“… an extraordinary filmmaker who really puts her heart and mind into her work!” ~Erik Unsgaard of Sarkom
Ksenia Hinderson is the brilliant emerging visual artist whom all metalheads need to know. Based in Norway, Ms. Hinderson has served as a videographer, photographer, cover artist, and more for talents as the legendary Troll, Kvesta, Kirkebrann, Whip, and Satanic Panic. Hinderson’s work with Sarkom has earned her an invitation to the Berlin Music Video Awards, which she attended with these celebrated titans in 2025—It has become clear that her path should be filled with many additional honors to come.
Hinderson, who has always been involved with the arts, enjoys oil painting as a creative outlet. Because she had been posting paintings and drawings on social media, friends of her husband, Troll and The Kovenant’s Stian “Nagash” Hinderson, began asking if she could provide their artwork. On behalf of Whip, Troll’s Jens “Sturt” Johansen was the first to solicit her expertise. (It must be noted that Nagash can only be described as one of black metal’s greatest pioneers and individualists. This two-time Spellemann, or “Norwegian Grammy,” recipient’s past groups include Dimmu Borgir, Nocturnal Breed, Kvesta, Carpe Tenebrum, etc.)
As Hinderson explored the mechanics of filmmaking, Nagash proposed that she shoot her debut effort in the form of a music video for Troll. Hinderson then set about interpreting “To the Shadows”—the opener on the masterpiece Trolldom (2023), for which she moreover contributed the artwork, layout, and photography. The result is simply phenomenal—a delightfully unnerving triumph that instantly captivates audiences with its elevated old-cinematic charm. The fact that Hinderson is mostly self-taught, with some education from online courses, only proves her genius; she beats industry veterans with much more experience.
She reveals, “When I was making the first video for Troll, my son was about 9 months old. I was on maternity leave, and, while he was sleeping, I would just sit at the PC and use all my free time. I was so inspired and very enthusiastic. It required a lot of discipline, but I was driven by passion for the music. I think I spent, like, six months editing. It takes me an enormous amount of time to pick the footage I want to use and figure out what exactly goes where. I judge by intuition and what fits the music.”
Hinderson’s superior intuitive gifts and natural aesthetic eye guide her photography decisions as well. Her photos bewitch by virtue of their uncanny power to loudly convey the essences of her subjects. She stresses, “The lighting is very important to me. I like artistic, half-shadowed pictures—That style reflects the moods I have in mind. One of my favorite things is to use one light on the side. It’s done often in black metal and is a very classic choice. I take lots of shots. Then, out of maybe 500, I’ll pick maybe four of them. I must say that I really like my own photos for Sarkom.”
Sarkom and Hinderson connected after the outfit’s driving force, Erik Unsgaard, saw “To the Shadows.” Unsgaard immediately recognized Hinderson’s talent and reached out to her. As another one of black metal’s finest and most charismatic frontmen and composers, Herr Unsgaard has always commissioned quality album art and clips—He has conspired with the likes of the esteemed Maxime Taccardi and crew members from the TV series Paradise Hotel. Although Hinderson takes pleasure in the filmmaking process, she initially declined Unsgaard’s offer to direct for Sarkom, concerned about the deadline and how she would balance the commitment with her family life and full-time job. However, the seer-like Unsgaard was persistent, and Hinderson eventually relented.
The first fruit of their partnership manifested as a magnificent video for the adrenaline-boosting single “Enter As Fool – Exit As Beast.” This feat premiered on Valentine’s Day, 2025, a week in advance of the official release of the impossibly awesome Exceed In2 Chaos—arguably the black metal highlight of the year, as praised by Loudwire. Unsgaard and his guitarist, Kevin “Galaaen” Galåen, both starred in the video, which was shot in two days in October 2024. Hinderson emphasizes, “It’s great to work with Erik; he is a great guy. That was a very important factor for me because it was stress-free. He’s a very kind person and a good friend, very open to ideas, and very accepting. He’s very patient and has lots of ideas himself. Kevin is also awesome. So, it was a very-very interesting project.”
