With:	Jonas Torndal [Guitars]
Conducted by:	Bas (e-mail)
Published:	25.01.2007
Band profile:	Grave

Hi Grave! I'm Bas from Metal Storm and it's a pleasure for me to do this interview with you!


- So let's start at the very beginning. You formed around 20 years ago under the moniker 'Corpse'. Quite some time ago thus. Do you feel like "oldies" in the genre?

Not really, it feels like it was yesterday! The only sign of us being oldies is that half the crowd seems to be half my age?


- Looking back at your past career. Are you proud of the music you have produced, the shows you played? Or are there some times in the lifespan of 'Grave' which you would love to forget about?

I think that every output from Grave has been typical for the band at the time it was released and I think we couldn't done it any other way. There were a few very quiet years between 1998 and 2001 were we probably could have been more productive. After the so called "Comeback" we've might just have been a little bit too enthusiastic about the booze from time to time, but we've had a really good time.


- The whole death metal scene was quite new when you started back then. Since it has changed and evolved a lot, you were right in the middle of this new scene. How different is it compared to back then?

As you've might heard, there's this thing called "Internet" around. It wasn't around back then and it has made the music more accessible but it has also made people lose that family feeling that all the tapetrading and letters brought with it. Kind of miss it!


- Ok so that's how the death metal scene has changed, how about you guys? How have you changed in the last years and especially since your long break? Do you still have the same motivation to play your music?

O Yes! More than ever! I've been around Metal all my life and I've played in a Death Metal band for 19 years and I don't think that's gonna change. I've got a steady day job and a kid now and that interferes of course, but I hope that I will continue doing this in one form or another.






- Well that's enough about the past for now; let's talk about the very recent past and the present next. Pelle has left Grave recently, musical differences, or some other reason?

No, he just like to spend his time on the couch and at his kitchen table. He doesn't enjoy life on the road at all. He gets homesick after one day!


- As I heard he has been replaced by Ronnie Bergerståhl, how's Ronnie doing in the band? Everything's going smoothly already?

He's the greatest and we really wanted a guy that fitted in on a personal level from the start, not just a guy that could play the fastest blastbeats or double bassdrum. He's or guy!


- I saw that your tour of the American west coast with Dismember and Entombed has been cancelled, quite a shame, what were the reasons for this?

Not 100% sure but one of the reasons is that when Entombed got on the bill the promoter got happy and when they left he cancelled. They weren't supposed to be on the bill in the first place so I don't know what that's all about?


- You have already made plans to reschedule it to spring 2007 though. Do you think this will be the same tour? Or will there be other bands touring with you, different locations you visit?

There will probably be an other opener and I'm not sure if Entombed will join in the party, we'll just have to see?






- Your latest album "As Rapture Comes" has been released in July of this year. Please tell me a bit about it. What makes it stand out from the rest of your releases?

It's probably more aggressive than previous releases and I think that the reason for this is that we recorded it ourselves and had total freedom, no pressure and could work the hours that we choose. Some drunk sessions as well were we figured some stuff out, just like in the demo days. I guess that's why people compare it with the really early stuff 'cause the album is made the same way we worked back then.


- I'm sure you already got some reviews and opinions by now. How were the fan reactions you got? Like you expected? Better? Worse?
I
t has been very well received by critics and fans world wide, except for in Sweden. Not surprised though! Critics wanna go to the shows, no charge of course, and have all the albums for free and then the don't write about it. The way it works over here.
Most fans seems to like it and more people tell us that they're starting to discover our backcatalogue, even the 2 previous albums.


- Track nine, "Them Bones", is an 'Alice In Chains' cover. Not something I'd expect from an old school death metal band. Why exactly did you choose this song?

Both me and Ola are fans and Ola really wanted to do that song and since I got to choose a song on the last album, "Burial at sea" with Saint Vitus, it was his turn. I had no objections!


- How do you think the new tracks will be live? Will they break our necks or do you prefer playing oldies on stage?

We play a mix of songs that we enjoy playing and songs that the crowds demand. We try to play a couple of each album but since we've now done seven plus demos, it's getting harder to push every song we wanna do into 45-60 min sets.


- Let's talk about your new DVD which you released a few days ago. The main part is a show from Poland if I remember correctly. Why's that? Do you think that there are more Grave fans in Poland then elsewhere, your home country Sweden for example? