Aeon Interview

Interview
Daniel Dlimi
Aeon

Members:
Johan Hjelm - Bass
Daniel Dlimi - Guitars
Tommy Dahlström - Vocals
Nils Fjellström - Drums
Zeb Nilsson - Guitars

2/18/06
Interviewer: Josh Thorne

"We are one hell of a picky band when it comes to things being as perfect as they can be with no budget"

As long as I've been a fan of the extreme metal genre, I've always known that there was something special about Sweden...but apparently several Swedes found that there was something special about the United States as well. Those Swedes are Aeon, one of the most brutal, intense, and absolutely crushing bands that death metal has scene in quite some time. Their style of Americanized death metal, in the Morbid Angel/Deicide vein, is making waves in their own country and in the States as well, with the release of their new album Bleeding The False. Guitarist, Daniel Dlimi, was kind enough to sit down and chat with us about the unstoppable force that is Aeon, and what their intentions are for humanity...and just to kinda kill the suspense...they are NOT good intentions. Enjoy!

Josh: First off, Daniel, thanks for taking the time to chat with us. How's everything on your side of the world, these days?

Daniel: Hi Josh! Well, there's a shitload of snow everywhere, its cold as fuck and it's dark almost two4 hours a day, seven days a week. I really hate the winters you know. And if that just wasn't enough, there are winter sports on almost every TV. channel I have, due to the Winter Olympics. Fuck sports! Besides that, everything's just fine, thanks.

Josh: I have to start this interview by congratulating you guys on your upcoming European tour with Cannibal Corpse. What are your thoughts on touring with the Godfathers of death metal?

Daniel: We could not possibly wish for a better first tour! Some of us have listened to Cannibal Corpse for over ten years, so its a great honor to be the opening act for them. And what I'm looking forward to the most is to show the audience that Aeon can deliver the same intense, tight and brutal music contained on our albums in a live setting.

Josh: I honestly believe they're going to have to work a little harder than normal to follow Aeon, especially after that statement as well as the monster of a debut full length you just released, appropriately titled Bleeding The False. Now, the album came out in September of '05 but what a lot of people don't realize is that it took over two years to actually record the album. Why the long process?

Daniel: Its a long ass story. First of all, we recorded this album without any budget what so ever. Our bass player, Johan, worked in a studio and we decided to record the album there whenever the studio was empty. It wasn't like we were going into the studio for a certain number of weeks and emerging with our new album, you know. The first half of the recording process went really fast! In a period of three weeks we recorded all the drums and guitars, but after that things started to take huge amount of time. There where huge gaps between unbooked studio days as well as several computer problems. Then, Johan had a problem with one of the nerves in his right arm and was unable to work or play bass for about three months. In conclusion, we are one hell of a picky band when it comes to things being as perfect as they can be with no budget, Johan being sick for a long time, computer problems and everything else that can fuck with you in a studio!

Josh: Are you personally satisfied with the results?

Daniel: Hell yeah! I'm really satisfied with the way this album came out. But just like with everything else, you can always wish for more. I do wish that the guitars where a little bit more "fat", but that was also one of the things we had to compromise. We wanted the listener to be able to hear what we actually played and therefore we needed a more polished guitar sound.

Josh: Considering the time it took to get this one out, have you begun working on any material for the next disc?

Daniel: I must admit that the long process, the broken deadlines and the rest of that shit was not good for the band. We were all just like zombies during these two years waiting for the album to be finished and get released so we could go on. So we did not write much during that period of time. But since the album has been released we've started to write some tunes and are trying some things out. But it's way to early to say anything about those ideas, just yet.

Josh: Sweden isn't exactly known for it's brutal Americanized death metal bands, but I can safely say I'm certain Aeon will be a name on everyone's minds in the near future. What is it about this style of music that really excites you guys, as opposed to the normal Swedish sounds of say, Dismember and Entombed?

Daniel: I think I can speak for all of us when I say that we don't find melodic sounds like those of In Flames and Dark Tranquillity brutal in the way we enjoy. When it comes to bands like Entombed and Dismember, who were actually big influences for me in their early years, they are just too simple and dirty for my tastes these days. I think from the first day I heard Morbid Angel, I have always preferred the US style of Death Metal, instead of the typical Swedish one. There is nothing cooler than a fat ass riff and blast beats, and you can never find that in the Swedish bands mentioned above.

