Interview Magnus Rosén HammerFall

Lineup: Joacim Cans - vocals Oscar Dronjak - guitar Stefan Elmgren - guitar Magnus Rosen - bass Anders Johansson - drums

8/26/05 Studio Seven (Seattle, WA) Interviewer: Alexi Front

It is a rare pleasure to have an interview turn into a conversation from which both participants take away a large bit of knowledge and emotion. Magnus Rosén has proven to be the best interview subject I have ever had as a music journalist and I feel as though he is a model citizen and role model in a metal community that is full of false imagery and perception, greed, and cutthroat back stabbing between musicians. Rosén’s work worldwide as a philanthropist has made him not only a widely respected member of our community, but also a better himself. Here are some words from the conversation I had with Magnus.

Alexi Front:  How has the live response been to the new HammerFall record Chapter V: Unbent, Unbowed, Unbroken?

Magnus Rosén: We started the tour in Toronto and we played there and in Quebec.  It was the first time we had played in Canada.  Edguy had played there twice before.  It was okay for people.  I think in Quebec we had around 600 people.  Of course, we were happy to have that many people out, but we hoped to play for more people.  But, the response was very nice!  In Montreal and in Toronto there were a bit less people, but the response was really good.  The people who did come to the concerts were really into the music.  Nobody was disappointed.  There should have maybe been more people.  Then we went to the US, to places like New York, Chicago, and a few other places.  Like I said before, in New York we had maybe 800 people and in Chicago between 500 and 600 people.  But, in some other places, there was less.  We hope more people should come out, but I think it is okay because we had never headlined the states.

When we were in support for Dio, it was of course a real pleasure to play with him because he is a really nice guy and it is nice music.  Kings X was also really nice.  But, because we were on support for Dio and Kings X, our time was not the best, so we started to play when people were entering the venue.  So I will say it is the not the perfect way, to be the first band.  Now it is the third time we are here.  Of course it is a pleasure to meet people who are enthusiastic.  People are enthusiastic, but there should be more of them!

Alexi: How has the sales response been to Chapter V: Unbent, Unbowed, Unbroken?

Magnus: I think it was really good.  At first we got really good reviews from the magazines.  It is a little bit more rock and a little more heavy than Renegade, which was two CD’s ago.  It feels like it is in the right direction.  Also, when we play live, we try to play songs from all five CD’s, and I think we play maybe four songs from the new album on this tour.  I feel it works really well.  They are easy songs to catch, which has always been the case.

Alexi: Some people have talked about Chapter V: Unbent, Unbowed, Unbroken, saying it was a bit less up-tempo.  Why do you think Chapter V: Unbent, Unbowed, Unbroken ended up the way it did?

Magnus: First of all, I think that after five CD’s a band grows.  After five CD’s, things are a bit heavier and maybe a little bit slower.  I think that the fast songs we did in the beginning were really good, but the slow songs are also really good!  I think it is nothing we sit down and say that we will play slow songs.  I think we grow in that direction.  So many bands from Europe play so fast.  I am happy that we took this direction.  Of course, we took some direction from the old CD’s, but the steps are not so big.  The melodies are the same and the songs build the same way.  Also, it is the same two people writing the music.  I don’t think it is such a big difference.  Of course, if you are a big fan of heavy metal and HammerFall, of course you hear the difference.  But, for people who don’t listen to heavy metal or HammerFall so much, they can’t say it is a huge difference from the first last albums.

Alexi: Now you have worked with Charlie Buerfiend for a few albums now.  Has he helped you sort of find the right sound for your albums?

Magnus: He works more like a sound engineer who comes up with some ideas, but he doesn’t produce in the way that is controlling.  Everything is done before we go into the recording studio, so in some ways he is not allowed to produce.  He is a really good producer and he has a good ear.  He makes things perfect.  I think he helped us to make the sound how the band wanted it to be.

Alexi: Why do you think people responded differently when you said you were going to work with Michael Wagner on Renegade?

Magnus: I think that the result of Renegade was that some people thought that it was not heavy enough and hard enough.  I think that Michael Wagner was a really nice producer and he tried to get out a certain feeling in the recording.  But, in our band, the producer is not allowed to produce it really like a producer should do.  So, when we recorded in Michael Wagner’s studio, Oscar and Joacim, they wanted to have everything their way.  I think that Wagner could produce the album in that direction.  I don’t think he was allowed to produce it, and he took the hand off a bit and only listened to Oscar and Joacim.  It is a little bit sad to put the shadow over Wagner because it is not right.  He did what he was asked.

