“The Great Darkness” - Arch Enemy drummer Daniel Erlandsson heartily schemes Rise of the Tyrant


By Anthony Morgan

Collaboratively produced by both the group itself and Richard Bengtsson at Slaughterhouse Studio in Sweden, July 2005's Doomsday Machine earned eighty-seventh position courtesy of the Billboard 200 charts. Following the release of that album, guitarist Christopher Amott quit the group. Reasons cited were the fact that he felt he wasn't feeling musically creative, and his heart no longer lay within Arch Enemy. Firewind's Gus G. handled 2005 Ozzfest dates with the group, whereas axeman Fredrik Åkesson (Opeth, Talisman) occupied the vacancy until March 2007. A timely occurrence, Arch Enemy were due to record their seventh full length studio album.

Recorded at Studio Fredman in Hyssna, Sweden, Rise of the Tyrant's production duties were handled by none other than the renowned Fredrik Nordström. 2001 marked the last occasion Nordström had produced an Arch Enemy full length, namely Wages of Sin. In terms of the mix, Nordström opted for a big and intense sound. Much graft and emotion was invested within the lyrics, words that deal with the pain and loss individuals cause one another. Ditching the experimentation with doubling vocal lines, a one-vocal-track, no-frills, no-effects approach became adopted. A mixture of melody and brutality, guitarist Michael Amott proclaimed the album as “an organic and honest statement”. Cabin Fever Media's Niklas Sundin (Dark Tranquillity guitarist) was employed to create the album artwork, the finished item possessing clandestine and very sinister tones. Shifting 8,900 copies in its first week within the United States during late September, Rise of the Tyrant garnered position eighty-four on the Billboard 200 charts.

Marking Christopher Amott's first live stint with Arch Enemy since his two year hiatus, an exclusive show at London's Barfly on August 17th went ahead. A day later, the Swedish Melodic Death Metallers performed at Bloodstock Open Air in Derby, UK. After the completion of an extensive Japanese promotional visit, Arch Enemy headlined Germany's Up From the Ground festival on the 14th. Starting on September 7th at House of Blues in Anaheim, California, The Black Tyranny Tour honoured dates throughout September and October within North America and Canada. Machine Head also shared main billing, with the groups Sanctity and Throwdown pencilled in as supporting acts. Other dates were saddled afterwards, such as those in countries like Australia, Spain and Greece.

The Black Crusade Tour package, comprising the weighty talents of Arch Enemy, Machine Head, Trivium, DragonForce and Shadows Fall, began its European trek in earnest on November 20th at SECC in Glasgow, Scotland. Making its lone Welsh stop at Cardiff's CIA on the 26th, an interview was kindly granted to Lucem Fero. Given the option of interviewing both bassist Sharlee D'Angelo and drummer Daniel Erlandsson collectively, yours truly opted to interview solely Erlandsson to aim for a more focused perspective as regards the latest occurrences within the Arch Enemy camp. Once the dilemma of finding Arch Enemy's tour manager Mike Poole had been solved, yours truly was courteously taken to a backstage cafeteria and met Erlandsson midway. The sticksman provides the following relevant information; Arch Enemy's burgeoning UK presence, an introduction to Rise of the Tyrant, the various sounds the album boasts, why the group had chosen to work with Fredrik Nordström once more, what comprises a good riff, intentions to re-record old tracks for a fresh compilation, honouring live dates with legendary Death Metallers Carcass during 2008, and the real story being the shoot for inaugural Rise of the Tyrant video “Revolution Begins”. A shy, reserved individual, promotional work is usually left to the more known faces. Such qualities though display human depth and musician, qualities altogether absent in some respects when it comes to more confident interviewees.

 

