 |
 |
| w/TOBIAS GUSTAFSSON |
| Dawn/TheMetalWeb.com: “Primal Massacre” is the first single from the album. Why was that particular track chosen as the album title as well? Tobias Gustafsson: There is no secret or special meaning behind the album title, other than we wanted a good title that suits the album content. We also saw the possibilities to have a cool cover artwork for that title as well. Dawn/TheMetalWeb.com: Musically, I see that you did the majority of the writing for the new release. Can you tell us about the recording and the creating of “Primal Massacre”? Tobias Gustafsson: Yes I did. That is usually how we work. I write like 90% of the music, and Erik and Ulf write the lyrics. Usually, I will finish a song completely before I play it to the other guy’s and then we change it together, if there’s anything to change. After that is done, either Erik or Ulf or they both together take care of the lyrics. The material for “Primal Massacre” took us about a year to complete. Still, we did the final touch on several songs during the recording session. A few lyrics were written and we even wrote one whole new song in the studio, “Cursed Revelations”. When we entered the studio, we knew very well how we wanted things and how we wanted the songs and it actually turned out even better. Dawn/TheMetalWeb.com: Looking back on the studio experience for “Primal Massacre”, are there any interesting or unusual moments that you would care to share with your fans? Tobias Gustafsson: The whole recording session was really relaxed and comfortable. Since we lived in the same building as the studio, we were able to work whenever we wanted, which was really cool and a new experience to us. There were not exciting things going on, part from drinking every night. Lord K of The Project Hate visited us in the studio one night to hang out, drink and listen to what we had achieved so far. Dawn/TheMetalWeb.com: The band has had a couple line-up changes throughout the years with the newest recruit being “Erik Rundqvist”. What new elements and talents do you feel he brings to “Vomitory” that was not there in the past? Tobias Gustafsson: Erik Rundqvist joined the band in 1997 so no one considers him “new” anymore. But, when he joined, or maybe after a couple of years in the band, I knew he would contribute with some really good material, both musically and lyrically. He is a very talented guy. That is why we wanted him. Erik is very good at writing heavy and melodic stuff and when he took over the vocal duties in 2000, he grew even more. He is definitely the best vocalist we have ever had, and he certainly proves that on our new album. Dawn/TheMetalWeb.com: I noticed that within the 15 years Vomitory has never toured the US. Why do you think this is and do you foresee any plans to tour the US for “Primal Massacre” in the near future? I recall you saying something about perhaps supporting Cannibal Corpse on some dates. Tobias Gustafsson: No, unfortunately we have never toured the US. The main reason is of course money, but we never got any offers interesting or good enough either and I guess it is not until now that there would be a point for us going there. Earlier I do not think many people knew about Vomitory, but now that we have our fifth album out, the response has got quite a lot better. The American people that we have talked to so far are very excited about “Primal Massacre”. To us it feels it is about time now to do a US tour. At the moment there is nothing confirmed. but we are working on the possibilities to do a US tour later this year, hopefully with Cannibal Corpse. Dawn/TheMetalWeb.com: Speaking of Cannibal Corpse, is it true that they were a partial influence in getting the band signed to Metal Blade? Tobias Gustafsson: Yes, I guess so. We were told that the Metal Blade boss, Brian Slagel gave Alex and Pat of Cannibal Corpse a ride in his car when he put on our “Redemption” album. Both Alex and Pat got really excited and asked what band it was. Slagel told them and Alex and Pat said that he just had to sign us. I guess Slagel already had that in mind but it was cool to hear that and the first time we met the “Cannibal” guy’s they confirmed everything we had heard. However, I also know that the European Metal Blade got excited too when they first heard Vomitory. Dawn/TheMetalWeb.com: Vomitory has been around a decade and I really must commend the band. You have never conformed and stayed “true” to your music while remaining a permanent fixture within the industry. The endurance in bands is not really seen too much nowadays. Bands like Cannibal Corpse, Vomitory, Overkill and Exhumed just to name a few. In your best estimation, what do you feel accounts for the bands longevity? Tobias Gustafsson: To me it is all about having a good time with my friends in the band and to play drums, which I love. I guess I can speak for the other guy’s in the band as well, because if we didn’t like each other as much as we do, the band would have split up years ago. We simply want to have fun together, playing brutal music, and when the time comes when we do not feel that, we know it’s time to quit. The fact that things are constantly getting better for us. You know, better and bigger tours, recruiting more fans, getting new albums out, is of course also contributing factors. Dawn/TheMetalWeb.com: You recently entered the studio to record the debut for your side project God Among Insects. How’s that going and what are your plans for when the album does release? Tobias Gustafsson: Yeah! We recorded the first and probably only album with God Among Insects in March at Abyss Studios. The album will be entitled “World Wide Death” and will be released worldwide in the beginning of September through Threeman Recording. “World Wide Death” contains nine songs of really fucking heavy death metal in the vein of Grave, Bolt Thrower and the early Swedish stuff. Producer Tommy Tagtgren did a great job and we’re very pleased with the production. It’s heavy as fuck! We tune to F. The whole plan with this band is to do one album and one show and then split up. We have recorded the album and we recently did the one and only show here in Sweden at a small metal festival. But now we realize that we need to have a release party for the album, so I guess we have to do one more show! (Laughs) We will see what happens after the album is released. The plan is to split up, but if the interest is big we might do something more. Anyway, the band consists of me on drums, Lord K Philipsson of The Project Hate on guitar, Emperor Magus Caligula of Dark Funeral on vocals and Tomas Elofsson of Sanctification on bass and we tune to F! Dawn/TheMetalWeb.com: Back to “Primal Massacre”. What are the band’s plans for the rest of 2004 and where would you like to perceive Vomitory as a band by the end of the year? Tobias Gustafsson: We’re going to do some festivals this summer. Braindead in France, Party-San and Summer Breeze in Germany and Halden Moshfest in Norway. We are also scheduled for a few club gigs. As I mentioned earlier, we are working on a couple of tours, so there will most likely be more shows added to the list before the end of this year. By the end of 2004, I believe that quite a lot more people will know about Vomitory from hearing the new album or hearing about it and/or seeing us playing live at the above-mentioned festivals and the upcoming tours. We have also done quite a lot of interviews for “Primal Massacre” so I believe that people who are into metal will notice us in one way or another. Dawn/TheMetalWeb.com: I am going to make you laugh now. I read in an interview a statement that you made when asked of when you joined the band. You stated, “I wasn't to be in the band, and I would only do the one show, because I had another band I was in at the time. (Laughs) I am still not in the band! But I keep trying, and maybe one day, they'll let me join!” So is “Tobias Gustafsson” finally a permanent member of Vomitory? (Laughs) Tobias Gustafsson: No, they won’t let me! (Laughs) Of course I am a permanent member, but it’s true that I was supposed to do only one show with Vomitory in 1990 to help them out. However, I continued rehearsing with them after that show “until they found a new drummer”. (Laughs) I had another band at the time but when we split up, I focused on Vomitory completely. But they never asked me or told me that I am a permanent member, so I am still not 100% sure. (Laughs) Dawn/TheMetalWeb.com: I appreciate you taking the time for this interview. We must get Vomitory some US dates! (Laughs) With that said, do you have any final words for The Metal Web!? Tobias Gustafsson: Thank you for the opportunity! Yeah, we definitely need to get some dates over there! In time, we will. Cheers and hail metal! OFFICIAL SITE: http://www.vomitory.net HOME |
 |
 |
 |
 |