So welcome here in Nürnberg Mikael, did you have a good trip here?

Yeah, oh yeah - ah it's been a long trip ha-ha! We came up here from ah let me look yeah from Vienna!


Alright, you are on tour with your latest album Damage Done. So my opinion and your statement on your website it is much more technical than for example the last one, Haven. Am I right?

Yeah, yeah I guess its more aggressive and more technical and more intense I guess.


Do you have something like that in your mind when you start working on new material or does it develop when you start writing it?

Ah actually it's a kind of a naturally thing it just comes to, we wanted to be the music more aggressive and I mean a actually while writing things just became that way. And we also decide from album to album of course what we write, you know we spend one and a half year just writing this album, so this is quite a long time to develop, you know.


So you are satisfied with the result of course?

Oh very much yeah! All I can say yes, he he!


Alright! Would you tell me something about the lyrics on the album? Are there special themes you write about?

Oh yes it is special about, its about a lot of frustration a lot stuff of anger and like that I am not usually comfortably talking about but you know I can put this in the music instead, you know about things you know you gota keep silent about. For me that is a good way to put it out, to show it everybody. Of course I hide it up a little bit, I don't wanna be too obvious but I mean you know the music is that thing I get really inspired with, I get really inspired by the music and the songs that we write and then I get into writing the lyrics!

What about the nature of your Home Country Sweden? Is this a part of your song writing too?

That too of course! The whole atmosphere of it! So cheers at it!


Skål! So let's go to something different! I used to listen to a Iron Maiden Tribute CD and there was one song performed by you called 22 Acacia Avenue! Why this song?

Oh! This is quite a long time ago when we did this, you know! I don't remember exactly, but we chosed it, we really liked the song and we were looking around what the other band did and so we chosed this. Original we did this for a Japanese album about five years ago and now it came out again! But it is really a good song! And I really like Maiden, it's been my first metal album!


So as me! Something about your concerts! When I saw you playing at Wacken 2001 I really felt that you had lots of fun playing there! Is it your thing, playing live?

I mean its definitely one of the best things to me, you know I like writing lyricing and writing of course, that's the main part of it but I really loved it, you know in Wacken its amazing, of course every night is great, its like the best bonus. You write songs and eventually come out and the people listen to them and like it and have a good time at it. In Wacken it's been our second time, so I think we used to be there in 1999 also, so its been a year between it! And hopefully we will come back as well!


So did you have a look around there on the festival?

Yeah on the festival, yeah we went around, but still the most time in the backstage having some drinks, you see there are so many friends of us to see. But its really great, great festival!


Alright! Something different I am interested in, I read on your homepage that you are offering there the tablature for some of your songs for download, taken from some communities in the internet! I never saw that on a bands homepage. How did it come to that?

Ah well I think this started with a guy, a big fan he has done tons of this tablatures, so ah I think he started it and then Niklas and Martin had helped him you know with lots of songs here and there.


Really a nice idea of course, by the way you got a nice homepage in the net, who has done that for you?

Ah it was done by Niklas the way. He is a graphical artist and so he does all the covers and that stuff too! I really don't know how he comes to the designs but they always fit to the albums and that's what I like!


I also saw on your homepage that most of your favourite links are to sites about the lord of the ring so have you ever been a fan of Tolkien or did it start with the films?

I think forever - as you (pointed at my ring ) ? I read all the books when I was I think about nine years and with fourteen in English then and since that I read it lots of times, but I really loved the film too. It was great!


So did you see the extended version too?

Ah, no but I have it at home, it came out after we started this tour but I am really waiting to see it!


I really think it's a great version you can be really curious for it! Skål again! Would you say that stuff like this is getting into your lyrics too?

Ah I wouldn't say that! That are not the kind of things I write about! May be a little inspired, but normally my lyrics are not inspired by fantasy! This is more my private thing, you know! Getting a little bit away from the normal life! The lyrics are more about frustration and anger and things I hate towards myself!

Ah ok! From the links I came up to that you like computer games too? Am I right?

I do, I do, I love it! I don't have a really favourite one, I play nearly every game it comes out!


So more shooter games?

Oh yeah, I play all shooter games, I love it and lots of more, like Quake, I love it!


Did you also play Diablo 2?

Ah not so much, more games like Neverwinter Nights and so! But many of my friends play Diablo! But I really like playing online role games!


So I read also that you are a big movie fan! One film you prefer is called the city of lost children! What about the content of the film and what do you like so much about the film?

Well its just one of the most beautiful films I have ever seen! I love everything of it, you know, the design of it, the production design, the actors and the music is amazing as well! It takes place somewhere you have no idea where it is and is about this evil guy who has lost his dreams , he can not dream any more, so he steals kids from the city to destruct the dreams of them and put them into him so that he can dream and not to alter so fast as he does without dreams and its about a guy who searches for his stolen brother with the help of a little girl, its so amazing, I have seen it so many times I cant remember anymore. But I like really many other films. Most of them are Science Fiction films, so films who take you somewhere else! Not action films and such crab!


Alright! Thank you very very much for the long time you took for the interview and of course tack så mycket för ditt tid thank you very much for your time and have much fun at your Gig here in Nürnberg!

Ah-haho! Thank you too and enjoy the concert!


martin