In Flames

Now larger shows for me are always a bit of a hassle trying to get through security in time so that I’m not late for my slotted interview time. It took me longer than usual to get through security this time and then I had to track down the In Flames tour Manager; but I was lucky enough to get a solid interview in after all and as Anders was eating his supper he graciously let me annoy him for afew minutes.

I had no idea what to expect from this interview. In Flames is one of the most popular metal bands I have ever had the chance to interview. Was he going to be egocentric? Pompus? Or just a jerk maybe …. None of these were true. Anders was very welcoming and willing to answer every question I threw at him.  After the interview it was the first time I had seen In Flames perform and wow they did not disappoint. There stage presence is amazing and sounded great! Take a peek at what Anders and I talked about…..

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Dwayne: First of all lets start with the basics, your name and what you do in the band. 
Anders: My name is Anders and I’m the singer in In Flames.

Dwayne: How’s the tour going so far?
Anders: It’s going good. We are just three shows in but everything has started off good. We are getting there. (laughs)

Dwayne: For the first few years In Flames never had a full time vocalist. What was it like for you coming into that position? Any kind of added pressure being the front man?
Anders: It was just finding the perfect band that I always wanted to play in. I mean, I know Jester from his other band and he couldn’t do what he wanted so when they asked me I tried to do double duties being in both bands. The other band I was in didn’t like that so I said fuck it I am going to be full time in In Flames. Obviously it was a whole different level from what it is today. I felt at home early on. It was good times because we where chased by some bigger record labels and it was all exciting, finally we could get our chance for the “big time.”

Dwayne: In Flames have been hailed as the pioneers of “Melodic Death Metal” do you feel that’s an accurate description of what you contributed to the scene?
Anders: I believe we spread the word of the Swedish metal ya. People ask me that question and it doesn’t make me feel better about myself but I know early on we combined everything from death metal and new wave heavy metal like Judas Priest and Maiden. We incorporate a lot of European speed metal into our music and that was all kind of new.

Dwayne: Do you see the In Flames influence in the new up and coming bands?
Anders: I dunno, I honestly don’t pay any attention (laughs).

Dwayne: You guys have played all over the world and seen many different “scenes;” what is lacking or different about the North American scene to that of, say, the European scene?
Anders: Wow…. That’s another one that I don’t really care (laughs) I don’t bother with other bands. I like music and I appreciate them for what they can do. I don’t dive in unless you’re paying me to be a producer. So I think in Europe, especially in Sweden where we grew up, we didn’t know anything. We didn’t care what was going on in the scene, we just wanted to play music and today I think with everything that’s going on in the media where you can get famous really quickly. You don’t know anything, you can’t do everything. Young people today think fame is the most important thing and they want to become famous. Some bands start out to become part of a trend that’s going on right now but they will always be late because what’s going on now will be out tomorrow.

Dwayne: Are things like Rock Band and Guitar Hero more important to get your music out there than say print ads?
Anders: I think you reach a whole different audience. Someone might go pick up a metal album after hearing a song. I think its one way but I don’t think it’s the way. Obviously the record industry is suffering these days because of downloading and it’s a different way of us bands getting out there. It doesn’t mean that you’re famous because you’re on guitar hero.

Dwayne: You have toured with a variety of bands from around the world and afew close to home such as the Cancer Bats.
Anders: We didn’t actually. We had to cancel that tour because our bass player had a baby or was going to have one, but we knew that already, and someone in the band had an alchol addiction problem he had to take care of. So we were two members short so we couldn’t go on tour with two people down. Which sucks because I was looking forward to that tour a lot!

Dwayne: You are going to be on tour with Three Inches of Blood and you are currently on tour with Protest The Herp. How do the Canadian Metal bands stack up again the rest of the bands you have come across?
Anders: I think they are a lot like us. They do their own thing more than looking at what’s going on and what’s popular. I mean Three Inches of Blood started out being very different from anything else that was going on. I respect bands that stand true to their beliefs not just making music to make money. I think a lot of Canadian bands have personality.

Dwayne: So the last album went No1 in Sweden, 7 in Canada and topped the billboard charts at No 20. Does the success of this album put any added stress on you to produce something better for the next one?
Anders: No, no, not at all. We will continue to evolve. We don’t sound the same as we did on the first album and that one was released 15 years ago. Record charts and awards are great and it’s an honour but it doesn’t change the music and doesn’t make us feel that we are above anything.

Dwayne: One of the things that caught my attention on the new album was the song “Disconnected” particularly the line “ I feel like shit but at least I feel something” How does it feel to put yourself out there lyrically like that?
Anders: I never thought about it that way. I write the lyrics and when the albums done and I listen to it and read it sometimes it’s like oh shit oh wow that was a little bit too close. I don’t think about it that way when I write. It’s kind of easy to write, just open your eyes to the outside world and you get a lot of inspiration.

 

Dwayne: I know you guys are huge football (soccer) fans. Have you challenged any of the bands on this tour to a friendly little match?
Anders: No we have not (laughs). We played a little bit with Job for a Cowboy on the Gigantour. We had this tournament in Sweden in May which was a bunch of bands from out area that joined together and played in the tournament; it was a lot of fun.

Dwayne: Being as Sweden has also produced some amazing hockey players as well and it’s in your blood as much as it is in mine. Did you grow up playing hockey?
Anders: I played all sorts of sports until metal took me away (laughs).

Dwayne: You guys have toured with a lot of the older generation metal bands what was touring with those guys like? Did they ever give you any advice?
Anders: No advice (laughs). You don’t want to get advice from Ozzy. It’s an honour to play Ozzfest, it was great. We got to hang out with Bill, the Black Sabbath drummer, and Toni Iommi and Geezer Butler it was amazing. I would never have thought I would be part of what bands like Motorhead, Metallica and Maiden were doing but here I am. It was really cool. It’s hard to step out of your own character and I don’t easily get star struck but to think you’re on the same level but yet not on the same level. It’s been really cool. When we toured with bands like Slayer I saw them go at it every night and they don’t give a flying fuck no matter how tired or hung over they are. That told me how to behave.

Dwayne: What do you guys have coming up next for In Flames?
Anders: We are going to do Taste Of Chaos in Europe with Killswitch again. Then before that we go to Russia and a few off shows but that will take us to December. Hopefully we get a chance to go to Japan and Australia again. Then a few weeks off then maybe start writing the new album.

Dwayne: So we can expect a new In Flames album soonish?
Anders: Recording will be NEXT winter so we will have an album out hopefully 2011.

Dwayne: Any final words?
Anders: No…. (laughs)