1.Can you give us an update on what has been going on with the band since the recording of the new album?
Dave: Well to be honest we took a break after we finished the recording. We worked on the album for 1 year straight doing pre production and then directly started recording the album. Now we have also been working on shirt designs, poster flags and beer coasters and stuff like that. We are also about to start rehearsing for the first time in many years. The idea is to do shows later on this year., supporting the album.
2.In 2026 you have a new album coming out, musically how does it differ from the stuff you have released in the past?
Dave: Not much at all I would say. The groundwork is still the classic In Aeternum, maybe even a bit more so this time. Fans of Forever Blasphemy will be pleased I would say. At the same time we have done some of our heaviest songs on this album. We have put a lot of effort to make this album sound as good as possible, working really hard on vocal lines and harmonies. The drums are outstanding as usual.
3.This is also your first full length since 2005, can you tell us a little bit more about the 20 year + wait?
Dave: Through the years we have had several line up changes on the lead guitar spot that kind of halted things. I also grew tired of the music business and also had a very serious motorcycle accident that put a stop to the band in 2018. Through the years between 2005 and 2024 we managed to put out two mcd’s and some compilation stuff, plus a bunch of cool shows. But we had our share of bad luck so to speak.
4.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band explored with the new album and also how would you describe your progress as songwriters over the years?
Dave: The whole album is a tribute to death and a celebration to those who have rode on in various ways. I wont go deeper than that so read the lyrics and make up your own minds about them. As a songwriter I still just write what comes to me, same goes for the others. If it sounds good we will try it out and see what we can create from it. By using Daniels home studio we have been able to really try out so many things.
5.On the earlier albums toy also cover a lot of satanic, occult and blasphemous, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in the dark arts?
Dave: I have always been drawn to the dark side and death in general. I’m a collector of human bones and skulls and do my thing when it comes to the spiritual side. I will not go further in to that as it’s very personal.
6.Can you tell us a little bit more about the artwork that is presented on the new album cover?
Dave: Belial NecroArts is behind the cover artwork this time, he’s a portugese guy with much talent. Look him up on facebook. We wanted to go back to the style of the first albums with a central figure. So death was a suitable choice considering the topics the lyrics deal with. It came out really good and makes me think of the Forever Blasphemy album cover.
7.Out of all the shows and tours the band has done so far, which one stands out the most?
Dave: Some of the coolest must have been Wacken Festival, Metal Magic, November To Dismember (LA) and the final show in Paris on the Belphegor tour. Not to forget the whole tour we did for the first album with Immortal, that was fun as fuck. There are more but these are the ones I remember as very special.
8.Do you have any touring or show plans once the new album is released?
Dave: We have just started to pick out songs to rehearse and the idea is to do shows if we get a good offer. We can’t play for free so it all have to add up economically in the end.
9.The band has been around for more then 30 years, what is it that motivates you to keep going after 3 decades?
Dave: The fact that we still have it in us to do music is why we keep doing it. We need to show the younger ones how it’s done. We still got things to write about and still the urge to belt out blasphemous music.
10.On the new album you also had some session work from Erik Danielsson of Waitan, can you tell us a little bit more about his contribution to the new recording?
Dave: Back in 2005 he wrote Seven Storms Of Doom for the album Dawn Of A New Aeon. Considering it would be 20 years since then we figured it would be a cool thing to ask him to contribute once again. This time I asked him to sing on the song as well. This song is very special to all of us, it’s a tribute to all those who have gone to the other side. This is our way of saying thank you and see you later when our time is up.The music is something we have never written in the past, and it’s our Bathory song, Hammerheart meets Twilight Of The Gods.
11.The new album is going to be released on 'Soulseller Records', how would you compare working with this label to other labels you have worked with in the past?
Dave: So far so good and we got no complaints. All labels have been good and bad in the past, it all comes down to being descent to each other. It’s been very smooth to work together with Soulseller.
12.On a worldwide level how has the reaction been to your newer music by fans of black and death metal?
Dave: Maybe it’s too early to say since we have only seen a few reviews. Those reviews have been really good though so I guess we did good.
13.Where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?
Dave: I don’t see any mayor changes at all. We still gonna do what we feel sounds good to us. One thing is for sure though, we are not going to get soft.
14.What are some of the bands or musical styles the band members are currently listening to nowadays?
Dave: We still listen to the old gods of metal, Morbid Angel, Blasphemy, Motörhead, Judas Priest, Saxon, Angelcorpse, Necromantia, Sodom, Bathory and the list goes on. Too many to mention.
15.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?
Dave: Thank you for taking the time to do this interview with us. We hope to see you somewhere at one of our shows during 2026. We are ready to tear up the stages across Europe and spread our blasphemy and sins to you all. Hail the metal of death, Hail death!
.jpg)
No comments:
Post a Comment