Björn: Thank you.

Björn: Yeah. [Smiles]

Björn: Really good, I mean we didn’t know what to expect it was our first headlining tour in America and we had about 550 average amount of people every night. So, I think that pretty good for our first headlining tour.

Björn: Yeah, the crowd was going insane and it was a good package with Dark Tranquility, MNEMIC, and … wait a minute there was one more… [Embarrassed, he laughs as his cheeks start to flush]

Björn: Yeah, thanks! [We all laugh]

Björn: Ummm…

Björn: Same thing there, I mean we didn’t expect anything out of it. I mean it’s good exposure. We didn’t expect anything from crowd reaction and stuff like that because there is such a big movement going on right now with the metalcore thing. We didn’t know how they would react to Swedish metal and stuff like that.

Björn: [Smiles] Yeah, it’s been great! Better than I expected, really good sometimes.

Björn: It’s the same cover…it’s just different colors.

Björn: Ummm, I’d say… That’s a tough question! You know I have new favorites; I haven’t listened to the album now in a couple of months actually because we are playing it so much live. But, I mean, “Nerve” is a really great song; I really love that song. “If Possible” is one of my favorites too. It’s not the last one on the U.S. version right? The limited edition has one bonus track [“Wherever Thorns May Grow”] It's the first one on the regular version.

Björn: [Makes noise with mouth and looks off into the distance] In a way, it’s “Chainheart Machine” because it was really groundbreaking when that came out. That’s really like a masterpiece to me. [Beams]

Björn: Well I mean first of all, Dug Out is a really boring place. [Laughs] There is a shower but it’s just concrete; it’s not very inspirational. I mean it’s a great studio and with a great producer, but we decided to take Daniel [Bergstrand] out of there to different studio that was really good too. It’s one of the best studios as far as equipment and stuff like that, so everything was there. We wanted it to be a challenge as usual.

Björn: It’s in Örebro, that’s a small city; it’s in the middle of Sweden pretty much.

Björn: Yeah, it’s nice! The scenery was very nice; it’s not an industrial area, just woods around it, forest. That was kind of inspirational even though we didn’t have much time to go out of the studio.

Björn: No, not this time ‘cos you know we are touring more and more for each album and you know this year it seems like it’s exploding and everything as far as the touring is concerned…with sales too! I would say there’s not going to be really much time to write material so we’ve got tour our asses off for this album and see what happens.

Björn: Probably coming back in the fall but we are going to do Europe first though.

Björn: Amm, its pretty much up in the air. I mean, we’re planning on getting bands in there…

Björn: [Smiles] Yeah, probably.

Björn: [Smiles] Yeah!!

Björn: Yeah… I mean, it took time to come to the level where you’re actually considered a good live band, you know it takes time to get to know each other on stage...

Björn: …stuff like that and as far as being a frontman as well, which is very tough sometimes. You know at the same time really [to be able to] nail the song. Those songs are not easy to nail, I’ll tell you! I think we’re sounding really good right now days. The last two years we’ve become better and better.

Björn: Not sure, I mean I think there’s a perfect balance right now. I will just try to do it differently on the next album like that doesn’t mean that I’m not happy with the previous album, I like to collaborate and make it challenge. That’s very important for me. You know, I would never skip the screaming vocals ‘cos that’s such a huge part of Soilwork as well.

Björn: Oh yes, absolutely! [Smiles]

Björn: Yes, well…the previous one [Figure Number Five] it was not very…I mean there are a lot of good melodies on that album but we just lost a little of our intensity in that one. I feel we brought that back on this new album so if feels more hard-hitting.

Björn: Oh, the best one?

Björn: Right now or all-times?

Björn: Both. All-times I can probably pick three. I like David Coverdale; he’s one of my favorites. I love him; he’s an entertainer. I love those entertainers and probably Freddie Mercury and Elvis pretty much. Right now, even though Adam [Dutkiewitcz] isn’t a frontman, he’s not the singer, he’s really good! He’s been doing some fucking awesome comments on stage and stuff like that. He’s doing a great job up there.

Björn: Oh you mean as far as producer wise?

Björn: Yes, I have heard of them.

Björn: Oh, okay! That’s cool!! [Smiles] That would be nice.

Björn: Well, I mean there’s a lot of kids that are trying too hard to really copy other bands, ‘I wanna sing like that…’ Of course that’s always like that, we started off like that as well! But, you know some bands are getting stuck in that and sounding like those bands. ‘We really wanna be like them…’ and that’s not the way to go. I think you really have to ask yourself ‘what do I really want to accomplish with this band?’ Like what can I relate to and try to bring out the best of you. Like really try to find your level, for example a singer, there’s people who’ll [say], ‘I wanna sound like Tomas from At the Gates like he used to sing!’ But, maybe his voice doesn’t really feel comfortable up there. So, you better find your level up there then work it out from there pretty much.

Björn: I just warm up at the beginning of the tour and then I never warm up [after that] I just go straight on stage. Maybe Tequila, a little bit of Tequila. [We all laugh] Just a shot, not a lot. [Smiles]

Björn: [Clears throat] I don’t treat it very good to be honest with you. I’m not smoking though.

Björn: Yeah, but I’m drinking pretty much and I’m screaming to AC/DC all night long or listening to the stereo… It’s just like the vocal cords are getting very used to those songs that you’re gonna perform that day. So, if somebody would tell me, ‘can you guys do that song instead?’ which is not on the setlist, I can’t probably do it because I am so use to [the others ones]. They [vocal cords] know what to do, so you’ve gotta be friends with your vocal cords. [Laughs] Have a good relationship with them! [Smiles]

Björn: Hmmm, that’s hard! As far as I know, I really don’t have any enemies like that ‘cos I’m getting so fed up with myself… Can somebody please hate me? ‘Cos I’m usually always too nice, I’m too nice sometimes.

Björn: I don’t know, it just feels boring sometimes! [Laughter ensues] ‘Yeah, yeah…he’s a good guy!’ You know how it is! [Smiles]

Björn: Umm, I don’t know. We have a new video out, “Nerve” it’s pretty fucking rad, it’s cool! And for all you guys that haven’t checked out the album, do it! [Smiles]

Björn: Thank you!