Sweden is a plentiful land of viking heritage and metal music. Swedes Amon Amarth have been holding the torch for melodic death metal for over 2 decades. With their viking and Norse mythology influenced theme the band has grabbed the attention of a broad range of metal fans over the years. Having made their first appearance on North American soil over a decade the band has conquered and found themselves on this year’s main stage of Mayhem Festival. Recently we sat down with guitarist Johan Söderberg to discuss their journey to success in North America, their latest album Deceiver Of The Gods, and much more.
CrypticRock.com – Amon Amarth has been going since 1992 now. Your debut full length album Once Sent The Golden Hall in 1998 really took the underground metal scene by storm. Did you ever think the band would be where they are in 2013, 15 years later?
Johan Söderberg- No we had no clues about that. We hadn’t even thought of it from the beginning. It was more like music for a hobby, now it is full time work for like 7 or 8 years now.
CrypticRock.com – The band has always been an a strong force in the underground death metal scene. It’s been 10 years since you first came across to tour North America. Since then you have been on numerous tours in the states. Looking back on your first time in North America how was that experience for you?
Johan Söderberg- When we started to play in America it was for very small clubs and we toured around in a van. Now it is big amphitheaters and huge productions with a life size Viking ship on stage. It is completely different.
CrypticRock.com – Yeah it is completely different, bigger, and a lot of progress with the band. Your newest album Deceiver Of The Gods is a very solid album and receiving success worldwide. What was the writing and recording process like for the new record?
Johan Söderberg- The recording process and the writing was like how we usually do it. We usually rent a place in Sweden and write songs for about 6 months. We actually went to the UK to record with Andy Sneap. That was the first time we went outside of Sweden to record. We were there for 2 months recording and everything came out well.
CrypticRock.com – Yes it did come out very well. Amon Amarth has always remained very consistent over the years album to album. In many cases you will see a band change their sound in order achieve more commercial success but you have stated true to who you are without changing your sound. How redeeming is it to see the success you have without compromising the music for it?
Johan Söderberg- Yes of course it is very satisfying. That is what we have always done, we have played the kind of music we like to play. When you have success of course it is very satisfying.
CrypticRock.com – Yes absolutely. You are currently on the Mayhem Festival opening the main stage. That is a very impressive feat. How has the tour been going for you and how do you find the different types of metal fans are reacting to Amon Amarth?
Johan Söderberg- It has been totally awesome for us. to be able to play for these crowds because we see a big part of the crowds are fans that have never seen or heard the band before. we see lots of potentially new fans on this tour. That is why we are here, to gain a wider audience.
CryticRock.com- Do you find the new fans are responding well?
Johan Söderberg- Yes.
CrypticRock.com – Now coming from the Swedish metal scene your country is rich in death metal, black metal, and gothic metal bands. Do you think the European scene is very different than the American scene? If so, tell me what you find to be the big difference between European and North American audiences?
Johan Söderberg- I don’t really see a big difference actually. Now a days we don’t really play the style of death metal like we did when we started. We move to more traditional heavy metal. There isn’t much difference to playing either here or Europe.
CrypticRock.com – That is good that you find all the audiences have a similar passionate response to Amon Amarth. I’d like to know what some of your musical influences are?
Johan Söderberg- I grew up listening to Iron Maiden, Metallica, Accept, traditional heavy metal.
CrypticRock.com – Yes those are some great bands. Amon Amarth has had the pleasure of sharing the stage with many of those traditional type heavy metal bands. Tell me what that is like to share the stage with bands you grew up listening to?
Johan Söderberg- We played one festival in Europe where Metallica headlined. We also did tours with Slayer and they were a big influence to us.
CrypticRock.com – That has to be very surreal to share the stage with bands you grew up listening to. My last question for you is regarding films. Crypticrock.com is a rock/metal and horror news site so we like to focus on all genres. Are you a fan of horror films and if so what are some of your favorite horror films?
Johan Söderberg- I do like horror films. I’d have to say my favorite is the original Halloween.
CrypticRock.com – Yes that is a good film. So you are a fan of the older horror films?
Johan Söderberg- Yes, like Alien and stuff like that. Sci-Fi and slasher movies.
CrypticRock.com- Yes Alien is a very good movie, it is still very scary.
Johan Söderberg- I like the old kind of way that they made films where there was not so much computer animation. It was more like models and camera technique. I like that style more.
CrypticRock.com- I agree with you. Now that you say that it seems like in modern Hollywood films it is mostly computer effects and it takes away from the atmosphere. What do you think about a lot of the newer films?
Johan Söderberg- That’s the thing that I think is boring, when there is too much computer animation going on. I also like Rob Zombie’s remake of Halloween. He stayed true to the original feeling of the movie.
Be sure to check out Amon Amarth at www.AmonAmarth.com, facebook and twitter.
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