Lucem Fero | Interviews | Entombed (Part Two)

“When in Sodom” - Entombed vocalist L. G. Petrov rediscovers unbridled aggression with ninth studio album Serpent Saints (Part Two)

By Anthony Morgan

Sweden's Entombed boast many career accomplishments, not to mention four Swedish Grammy Award nominations. Swedish Death Metal certainly enjoys a rich, cultured background, and one that has bled the ears of dedicated fans for well over the past decade or two. 1990's Left Hand Path still remains a specific pinnacle of the European Death Metal genre which exploded onto airwaves in the early nineties, and a classic record which always deserves special mention. Entombed has their chapter in this hefty tome sealed, even garnering an induction into Decibel Magazine's Hall of Fame.

In September 2005 longtime guitarist Uffe Cederlund left Entombed, likely one of the most pivotal events of recent times within the band's history. Drummer Peter Stjärnvind also left the group, in May 2006, to concentrate his efforts on cult act Nifelheim. He wished to neglect heavy touring in favour of staying home with a wife that had recently bore him their first daughter at the time. June 6^th 2006 didn't go unnoticed, a “Satanic” occasion which became marked by the EP When in Sodom. Ninth full length studio effort Serpent Saints unveils ten new songs in the Entombed back catalogue, though more importantly for most, marks a long awaited prime return to Entombed's Death Metal roots.

In this final discussion of a two part feature (read the first part here), vocalist L. G. Petrov casually offers his insightful thoughts on why Serpent Saints builds upon the musical blueprint laid down by 2006's When in Sodom EP. Petrov's lends his personal viewpoint on the reasons which eventually culminated in Uffe Cederlund's departure, and lends his perspective as concerns the introduction of drummer Olle Dahlstedt (Alpha Safari / Misery Loves Co.) into the mix. The album title itself is also touched upon, a unique glimpse given as to why it was chosen. Serpent or saint? Lucem Fero unveils all, unearthing both the major and minor factual details. As can be said for this interview also, once again L. G. proved a happy go lucky fellow who shared a warm hearted giggle throughout. Down to earth like the rest of us, this interviewer for one hopes he has the wonderful opportunity of sharing a pint with the affable frontman some day more so than after the inaugural chat.

Hello?
Hi there Anthony.
Yeah, this is Anthony.
It's L. G. again.
How are you? Alright?
How are you man?
Yeah, I'm great.
Cool.
Hope you don't mind me getting you to phone again.
That's no problem man.
Is it alright if I continue where we left off?
Fine.
In what ways does Serpent Saints go musically wider and deeper than the When in Sodom EP?
The songs from the EP were written a little earlier, but in no way were they hastily done. Since it was an album, we wanted to concentrate a little more in order to get it properly done. I feel we succeeded with it knowing the album is out, and that many people have heard it now. They like it (laughs). Musically, it's just a little step back to what we did in the early days with a touch of the new style that we're doing right now. It's just good to get that aggressive feeling back.
As Serpent Saints is a whole, full length album as opposed to an EP, do you feel that the listener gets more of a flavour of Entombed?
Yeah. There are more songs, and more of what we are right now. We don't do music for radio (laughs). It's not played on radio that much, though I think most of the music that some bands do today do is just because they want to be heard on the radio. I don't think that would be very true to the fans that we have.
Do Entombed get much press in your native Sweden?
Yeah, yeah. Yeah we do. It's great to do interviews and things, and then maybe be played on the radio sometimes. They have lots of local heavy metal shows on the radio here, though on the big channels they mostly play R'n B, Hip Hop music and genres like that. You then see all the metal bands coming over though, and they're selling out the venues here. Metallica sold the stadium out in less than six hours, while Snoop Dogg and artists like that can't sell out the smaller venues.
So Heavy Metal is going really strong in Sweden?
Oh yeah, oh yeah.
In what ways is Serpent Saints “almost like a soundtrack to the film with the same name”? That's something one of the band members said..
Yeah. It's not as though the album sounds like a soundtrack, but I myself haven't seen that movie (laughs). I'll have to get it, but with these songs we sampled loads of material from old horror movies and things. We've always done it, and it's a great idea.
Is it hard getting the licenses to do that?
No, and I don't think we can do that anyway (laughs). We just put it on there because nobody can hear what it is; it's mostly sounds and things like that.
