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| w/TOBIAS GUSTAFSSON |
| Dawn/TheMetalWeb.com: Tell me about the overall theme behind Terrorize Brutalize Sodomize? The artwork is pretty sick, but fitting! (Laughs)
Tobias Gustafsson: Yeah, the artwork is really over the top this time! We feel that we finally have a cover and layout that bond perfectly with the musical content of the album. We wanted an all-photo based artwork for the album this time, because photos are the real deal and are way more direct than a painting or drawing is. You get a completely different kind of brutality with pictures and that's exactly what we achieved with the artwork for Terrorize Brutalize Sodomize. We hired Chaos Media this time and they did a fantastic job. Anyone can throw pictures together of molested bodies, body parts, gore and blood and make a sick cover out of that, but it takes more than that to get it brutal and artistic in the way that Chaos Media has done on our new album. We are absolutely stunned by the result! Dawn/TheMetalWeb.com: You also changed studios and producers for this album. What lead to this decision, especially being that Henrik Larsson was someone that the band was comfortable and accustomed to working with and what do you feel Rikard Lofgren brought to Terrorize Brutalize Sodomize that perhaps lacked in prior releases because your press release claims this album to be "the best production the band has ever had"? Tobias Gustafsson: After having done four out of our previous albums, we thought it was time to move on and try working with someone new in a new studio. We have been, as you say, very comfortable and accustomed to working with Henrik Larsson on our earlier albums. We are very satisfied with everything we've done together with him and we've always had a great time when we have worked together, but now it was simply time for a change. Since Vomitory isn't about changing style or sound between our albums, but sticking more to our guns, we thought that changing producers and studio in combination with the new line-up of the band would be a good change and kind of a renewal for the band. I definitely think we made the right decision, because we are so satisfied with the production of the new album. Rikard Lofgren didn't bring so much when it comes to the actual producing part. That's something that we've always done mostly ourselves. We spent quite a lot of time on recording and arranging the vocals, though, and there was Rikard of much help. But what he did bring to the new album, first and foremost, was more of a brutal, up-to-date and in-your-face sound. Especially the bass and the vocals are prominent this time. Dawn/TheMetalWeb.com: The band recently played for the first time in the US, which is awesome, at The Maryland Deathfest. How was the reaction and what was it like to finally play the US? That's something I know the band has been wanting to do forever. Tobias Gustafsson: It feels nothing but great to finally have done at least one show in the US! The response from the audience was really positive. I think we put up a decent show, despite the terribly bad sound we had on stage during the entire show. However, the crowd definitely liked it for sure, and that's what counts! We have had opportunities to play in the states several times before, but either the timing was really bad or the most common reason, money. I hope this show at Maryland Death Fest opened up a lot more eyes and ears for Vomitory in the US. We're aware that there were only about 1000 people there, but word usually spreads fast. Dawn/TheMetalWeb.com: Each track off the new album is more brutal than the next and I'm not exaggerating. Was that the intent and do you feel that this album surpasses Primal Massacre, and if so, how? Tobias Gustafsson: I think it surpasses Primal Massacre quite easily. Primal Massacre is still a killer album though and I still love it, but Terrorize Brutalize Sodomize is better, just like we intended it to be. We usually don't think so much before we start writing for a new album. We just aim on writing the best songs we can at the time. But, one thing that we were very aware of this time was that we wanted to include more heavy and slow parts into the material to make it more varied than Primal Massacre, and I think we managed to mix the material on the new album in a very good way. While there are some really heavy stuff on Terrorize Brutalize Sodomize, it also contains some of the most brutal and intense stuff we've ever done. I'd say that overall, Terrorize Brutalize Sodomize is a more intense and meaner album, but also more interesting and diverse. Also, the lyrics show some improvement. They still deal with what we usually write about, war, blood, gore and contempt for religions, but they are written in a more direct way so they turn out a bit rawer than usual, which suits the music just fine. Brutal music should have