Alexi: Had you allowed Michael Wagner to produce it, as he would have with any other band, how different do you think it would have sounded?

Magnus: That is really hard to say.  After the circumstances, I understand that it should be more different.  We make more guitar vocals oriented and Renegade was a bit like that sound wise.  The drums were very low in the mix and sometimes it was hard to hear the drums.  I think it should sound different, but it is hard to say. 

Magnus: Of course I can only guess, but, I think this kind of heavy metal and power metal happens at different times in different places.  In Europe, Japan, and America, each different kind of music comes at different times.  Now that heavy metal is starting to become big in Europe, but the music is underground in the states and also in Japan, it is not as big as it used to be in Japan.  Maybe a little bit in the states and Japan it is popular, but not too much.  But, the record companies today are so big, and they want to make fast money.  So, when they put bands like the Spice Girls together to make a fast profit in a quick time.  These guys are the real bosses. 

With a heavy metal group, there is no way to make a lot of money like a group like the Spice Girls.  Heavy metal groups need to be around for a long time and play around for a long time.  I think that the whole industry is not helping artists.  They are looking purely at the economics of the situation, and they don’t care about the art in the music.  They only care about selling and making money fast.  It is sad, there should be more artists and artistic people running these companies and the industry.

Alexi: So people who share the same vision as the artists themselves?

Magnus: Yes.  Artists need money and it is good to make money, but life is not all about money.  I think you loose quality when you think about money.  It is really sad.  But, I don’ know why it works in Europe but not here.  But, maybe it will work better here in the United States and in Japan.  In South America, it works actually quite good.  It is hard to sell a lot of CD’s there because there are a lot of poor people there; however, the crowd is good and big!  We did, I think, four tours in South America.  In some countries when we come to the airport, there are hundreds of people waiting for us with flags that say HammerFall!  That is really fun to have such a special welcome when you come to such a place. South America is the best hard rock market.

Alexi: When we talk about the dedication fans have to the bands, especially in the case of HammerFall.  In places like South America and Europe, you probably see a lot of younger fans at your shows.  How  I see this situation is that you have become a role model for these people.  You become someone these people want to look up to for an example.  Does this ever cross your mind?

Magnus: I think that I have a responsibility for these people because of the position I am in. I try to live my life in a good way, so I think I am a good role model.  I don’t use drugs, I fight hard for what I want and I understand I can’t get everything.  In Sweden, I am out at the schools playing bass concerts, talking against drugs and violence. I am interested in this and I think it is necessary and important.  I think that young people just as yourself look up to you.  There is a lot of bullshit in the schools and people are not being responsible for how they act.  Some people don’t care. 

There is a lot bullshit on television and like the true reality shows.  In these games, if you bullshit and don’t care about other people you are a winner.  That is not how you should be in real life, because that is an asshole [Laughter].  If you are younger and you look to these programs, you think, “ahh, it is okay to act this way.”  I think it is really important to go out to the schools and help people become aware of what is going on around them. 

Last October I went to South America by myself on my third bass tour.  I paid for my tickets and everything, all costs.  All of the money I made down there I gave to the poor people.  If you should go to my concert, you can bring either one or two kilos of food and you will get a ticket.  The next day I went out with some organizations to the ghettos, right to the poorest people.  I gave them food, furniture and these kinds of things.  This trip was all paid for from my own pocket.  Every sale I made went to the poor people.  That is one way to show that it is nice to care and it is interesting to care.  I have never been into the ghettos before, so it was really interesting for me to go into these places and look at the people’s eyes and see their surroundings.  It was amazing for me too.  It was a pleasure: it may have cost my money and my time, but it was a pleasure for me.  I of course love to talk about this because it is really nice and interesting to talk about this.

Alexi: How many other people do know of that have shown the same initiative to caring and service, aside from yourself?