Sometimes record companies are worried about paying out huge license fees aren't they?
Yeah, but now we ourselves are the record company (laughs). We don't have a problem.
Are you happy with being your own record company?
Yeah. You have more control, and you don't have to argue that much about artwork, layout and things like that. If we ourselves feel that it fits, then it's a yes. We don't have to argue about little things and can concentrate on the music.
Have you had problems with record companies in the past?
I wouldn't say problems, but it always takes a little bit of energy from certain areas when you are just required to have meaningless arguments with people - even when it ends up going your way anyhow (laughs). It's a waste of energy when in fact you should be concentrating on the music instead, and that's something you really want to do.
As you can now concentrate on the music more nowadays, do you feel that has benefited the music?
Yeah. It's more work now anyhow, but we like to work. We don't like staying at home and doing nothing; you can always write lyrics, come up with riffs, do interviews and and things like that. It just feels good to have something to do all the time.
So if I'm right, does Entombed own the masters to these recordings getting released via Entombed's own label (Threeman Recordings)?
We have some bands that we have released on our own label, and all of the tapes that we do, we own. When we have time - when we don't do anything with Entombed - then we'll try to release more good albums by bands that we like.
Does the band own the copyright to the masters of the new material of Entombed though?
On the masters?
Yeah. Does another record company own the copyright, or does Entombed license it out to different territories?
Yeah. We license it to others, but we have all the rights to our own material now. That's comfortable to know because you don't have to think about that, so then you can be your own little boss (laughs).
Does that bring financial benefits?
Don't know yet (laughs).
Is that the general idea though?
It's just good to have control yourself, and a little bit of extra money isn't wrong. First and foremost though, you have control of it. You know what happens with it, so anything doesn't get lost anywhere. So far, we haven't made that much money (laughs).
In what ways do you feel Serpent Saints is an ambitious attempt at creating a solid album?
Yeah, which is just by staying true to what we are right now but with only one guitarist. Alex (Hellid, guitars) is doing a good job, but we could've done lots of things with the album to make it sound more than we are. That would just sound pathetic when you play it live though if you can't manage to do it, but this is how we feel. This is where we are right now, and I'm happy with it. I can listen to it lots of times without getting bored, and that's a good start; so far people have been coming out with positive reactions to it. In some eyes it may be a little short, but I haven't heard anybody saying about it. It's just that a long album with fourteen songs is just boring in the end.
You feel the short ones are better?
Yeah. You look back on some of the older Thrash Metal and Death Metal records being done in the past by different bands, and there were only eight or nine songs back then. Of course the record prices have gone up a little bit, so maybe people expect more. I think the true feeling of an album should be eight songs though, and that's because if you do too many songs the quality of the songs tend to be lesser. We're going to start working on new tracks for the next album soon as well, so it doesn't take four years for the next one (laughs).
Are they some of the tracks we spoke about last time?
Yeah.
Has there been any development in the past few days on those tracks since we last spoke?
A little bit. We've put down some more ideas, and things like that.
Can you tell me anything about those ideas?
We have some lyrics to some songs, and right now we are working out an intro to those songs; some guitars, some vocals and things in the introduction. We sat down actually before the show we did in Ireland last week - we sat down in the Irish countryside (laughs), and worked on it. It's a different approach, so tomorrow we are going to the rehearsal studio and then rehearse. We have a show in Italy in a couple of days, but maybe we'll come up with some more ideas and song ideas for the next album.
How did you find the show in Ireland?
Oh, it was great. It was a two day festival. We played on the last day; it was very late, but we were there.
Do you hang out with the other groups and have a pint?
Yeah. Sabbat played just before us, so we had beers with them. We drank a little bit with Candlemass, but there were loads of bands. I was sitting by the stage drinking beer all night, and watching every band.
Are you good mates with those bands? Are you all friends?
Yeah, some of them. Some of them were good, while some of them were not as good. That's the thing about festivals, and there being different bands. All in all, it was a good Metal festival. I liked watching other bands. If you like it then you can go and buy their CD, so it's always nice exploring new music.
Did you find any inspiration in the Irish countryside?
No, it was so quiet (laughs). There were no sounds at all, but there was a dog there named Stevie (laughs).
What's that? There was a.. ?
There was dog named Stevie running around. He was being all horny, and he was all over the place (laughs).
(Laughs).