Josh: With Bleeding The False you've got the backing of independent Death Metal label Unique Leader Records. Have they been doing a good job with promoting it, distribution, etc?

Daniel: Well, I can't really tell if they are, since we haven't seen any sales figures and all that shit. The only thing I do know is that they don't have any distribution here in Sweden, which sucks mother loads of cock since it's our home country and all. But I think they are promoting it well in the US, from what I can gather.

Josh: I imagine it's at least a step-up from your original label, Necropolis Records. The issues with this label, by the majority of the bands once signed to the label, have been well-documented. Would it be safe to say that Aeon received the same kind of wretched treatment that other former Necropolis bands received?

Daniel: Ohhh yes, to say the least. First of all, they re-mastered Dark Order without our permission. The original master that we sent them was much fatter sounding and louder, and the one that they released is low sounding and muddy. We asked them to fix that shit but they just ignored us! Also we have not seen one single sales figure or a single royalty from them! In other words, they haven't done one single thing that they should have done! And is it even possible to buy the damn CD anymore? No, it's not!

Josh: If the situation ever presented itself, would you like to see a proper re-release of it under a new label?

Daniel: Actually we are trying to sort things out so we can re-issue Dark Order on another label, as we speak. Since Necropolis fucked us on every single level, I think we have every right to tell them to go fuck themselves.

Josh: Back to Bleeding The False, it's quite clear from the get-go that this is one of the most confrontational death metal releases since Deicide's first LP. One of the things I've come to notice is that your hatred of organized religion is not masked lyrically, but rather brought out openly and honestly.

Daniel: Well, Tommy is the one who writes all the lyrics and he seems to follow the same pattern which we think is good. We always stick with one thing, and our thing is to mock the living shit out of Christians and Jehovah's Witnesses in a bit of a sarcastic way. Personally, I hate all religions.

Josh: Now, the song "Doorknocker" is just so personal for me because I'm assuming this is about The Jehovah's Witnesses. I almost dated a Jehovah's Witness once, so I can't help but crack up every time the lyrics to this track start. I understand that religion is actually quite prevalent in Sweden?

Daniel: (Laughter) Shame on you for almost dating a Jehovah! I think that religion is slowly fading away here in Sweden. Who the fuck goes to a church at 6 a.m. on a Sunday morning anymore?

Josh: While we're on the subject of the album's songs, I just have to give you guys unlimited props on doing a country version to the album's most obscene track, "God Gives Head In Heaven". What made you guys want to do this?

Daniel: Well, there is no other death metal band that has done such a thing before, at least that I'm aware of. Also, I think it will be like acid in some Christian U.S. Country dude's eyes. But seriously, it was just for fun.

Josh: Could we see you doing any more country versions of Aeon songs?

Daniel: No, I don't think so. That was a one time only thing.

Josh: As far as the scene in Östersund goes, I've heard many good things about your town and the rabid death metal fanbase that exists there. Is that a pretty accurate description?

Daniel: Yeah, I think so. There is definitely a solid fanbase here that always shows up at gigs and supports the metal acts.

Josh: And now my friend, it's time for the SPEED ROUND of Questions!

Daniel: Bring em on!

Josh: Evolution or Creation?

Daniel: Some letters and forgotten bills, cables and dog hair.

Josh: If Aeon were a cocktail, what kind of cocktail would you be?

Daniel: A lot of moonshine, with a drop of coke in it.

Josh: If you could commission any band to cover an Aeon song, which band would you choose, what song would you choose, and why?

Daniel: Behemoth doing "Forever Nailed" just because it would be cool as fuck.

Josh: Favorite guilty pleasure song/CD/artist?

Daniel: Right now it's Fields of the Nephilim and the track "She" from the "Mourning Sun" album.

Josh: Things you can't live without

Josh: If you could have dinner with any celebrity past or present, who would it be?

Daniel: Ozzy Osbourne.

Josh: Finally, with a bright year already ahead of Aeon, what do you guys hope to accomplish with your band in the future?

Daniel: More touring for the Bleeding The False! I would really love to tour the States. After that, we hope to create a new Christ-bashing album and hopefully get a decent studio budget so we can get some really sick production on it!

Josh: Any last words for our readers?

Daniel: Thanks to all of you who support the metal scene and always buy the albums you really like! I will see you on the road! Cheers!

We'd like to thank Josh for submitting this amazing article and for resurrecting the Speed Round; and of course to Aeon! Tack så mycket för intervjun Daniel!