brutal lyrics. Dawn/TheMetalWeb.com: I must ask, when you were laying down your drums, did you come up for air? (Laughs) Besides the rest of the album, the tracks The Burning Black, Defiled and Inferior and March Into Oblivion literally left me in awe. I was quite impressed and think Modern Drummer should hear this! (Laughs) Tobias Gustafsson: Thanks for the kind words! Well, we rehearsed quite a lot during the last couple of months before we entered the studio, and obviously I was in very good drumming shape during the recording. I nailed all the ten songs in one and a half days, one day less than expected and that is the shortest time I've ever had to spend behind the drums on any recording. Yet, this is my best performance on an album to date. I too think that Modern Drummer should hear it! A great magazine for a drum nerd like me! (Laughs) Dawn/TheMetalWeb.com: What was the reasoning behind Ulf (Dalegren) leaving the band? It had to be difficult being that he was in the band for fifteen years and was a major contributor as far as writing. Tobias Gustafsson: Ulf decided to leave Vomitory after long and careful consideration, and we parted our musical ways as friends. His reasons are of private nature so I won't go into detail why he decided to leave, but there were no disagreements at all involved. To put it simply, he had to make certain priorities so there was simply no time for Vomitory left for him. Ulf has our fullest respect for his decision of leaving Vomitory after nearly fifteen years of service. We are still very good friends and we still hang out together every once in a while. As far as the writing goes, it wasn't such a big loss because Ulf wasn't a major contributor. He did contribute with some of the lyrical work though, good stuff, but over the last couple years it has been Erik Rundqvist and I who have done most of the writing. Dawn/TheMetalWeb.com: Speaking of Ulf, he was replaced by new guitarist Peter Ostlund. What do you feel that he brings to Vomitory and how do you feel now that the bands finally solidified? Tobias Gustafsson: It feels great to have Peter in the band. He was exactly what the band needed after Ulf's departure. Peter came in with tons of positive energy and ideas. This passed on to the rest of us and brought back the inspiration to us. We have never had a proper lead guitarist in the band before so now when Peter is bending the strings like a maniac, there are new musical possibilities opening up for us that we never really had before. Even though Peter is a few years younger than the rest of us, he still has his musical taste deeply rooted in the old-school. So, we are definitely on the same level there. Peter is not just a great guitarist, he writes really good stuff too, which is much welcome. That takes a lot of the weight off my shoulders, since I'm the main composer in the band. He already contributed with three songs on the new album, All Killers, The Burning Black, Defiled and Inferior and Heresy. I am already now looking forward to start writing new songs together with him. Dawn/TheMetalWeb.com: Are you currently still with your side project God Among Insects because I remember last time we spoke you stated that if the new release at that time World Wide Death was not well received that the band would split up. Tobias Gustafsson: Yes, I am, but God Among Insects is not active at the moment. All members are busy with their respective main bands now. The initial intention with this band was to record the album World Wide Death, do one show and then split up, regardless how the album would be received. But, after that one and supposed only show, we all enjoyed it so much that we decided to continue with this band. In the summer of 2005, we recorded our second album, entitled Zombienomicon, which is a huge step forward compared to the debut. Zombienomicon is a lot more worked-through and is a lot more of a band effort compared to World Wide Death. Since the start we have done about 10 shows in Sweden. But, we don't have any big plans with God Among Insects. We wake it up when we have the time and feel like it. We have this band only for our own fun. Time will tell if there will be a third album or not. At the moment, none of us know. Dawn/TheMetalWeb.com: What does Terrorize Brutalize Sodomize mean to you? Tobias Gustafsson: 100% Death fucking Metal! We simply wanted an album title that instantly told what it's all about, and I think Terrorize Brutalize Sodomize gets the message through quite clearly. Dawn/TheMetalWeb.com: Tobias, as always, it's a pleasure. The new albums brutal! With that said, do you have any final words for The Metal Web!? Tobias Gustafsson: The pleasure is all mine, Dawn. Anyone who's new to Vomitory , check out the official site for updates on tours, festivals and other necessary info. Cheers! OFFICIAL SITE "VOMITORY": http:// www.vomitory.net or http://www.myspace.com/vomitoryswe HOME |