"Nowadays American metal bands sound more like what Swedish bands used to sound."

Vocalist and band co-founder Björn "Speed" Strid presents "Sworn to a Great Divide" - the seventh full-length "really fuckin' solid" studio album by Sweden's melodic death metal kings Soilwork, due out on October 19, 2007 via Nuclear Blast...

Vassil Varbanov: Bjorn, how are you?

Bjorn Strid: I'm fine, how about you?

V. V.: Good! How does the new Soilwork album sound to you, in your heart?

B. S.: Well, it sounds really fuckin' solid! I think it's almost like a best-of-album, because it has all the elements that we've had through the years. What we did for this new CD is that we brought back some of the thrashier elements and also incorporated more guitar harmonies, which kind of developed the album. We sort of did a reference to "Natural Born Chaos" (2002) - not that we tried to make "Natural Born Chaos Nr. 2", but we like the vibe we had on that album, so we wanted to create that on the new release plus really take it to a new level. I think it became a well balanced solid album with a lot of cool elements in it

V. V.: Some two years ago your long-time guitarist Peter Wichers left. A month ago we had the chance to talk to him, and he said you're still good friends, but how long did it take you to return to your daily routine and get strong again after losing this guy?

B. S.: Of course we were all sad to see him go. We were pretty close and you know, me and Peter started the band back in 1997... It's like losing a brother, but I knew that we were still gonna be friends, so now I miss him more like a friend than a musician, because I felt we have what it takes to make another great album without him. We have the knowledge and I don't think we should underestimate ourselves as songwriters, as all the members have been contributing with songs in the past and I've always done the melodies for the vocals. We just felt that we have so much more to give and we had to turn it into something good. A lot of songs started to flow, and a lot of them were really good, so after a while I was not so nervous anymore, as it was really sounding Soilwork.

V. V.: So what's the best thing about "Sworn to a Great Divide"? Is it better compared to its predecessor, "Stabbing the Drama" (2005)?

B. S.: I feel so. In my ears it's more solid and diverse than "Stabbing the Drama", and it brings back the elements we all missed in a way. I feel the new album is more melodic, but it feels more powerful, I developed the vocals a lot, making them sound more confident than ever.

V. V.: In the current issue of Britain's Metal Hammer Magazine there's a page where you answer some questions about touring. You say your voice does not need exercises after the third date of a tour...

B. S.: Yeah. As long a you don't get sick or catch a cold, it's usually fine, because we're touring so much and my vocal chords are so used to my singing style, that... Usually I warm up during the first 3, 4, 5 days of a tour, singing everything from Soilwork choruses to Whitesnake songs, and afterwards I just drink some bourbon and stretch my vocal chords by putting the tongue behind the teeth, and that's about it.

V. V.: When you hear somebody mentioning Bulgaria, does it ring a bell in your mind - besides the fact that Sweden always beats our football team?

B. S.: Ha-ha-ha! What was the name of that football player? Stoich...?

V. V.: Stoichkov.

B. S.: Yeah. I remember many football games against Bulgaria, but what else... We've been driving through Bulgaria once, but we didn't stop and, to tell you the truth, I don't know that much, but I'd like to learn more, like meet the people, try the food, see what women you have down there... and drink some Bulgarian bourbon, ha-ha-ha!

V. V.: Back to your new album now. Who produced "Sworn to a Great Divide"?

B. S.: Our guitar player Ola Frenning together with Klas Ideberg and Peter Wildoer from Darkane. We did it in our hometown Helsingborg, which was pretty cool, since we had the chance to go home after a hard day's work. It took us five months to finish the album, but I feel it was worth it. Besides, we were able to mix it a couple of times to get the production we wanted, because we basically had unlimited time. We decided to invest in buying equipment, so for the next album we'll be able to record everything ourselves.

V. V.: Finally, you know there are not so many European bands that manage to become big in the States, but I believe Soilwork and In Flames did. Is this true or it's a fake impression?

V. V.: Yes, it's going pretty good there. "Stabbing the Drama" is up to 55,000 copies in America now, and I think we can do even better, because it's such a huge market and it keeps on growing. I think Swedish bands are really popular in the USA, plus what's more interesting is that nowadays American bands sound more like what Swedish bands used to sound.

Copyright: Tangra Mega Rock