Magnus: Not really, but maybe in a different way.  I know that Anders has one or two kids in Africa that he gives money to each month.  I think Joacim has something like that also.  Nobody does it like I do, but maybe we all do it in different ways.  We are all different people and we have different visions about life.  I am really interested in this.  I would really love to take one year off, go down, and help these people.  It is great for me to look into their lives and to see everything.  It is good to see the castles but it is also good to see the ghettos.  It is good to see everything and learn.  Of course, when you do nice things, people are happy and it goes to your heart.  Even if it costs money, it gives back in other ways.

Alexi: In this spirit of helping people, the lyrics in Chapter V: Unbent, Unbowed, Unbroken are less about fantasy and stories and more about personal reflection.  Do you feel as though the music you are playing is becoming more of a reflection of who you are?

Magnus: Maybe for Joacim since he writes all of the lyrics.  Stefan and I are not involved in the song writing process.  Sometimes you feel you enjoy the stuff, but other times you feel it is not representative of you.  Of course, you always respect other people.  Joacim’s reflections of what is going on in his life is certainly good for him and people who are going through the same things he went through.  Joacim can answer this a bit better.

Alexi: Do you ever wish you could be more involved in the writing process?

Magnus: In this band, Stefan and I are part of the band and of course, it is nice when you can put a flavor of your personality into the music.  In some bands, you can do that.  I recorded a CD with Jørn Lande called Out To Every Nation earlier this year.  I went to the studio, I had never heard the songs before, and he said, “Play!”  On Out To Ever Nation, it is a flavor of me.  He wrote the songs of course, but it is my flavor on the bass parts.  It’s me!  How I feel and see them in their form.  In HammerFall, I am told to play these notes, [sings bass notes out loud], the ground note.  My personality will first come out when we play live, then you will feel a bit about who I am.  In the music, I am like a hired gun in a way.

Alexi: When you played with Jørn, or when you play solo, which influences do you draw from.  Also, you have are a finger player which is a bit rare today in metal.

Magnus: Somewhere, I think from the seventies.  I listened to a lot of Led Zeppelin and things like that when I was younger.  Somewhere, is my influence from that.  But, I worked hard with my playing and I tried to make a journey within myself to see, “who am I?”  So, I didn’t check out other players to see how they play and how I could play like them.  I was not interested in that.  I don’t say it is wrong to do that.  But I like to see what is going on within myself.  But, I used a lot of my imagination and tried to create my way of playing the bass.  So, if you listen to my solo CDs, you will notice that it does sound a little bit different.  But, the roots are from the seventies, somewhere.

When I started to play bass twenty-eight years ago, my first real dream was to play a bass line.  Now, I think I am not too bad with bass lines [laughter], but I still try to play all over my bass and it is still fun.  So when I played with Jørn Lande, I did not over play, but I was free to use my flavor in the music.  Everything was from the seventies somewhere and from how I grew as a musician.  It is like a tree.

Alexi: Now, where can people find your solo CDs?

Magnus: They are out somewhere.  They are released in Sweden and they are out a few different ways.  Because the record companies do not like to spend money on art music, they like to make the money.  I paid for all the CDs myself and I made my own little record company.  It is a very little one, only for my CD’s.  I cannot promote my CD’s like record companies can.  I try to make interviews; I would love to make TV shows with my bass playing.  I would like to get out there, and I get really good reviews like 10/10, 9/10, in Rock Brigade Magazine in Brazil my CD was rated the second best CD in 2001.  In Bass Inside magazine, a European bass magazine, every year they put out the ten most interesting CD of the year.

In 2003, Rush was the released that year, among many others.  Every CD qualified for this category.  My double CD, which is the first to have bass only, it went in the top 10 at number one, before Rush.  It shows that I have some kind of flavor on my playing.  But, it is hard to get them.  If I find a record company who can try to release my CD’s where my bands go, I would like to work with them.  I have three CD’s they could use, including my material with the Ace Of Base singer, which is more of pop style with catchy songs.  If some record company where to interested, I would let them release that CD also.  I work so hard by myself, so they won’t think I am lazy either.  But, it is hard to get them, but I know they are out there.

Alexi: So what is going to happen with HammerFall after this tour?

Magnus: We are free for a bit, then we play the last part of our world tour in Europe with Stratovarius.  So we will play five or six weeks around Europe.  I think this will be our biggest European tour since it is a double headlining tour with Stratovarius.  In the countries where we are bigger than Stratovarius, we will play last, but in countries they are bigger in, they will play last.  But, we are both headlining, so we will both play the same amount of time, plus support.  Then after that it is Christmas.

