Band: STEEL ATTACK
Partner: John, Ronny, Johan, Mike, Anden
First of all congratulations to this great record!! I like it very much!
Thank you very much!
You’ve had very much line-up changes during the years and John Allan is the
only member who has “survived” since the first record. Why you so often have to
change your line-up?
The reason for the changes are just personal in most cases, then there are
those who had problems with the effort it takes to be in a band but none had to
go without their own choice.
Your new record is the best one you’ve ever done. It sounds more compact and
unique as the other good releases before. It is a very good mixture between
power and melody. What do you think about your record personally?
Thank you very much. We are all satisfied with the new album “Enslaved” and
we think that this is the best album so far from the band.
Your singer is one of the best singers a metal band can have. Do you (Ronny
Hemlin) made all vocals on your own, especially the deep parts, which harmonizes
very good with the rest?
(Ronny) Thank you J Yes I made all the vocals my self except the darkest voice that appears
here and there on the album, that voice belongs to Jonas Kjellgren (ex. Carnal
Forge) but in most of the places where he adds his voice, mine is there too in
a somewhat higher pitch, so in that way it blends in with the rest of the
vocals.
Will there be more changing vocal parts in the future (I hope it because it
makes your music more unique and varied)?
It probably will, coz that is a way of expressing different feelings /
personalities, and a way to make people understand a certain state of mind or a
mood etc. etc.
How satisfied are you with “Enslaved”. Is there anything you can say, on the
next record we have to do this or that better?
We’re all 100% satisfied with “Enslaved” and we can’t think of anything
being done in a different way.
How does the song writing process work in your band?
We all do the parts, either at home or in the rehearsals, the songs are
mainly composed with several ideas that each member bring to the rehearsals,
either saved on tape, computer, digital portable media etc, then we just get
together and see what will work as either a verse, bridge, intro or what may
not, then it will be put together and a new song is born.
Do you thought about changing your name because of the many line-up changes
and the “new” music style? Were there any new names?
No name change was in our mind, only the music style in a way or two, so
there where no new names at all.
Was there a time where you thought that you will not continue with the band?
No, never had that kind of thoughts
What can you say about the cover and the title?
As the music and lyrics has gone through a major change, we felt that the
cover should too and we found Pierre Hillberg who managed to illustrate the
concept of the album to our absolute satisfaction. You kick ass Pierre, thanks
a lot!
In your Info sheet of your label stands that the lyrics are about religious
themes. Are you all personally very religious?
HELL NO! J The lyrics are about all the bad shit different religions causes all
over the world… and brainwashed religious cults that is killing people acting
up to their conviction that if they do it in the name of their god it is all
right and they stand free from sin. No matter if you are on the darker side or
the other it’s all fucked up.
Also your lyrics are more critical to one religion or religion at all or to
some statements of religious persons/churches?
As said in the previous question the lyrics are about religions “not only
Christianity” and yes they are critical to some religious persons, statements,
behaviours and acts, REMEMBER!!! It is all based on our point of view and how
we see things regarding matter like this.
Can you tell me shortly what every song is about?
NO L, the lyrics should be taken to your
self and your own point of view, as it should be with your own believes, keep
em for yourself and that’s it, would never let me be controlled by a mass of
people who try to convince you that they got the right and true believes.
Who writes the music and the lyrics?
We all do the music and lyrics as a unit. It’s for the best to let all take
part with what each member can bring to the final result of the making of the
songs.
How good or bad was the recording and mixing process this time if you
compare it with your older recordings?
This time it was a killer time, we had such fun making the album and with
Jonas Kjellgren at Black Lounge Studio it was pure fucking fun. The other
recordings has been fun in a way too, but this time it was more a unit and no
problems hanging around in the back of your head.
What are you doing privately to finance your life (working, studying…)?
Ronny: As little as possibleJ. I guess an answer to this is simply as Ronny said, but from time to
time there are short works etc. Nothing that is permanent, for the sake of
playing.
You will go on tour with Exciter and Black Abyss. Are there any other live
dates, tours, and festivals after this tour?
No, not yet anyway, but hopefully there will be. We got a booking agency
this time that seems to get things going so we will see, its crush concerts www.crushconcerts.com so if you want us, just get in contact with them.
What are your top five records in the moments (of each member if it’s
possible)?
John: Any album with Symphony X.
Ronny: Abigail with King Diamond, Images and words with Dream Theater,
Cowboys from hell with Pantera, Hooray it’s a death trip with The Quill and of
course aren’t you dead yet with Carnal Forge.
Johan: Awake Dream Theater, Images and Words Dream Theater, Divine Wings of
Tragedy Symphony X, Perpetual Burn Jason Becker, Rising Force,
Mike: The Storyteller - Tales of a holy quest,
Iron Maiden – Powerslave, Avantasia - The Metal opera pt II, Manowar - Fighting
the world, Falconer - Sceptre of Deception
Anden: Queensrÿche operation mindcrime, Yngwie J Malmsteen Rising Force, Def
Leppard Pyromania, Kizz Alive2, Giant Last of the runnaways.
Do you have any last words?
Thank you all that has been with us since the first albums Where Mankind,
Fall into Madness and the Predator of the Empire, hope you will enjoy the new
album as much as we do our selves, and to all of you that hasn’t listen so far,
we can only say start of with the new album Enslaved, cause that’s where Steel
Attack are now.
Thank you very much for that interview and continue with your good work.
Thanks a lot Jens!
Interview: Jens
Photos: Label