... But it was cool. Alex took his guitar out.
Do you prefer it to be quiet when you're composing, or do you prefer there being a lot of noise around?
When you do the riffs, it's ok that it's quiet. When you are in the rehearsal studio though, then it doesn't matter if there's other sounds around because it doesn't disturb us.
How did the album title Serpent Saints come about?
People are trying to do good, but it always ends up being a tragedy or something similar. It can mean anything. You're a saint, but behind every saint - like I said before - there's a serpent lurking. You wish to take profits for yourself, but you want it to be seen that you're doing good things. It can be that dual morality that one has.
Do you feel it's always good to have a strong album title?
Yeah. An album title can be easy to do because it's just choosing some words, but it's good to have some story behind it as well. Record titles are easy; you just look at death, Satan or something (laughs). It's cool to have a little bit of thought behind it though.
Who in Entombed came up with the album title Serpent Saints?
It was Alex.
Were there any other album titles that were considered for Serpent Saints?
Not really. You always think about some cool album titles, though Serpent Saints is a good title to explain what we're about and what we want to sing about.
Was Alex very definite about that?
Yeah. He came up with it and asked us “Is this a cool song title?”, so we replied “Yeah”. It's not that he did the decision by himself (laughs). It's cool because now everybody in the band is a part of it, and nobody is more important than the other.
Is Serpent Saints a very philosophical album?
We always try to write about things that we experience or think is wrong, but you shouldn't think too much anyway (laughs). And philosophical? Maybe sometimes we play with words, and the one that wants to read the lyrics can come up with their own ideas of what it's about. If we mean something but somebody has another view about it, then that's just cool.
Do you feel it's good to always have in depth lyrics as opposed to throwaway lyrics?
Yeah. There should be some point with your lyrics, and not to just throw in evil words here and there - it just gets boring after awhile. It's good to have something to say, or if you have something to say about someone who is doing things wrong.
Do you find it boring when you have groups who say things like “I'm Satan's son” and all this business?
It can be after awhile if you're doing it record after record, and going on about the same thing all the time. I guess they don't know it's not as good as it was (laughs).
Is it hard to keep everything fresh musically and lyrically in Entombed?
Oh yeah. If somebody has a good idea.. well, we're not strangers to anything. Mostly we don't like politics, and that's because it's the most boring thing on earth. It could be concerning anything though, whether it be just from things that we've experienced on the road. We then write about it in some way.
You prefer to write about personal experiences as opposed to social themes?
Yeah, exactly. You can then mix it with some occultic things or something, or you can write about former managers and things. You can write anything basically.
Have you written about former managers?
Yes, but I will leave other people to decipher which lyrics those are and what managers (laughs).
(Laughs). Could you tell me about some of the recurring themes Serpent Saints explores?
Musically, it's more aggressive than the other ones and lyrically we're not putting up with anyone else's problems. We write about what's happenings, and... how can I explain it? The world is evil, and we are evil with it. There were some strange lyrics on some of the later records which I didn't understand that much (laughs).
Is there a reason why you didn't understand them that much?
Yeah. I liked the direction, but at the same time you don't want to use words that are simple. If you do things like that, then it will get so cheesy (laughs).
How do you feel about groups who use obscure words on purpose?
That's too easy in a way. I can honestly understand if people think it's good when it's simple and catchy, but as a musician that's too easy for us.
Has Entombed explored the themes on Serpent Saints via past material as well?
Yeah, some of them. On the first albums there was more blood and gore, but we were very young then (laughs). As your life passes by though, you explore more things and you have more topics to have an opinion about lyrically. We've experienced a lot during the years.
Do you feel those first few albums concentrated too much on blood and gore?
No, not too much actually. At the time we were into that, and we're into that right now as well. Back then we were young, and it was cool being into blood and gore. I wouldn't mind doing those lyrics today as well. I'm not against them, though singing about the same thing all the time just gets a bit boring. We did it for a long time though, so we can do it again.
When you look back at the first albums that Entombed did, are they not as good because you were all so young and everything?
I listen to them almost daily (laughs).
Do you feel those old Entombed albums are now classic albums in the genre?
Yeah, and they're fifteen to seventeen years old now. For me, it was because we were there at the right time and in the right place. People call them classics, and I can't do anything else other than agree (laughs).
So you do agree?
