HYPOCRISY - Mikael Hedlund
07 September 2009
The great Swedish death metal machine is back with a new studio record after the 4 year hiatus.
'A Taste of Extreme Divinity' will be officially out end of October through Nuclear Blast/WizardВ and weВ have bass player Mikael Hedlund on our hot telephone line to tell is everything about this amazing new effort.
an interview conducted by Vassil Varbanov
HEY MIKAEL, HOW ARE YOU MAN?
I’m fine, thanks.
IT’S GOOD TO HAVE YOU WITH US FOR THIS GREAT OCCASION, WHEN WE’RE HAPPY TO PREVIEW YOUR NEW ALBUM. HOW DOES IT FEEL TO BE BACK?
It feels great to be back. We had a break for over four years and it feels like we’re starting from the beginning again. We have recharged the batteries and are ready to roll again and really give a 110%.
WE KNOW A LOT ABOUT YOUR BANDMATE PETER TAGTGREN AND HIS ACTIVITIES THROUGHOUT THE YEARS, ESPECIALLY THE LAST FOUR. WHAT DID YOU PERSONALLY DO DURING THIS HIATUS?
Yeah, we finished touring the States with Fear Factory in 2006. Then Peter and Horgh did things with Pain and Immortal. We didn’t say that much…We did a tour in the US and then we said: “Let’s write some songs for a new album”. But we didn’t make any plans for when we’d be entering the studio.
We just said we’d write music and then we’d see when to enter the studio.
Many things happened in my life as well, on a private basis. I moved to Germany and had a daughter., so I had time to be with my daughter. I’m very happy that my daughter was born. And then of course I’ve been writing songs for the new album, sitting at home trying to come up with new things for the album. This doesn’t mean I was writing every single day of those four years.
It’s hard to be creative. Maybe sometimes you can sit at home and write and come up with two songs in one week. But sometimes you don’t have that inspiration or whatever…I think it was good that we took a break, because we are now more ready than ever.В
Mikael right in the middle!
OK, IT’S GOOD THAT YOU GUYS HAVE THE HUNGER AGAIN. TELL US ABOUT THE NEW ALBUM, WAS IT RECORDED IN THE ABYSS STUDIOS?Yes, it was. That’s the best way for us. Peter owns the studio and we can work without any pressure, we can take our time and that’s the best for us, I think.
HAVE YOU EVER THOUGHT ABOUT GOING TO A DIFFERENT STUDIO, JUST TO TRY A NEW ENVIRONMENT, WHICH MAY MAKE YOU EVEN MORE PRODUCTIVE? OF COURSE THAT WOULD BE MORE EXPENSIVE FOR YOU…
That’s a good question. But the thing is, it’s not about money really... It’s more about the fact that at the Abyss we can work without any pressure, we don’t have to do this and that. If you go to another studio, then you have to book time and then you’ll be pressed for time.
It’s more relaxed at the Abyss and Peter as a producer is absolutely one of the best in the metal business. But like you said – it would be very interesting and we have actually discussed maybe going to another studio to maybe try out a different sound, but it’s never happened. You never know what’s gonna happen in the future though...
Tagtgren in theВ studioВ
THE OTHER GUYS HAVE THEIR OWN PROJECTS AND WERE CONCENTRATING ON THEM, BUT WHAT ABOUT YOU – DID YOU JUST MOVE FURNITURE TO GERMANY AND LOOK AFTER YOUR DAUGHTER? Yes, actually, it was. I don’t have a side project, unlike before when I played with some other bands – I was stand-in bass player for Dark Funeral, but that was a long time ago. But now I don’t have any plans for a side project and we’re going to be quite busy with Hypocrisy now, so I don’t even think about anything like that.
I CAN TELL YOU WHICH MY FAVOURITE SONGS ON THE NEW ALBUM ARE, IN CASE YOU’RE CURIOUS TO HEAR.
Ok. Yeah, I am curious.
OK, I LIKE вЂHANG HIM HIGH’ A LOT, ESPECIALLY THE INTRO. IT’S ONE OF THOSE SONGS THAT YOU REMEMBER FROM THE FIRST LISTEN, WHICH ISN’T ALL THAT COMMON FOR YOUR PARTICULAR STYLE OF MUSIC. I ALSO LIKE вЂTHE QUEST’…
That’s a very slow song, with a lot of harmonies...
