SOILWORK INTERVIEW
Founded in 1996, the Melodic-Death-Metal band Inferior Breed changed its name two years later for Soilwork.
The album ''A Predator’s Portrait'' was released in 2001. Just one year produced they a new effort called ''Natural Born Chaos'', followed by ''Figure Number Five'' in 2003.
The band was then full of will and energy, preparing their new release ''Stabbing The Drama'' in 2005, followed by a tour. The session drummer Dirk Verbeuren became a full-time member and the guitarist Daniel Antonsson joined the band in 2007.
In the same year, ''Sworn To A Great Divide'' was released and reached the place #148 of the Billboard Charts during the first weeks. The guitarist Olaf Frenning left in spring 2008 and was replaced by David Andersson for the rest of the tour. In September, Peter Wichers came back to SOILWORK, as Daniel Antonsson left the band, replaced by Sylvain Coudret.
The first album with Sylvain Coudret ''The Panic Broadcast'' was released in 2010. Soilwork released Theie first double album ''The Living Infinite'' in 2013. In 2015 album "The Ride Majestic" was released.
Soilwork is working hard to complete the recording of their upcoming album »Verkligheten«, which will be released in 2019. The album will be the first one to feature the addition of Bastian Thusgaard (drums). Thusgaard took over for longtime member Dirk Verbeuren, who left the band in 2016 to play with Megadeth.
We got to speak to Björn Strid from Soilwork about his up coming tour, new album and more.
TM - What can fans expect from your Australian tour?
BS- Well to begin with I think it's going to be a really good setlist and this is our 11th album. We are really proud of it and I am sure there is going to be a lot of new material for the live show but obviously some old gems it is hard to make a set these days but it's going to be a good show.
TM - How do you pick your setlist for this tour?
BS- It is a weird balance I want to be fair to the current lineup we have had science the living infinite because through this album we found a new expression and a new path. At the same time we want to be fair to the fans as well and thats not an easy task because fans want to hear the old stuff so we do our best to create a setlist that has the new and old soilwork.
TM - What can fans expect from your new album Verkligheten?
BS- I think people are definitely going to be able to recognise that it definitely sounds like a soilwork album. We brought back some of the elements that we had on our first albums some classic heavy metal elements mixed with our later albums that we have put out to me it sounds extremely Scandinavian especially with some of the heavy metal elements that are running through the album. Some people are sceptical listening to some of these singles but when you listen to the whole album it's going to make sense.
TM - What was your writing and recording process for Verkligheten?
BS- The song writing took around 6 to 8 months. We took a break after it to ring the band White Majestic the songwriting process was kind of easy the music just came to us. The songs came to us they were spontaneous guitar Melodies and percussion it was a really creative time.
TM - You have a new drummer on this album do you think that's affected your sound and writing Style?
Bastian Thusgaard joined the band on the touring cycle for the white Majestic which made the transition smooth as Dirk Verbeuren left for Megadeth permanently. I think he got to know Bastian on a personal and professional level very well he can play the heaviest stuff and The Rock stuff very well I think he inspired us this album is he has a heavy metal element to it but has a nice edge.
TM - Your new album title Verkligheten translator to English means reality what made you want to call your new album this?
BS- A lot of the lyrics are based on reality and more realistic the lyrics have a real escapism running through them and this creates a real contrast.
TM - You worked with Tomi from amorphis on needles and Kin what was it like working with him?
BS- We have known each other for a long time and say hi to each other when we are at festivals and shows. I am looking forward to getting to know them more on this European tour we are doing together i thought there was something missing in needles and kin so i asked tomi to help and it turned out really good.
TM - What can fans expect from your European tour with Jinjer and Amorphis in January and February?
BS- Its a perfect line up I think there is mutual musical references when it comes to Amorphis and Soilwork especially when we both sound Scandinavian and with Jinger and nailed to obscurity its the perfect package.
TM - I saw a lot of your European shows are sold out, that is awesome! Congratulations!
BS- Thank you, we are looking forward to it.
TM - You have toured such bands as Fear Factor and Sepultura and Kreator can you tell us a tour story?
BS- We played a show in France and our bass guitarist fell through the floor, he was jumping and then I heard this loud bang. He fell 3 metres and dragged all the monitors and microphones with him. We thought he was going to die but then we saw him climbing up on the other side his hair was standing up and he was all dusty and just laughing.
TM - I'm glad he was ok
TM - If you could have any band play one of your songs which band would it be which song and in your style or theirs?
BS- Judas Priest in 1983 playing any of our songs
TM - If you could collaborate with any artist who would it be and why?
Stevie Nicks shes one of my favorite singers
TM - Sweet, she just got inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame too.
TM - What's your favorite memory of watching someone else perform live?
BS- When we did our first American tour in 2002 we were out with Hypocrisy the singer Peter decided to hire a limousine for the afternoon and emptied the bar driving around Manhattan. He came back 5 minutes before the show and he was so drunk that they had to carry him on stage, he thought he was singing into the mic but it was 1 meter to the left.
TM - (laughs) that is so funny. What a great story.
TM - Anything else you want to announce to your fans?
BS- Hope to see everyone at our shows around Anstralia and Europe and pick up a album in January I will definitely take you on a journey and the people will love it.
TM - Thank you so much for this interview today, we really appreciate it and can't wait to see you in Sydney.
