Earlier this year my
favourite death metal band, The Crown, returned with their amazing new album 'Death
Is Not Dead'. A long wait was over for us fans and to say they are slaying
again is the understatement of a century, as they keep their legacy going while
pushing the boundaries in moving forward. Yours truly has been elated beyond
words ever since getting my hands on a copy of 'Death Is Not Dead', so
when the opportunity arose to talk to bass player and one of the chief
songwriters in The Crown, Magnus Olsfelt, it didn't take any persuasion at all
to accept this invitation.
'Death Is Not Dead' is your first album in five long years, well long for
your fans at least. What brought on this gap?
"Well, we seem to move
within a different time frame than others because it didn't feel that long to
us. However, we want to make the best albums possible which requires a lot of time.
Also, we've had some line-up changes that took time to sort out. Plus, we are
adults now with family and work commitments etc that requires our attention,
therefore we can't work as quickly as fulltime musicians. But hopefully it
won't take another five years to make the next album.
So there will be a
new The Crown album?
"Oh yeah, we have a lot of new material written
already, so hopefully we can start to record soon".
This is the first
time The Crown has recorded without Janne Saarenpää and Marcus, how was it to
do the album without them?
"They've meant a lot to the band, so we did
ask ourselves how things were going to turn out. But I am very happy with what
we have accomplished. Robin(Sörqvist), whom we've known for a long time, is an
amazing addition and his style of playing the guitar and his personality has
brought a lot of energy to the band. Just listen to his solos on the album,
they're badass!"
Indeed they are Magnus. Also, I have to say that
Marko Tervonen does an amazing job playing the drums! Was it hard to convince
him to handle the sticks?
"That was the biggest challenge of all, but
Janne suggested that Marko should play the drums in order to keep The
Crown-feel, or sound, during the recording. Marko played drums on his two Angel
Blake albums and on the first Impious demo, but to handle the sticks for The
Crown brings it to a whole different level. So he went through six months of
rigorous and intensive practicing sessions but he came out on top and did an
amazing deed. And I agree with you that he succeeded beyond expectations
especially since it was a crazy idea at first".
'Death Is Not Dead' definitely sounds like The Crown, but you have added
parts of Scandinavian folk music into some of the songs, most notably the
instrumental piece, 'Meduseld'. Personally I think this works great,
what turned the band down this path?
"Thank you! I believe this became
one of the highlights on the album.We've known Niklas Rimmerfors(he plays key
fiddle on 'Meduseld') and his twin brother Patrik for a long time and Marko has
produced their band Fejd. The brothers actually played at my wedding back in
2003 and I think this kind of music(folk music) seems to flow through them so
naturally. Therefore it was a given to have at least one of them record with us,
once we decided to go in that direction".
I also hear a return to your
"old" sound from the Crown Of Thorns era. Was that a deliberate
decision?
"Yes and no, well maybe not so much a deliberate decision but
we are proud of the fact that we have played together for so long. So we wanted
to show how this music should be done...the right way!"
What made you
decide on including Paradise Lost's 'Eternal' and Sodom's 'Agent
Orange' as covers, not to forget Napalm Death's 'Unfit Earth' from
the single 'Headhunter'?
"Those are songs we loved when the band
started and in the early 90's, we usually included a Paradise Lost live. 'Agent
Orange' was one of the first covers we played at our rehearsal space when we
had just formed. Napalm Death was also a big influence on us in the beginning,
so it felt obvious for us to honour them."
Henrik Axelsson who drums
on 'Eternal' and 'Unfit Earth' has been tapped to be your toruing
drummer...or is he now permanent member of the band?
"That's a good question!
So far everything has been great and he is a fantastic drummer and a great guy,
so I hope he will become a permanent part of The Crown".
You head out
to Japan in April for a tour(which will have taken place when this interview is
published). Are you going to tour Europe and the States as well?
"At
the moment, we are only able to do a few selected dates per year. So far we
have done the release show and played at Closeupbåten( a metal cruise) with the
Japan-tour lined up, as well as an appearance at the Hellfest in France and at Vicious
Rock in Trollhättan(the band's hometown), Sweden. Don't know yet if
we'll do anymore gigs this year".
Where did you get the inspiration
from to write the new songs?
"That's hard to tell. Nowadays we have all
kinds of influences within us, built up through the years, so it's hard to
point at any specific inspiration. Instead we went for feelings and emotions
more than anything".
I have to say you sound very inspired and hungry
and the songs moves with such ease. Was 'Death Is Not Dead' easy to
record or did you have to push it and work hard?
"We worked long and
hard creating the songs while the actual recording session went very smoothly,
if you ask me. I think I did most of my takes in one day while Marko had it
rough. After all he produced, played guitars and drums which he will never do
again hahaha!
This brings our
conversation to an end unfortunately. It's been a pleasure to talk to Magnus
and I advise all you waveriders out there to pick up a copy of The Crown's
out-of-this-world new album 'Death Is Not Dead'. Also, check them out
live if you have the chance because absolutely crush on stage, just as they do
in the studio. Don't miss out!
- Swedebeast
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