Alexi: When are we going to hear new material from HammerFall?

Magnus: I think we will begin to record before the summer.  It also depends on what the material is like and how good it is.  When we talk about it, it feels like we will release a new CD in October or in the fall.  It will be interesting because CD number six needs something to happen.  I think our style is really really good and we should not change too much.  We are still the same metal band, but I think something needs to happen, so that CD number six won’t be close to number five.  It will be interesting, maybe a fresh flavor.

Alexi: Now when I was in Sweden this summer, I was in a mall and there was a huge Chapter V: Unbent, Unbowed, Unbroken banner outside of the entrance of the store.  I know there is a special connection between HammerFall and Nuclear Blast in Germany.  Is there a reason why there is more promotion in Europe versus in America?

Magnus: In Europe, you can see a lot more advertising in Europe for us.  You even have HammerFall dolls with the eyes with lights and this kind of thing.  They work very hard for us in Europe.  I think that with Nuclear Blast in the United States, I think the record company is too small.  I went out to the music shops in the towns we were playing in the United States, because I am interested for myself what they sell: and there was no HammerFall at all.  Some places have some copies but not a lot.  The record company needs to put the CD’s out to the areas where we are playing.  So I think they should have the same support they have in Europe.  In Europe, twelve thousand CD’s is good.  But, twelve thousand is nothing in a country like the United States.  They need to put more work in it so that the music can reach people.

Alexi: During the One Crimson Night DVD there was a special presentation for the gold record for Crimson Thunder and Chapter V: Unbent, Unbowed, Unbroken has also been extremely successful in Europe.  Has there been a demand for the older material?

Magnus: I think so.  I know that Legacy of Kings sells really well.  It is also a really good HammerFall record.  I don’t really know

Alexi: You talked about the doll and of course the great advertising.  Do you ever feel as though Nuclear Blast is trying to make your band into the next Iron Maiden?

Magnus: I don’t think so, but I know what you mean of course.  I think there are a couple of bands that have the warriors, ghosts, or skeletons.  I understand what you are saying, but we are so far away from Iron Maiden.  I never thought about it actually.  I think the music is not so close to Iron Maiden, and our image is a bit more decorative.  I think our space clothes are different also.  It was not the intention of Nuclear Blast.  Everything with HammerFall is our ideas and our intentions.  We are really free from someone saying we should do something different.  The record company does not even listen to the new songs when we record it, they just take it and press it because they believe it will be good.  Other bands have to give demos to the label and the label decides whether it is good or not.

Alexi: So there was never a thought to leave Nuclear Blast?

Magnus: We have never talked about it.  We did a new contract a few years ago, so we had a chance to look at other record companies.  But, decided to stay with Nuclear Blast because we know who they are, we know them well, and they know what they do, we know they care about us and they promote our CDs well, in Europe.  I wish we had another record label in the United States that is bigger.  But, not in Europe because you never know what will happen.  People talk so much bullshit, so it may sound good, but it may not be what they say it is.  We are happy with Nuclear Blast in Europe, but in the United States is too small.

Magnus: Yes and No.  I think the relationship should be respectful like what we have.  Realistically, I understand a band can make one really good album, and the next one may be very different and maybe not good.  I understand why the record company would want to hear the songs.  They put down a lot of money, even though they may make it all back later.  I can understand why they want to hear everything first.  If we were to make an album that were very bad, it would be bad for everyone.  A good relationship and open minded with good respect between the band and the label is good, but maybe not all bands could handle  it.  Maybe we can’t handle it, but for now it is working well.  It would be nice if the bands could be free and create what they want.  But, if people don’t buy it, then I understand why the label will not want to give them money.  So yes and no.

Alexi: A few more questions here.  Are you going to bring the double decker tour bus to the states sometime soon?

Magnus: [Laughter] Oh no.  We need to grow in the United States.  The people who come to all of our shows in the states are very loyal and great fans!  But, we need more!  Without them, it is hard to rent the bus here.  So, we will still use the single decker [Laughter].

Alexi: Coming into the United States and seeing how people are from a different perspective, what are your thoughts and observations?

