All Interviews
Witchery
Jensen in action for The Haunted
Posted on May 12, 2006
by Anders
Witchery the Swedish thrash squadron lead by axemaster Jensen is now ready with their new slab of old school metal worship "Don't Fear The Reaper". I hooked up with the always energetic Jensen and got a good talk about the new album and a bit about what to expect of the future, it all does seem really good!
Hi there, will you please start off by introducing yourself?
Hey! My name is Jensen, and I play the guitar in the Swedish band Witchery.
A small introduction of the rest of the band, together with a bit about what they bring to the band, will be very appreciated as well!
Well, we have Rikard Rimfält on guitar and Toxine on vocals, both of them members of my old band Séance… and we have Martin Axe on drums, now playing with Opeth and Sharlee D'Angelo on bass, currently a member of Mercyful Fate, Spiritual Beggars and Arch Enemy... and what they bring to the band? Problems and misery... moaning and complaining... lots of bad drinking habits and requests of worshipping Satan…
Your new album "Don't Fear The Reaper”" has been released for a couple of weeks now, how has it been received so far?
Great, as far as I know. I think we are blessed with very dedicated fans, who stick with us even though the releases might be far apart some times.
What do you in the band feel about it?
I think it's our best release so far… I actually think that about every album we do… and I know it's a cliché to say so in interviews… but I really do think that every album we done is better than the one before.
This is your first release since 2001's "Symphony For The Devil", what do you expect of the new album?
World Domination and a sponsorship from Carlsberg… oh, and getting to play on the TV broadcasted festivities surrounding the football cup in Germany this summer.
Why has the wait since the last album been as long as it has?
I need to be around for a new Witchery album to happen. I knew that my other band, The Haunted, was going to be very busy when we released "rEVOLVEr", so we recorded it in the summer of 2004… after The Haunted were done in the studio and before "rEVOLVEr" was released. Witchery didn't have a label at the time, so I fronted the money myself… "Don't Fear The Reaper" got written and recorded, and then I went on tour.. I didn't have time to send out demo cds (containing a few songs from the actual album recording) because I was on tour ALL the time from late 2004 to early 2006… Anyhow, Century Media was interested... and we signed with them because they had the best offer and we knew them to be a very good label. It fitted their schedule to release the album in Feb/March of 2006... So that's the reason for the "delay".
How much time have you used on writing the material for "Don't Fear The Reaper" and recording it?
We write everything very quickly… It took us a month to write and rehearse everything. I like that kind of spontaneous way of writing... You need to use every good riff that comes along, which means, we don't even know what the album will be like before we have recorded it... time in the studio? Approximately 14 days. We record everything live, which is very uncommon today.
You recorded the album in Berno, where you have recorded before, but shipped it to Denmark, so Tue Madsen could do the final mix, why did you choose Tue to mix it and are you satisfied with his work?
We wanted to both record and mix at Berno, just like we did with "Symphony For The Devil", but the mix just didn't sound right at Berno… So we sent it to Tue. We needed somebody who we could trust, because Sharlee and I had used up all our time we had free from our other bands. We couldn't stand behind the person mixing just to supervise it all… and Tue is the perfect choice. I really like what he did. So, accidentally, we got a "modern" sound on this album… Maybe that's why people tend to see this album as darker and heavier.
Who are the main writers in the band and how do you work when you arrange and finalize the music?
I write maybe 95% of the music and all of the lyrics… It's not a solo project for my own wellbeing though. Everyone can contribute, and they do… I just seem to have a greater output rate than the others.
How often do you manage to rehearse, considering the schedules of the members?
Before every album recording, and when everyone just happens to be in town at the same time... It's great fun to rehearse with Witchery, because we so rarely get to do so.
When you write music, where do you find inspiration?
From every metal album I've ever heard. It's all in the back of your head, you know.. Witchery thrives on the classic bands, but also some of the newer ones too. We have a lot of fun coming up with arrangements that could've been written in 1984 along with a riff that might have been done in 1994... With vocals from 2004… if you know what I mean.
The music on the new album is very dark and has an eerie atmosphere to it, why did it turn out like that?
Witchery is a dark, virgin sacrificing band… That, and Tue's mix, probably...
You have also chosen re-record the Satanic Slaughter classic 'Immortal Death', how did that idea come to life?
We have done Satanic Slaughter songs in the past too… 4 of us used to be SS members, and it was us 4 that recorded these songs for the first SS album... However, we feel that they are indeed great songs, but sadly overlooked, so that's why we want to include them now.
Will we see a return of the mighty Satanic Slaughter sometime in the near future (the questions for the interview was made before the dead of Ztephan Dark (rip), ed)?