  • First of all, how are you?
  • Pretty good, pretty good.
  • How have things been during the tour?
  • They've been very good so far, but we've only toured the UK. It's going great.
  • What great memories has the tour brought?
  • Well, that's a difficult question. I don't know. In general, playing to many people and experiencing really good shows has brought great memories. There are no great memories that this tour has specifically brought.
  • Every time Arch Enemy returns, do you feel that the group receives a bigger reception from the UK fans?
  • Yeah. Really, it's what you just said there I think. The purpose of this tour is to receive a bigger reception than we have previously. We have done some headline tours over here as well, and they've all been pretty good.
  • Do you feel The Black Crusade is a really good package for the fans? That they purchase a ticket, and experience a good night out?
  • Yeah. All the groups are within the Metal genre, and all are pretty different from each other. They're five really different groups, so it's a perfect package for people to come and see.
  • Can you give an introduction to Rise of the Tyrant?
  • Rise of the Tyrant is Arch Enemy's seventh studio album, and it was recorded at Studio Fredman.
  • With Fredrik (Nordström)?
  • With Fredrik, who also produced our first three albums prior to Angela (Gossow, vocals) joining the group. It's probably the best Arch Enemy album you'll ever hear.
  • Is there a reason why Arch Enemy worked with Fredrik again, after all those years?
  • Yeah. We did a few albums with Andy Sneap, and he also mixed a DVD (2006's Live Apocalypse) for us. We had worked with Andy for a couple of years, so we wanted to try something slightly different. In some ways, we set out to have a slightly more aggressive album in terms of the sound. With Andy Sneap, you get a really clear, clinical and precise production. Andy's production is awesome in its own way. We wanted to try something different though, and that was the idea.
  • Is it really difficult to choose between them two? At the moment, they're really well known producers within Metal music.
  • No, I don't think so. I think you choose by judging by their productions - you know what you get.
  • Could you tell me about your personal contributions to Rise of the Tyrant?
  • Yeah. Apart from drumming, my personal contribution to Rise of the Tyrant was just being part of the whole writing process. As Chris had obviously left the group before, I arranged the songs together with Michael this time around. When Chris returned, we already had most of the album written. He had some ideas that surfaced on the album, but it was mostly me and Michael who rehearsed the songs.
  • Are the specific songs on Rise of the Tyrant where your contribution is particularly prevalent?
  • Not really, no. I would say my contributions are more prevalent throughout the album overall.
  • Alright. What was it like getting Chris back onboard?
  • It's great; it's good to have him back. He missed out on two years of touring basically, though he played on Doomsday Machine. For that reason, he wasn't really out of the group so to speak. Chris returning is like a family member returning.
  • Did Arch Enemy know he would return, or was that uncertain?
  • I didn't know actually. For a while, it seemed pretty definite that he wasn't going to be back in Arch Enemy. I think he then began to change his mind though.
  • Do you feel the break was beneficial, and he has returned better than he was before? Is he more refreshed?
  • Oh yeah, absolutely. He's definitely more refreshed now.
  • What was it like working at Studio Fredman?
  • In the past, Studio Fredman was located in Gothenburg. He's moved out to the countryside though.
  • Hyssna?
  • Yeah, which is basically nothing in the middle of nowhere. That's good in a way, as it means you don't have any distractions; nobody wanders off and parties, given the fact there is nowhere to go. It was a very creative process in the studio though.
  • You said that Rise of the Tyrant is the best Arch Enemy album, and Michael has gone on record to say the same. How do you feel Rise of the Tyrant surpasses previous Arch Enemy albums? What makes it stand out?
  • I think all the trademarks of our sound have been taken to an extreme. Take the melodic aspects for example; we've never been more melodic than on this album, and there's also partially more extremely aggressive songs that are taken to an extreme in that way.
  • There's such a mixture, so do you feel that's the reason why Rise of the Tyrant is really good?
  • Yeah. It's been the same with every Arch Enemy album, but especially when you think of Anthems of Rebellion and Doomsday Machine - the last two. We've stripped that down a bit, and favoured a more riff based aggression in some respects. They're not really melodic, but that's back now obviously.
  • Michael said that Rise of the Tyrant is “the perfect mix of melody and brutality”. Would you agree with that?
  • Yeah, pretty much (laughs).
  • Could you expand upon that? How would you describe the melodies on Rise of the Tyrant?
  • The melodies on Rise of the Tyrant? It's always been based on guitars basically, and that's where we get the melody from. We don't have any melodic vocals, or anything. I would probably say this is the most diverse album we've ever made, given the fact all the songs really stand out in a different way.
  • Do you a favourite song on Rise of the Tyrant? Do you have a favourite which stands out?
