Varg Folkestad, former lead singer for the Norwegian death metal band, Dark Throne of Gorgoroth, who had become one of Tonto’s new acquaintances, approached me not too long ago about a project he was working on. He wanted to compose the definitive Death Metal Opera about the Völsunga and Nibelungenlied Sagas, which might include a futuristic Thidrekssaga. Varg wondered if I might be interested in doing the libretto. Always up for a challenge, I said yes. I filled it with red-blooded, rip-roaring, gung-ho Gods beloved by the Vikings, as well as a copious amount of beautiful blonde VALKYRIES. What can I say—Tonto loves his Valyries. Anyway—I would like to share the lines I wrote from my favorite Aria in the drinking scene: “'Bjorn, when you whacked my head off with that double-headed axe – that was brilliant. I didn't see it coming at all. My blood hit the ceiling! Just wait till tomorrow though. I’m going to get you dude.' 'I'll drink to that! Here, barmaid, five hundred drinking horns of Kvas please. And a packet of pork cracklins.'"