No, unfortunately the founding member, Ztephan Dark, died prematurely this Easter. Very tragic.
What do you want to tell with your music and how do you want people to feel when they listen to it?
I want people the smile, headbang and break out the beer when they hear us... because that's the feeling we get when we play our songs!!
You have titled the album "Don’t Fear The Reaper", what are your thoughts behind that title?
We usually use a classic title for our albums… for example. "Restless And Dead" is Accept's "Restless And Wild" etc. "Don't Fear The Reaper" is of course Blue Öyster Cult's classic album… This time we didn't change the name, since there already was a connection. The first song honour on the first album is called 'The Reaper'. So it fitted perfectly.
Which topics have the lyrics touched this time around and do you have a message with the lyrics, or are they pure entertainment?
Just for entertainment… They are all short horror stories… I'm quite proud of them, and I have fun writing them, but they are solely for entertainment.
How important are the lyrics compared to the music?
I see the vocals as an additional instrument… the sheer sound of the voice of the singer should be able to invoke the Devil… so, seen as an instrument, I'd say the vocals are really important, but the lyrics aren't.
When will we see the next release from you, do we have to wait 5 years again?
We have already ca 60% written for our new album… We have started to write a little every day, since we don't want to risk our fans having to wait for so long again… This one seems to be faster than the other albums too, haha.
Do you have material ready as we speak, and how does it look with a nice EP as "Witchburner" with a good slap of cover versions again or a 7" or 10" for us hungry fans of vinyl?
That is a possibility, now that enough time has passed for us to be able to do something like that again... Too short time in between would have risked the band being branded as just doing cover songs.
How do you look upon vinyl?
I love it… I have 1000 vinyl albums.
Do you have a tour lined-up as support for "Don't Fear The Reaper"?
No, I'm sorry to say. I'd love to have been touring right now, but it is so very hard to find a time when everyone is home at the same time
How do you look upon the future of Witchery?
Nothing less than world domination!! That, and getting to tour to show everyone what a great band Witchery is, especially live on stage. We will continue to release albums, for we love this band too much to stop or to break up…
Do you care to share your 5 all time favourite albums with the readers of Nocturnal Horde?
Mercyful Fate - Don't Break The Oath
Destruction - Infernal Overkill
Celtic Frost - To Mega Therion
Exodus - Bonded By Blood
Dark Angel - Darkness Descends
Thanks a ton for answering my questions, if you have anything to add, feel free to add it now!
You are all invited to the party when Witchery seizes world domination… however, in the meantime, check us out live if you get the chance. Thanks for you support and Stay METAL!!!
Hey! My name is Jensen, and I play the guitar in the Swedish band Witchery.
A small introduction of the rest of the band, together with a bit about what they bring to the band, will be very appreciated as well!
Well, we have Rikard Rimfält on guitar and Toxine on vocals, both of them members of my old band Séance… and we have Martin Axe on drums, now playing with Opeth and Sharlee D'Angelo on bass, currently a member of Mercyful Fate, Spiritual Beggars and Arch Enemy... and what they bring to the band? Problems and misery... moaning and complaining... lots of bad drinking habits and requests of worshipping Satan…
Your new album "Don't Fear The Reaper”" has been released for a couple of weeks now, how has it been received so far?
Great, as far as I know. I think we are blessed with very dedicated fans, who stick with us even though the releases might be far apart some times.
What do you in the band feel about it?
I think it's our best release so far… I actually think that about every album we do… and I know it's a cliché to say so in interviews… but I really do think that every album we done is better than the one before.
This is your first release since 2001's "Symphony For The Devil", what do you expect of the new album?
World Domination and a sponsorship from Carlsberg… oh, and getting to play on the TV broadcasted festivities surrounding the football cup in Germany this summer.
Why has the wait since the last album been as long as it has?
I need to be around for a new Witchery album to happen. I knew that my other band, The Haunted, was going to be very busy when we released "rEVOLVEr", so we recorded it in the summer of 2004… after The Haunted were done in the studio and before "rEVOLVEr" was released. Witchery didn't have a label at the time, so I fronted the money myself… "Don't Fear The Reaper" got written and recorded, and then I went on tour.. I didn't have time to send out demo cds (containing a few songs from the actual album recording) because I was on tour ALL the time from late 2004 to early 2006… Anyhow, Century Media was interested... and we signed with them because they had the best offer and we knew them to be a very good label. It fitted their schedule to release the album in Feb/March of 2006... So that's the reason for the "delay".
How much time have you used on writing the material for "Don't Fear The Reaper" and recording it?
We write everything very quickly… It took us a month to write and rehearse everything. I like that kind of spontaneous way of writing... You need to use every good riff that comes along, which means, we don't even know what the album will be like before we have recorded it... time in the studio? Approximately 14 days. We record everything live, which is very uncommon today.