Oh yeah, and for some time we didn't play too many of those songs live. I don't understand why, but we have done so for the last two years now. It's good.
Do you feel though that when Entombed didn't do those old songs, they didn't want to seem as a group attempting to cash in on past glories?
Umm..
Concentrating on the new instead of appearing as some kind of “reunion” band? If that makes sense?
It's always fun to play the new material that you've put out, but if I go to a gig myself then maybe I want to hear just two or three songs from a group's new album. You then want to hear the old material, but we try to do new songs too. In Ireland for example, we played three songs from the new album and they were received well. We played twenty songs overall (laughs).
So they went down well?
Yeah. It was cool, and it's always like that when you play new songs. Maybe people haven't had time to get the new album, but at least you're playing it for them so they know what it's all about. You then continue from there.
Do you feel it's harder to get a crowd reaction though from songs that some of the audience may be unfamiliar with?
You just increase the energy, look into their eyes and tell them to up the tempo so to speak. You then get a certain vibe occurring like what happened in Ireland, and that was cool. You make a good performance which just adds to the excitement. In Ireland we played twenty songs, so we played for a half hour set at least. It was a good show.
In what respects does Serpent Saints explore the ying-yang theory?
People who are mad often come up with the best solutions (laughs), and madness can also be a potent thing. Certain people always end up looking like idiots. It's hard to explain (laughs). Madness in itself is a cool thing, but there are different types of madness.
How do you feel Serpent Saints explores those opposites though? The serpents and the saints so to speak?
You can be good in evil ways. The church give their own lives for example, yet they haven't come up with anything good in the last two thousand years (laughs). They're just telling people what to do for their own profit, and in some ways that's a case of the serpent behind the saint.
So you feel things aren't black and white?
Yeah, exactly. They're working for a good cause, but in the end it's just for their own benefit.
Do you feel serpents and saints are one and the same in some respects?
Yeah. You really have to look into it to know who's the serpent and who's the saint.
Do you feel that some people or some organisations have elements of both though? That there's both good and bad in people and so on?
Yeah. There's loads of institutions and so on which have both good and bad elements; even Greenpeace have bad things going on.
Is there a reason why you chose Greenpeace to comment upon?
No. The best of things can also be bad, so you can't especially trust anybody.
I was merely wondering if you had strong opinions on Greenpeace?
No. They can do their own thing, and it's good that they cherish nature. Of course you always have to trust people, but these days you always have to find out what kind of people others really are.
So do you feel that you really got to get to know people first to get a fair judgment of their character?
Yeah, exactly. You buy them a beer, and then let them get drunk. They will show their true nature then.
Have you noticed that a lot then in your time? That you get to know their true nature after you've had a few pints together?
Yeah. People can be friendly or vice versa, but after a week or two you then know what they don't like or what they do like. It can be as simple as having two bands in a tour bus; the first evening is always great, but then after a couple of days you can see. You can see who can take the playing or not, and whether they start crying, getting really drunk or misbehaving. It takes awhile to recognise who can keep up.
Have there been band members in the past who have struggled to keep up with the touring?
Yeah. I won't mention any names, but there have been occasions when some band members have been wanting to go home during an important tour. You then feeling thoughts such as “Hey, what are we doing this for?” and “What is it all about?”. You feel lucky just to travel abroad, and play in front of musically like minded people. That has happened actually, but not nowadays (laughs).
If you have a band member that is struggling to keep up with the touring, then you do you address that? Theoretically speaking of course?
Well, then they can go home and stay home (laughs). It's just as simple as that. Now though, with this lineup, we don't have that problem.
If it's a really important tour, then you'd be worried if they'll keep up and stay the full course of the tour.
Yeah, exactly. That just makes things more of a headache, and gives you some extra issues that you have to think about. It's then better to end the relationship.
Have you had band members in the past mess up important tours? I'm not asking you to name any names.
Not really, but there's been nagging and things like that alongside people wanting to go home. I guess that's what touring is about though.
Even though they can't cope with the touring, do you still stay on friendly terms with these people? Although they're not in Entombed any more, are you still on friendly terms with those people?
Oh yeah. There's nothing to argue about. If you can't take it, then you should realise yourself and do something else. It's definitely not something to be unfriendly about though.
If they're feeling that way, does that affect their performance when they're playing live?