  • I like... I can't remember what it's called now... “Night Falls Fast” is probably one of my favourites.
  • Is there a reason for that?
  • Yeah. I like the riffs it has, and it's a really heavy song.
  • Of the tracks featured on Rise of the Tyrant, is that your favourite song to perform live?
  • We only play “Blood On Your Hands” from Rise of the Tyrant, and we've been performing “Revolution Begins” as well. Those are the only two at the moment.
  • Will Arch Enemy be performing a shortened set tonight?
  • Yeah, yeah. There's five groups on the bill.
  • Does that make it difficult to compose the setlist? Arch Enemy's set duration is reduced, so do you think “Which one should I include tonight? Which one shouldn't I?”
  • Yeah, that can be quite difficult sometimes. When you're onstage for only thirty minutes, you especially have to strip it down. We've done some experimenting though, and I think we've built a pretty good setlist.
  • Of the tracks featured on Rise of the Tyrant, are there songs you're looking forward to playing live in the future?
  • Oh yeah. I can feel that “The Day You Died” is going to be great live, and there's a few other songs as well.
  • Has Arch Enemy performed “The Day You Died” at soundcheck?
  • During this tour you mean?
  • Yeah.
  • We would if we had a soundcheck, but we don't (laughs).
  • Oh right (laughs). Alright. Is there a reason why you're specifically looking forward to playing “The Day You Died” live?
  • I think it's a really moody, atmospheric song. Also, it has a couple of heavy riffs in the verses. I think it's going to work out.
  • You seem to really like riffs, so what do you see in a riff? If it's a good riff, what does it need to have?
  • First of all, it has to be memorable. It has to be a hook that makes you remember it, and not every riff has that. That really sets a good riff apart from a bad riff.
  • How do you show your personality on Rise of the Tyrant in terms of the drumming and so on?
  • That's a hard question. I just play, and I guess whatever comes out is my style. I don't really over analyze my playing, or anything; I don't write too many notes, or things like that. A lot of it is just based on feeling.
  • Some drummers may be over pretentious, and may put some flashy playing into the song. Do you prefer to think of what's best for the song, as opposed to what showcases you?
  • Oh yeah, definitely. Absolutely. If you're a drummer, that has to come first. Sometimes there's room for extra things though.
  • Michael said that Rise of the Tyrant is an “organic and honest statement”. Musically speaking, do you feel this album represents where Arch Enemy is at the moment?
  • Absolutely.
  • Musically speaking, where do you feel Arch Enemy is right now? What stage do you feel Arch Enemy is at in its career?
  • I don't know really. I think we're pretty much an established group by now, and we have a specific sound that no other group really has.
  • If you deviate from that sound on certain songs, people may think “Well, that isn't what I'm used to. That's a bit rubbish”. For those reasons, is there a danger in having a specific sound?
  • Not really. That's going to happen inevitably anyway. In the eyes of the real hardcore fans, we sold out when we released the first album (1996's Black Earth). You can't really please everyone, so we don't think too much about that.
  • Are there any other musical directions that Arch Enemy will explore on the follow up to Rise of the Tyrant?
  • Yeah. We've spoken about that, but it's so early in terms of progress right now.
  • Is there a direction you would like to personally explore?
  • Personally, I wouldn't mind having a bit more aggression in the music (laughs). Not that I'm missing it or anything, but I think that would be a way of making the album.
  • Would you possibly prefer the follow up to Rise of the Tyrant to be less melodic?
  • I don't know. If you're thinking about a new album, then you have to decide what way you're going to go. You have to decide how you can make it a little bit different than the last album, and improve what needs to be improved.
  • When you think of riffs, are there any particular groups you look up to? Certain players and so on?
  • Most of them are usually the classic groups; Metallica's early material, Mercyful Fate, early Slayer, and groups like that.
  • The really aggressive groups?
  • Yeah. Our main influences are old groups.
  • More or less, groups which were popular in the eighties.
  • Yeah, they were big then. Also, they established the music genre as such.
  • Is there a group you really look up to which you can single out at all, or a drummer possibly?
  • Personally, it would be Slayer in my case. Reign in Blood is one of my favourite albums.
  • Do you look up to Dave Lombardo?
  • Yeah, absolutely.
  • Is he an influence on your drumming at all?
  • Yeah, I would say so. Basically, he was one of the first drummers who started playing that fast.
  • Apart from the fact that he plays fast, is there something you particularly admire about his style?
  • Yeah. He's really tasteful in his playing, and doesn't over play. Yeah, he's pretty tasteful. He's gifted with a groove that not many Speed Metal, or Metal drummers generally, have.
  • There's a big and intense sound on Rise of the Tyrant, so can you tell me about that?
  • Yeah. That's what we set out to achieve basically. We wanted to create that aggressiveness, and basically that comes from us not spending too much time over analyzing everything when we record. Compared to other recordings, it was pretty quick.