Magnus: People are different if you live in New York or if you live in Dallas.  My reflection from a European view, of course other people may have different views, but I think New York, Seattle, and San Francisco have something in common.  It is different from cities like Dallas.  The people are a little bit different.  I think it is really nice when I meet people who have went out of the country to Asia or Europe to learn and explore.  Because the Scandinavian and European people travel a lot and get the view of the world.  It is nice when you meet people who have been to the rock festivals in Europe; I think that it is important.  Before when I came to the States it was not so common, but today it is more common and I am happy.

Alexi: When I was in Sweden, one of the first things I was asked was whether I voted for Bush or not.  But, once they realized who I was they were very relaxed.  I think if I had said I liked Bush, I would have been treated differently than I was treated when I said I did not like Bush.  How do people view Americans or people who have not left their country?

Magnus: What I feel, people have nothing against the American people, but the politics are different.  When someone shall decide over the rest of the world what is right and not do it with good ideas, but do it with violence, I think that is the wrong way.  Some people call it freedom others call it dictatorship.  I think the Arabic countries are not good to have dictator, I don’t like Saddam or anything, but I think it is also wrong to kill many people who have nothing to do with the regime.  Innocent people are dying.  People from other countries will also die in battle. 

Now they found Saddam, but the people where responsible for the war have never died.  But, people who have nothing to do with the politics die.  But, people see some American politicians as police.  I think it is good we are different, we have different stories, background and culture, and that is fine, so long as you respect other people.  Many countries are involved in the UN, and that should be the police over the world, not the country that has the most dangerous weapon.  I think that it is scary and sad.  Everybody knows that there are a lot of poor people in the United States, 50% or 60% have it good, but many people also live a hard live that is not shown on TV or in movies.  But, to put money to send people to the moon instead of to the people who need it.  Don’t forget your own people.  Many people have hard lives, and maybe the politicians should care about that. 

Clinton had a more open mind and cared more about those people.  People are scared of Bush because he does not listen to other countries.  He is like a cowboy, and cowboy work with cows and horses.  It is not the right man to be a ruler.  It should be smart politicians.  I am sure we can handle things without the biggest weapon and other ways of communication to make other countries change things.  It is hard to say no to good help.  I am not a politician so I can’t say the answer, but it is a wish.  If I were powerful, I should not go and take a gun to a person.  I would say someone needs a doctor, school, psychological help, or handle the problem from a different direction.  Maybe that person would feel better and not do what they did before.  All of that was done without a gun.  Why is he dangerous? Maybe he had a hard growing up, maybe he had a problem growing up, and maybe he has something wrong in the brain.  Maybe if you handle him in a special way, he can be a good person.

Alexi: So you believe someone should be rehabilitated instead of punished.  This is interesting, I guess one thing you can look at is the prison system in America where people are put away for life, killed in prison, and not given a second chance.  So, you feel that someone who comes out of a rehabilitative process as opposed to a punishment system is a stronger person?

Magnus: Yes, I think so.  Of course, I think if you did a bad crime you should really be in jail for a long time, but you should give that person help and build them.  It happens in Sweden sometimes, you can go to jail and study to be a lawyer, and then you can use what you know for more bad things.  But, what should happen is that people should get help if they do something bad, so that you know yourself better and begin to trust themselves.  I am sure many people in jail right now hate themselves or do not like themselves or everyone else.  Build up these people, but if you do something bad, you should be working and becoming a better person. 

In a world with so much pollution and bullshit, you can use the prisoners to do good things in the world.  So they work hard, it is good for the body and the head.  If you do good, it should make you stronger and things should start to grow on the inside.  Maybe you should spend five years to clean the water, the earth or the air, somehow, that should be a good thing, to use that power to do good.

Alexi: So there is a connection here with the work that these people could be doing and what you are doing.  So maybe if these people start to do what you are doing they will become better people and start to understand themselves.

Magnus: Yes!  Of course, you will get an arrow of good things, you will feel it.  I think that should be the right thing.  If you go to jail for five years, when you come out, you know you have worked to clean the water or the car factories or tried to build better houses for the people who have a hard life.  But, you take the work capacity and make it good for other people the same way it would be good for you to do this.  That is what I believe.  I wish the world should be this way. 

Alexi Front (alexi@pivotalrage.com)

We'd like to thank Alexi for submitting this amazing article, to HammerFall, and to Nuclear Blast.