You recorded the album in Berno, where you have recorded before, but shipped it to Denmark, so Tue Madsen could do the final mix, why did you choose Tue to mix it and are you satisfied with his work?
We wanted to both record and mix at Berno, just like we did with "Symphony For The Devil", but the mix just didn't sound right at Berno… So we sent it to Tue. We needed somebody who we could trust, because Sharlee and I had used up all our time we had free from our other bands. We couldn't stand behind the person mixing just to supervise it all… and Tue is the perfect choice. I really like what he did. So, accidentally, we got a "modern" sound on this album… Maybe that's why people tend to see this album as darker and heavier.
Who are the main writers in the band and how do you work when you arrange and finalize the music?
I write maybe 95% of the music and all of the lyrics… It's not a solo project for my own wellbeing though. Everyone can contribute, and they do… I just seem to have a greater output rate than the others.
How often do you manage to rehearse, considering the schedules of the members?
Before every album recording, and when everyone just happens to be in town at the same time... It's great fun to rehearse with Witchery, because we so rarely get to do so.
When you write music, where do you find inspiration?
From every metal album I've ever heard. It's all in the back of your head, you know.. Witchery thrives on the classic bands, but also some of the newer ones too. We have a lot of fun coming up with arrangements that could've been written in 1984 along with a riff that might have been done in 1994... With vocals from 2004… if you know what I mean.
The music on the new album is very dark and has an eerie atmosphere to it, why did it turn out like that?
Witchery is a dark, virgin sacrificing band… That, and Tue's mix, probably...
You have also chosen re-record the Satanic Slaughter classic 'Immortal Death', how did that idea come to life?
We have done Satanic Slaughter songs in the past too… 4 of us used to be SS members, and it was us 4 that recorded these songs for the first SS album... However, we feel that they are indeed great songs, but sadly overlooked, so that's why we want to include them now.
Will we see a return of the mighty Satanic Slaughter sometime in the near future (the questions for the interview was made before the dead of Ztephan Dark (rip), ed)?
No, unfortunately the founding member, Ztephan Dark, died prematurely this Easter. Very tragic.
What do you want to tell with your music and how do you want people to feel when they listen to it?
I want people the smile, headbang and break out the beer when they hear us... because that's the feeling we get when we play our songs!!
You have titled the album "Don’t Fear The Reaper", what are your thoughts behind that title?
We usually use a classic title for our albums… for example. "Restless And Dead" is Accept's "Restless And Wild" etc. "Don't Fear The Reaper" is of course Blue Öyster Cult's classic album… This time we didn't change the name, since there already was a connection. The first song honour on the first album is called 'The Reaper'. So it fitted perfectly.
Which topics have the lyrics touched this time around and do you have a message with the lyrics, or are they pure entertainment?
Just for entertainment… They are all short horror stories… I'm quite proud of them, and I have fun writing them, but they are solely for entertainment.
How important are the lyrics compared to the music?
I see the vocals as an additional instrument… the sheer sound of the voice of the singer should be able to invoke the Devil… so, seen as an instrument, I'd say the vocals are really important, but the lyrics aren't.
When will we see the next release from you, do we have to wait 5 years again?
We have already ca 60% written for our new album… We have started to write a little every day, since we don't want to risk our fans having to wait for so long again… This one seems to be faster than the other albums too, haha.
Do you have material ready as we speak, and how does it look with a nice EP as "Witchburner" with a good slap of cover versions again or a 7" or 10" for us hungry fans of vinyl?
That is a possibility, now that enough time has passed for us to be able to do something like that again... Too short time in between would have risked the band being branded as just doing cover songs.
How do you look upon vinyl?
I love it… I have 1000 vinyl albums.
Do you have a tour lined-up as support for "Don't Fear The Reaper"?
No, I'm sorry to say. I'd love to have been touring right now, but it is so very hard to find a time when everyone is home at the same time
How do you look upon the future of Witchery?
Nothing less than world domination!! That, and getting to tour to show everyone what a great band Witchery is, especially live on stage. We will continue to release albums, for we love this band too much to stop or to break up…
Do you care to share your 5 all time favourite albums with the readers of Nocturnal Horde?
Mercyful Fate - Don't Break The Oath
Destruction - Infernal Overkill
Celtic Frost - To Mega Therion
Exodus - Bonded By Blood
Dark Angel - Darkness Descends
Thanks a ton for answering my questions, if you have anything to add, feel free to add it now!
You are all invited to the party when Witchery seizes world domination… however, in the meantime, check us out live if you get the chance. Thanks for you support and Stay METAL!!!
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