  • When Arch Enemy filmed the video for “Revolution Begins”, your hair reportedly caught fire. Is that correct?
  • It's partially correct, although the story has been exaggerated.
  • Could you set the record straight as concerns that story?
  • Yeah. It didn't really catch fire that way. I actually had a wall of fire behind me when I played drums, and the wind changed. The fire didn't actually touch my hair but it got too close. For that reason, it basically got too warm. It basically melted one of the sides of my hair, and it frizzed up. I had to cut my hair a little bit.
  • So your hair didn't actually catch fire, but frizzed?
  • Yeah. I'm not wearing a wig.
  • (Laughs) Are you particularly wary of pyro nowadays, and think “Keep that away from me”?
  • From now on, yeah (laughs).
  • (Laughs) It has been mentioned that Arch Enemy intends to re-record some of the songs from the albums recorded with Johan (Liiva, erstwhile vocalist). Is that correct?
  • Yeah.
  • Are there any dates planned for recording of those songs?
  • Yeah, we're actually talking about recording them in early 2008. We've talked about doing this for years now. There's a lot of songs that we really like which are featured on those albums, but we can't really play them live as most of our fans discovered us after Angela joined the group. The idea is to release an album, and to be able to play those songs live.
  • Will there be changes in the arrangements, or anything of that nature?
  • Actually, I don't know that yet. We need to start rehearsing first.
  • Are there any songs that Arch Enemy definitely intend to re-record?
  • All the hits; the old hits, the goldies. I don't know. It's going to be a selection of tracks, like three or four songs from each of those early albums.
  • Will there be one or two new songs, or anything like that?
  • I doubt that. I don't think so.
  • More or less, it'll be a “best of” from the first three albums featuring Angela on vocals?
  • Yeah, somewhat.
  • Over the past couple of months, what has it been like having Chris back in the fold?
  • It's been good, and we feel like a complete group again in some respects. We had two different guitar players when he was out, namely Gus G. and Fredrik (Åkesson).
  • They're quite talented, aren't they?
  • Yeah, both of them are extremely talented. If they wanted to, they could've easily stayed in the group. When Chris wanted to come back though, that was the obvious choice. He's Michael's brother, and that's the way Arch Enemy started out too.
  • When Gus G. and Fredrik joined Arch Enemy, did they know that there was the possibility it wouldn't be a permanent position?
  • It was different with Gus as he made it clear he didn't want to join the group anyway, so he only did Ozzfest with us. There was a time when it looked like Fredrik was going to join though.
  • Although you're friends with Chris, obviously you're friends with Fredrik as well. Was it difficult parting with Fredrik?
  • Yeah, it was slightly difficult.
  • Are you still good mates with Fredrik? When you see him around, do you have a pint with him?
  • Yeah, yeah. There's no grudge, or anything. We're still in touch.
  • Alright. You've been asked to fill in for Ken Owen for upcoming Carcass shows, so can you tell me about that? How did that come about? Is it Michael who asked you?
  • Yeah, he asked me to do it. I think one of the reasons Michael asked me is due to the fact he knows me as a drummer, and we obviously rehearse. I have my drums set up in our rehearsal space, and that's where Carcass have been meeting up and rehearsing.
  • Is it going to be difficult filling in for Ken? Obviously, Ken has health issues which is the reason you're going to be behind the drumkit. Is it going to be difficult living up to what people remember from those old Carcass shows?
  • I'm not going to involve too much of my personal flavour, put it that way. I'm going to try to...
  • Emulate Ken?
  • Yeah, emulate his playing as well as I can.
  • Arch Enemy played at Bloodstock Open Air during August 2007.
  • Arch Enemy played, yeah.
  • Will Arch Enemy play at Bloodstock Open Air in 2008?
  • I don't think so, given the fact we played this year.
  • Obviously, At The Gates will be playing Bloodstock Open Air during 2008. People are wondering if Carcass will be at that festival, and if you will be filling in. Are there any plans for Carcass to perform at Bloodstock Open Air?
  • Bloodstock in particular? Actually, I don't know. I know of a couple of other festivals that we've confirmed Carcass will perform at.
  • Are there any specific festivals in the UK that have been confirmed?
  • Not that I know of right now. We're going to perform at Wacken.
  • Wacken? Apart from Wacken, are there any other festivals that Carcass will perform at?
  • Sweden Rock. We're playing at a few festivals.
  • Are there a few which you can't reveal that will be eventually revealed in due course?
  • Yeah, absolutely (laughs).
  • Are any of them within the UK?
  • Not that I know of, no. I hope so though, since it would be a lot of fun.
  • So you would like Carcass to perform at Bloodstock, if you had the opportunity?
  • Yeah, yeah. Absolutely.
  • What message do you have for the fans who've supported Arch Enemy over the course of the group's career, and the fans who've come tonight to see Arch Enemy perform?
  • Well.. a message for the fans... not really. I'm just really thankful for everyone that still supports Arch Enemy, and I hope to see you all on tour.
  • Ok. Thanks for the interview Daniel, it's really appreciated.
  • Thank you. No problem.