IT HAS THIS VERY ANTHEMIC SOUND SIMILAR TO вЂDEATHROW (NO REGRETS).’ THAT SEEMS TO BE THE POWER OF YOUR BAND – YOU CAN SOUND LIKE 21ST CENTURY SLAYER, BUT AT THE SAME TIME YOU’VE GOT MAJESTIC HARMONIES AND AN OVERWHELMING SOUND. SO, CONGRATULATIONS ON THE NEW ALBUM.
Thank you very much.
TO WHAT EXTENT WAS BEING A FATHER AND HAVING THE UNIQUE CHANCE TO OBSERVE THE FIRST STEPS OF A HUMAN BEING INSPIRING TO YOU WHEN MAKING THE ALBUM?
Well, it happened two years ago. For me it was more of an energy kick. I don’t know how else to explain becoming a father, but it was like an energy kick. I got extra power from it. It was a big kick to be responsible for a human being. It’s hard to explain.
SO WHY DID YOU MOVE TO GERMANY? IS YOUR WIFE GERMAN?
Yeah, that’s right.
YOU’VE ANNOUNCED PLANS FOR A HUGE TOUR….
Actually we go to America in November, supporting Ensiferum. Then we’ll do a small European tour – 22 shows.
GOING ON TOUR NOW THAT YOU’RE A PARENT, YOU’RE OBVIOUSLY GOING TO MISS YOUR DAUGHTER, BUT HOW WILL YOU COPE WITH THE REPRIMANDING LOOK IN YOUR WIFE’S EYES?
Actually, I’m divorced. I don’t want to leave Germany because my daughter’s here.
YOU SWEDES PRONOUNCE GERMANY IN THIS VERY FUNNY WAY… YERMANY OR SOMETHING...
Oh yeah! Haha! I couldn’t imagine moving here at one point, but now I like it, it’s very good. I’m going to stay here like I said, because of my daughter.
SO I TOLD YOU WHICH MY FAVOURITE SONGS FROM YOUR NEW ALBUM ARE, BUT WHAT ARE YOURS?
Wow, that’s a very good question! It’s hard to say really…The opening song I think is very good. Also вЂHang Him High’, вЂWeed Out The Weak’. вЂThe Quest’ stands out as it’s the slowest song on the album, it’s like вЂThe Final Chapter’…It’s hard to say.Of course I like the whole album. I know it’s boring to say, but…
AFTER YOU FINISHED THE LAST TOUR WITH FEAR FACTORY YOU OBVIOUSLY TOOK A BREAK. HAVE YOU BEEN FOLLOWING THE DRAMA THAT HAS BEEN GOING ON RECENTLY IN THE FF CAMP?
Oh, you mean? Yeah, yeah, of course….I’ve checked out what’s on the Net.
BECAUSE PEOPLE WHO KNOW THE BAND HAVE BEEN TELLING US THAT DINO CAZARES IS TRYING TO STEAL THE BAND FOR HIMSELF. SO TELL US – WHOSE SIDE ARE YOU ON? RAYMOND’S OR DINO’S?
Oh, that’s a very good question. I don’t know any details though, so it’s hard to say…
WHO DID YOU LIKE MOST OUT OF THE FOUR GUYS IN FF WHEN YOU TOURED WITH THEM IN 2006 THEN?
Hmm, that’s a good question…
OK, I CAN SEE YOU’RE BEING DIPLOMATIC HERE…
Yeah, I’m boring, I know…
NO, YOU’RE NOT BORING, IT WAS A NOT TOO POLITICALLY-CORRECT QUESTION FROM ME. SO ANYWAY, WITH ALL THE GOINGS ON IN ANTHRAX AND FF, SOMEONE SUGGESTED THAT DINO AND SCOTT IAN SHOULD FORM A BAND.
Haha. It was pretty funny actually when this came up a couple of months ago. There was something new coming out every day and I was wondering what’s going on. That’s the only thing I thought really. It’s a circus, that’s all I can say.
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