Of course, yeah. Live it should always be a hundred percent. If I'm standing there doing my job by headbanging and so on while somebody else isn't, then I'll have word with them. Of course people can have a bad day too as well, but if you continually keep on doing it then that's not good
Which do you feel you can relate to the most - the saint or the serpent?
I'm not an evil person per se, but fun can be dark. I like grave humour. If you have a sick joke, then people can take it the wrong way. If I find something valuable on the street, I'm not going to go to the police and hand it in (laughs).
You're not going to (laughs)?
No. I'm just going to take it home (laughs).
Alright (laughs). I don't what to say to that actually.. I feel the same way to be honest (laughs).
Yeah, exactly (laughs). If it's an inhaler then I will of course, but if I find money I'm just going to grab it.
Do you consider yourself a regular guy?
Yeah. As regular as can be I hope, though I don't know (laughs).
So if you're in a pub, do you like you're someone who a person can sit down and have a pint with?
Oh yes. I'm open to anything, and I'm not special because I sing in a band. There's always going to be “Hey, there he is” though, and I would be the same. If I saw Jeff Hanneman from Slayer walking past, then I would ask him to join me for a beer. Stockholm is a small town, so everybody knows each other. Especially here.
So you're all friends and so on?
Oh yeah.
How did Olle come to join Entombed?
We've known him for a long time; he's good at the drums, is a good guy and likes playing. We had a list with only him on (laughs), and he was the first name to come up. We asked as a result, and he was glad to join. There's been no problem at all. He's a funny guy with the same sort of humour and things like that.
So he fits in well with Entombed does he?
Oh yeah, and that's why we like his playing as well. Getting a good drummer is not hard, though they have to psychologically fit within the group as well and not begin crying after a few days on tour.
So he gelled well with Entombed and there was chemistry there?
Yeah, and he comes up with ideas as well.
Do you feel it's important for drummers to come up with ideas? With some bands, the drummers don't contribute much to the songwriting do they?
Yeah, of course it's critical. That's because we're a band, or otherwise it would be like a solo project with a band behind us. I think it's important. When everybody actually cares about how things are going, then this increases the feeling and the good vibes too.
Speaking of solo, have you ever thought of doing any solo projects?
No, not me. I like the idea of having one band, and concentrating on it. It's not much, so hobby bands or solo projects are not for me.
Is there a reason why that's not for you?
If you have a band, then you should stick to that band. I think too much wandering about in other bands doesn't feel really serious.
If you have some ideas that the other Entombed members disagree with, then what do you do with them? Do you just get rid of them?
Yeah, or something like that. There's not much else you can do. You can keep nagging about the riff, or whatever it is being there, if you really want it in there (laughs). That's one way to do it, though I probably wouldn't start a solo project.
Have you always felt that way?
Yeah.
What qualities did Olle show that Entombed liked when he was chosen?
Olle was sound behind the drums. He had a week to learn around eighteen songs for a live show, and he did it straight away. When we did the first show he wasn't even nervous, and that was in Holland. We felt like “Hey, hey! This is the guy!”, and we had a great time. It was a smooth transition.
What does he add to those old songs live? What does he give them?
Olle's a steady drummer, but he doesn't venture off that much. He doesn't have fifty toms on his drums. He likes it to be simple and steady, and we like that too. You hear that you have a spirited vibe behind you, and that's important I think.
Was it difficult settling down with Olle at first, or was it smooth straight away?
There were no problems at all, and that was cool. He's a happy guy.
Olle plays on Serpent Saints, so how did that affect the way Entombed's rhythm section sounds on the new songs?
He came up with a few ideas for the new songs, and how they should be played. He's into riffs and vocals as well, and it's always good to have an opinion. I can approach any member of the band and ask them if they can play in another vein, so that's cool. There's nobody taking offense because you have an opinion, so they're always welcome.
Is Olle a better drummer than other drummers that Entombed have had in the past?
Yeah, he's a great drummer. Every drummer has a different personality, and they're good at different things. I can't complain about any of the drummers that we've had, as they've all been great. He's the new drummer, is a great guy and this line up will stay.
Thoguh do you feel Olle has something that say past drummers didn't offer?
What can I say? He's a steady drummer, and he doesn't make mistakes at all.
Is it alright if I talk to you about Uffe?
Yeah, you can do it.
First of all, can you just give me background on why Uffe left Entombed and so on?
