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Could you please introduce the band to our readers? Klas: Desultory started in 1989 in You have already released 3 albums and then it took 14 years to come up with the fourth and new album ‘Counting Our Scars’. What was the reason for taking you so long? Klas: After our 3:rd album we went on to explore other musical challenges, I guess you can say we’ve been busy doing other things, Desultory has been asleep. This other project was something we felt we wanted to do at the time, maybe we needed some distance to what we were doing. We have always followed our hearts when it comes to the music and I think we needed some new inspiration to be able to write music. As a Desultory fan I suggest you see these 14 years as a long break where we gathered strength for this second time around. Your third album ‘Swallow the Snake’ was completely different from the first two, why did you change your style back then? Klas: At that time we felt that we wanted to do something a little bit different with our 3:rd album, express the music in a slightly different way, a lot of bands were repeating themselves at that time and we wanted to move forward. At that time we didn't feel the change was that drastic, it had already begun on our 2:nd album Bitterness but as you state maybe it was too much for some people to handle. With your new album you return to the style of the first two albums, it seems that the band is not satisfied with the third album too, is that correct? Klas: Well in retrospect there are things I like and things I don't like with that album, but it was something we felt we had to do at the time, I think there are some songs on that album that are really good, but maybe a bit different.
Your style has the roots of Swedish bands like Entombed but also more modern death metal influences, how would you describe your style? Klas: We have always tried to do it a little bit different than many of the Swedish Death metal bands that were around during the early -90:s, for example we didn't tune down our guitars that much to try to get a bit cleaner sound and also use the melody element quite a lot. I hear lots of early Dark Tranquility influences on the album, is that one of the band’s biggest influences or are there a lot more bands you are inspired by? Klas: We and Dark Tranquillity started out at the same time in -89, I think we were a little earlier than them in releasing our first album, we have even played live with them in Gothenburg in the really early days, they are a great band but I don't think any of us have tried to pick things up from their albums. As for inspiration it is all and nothing. Everything we hear and read and watch is filtered through our head and comes out hopefully as something with a value of its own. If I get too much into something particular it’s almost a disadvantage when it comes to the own creative process because you unwarily tend to copy things. The title ‘Counting Our Scars’ is that because you have learnt a lot by bitter experiences in the last 10 years? Klas: The title is more something that can be applied on everyone, during your life you will go through things that will mark you forever, things that you will have to deal with and overcome. Everyone has their own life stories and experiences. Our lyrics are mostly introspective and deals with what’s going on inside. The lyrics reflects emotions and are views on life and will hopefully be recognised by many. Do you think there are still a lot of metal heads that know you from the nineties, or is it starting back at the bottom again? Klas: Judging from the reactions its both, we have a lot of people contacting us that have been with us from the start, seen us on tours in 93/94 which is fantastic, but there are also a lot of people that has discovered the band after we had put it to sleep, I feel that the impact of counting our scars is much bigger than Into Eternity had at the time. How have the reactions of fans and press been so far? Klas: It has been amazing, we have received such a great response from almost everyone and it really inspire us to push it even harder for the next album. How did you get in contact with your label Pulverised Records or did they contact you? Klas: When the word was out that we were back and working with new material, we were contacted by a number of labels, Pulverised was the one that we felt got the best feeling for. ‘Into Eternity’ and ‘Bitterness’, your first albums are difficult to get, am I well informed that both are going to be re-released on the Pulverised label? Klas: Yes, they have both been re-mastered and will be released in the beginning of 2011, we have also included all our old demos (also remastered) and liner notes that tells the complete story of the band from the beginning. Do we have to wait another 14 years for the next album, or can we expect the fifth one within 2 years? Klas: We have already started to write new material so you will not have to wait that long, I promise you that! What’s next, touring perhaps? Klas: We will try to do some festivals and maybe some small tour during 2011, just a few thing are confirmed but we hope to confirm some good gigs quite soon. What are in your opinion the 5 best death metal albums ever? Klas: Altars of Madness Anything else you want to share with our readers? Klas: Please check out our new stuff and hope to see you at some gig later this year ! | |||
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Interviewed by Reinier de Vries |