As a director, Hinderson appreciates the possibilities permitted by Sarkom’s innovative nature, “It allows me more creative freedom than typical black metal. Erik didn’t want to go with the imagery—like forests, torches, nature—that you expect from black metal.” The absence of fetters to tropes and so-called rules helped cultivate a refreshing sense of true rebellion, which has become a rarity in today’s climate of watered-down gray metal, posing as black; the weapon-filled, in-your-face “Enter As Fool – Exit As Beast” video overwhelms with its concrete sense of danger. Hinderson perfectly visually translated the music’s fun yet intense energy; the unique and addictive disco beat is complemented by seizure-inducing quick cuts. Hinderson opted for a bluish tint, which enhanced the cold and alien atmosphere, though she also incorporated touches of red.
Speaking of which, Hinderson clarifies that animal blood from the butcher at a grocery store was used for the shoot. She recalls, “Because we were in a professional studio, we had to cover the floors first to avoid leaving stains and stuff like that. We were just pouring the blood on top of Erik’s face, and he had to suffer through that. It tastes amazing, and I think it looks cool. So, everything is very authentic.”
Edvin Paulsen, the father of Galaaen, not only secured a studio space for the team but also assisted on set. Hinderson explains, “Edvin works as a teacher at the arts academy where we shot the video. He had access to this green screen room with ceiling lights and additional lights that he helped set up and I used, so he deserves a huge thank you. I also had my own lighting with me—that is, a big softbox. But, mostly, I think using just one light source gives a dramatic effect to the picture.” For the shoot, Hinderson utilized a single camera, proving that simplicity can spawn optimal outcomes.
The production benefited from one more venerable presence: Nagash acted as a “sidekick,” allowing Hinderson to focus on executing her vision. She adds, “He also sometimes came up with suggestions for the shots: ‘Oh, maybe you should try that… and make that facial expression.’ He has all of his experience with music and, of course, is also very artistic and has lots of ideas.”
After the unveiling of Exceed In2 Chaos, Unsgaard decided that its fourth composition, “Spectral Prophet in a Demonized Dream,” should be his second filmic adventure with Hinderson. On the album, “Spectral Prophet in a Demonized Dream” follows “Prime Time Suicide,” which mines from A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors (1987) and boasts an alluringly sinister soundscape evocative of an industrial dystopia. It was apparent that this haunting number would demand a novel approach to horror. Verily, the artistically daring and worm-infested, newly unleashed product amounts to another testament to Hinderson’s excellence. Perfecting the project required five days of shooting, for one of which Nagash returned, and many months of editing.
Hinderson takes us through the immersive video’s genesis, “Erik drafted this scenario for me because he wanted it to play out a certain way, but he wanted me to build on top of that. And then, we, of course, had even more ideas that we exchanged. He’s very flexible; if I do something and try a new effect, I can just text him and shoot him a little clip. We have calls and look at new drafts together. With him, the process was quite easy because I think we basically had the same view of how things are supposed to be in the video. Again, he’s very accepting of my ideas; he gives me lots of freedom, which is very good.”
Before the main song even begins, the film presents a nearly three-minute-long introductory plot. Unsgaard remarks that he doesn’t think that has been done before in black metal. In accordance with Unsgaard’s wish to highlight specific parts of Oslo, Hinderson takes viewers on a journey by following a mysterious character. She recalls, “We went to tourist attractions. One of them is this very bizarre park of sculptures, Vigelandsparken. Some of the sculptures are kind of disturbing, but they’re very cool, very dark, and some of them are really depressive—They suit the video’s atmosphere. There were shots just of the Oslo streets, and we went to Oslo Central Station—There is a very famous tiger sculpture there that is kind of a symbol of Oslo.”
The figure wisely buys Exceed In2 Chaos from Katakomben. This landmark of a shop’s co-owner, the fabled Kenneth Tiller of Nachash and the disbanded beast Celestial Bloodshed, appears onscreen. Hinderson similarly treats us to glimpses of the metal mecca Kniven Bar, where bartender Andreas Langås, of acts as Blodkarsk, also makes a cameo.
Among the other components in the black-and-white intro, Hinderson mentions that she has placed colored “clips of some visions flickering from the main video part. Then, he comes back home, opens the door, and this dog comes out. And then, he takes the glass of whiskey, puts on the vinyl, and kind of falls into this lucid dream. That’s when the song starts.” At this point, in the apartment, actor Tobias Berthelsen assumes the role of the main character and does a fantastic job.