It's hard because I don't want to sound negative, though I guess he wasn't into the material we were doing. He wanted to play more Alternative music and similar such material. That's what I think anyway. We're a Metal band, and we'll always be. That didn't quite fit in with him.
Did Uffe try adding Alternative elements to Entombed?
Yeah. There were ideas with tambourines and that kind of thing, but it didn't quite fit in with what we had in mind. There were slight alcohol problems also.
Could you tell me what you mean by that exactly? Do you mean that Uffe had alcohol problems which affected his playing or his commitment?
Not the playing, as he's a great guitarist. There were too many fights and things like that though, and these are unnecessary things which come up when you drink alcohol. That did more damage than good.
Was Uffe missing rehearsals or something?
No.
So Uffe turned up to rehearsals and live concerts and so on?
Yeah. He turned up at every occasion, but there was a slightly strange feeling.
Is Uffe a nice guy when he's sober?
Oh yeah, and I don't think he drinks anymore. I don't know though, as Uffe hasn't spoken to me since he left the band basically.
Is the reason why you don't speak to Uffe because of those problems that you had?
It just hasn't happened. I have no idea what's going on with him right now, so I don't want to say.
Would you like to bury the hatchet in the future though?
There's no hatchet to bury, and that's because there's nothing happening. Things are cool.
Uffe did say in one interview for a Swedish magazine (Close-Up, November 2005 issue) that Entombed is now “more of a name than a band”. What is your response to that?
I have no idea. I feel that we are more of a band right now than what we were before (laughs), but people always have their different opinions about everything. I don't care that much though, as long as I know that isn't the case.
That came across as really venomous, shall I say?
Yeah, but I don't care. I'm in Entombed, and it's as much of a band now as it was ten years ago.
So you feel that Uffe's claim that Entombed is now “more of a name than a band” is false?
Yeah, it could be. It is, actually (laughs). It's a meaningless discussion to be upset about though, so I just don't think about it.
Are you upset in some respects that Uffe feels that way?
No, I don't care at all. I don't care (laughs).
Some members of other groups don't like it when another member parts on bad terms.
Yeah, and maybe that's the first reaction that you have. I have no idea - it's just a waste of energy thinking about it.
I read that Entombed recorded some material with Uffe for Serpent Saints, and that was scrapped. Is that correct?
Yeah, that's true.
Will that specific material ever see the light of day?
No. It was Uffe that did some songs, but they will not.
Did you lay down any vocals on those songs?
No, nothing.
Were they all Alternative songs?
I just heard them once in a car and I was driving, so I didn't pay much attention (laughs).
I thought that maybe that particular material didn't fit in with what Entombed is about.
I don't know. They were scrapped.
Uffe had commitments with Disfear prior to leaving Entombed, so do you feel that contributed to his departure? The fact he was trying to juggle both groups so to speak?
I don't know. I don't think so, but it's a little strange when you're doing two bands. Yeah, Uffe can do whatever he wants. I don't care (laughs).
I thought Uffe may have been spending more time with Disfear than he was Entombed.
Maybe, though I have no idea. I didn't think about it at the time, though it's unncessary to stir up issues.
I hope I don't come across as cheeky or that I'm trying to be funny, though it sounds like you don't give a shit about Uffe and what he's doing. Entombed are doing what they're doing, and that's what you're concerned about?
Exactly. We just don't care (laughs).
(Laughs) I'm sorry if that came out in the wrong way.
No, no. No problem. I'm happily answering every question, but if somebody reads that then they're thinking “blah blah blah”. It's cool though man.
I wouldn't worry, as this is a question and answer interview anyway.
It's cool.
How do you feel the mix of the songs turned out on Serpent Saints?
Good. Some songs are fast, while some are slow. I think it's great when it's like that. Anybody can do a fast record, but that's not a challenge. The challenge is to do an interesting album with good songs, and I feel that we have succeeded in that. I hope that people will like it as well, and the reactions have been good so far.
Was there a lot of communication between Entombed and Soren on how you wanted the mix to sound?
Soren mastered it, and he mixed it too. We were sitting with him, and it's good to have two extra ears that can come with an opinion. It went pretty smooth.
Will Soren master future material from Entombed?
You never know what's going to happen.
Would you like for him to? Would you like for Soren to return?
I'm up for it, though I don't think about those things much. When an album is ready, I'm just happy that it's ready (laughs).
