The Arrival may be the name of this band’s eighth studio/CD release, which spans an eleven-year career, but they have arrived here in the States. The US seems to be the last to fall underneath the domination of Sweden’s premiere death metal band, Hypocrisy, since the band has a new album due out in the autumn [entitled Virus which will be released in the autumn of 2005], this band is destined to achieve much success on our fair shores. In this interview, vocalist and guitarist Peter Tägtgren, joins in conversation about being a producer, a songwriter and musician. The rest of the band offers a couple of entertaining anecdotes as well. 

Karma: First off, thank you very much for doing the interview.

Peter: No problem.

Karma: I barely know where to begin, aside from being one of the most prominent producers/mixers/guest musician, you are also the frontman for Hypocrisy and owner of [the famed] Abyss [Studios] how do you split your time?

Peter: Ooh, I don’t know, I just take it as it comes really. It’s just basically; sometimes it looks more hectic than it really is. Yeah, I just take things step by step.

Karma: Considering you are a producer, is it hard to allow others to mix your work?

Peter: Sometimes. Sometimes you get so into it, you know, it’s hard to let it go to other people because you really want to do it yourself.

Karma: Is it harder for you to produce your own, especially with The Arrival?

Peter: Yeah. I mean you’ve gotta have kinda a split personality you know, [smiles] because first you have to be a musician, a songwriter, and then you also have to be a producer and sometimes that can be frustrating. For The Arrival, we knew exactly what we wanted when we started the recording process.

Karma: Is there a big difference between audiences here and in Scandinavia?

Peter: I don’t know if it’s that much different here and the same with rest of Europe and stuff like that audience wise. Today it was kinda not that many people that showing up, usually it’s pretty good, you know.

Karma: Was it better last night [at the HOB in Chicago] as opposed to tonight?

Peter: I think we played better tonight. I think the crowd was more happening tonight than yesterday, actually. Yesterday it was good, more people, I think we had some problems playing yesterday. Tonight, I think we did a really good job.

Karma: Going back to the producing, for bit, you must have held Susperia in high regard producing Vindication free of charge. How did that come about?

Peter: I just really liked the band a lot, you know and I really wanted to help them much as I could.

Karma: Any new projects in the works at Abyss?

Karma: What are some of your favorite projects?

Peter: Bands you mean?

Karma: Yes.

Karma: With the influx of line-up changes, etc. why did Lars [Szöke, ex-drummer] leave?

Peter: He wasn’t really motivated anymore, you know, we wanted to take it to another level to the nest level. He wasn’t really contributing with his drumming really.

Karma: Recent lyrical content has been heavily latent with aliens and the paranormal.

Peter: Yeah. [Nods head and smiles]

Karma: You have been quoted, “Aliens come around every hundred of years to check up on us” and “Aliens planted us like seeds thousands years ago”. How does this play into your beliefs, etc?

Karma: Which song is your favourite off The Arrival?

Peter: Off The Arrival? I don’t know it changes a lot you know from day to day. It more like whatever mood I’m in. Sometimes I like “Eraser”, sometimes I like “Born Dead” it all depends on the mood.

Karma: Can I get you rest of you to answer as well? [Band smiles] What’s your favorite song off The Arrival?

Horgh: My favorite is “Eraser”.

Mikael: My favorite is also “Eraser”.

Karma: Being around for 11+ years what advice, do you have for others for as for the secret of longevity?

Peter: I don’t know, I’m just stubborn with things that I do, you know. I just keep on doing it until it is good enough. Just keep on going and if people don’t like it, then you just keep on going.

Karma: If you could choose to collaborate with anyone, whom would you choose to work with?

Peter: Hmmm, I don’t know. Try to do some major shit with Slayer or something like that, that would be cool.

Peter: Right now? I just took a step back to sixties and seventies stuff. [Smiles] It’s mainly that stuff from Led Zeppelin to KISS, CCR, just a bunch of old stuff.

Karma: Oh wow. [Turns to the rest of the band] So who are you guys into?

Horgh: I’m into Slayer, Judas Priest, and KISS.

Mikael: Yeah, I'm into all kinds of music Pink Floyd, I like very much.

Karma: Andreas, I was curious what your mantra that you have listed on your website means in English.

Karma: Here you go. [Point to print on my notes, refusing to butcher the pronunciation. It reads “At mer grot, och bajsa med ett leende!”] [We all laugh]

Erika: [Chuckles] They sure didn’t teach you that one in Swedish classes did they.

Karma: They surely didn’t, why do you think I asked? [Laughter ensues] Well tack så mycket för intervjun!

Band: Thank you!

I'd like to thank the band for interviewing with me and to the band's tour manager for setting it up.

Related Links & Other Points of Interest

q     Review of tonight's show

q    Here for interview with Silenoz of Dimmu Borgir