Hinderson continues, “I had this image of him being a bit depressed—He has these sleep problems. (Unsgaard has confirmed that the lyrics are based on dreams and his insomnia.) He’s lost in life, which has maybe lost meaning for him; he’s stuck in the matrix, and he just wants to find a way out. And, in this hallucinatory dream state, this demonic creature (portrayed by Unsgaard) comes to him and kind of suggests a way out. The whole atmosphere is nightmarish and dark. We used some props like the pistol, the nooses, and stuff. We both find there’s this romance in the darkness and the subject of death. So, the video isn’t very optimistic, but I find twisted artistic beauty in it, so we played around with that.” For all the named details, please be on the lookout for the yet-to-be-made-public uncensored version, though the artfully edited censored variant, of course, equates to a supplementary must-see.
Whereas Nagash did Unsgaard’s makeup for one of his three personas, the zombie-like entity, in “Enter As Fool – Exit As Beast,” Hinderson handled cosmetological duties for the aforementioned supernatural being in “Spectral Prophet in a Demonized Dream” whom they call “Whisper Man”—She devised this menace’s whole look. Hinderson even fashioned his crown herself as well as some of the other props.
As far as aspirations are concerned, Hinderson names The Kovenant and So Much For Nothing as a couple of bands for which she would like to direct music videos. Granted, Hinderson has already created background video content for The Kovenant’s live shows. She reflects, “Stian just threw this idea to me: he thought that, ‘Well, there are not so many extreme metal musicians using videos in the back. It’s mostly just backdrops with logos.’” As expected, The Kovenant’s ongoing international shows have been a huge success.
So Much For Nothing, on the other hand, is Unsgaard’s depressive black metal vessel, which integrates surprisingly experimental impulses—Although their previous title, Livsgnist (2012), earned acclaim, it seemed a shame that no promotional clip was ever produced in support of any of the unforgettable tracks contained therein. Hinderson comments, “I think it’s a very cool project. Also, I think ‘Spectral Prophet in a Demonized Dream’ relates to the darkness, death, and other subjects Erik covers there.” Fortunately, a new SMFN full-length is in the works.
The possibilities seem endless for Hinderson, especially considering that her artistry transcends genre. Hinderson offers insight into her musical preferences, “I tend to say I’m a metalhead at heart. It’s the music that resonates the most with me, and Norwegian black metal in particular. I like the imagery, of course, and this very secluded, small community. I was maybe 17 when I first discovered black metal. I liked it instantly. I do listen to other types of music as well—I’m still into bands like Korn and Nevermore. I listen to pop too, and I take inspiration from pop music videos.”
In fact, “Spectral Prophet in a Demonized Dream” showcases some animated sections reminiscent of A-ha’s “Take on Me”—Even leading drummer Nils “Dominator” Fjellström of Nordjevel, who performed on Exceed In2 Chaos as a session musician, appears as a moving sketch. Hinderson remembers that she and Unsgaard “came up with this A-ha idea simultaneously.” Indeed, like many other Norwegian black metal heavyweights, Unsgaard has expressed his reverence for these Rockheim Hall of Famers from Oslo.
On the topic of influences, Hinderson also shares, “I like dark and fantasy movies, like by Tim Burton. I think they have great atmosphere. I’m a huge fan of the Lord of the Rings trilogy (2001-2003) in general, and the camera angles, among other things, are epic in this movie. Fight Club (1999) was a movie that actually kind of inspired the ‘Prophet’ video—the effects, the vibe. Erik suggested that, and we agreed on it. We’ve used one more subtle reference in the video …”
The question arises as to whether Hinderson would consider making a black metal documentary, given the manner in which she captured Oslo and her understanding of the scene—Interest in Nagash’s career always remains high, and Sarkom’s history likewise represents a worthy subject. She doesn’t deny that it would be interesting to participate in such an undertaking. Regardless of which projects she chooses to tackle in the future, Hinderson is, as already stated, destined for continued greatness. Music aficionados should eagerly await the next moves from Hinderson, Unsgaard, and Nagash.
Follow Hinderson on Facebook and Instagram. Then, be sure to purchase Sarkom’s Exceed In2 Chaos here and Troll’s Trolldom here.
Photos courtesy of Ksenia Hinderson