Sometimes certain bands have people working on an album, and then they're unhappy with the mix or something similar.
Yeah. When we mix and master, we're always with the guy who is doing it. I think that's essential.
So do you make sure that your vocals sound right, the guitar sounds right etc. on what's pressed on the disc?
Yeah, exactly. It's good to be a part of it. Even though you're trusting them, it's your record and you're there to make sure you sound the way you do.
Could you tell me about your favourite track on Serpent Saints?
That's the thing; I like them all. I like the fourth song “Thy Kingdom Koma”, and that's because it's like a big, ample, old school Death song.
Do you like old school Death songs a lot?
Yeah.
Apart from the fact that it's an old school Death song, how would you describe “Thy Kingdom Koma”?
It gives me feelings about how it was when we started out (laughs). I like my vocals on that track, which are dark and deep. It's not a complicated song, and it just goes straight ahead. I like straight ahead songs.
How do you feel about those feelings being brought back?
It's great, and that's why you continue to make music. It's in order to get that feeling, and that's why we've been around for so long. As long as the feeling is there, we'll keep on doing it.
So if the feeling ceases to be there, then you'll call it a day?
Yeah. First and foremost you play because you love it, and I think that's the same with everything you do. We've pretty much... How do you say? Revived ourselves? How do you say it?
You've revived yourselves?
Yeah. It's like a new beginning again. We can do this..
What's that? Like a resurrection?
Yeah; fifteen more years hopefully.
Can you see it going on until, well, you're dead?
Yeah. Time goes by fast, and you have to have fun. We just feel lucky that we can put out an album.
What are the lyrics about on “Thy Kingdom Koma”?
That song is about people doing things, working hard for it and then not even getting anything out of it. You see just people working for it, but you can see right from the start that it's pointless.
Is it like the good man always finishes last?
No, but you just laugh at them because you what know the outcome is going to be anyway. You know what I mean (laughs)? They just prolong their suffering.
Do you feel this is Entombed's best material since the early albums like Left Hand Path?
Yeah. It certainly is the most exciting one since the Morning Star album (2001) I think.
Why do you feel that way?
It's a new album, but with a little slurp of the older albums. We haven't played like this in a long time, so it just feels fresh again.
So you feel the passion's back?
Yeah, exactly. It just feels nice.
Do you feel you lost the passion in the later years so to speak?
Yeah, a little bit. We were stepping away from our own path in some respects, and trying to do material that really wasn't our idea of how Entombed writes music. That's why I'm happy we did this album (laughs).
You're back on the path now?
Yeah, exactly. It's more straightforward music.
So you really prefer straight forward music?
Oh yes.
What do you think about songs which are nine or ten minutes long and so on?
They must be really really good in order to be nine minutes long, otherwise I just get bored after awhile (laughs).
Are there particular bands you know who do that well though? Who can pull off a really long song and keep you interested?
Opeth are good; they do really really good tracks, but long ones also. I like those guys.
What do you like about Opeth?
It's just interesting.
What do you feel is interesting about Opeth?
It goes fast, and then it can become really mellow at times. They're doing it really good though.
So Opeth have a lot to offer?
Yeah. They're good friends of ours as well (laughs).
So you speak to them whenever you bump into each other then?
Yeah, and Stockholm is a really small city.
You're all from the same city?
Yeah. Grave, Unleashed, Opeth, Dismember; loads of groups come from here.
Bloody hell, some great bands there. Fair play.
Yeah.
Why was Entombed's December 2006 tour of the US's West Coast with Dismember and Grave cancelled?
There were some complications with the promoter, with the contract not being written and things like that. It's pointless to go and do a tour without contracts. We don't want to get screwed, so it's better to go when everything is a certainty.
Has Entombed been screwed in the past by promoters?
Yeah, sometimes. I don't remember when or who, but there were times when we certainly got run over.
I read there were “breaches of trust”. What breaches of trust were there?
We learnt not to go on tour without contracts being written, and it won't do with a single promise.
I thought that maybe this promoter had made some promises that weren't kept.
Yeah, it was kind of like that. It was roughly two weeks prior, and we felt like it was a no and that we'll skip it. Dismember did also.
I read that there were also “straight up lies” as well.
Yeah. That's not the way to tour, and it just ends up with bands being angry.
Is that promoter blacklisted from Entombed working with them again?
