This Ending

Posted on Feb 20, 2007

by Anders

This Ending a new Swedish band, or is it really, the 5 members vocalist Mårten Hansen, guitarist Linus Nirbrant, guitarist Leo Pignon, bassist Jesper Löfgren and drummer Fredrik Andersson, all played together in the now dead A Canorous Quintet, a band that haunted our ears up through the nineties and then disbanded. The members since played in bands as Guidance Of Sin, Niden Div. 187, The Dead and not least Amon Amarth. Though in 2005 the 5 guys started to play a little together again, which resulted in the band The Plague, which changed their name to This Ending and they are now ready with their first album "Inside The Machine". I hooked up with screamer Mårten and got a good chat.

Hi there, how are things in Sweden as we speak?

All is well just waiting for some German friends to arrive and tomorrow go on a metal cruise so things are looking good!

Please start off by introducing yourself and tell us why you rock in This Ending!

I'm Mårten vocalist of This Ending. The main reason for me to play in This Ending is that I get to make music together with very good friends and to top it off I think we make fucking great music together. Of course I have a huge appetite for doing this kind of music too, without an appetite I don't think you will be able to serve a tasty dish to the audience ears.

You are now signed to Metal Blade and are ready with your first album "Inside The Machine", how do you feel about the situation you are in?

Everything feels great, the album has been released on 3 continents as far as I know so things couldn't look better. The media has received the album very well no I hope the metal fans out there will do the same. Only thing missing right now Is a scheduled tour and some festival gigs.

How do you feel about the album and what do you expect of it?

I think the album is the best album I've been part of so far during my career as a vocalist. The songs are diverse and I think each song holds a great amount of quality. Definitely an album worth listening to many times to fully appreciate it. I hope "Inside The Machine" will open up the audience eye for This Ending I think we deserve it. We've been doing this kind of music for so many years and this time I think we've outdone ourselves and deserve some credit for it.

How has the reaction towards the album been so far?

The overall reaction have been very enthusiastic. "Inside The Machine" has even been album of the month in some magazines and got high ratings in most reviews and the people who have managed to get hold of the album seems to be pleased.

When did you write and record the music?

We started writing the music during 2005 and didn't end the writing process until we were in the studio. We entered the studio in late august 2006 and had a month of hard work ahead of us, but it was all worth it.

Where did you record the album and who produced it?

The album is recorded in Studio Offbeat. Linus (Nirbrant, guitarist) produced it with the help of the rest of This Ending. Studio Offbeat is actually partly owned by Linus and he also works there.

Who is writing the music in the band?

The music is written by all of us. Linus is our so called producer who connects all the parts to the complete song. Vocals lines are done by me and Linus with some input from the others.

What has inspired the music on "Inside The Machine"?

Our twisted minds and our sick world. The urge to do some really good hard hitting death metal too boost.

What do you wish to tell with your music and how do you wish the listeners react when they hear "Inside The Machine"?

We have no big aim to tell anything. The lyrics are up for interpretation. But we do want the listener to react to the music by feeling the urge to listen to it over and over again. Hopefully they'll get a kick out of the album and feel the need to do something creative with that energy, like going to one of our shows and bang the shit out of their heads.

What is This Ending about lyrically and who is writing the lyrics?

The lyrics are mainly written by me and Leo. The lyrics depict things that happen around us, we try to portray the darker side of the human mind. Some lyrics also deal with topics like disease and different kinds of manipulation.

Can you please pick out your 3 favourite tracks from the album and guide us through them, and tell us a bit about the lyrics and music?

I think all 10 songs are favourites to me but then I have some songs that I like even more when we play them together. The first one is 'Inside The Machine', an installation of furious metal I just love it. The lyrics deal with the human race as a whole and how easily we can be manipulated even in large numbers. Suddenly acting without thought, simply put, acting like machines. The second one is 'Pitch Black' which is a skull crushing metal song, each time I hear it I want to bang my head off. The aggression and groove is just tremendous. Lyrically this song could be seen as a counter effect of 'Inside The Machine'. Since this song deals with rising up against mindlessness. The third one is really hard to pick but I say 'Nailed Down' because of the build of the whole song and the very cool dual chorus. Lyrics to this one is actually written by Jesper and is about not being able to take the consequence of your actions.

The band seems a bit conceptual, is that a right assumption, if so, please tell us the story behind it all?

I wouldn't say conceptual in a traditional way. But when we started This Ending we early decided to have a doomsday feel of the band and its music. So this is where we have been headed and I think we have succeeded both with the choice of band name, sound of the music and our lyrics.

What is the story behind the cover artwork and who has made it?

Leo has made the cover to "Inside The Machine". He has tried to portray a human trapped within a machine where the machine is depending on the human body and the human body is infused within the machine with no way to survive without it.

It is no secret that This Ending is the same band as A Canorous Quintet, who split up back in the 90ties, how is it to be back in the gang and making music with such old mates?

It's fantastic to be back together. Everything has gone so smooth and everyone has really evolved both as musicians and individuals so it's even more fun to play and create music together today. Hopefully people will appreciate the fact that we've been around for such a long time also and have an easier time to accept our sound.

How did you all end up together again?

We had been talking about this from time to time over the last years but no one had been really serious about it until I in the end of 2004 confronted Linus and Fredrik when we were out partying. They thought it sounded like a good idea so the day after I called Jesper and Leo and then we started to try out what we could achieve together and no one has been disappointed so far.

How is the atmosphere in the band nowadays?

The atmosphere is better than ever. We're all very creative in our own ways and everyone's opinion counts just as much. No prestige whatsoever the only important thing is to write the best music possible and that we all can stand behind the song and be proud of it.

Is This Ending a 'real' band with ideas of touring and such, when having in mind, how many bands and activities you all are participating in?

This Ending is a number one priority for all of us. The only one who hasn't put other bands aside is Fredrik who also plays with Amon Amarth and can make a living from playing music. We are all looking forward to go on tour as soon as possible but nothing is yet set so probably not before the summer. With a little luck we're also hoping to be able to play some festivals.

Will we see more albums from This Ending and how do you all in the band looking upon the future?

You will for sure see more albums from This Ending, new songs are being written as we speak. Our intention is to promote "Inside The Machine" as much as possible and to record a new this ending album to be released in early 2008.

What albums have you been spinning a lot lately?

The latest from Lamb Of God "Sacrament", Katatonia "The Great Cold Distance", Chimaira "Ressurection", and This Ending of course.

Thanks a lot for answering my questions, and on a side note the track 'Silence Of The World Beyond' is one of the best damn atmospheric and haunting metal tracks ever made!!! If you have anything to add, feel free to add it now!!!

Thanks for your interest and very cool that you like the old stuff too! We're hoping to see all of you on tour during 2007, keep your eyes posted to www.thisending.com merchandise will be out very soon and hopefully some other cool stuff too!

This Ending website

Buy the album at

Buy merchandise at