How did you approach writing the new album?
We actually started this process already back in 2016! Adrenaline kiss came out by summer and then Johan Hallgren joined for the shows we did during 2016-2017. The vibe was good so we just took one weekend tat Johans studio to get to know each other more musically. We all came with empty hands to that weekend and we left we had a solid foundation for almost five songs. The room was so full of energy and creativity – it just exploded!!! The first song we wrote was Lonesome cry and two more songs from that weekend,Never let you go and Until it ends, made it all they way to the album. During 2017 we started to work with the Jesus Superstar shows but me and Jörgen still met from time to time to work on the rest of the songs. We knew that it was going to be eight songs on this album since the first album contained 10, our second album 9 so that was all set. We also decided that the song that ended up as M.E 2020 was going to be featured on this album. It is based on an idea that Jörgen had been lying around since we started to write music together – this time we were determined to finish it. We were all pretty tired after all the work with Superstar but I set up a tight recording schedule during spring 2019 and we recorded everything with Marcus Jidell in his studio. Everything went really smooth in the beginning but then Jörgen changed his mind and wanted to do something different. We had some arguing over that which made us loose tempo and momentum. Then he decided to leave the band which was a big blow and when I finished the mixing together with Marcus in January 2020 it was hard to pitch it to any label because of the upcoming pandemic. It took a while before we made contact with Melodic Passion and Sound Pollution – so this album has been a long ride!
What themes are explored on the new album?
When I started to write the lyrics in 2018/2019 I couldn’t imagine how close the lyrics got to reality in the coming year. A common theme when I write is about some kind of loss. This time I imagined my life without music – one of the most important relationships I have in my life. There’s a reason for that as well. Music has been my life elixir since I was 15 and it has been my anchor in life. Now I am close to fifty, and even if I will play music until I die – I can now sense that it may not be possible for more than maybe 10 years from now. You see, in my family there’s a muscular diagnos running that affects your hands. My dad has it and I might carry it and if I have it – I probably only got ten more years playing bass on a professional level. After that… Probably not. Thats my slow ride towards death…
What themes are explored on the new album?
When I started to write the lyrics in 2018/2019 I couldn’t imagine how close the lyrics got to reality in the coming year. A common theme when I write is about some kind of loss. This time I imagined my life without music – one of the most important relationships I have in my life. There’s a reason for that as well. Music has been my life elixir since I was 15 and it has been my anchor in life. Now I am close to fifty, and even if I will play music until I die – I can now sense that it may not be possible for more than maybe 10 years from now. You see, in my family there’s a muscular diagnos running that affects your hands. My dad has it and I might carry it and if I have it – I probably only got ten more years playing bass on a professional level. After that… Probably not. Thats my slow ride towards death…
How does this album differ from previous releases?
It’s way darker in so many ways. It also differs because even if Jörgen is not in the band anymore he still plays on the album. Astrakhan started out as Jörgens and mine side project when I started with Royal Hunt and the continuing with Pain of Salvation. To make this album without him is weird, there’s no other way to put it. On the lighter side it is also the first album with Johan, featuring him as both a composer, guitarist and lead vocals on one song.
What’s your favourite song from the album?
It is probably Youtopia… Whenever I hear the finished version some things strike me. My first reaction is that maybe we should have started it differently but during the song I am always amazed how we work with very small and simple changes to make this song a monster! You have to listen to it from start to finish to get this and it’s not until the last chorus that everything comes together for me – if the vibe was blurry until then the core of the songs becomes crystal clear in the end. I like to write songs that kind of says: Wait for it!
What’s your favourite song from the album?
It is probably Youtopia… Whenever I hear the finished version some things strike me. My first reaction is that maybe we should have started it differently but during the song I am always amazed how we work with very small and simple changes to make this song a monster! You have to listen to it from start to finish to get this and it’s not until the last chorus that everything comes together for me – if the vibe was blurry until then the core of the songs becomes crystal clear in the end. I like to write songs that kind of says: Wait for it!