I don't even know who it was.
That's handled by your booking agency?
Yeah. We have a booking agency, though I think that was handled by us.
Are you going to try getting back to the United States though?
Yeah, it'd be great to do the US. We have to be offered though, and not go on just half measures. We have to have everything settled before we go.
Is there anything in the works?
No, not yet.
Are you trying to instigate that though? Have you asked your booking agency to try and arrange a US tour for Entombed?
Yeah, of course. If you go into the States now though, you have to tour for three or four weeks. That will be next year, and that's because we have some shows booked here.
Alex had a death in his family during early May this year, and then some of the European gigs were cancelled?
Yeah, there were four or five cancelled. We'll go back there though, and we have some English shows.
Are they getting rescheduled?
Yeah, as soon as possible. That'll be alright.
Do you know if that'll be in 2007 or will that more likely be in 2008?
Yeah, early 2008. You never know though, as we could go in the Winter as well during December or something.
So it'll either be in the Winter or next year?
Yeah.
Is it alright if we speak about the early days?
Yeah, but I have another interview in ten minutes.
Alright. I'll keep you on for five minutes, and then I'll let you go afterwards. Is that ok?
Yeah, that's no problem.
When did you think that you wanted to be a musician?
I was playing music, and enjoyed music in... How do you say it? In the fifth grade it was, and then we started a band in the seventh grade. We then played with some of the others in school, but it was steady. I played drums at the time in a Metal band called Morbid.
Did you like playing drums?
Yeah, but not now. I've probably lost the feel, and my arms can't do anything (laughs).
Is it really difficult being a drummer? When you have to hit the drums all the time?
My mother got me some drums, and I was pretty good at it actually. I then started singing though, so I forgot. It's cool though.
How do you feel about the time you played drums in Morbid looking back?
That was great. We were one of the first Death Metal bands in Sweden, and that band is a classic band nowadays. I'm proud to have been a part of it. It was cool playing drums, and maybe I wish I could still play drums right now.
Are you going to purchase some drums, and get back into drumming in the future?
I can't afford some drums, so I'll have to borrow Olle's drums (laughs). Maybe sometime.
You said that your mother bought you drums, though you hear that some other musician's parents couldn't afford to buy them drums when they were growing up. So, did you come from a privileged background, or was you poor?
No. I just came from a regular family, but I loved playing drums so much.
So your parents were really good to you?
Yeah.
Which vocalists did you idolise when you started out as a singer?
There was a band called Devastation, but not the ones that have done albums. It was a demo band, and they were later called Syndrome. Their singer was my inspiration, and still is.
Why is he your inspiration?
It's a cool way of singing.
How would you describe that way of singing?
It goes up and down, and from dark to light.
There's a lot of range to that particular style?
It's a different all the time. It's really really low, and he sings it with enthusiasm.
Was he particularly innovative singer?
Yeah, I think so. He was one of the best back then. I met him once, and I told him he was my inspiration as well.
Was that a cool feeling? When you met and spoke to him?
Yeah, it was cool.
Would you ever consider doing a song as a duet with him?
Yeah. I just have to find him somewhere (laughs), and then everything's possible.
Are you going to do that?
Yeah, if he wants. It would be an opportunity.
How would you like Serpent Saints to be remembered in the coming years?
The album where Entombed returned to the old school again.
You definitely feel Serpent Saints is that album?
Yeah. I'm really excited about it., and just want to go out and play the new songs. Judging by the response we've had for the album so far, it's going to be fun.
Though briefly, you're very happy with that response?
Oh yes. It has been great.
Thanks for the interview. I hope Entombed come and tour the UK.
Yeah. Then we'll meet up and have a pint or two, right?
Yeah, that'd be great that would. We can talk and so on.
Yeah, yeah. That would be cool.
Alright, well thanks very much.
Oh, thank you. I hope you are satisfied.
Oh yeah, I'm very satisfied. And thanks for being so accomodating.
Yeah, ok. No problem man.
I'm very grateful, so take care and good luck with Entombed. Have a pint on me.
Where do you live?
Where do I live? I live in Wales, which is in the UK.
Cool. Maybe we'll come over and try to do some shows man.
Yeah, come to Cardiff or something.
Yeah. That'll be cool, and then we'll have that beer (laughs).
Alright, cool. Take care then.
You too man.
Ok, bye.
Bye bye man.