bringing Norwegian heroes to the global stage and spreading awareness of their work. We likewise send our thanks, of course, to those heroes.
Support Slagmaur’s upcoming masterpiece, Hulders Ritual, when it strikes like a bomb next year. Of course, the mysterious recent happenings tie into the themes of the album.
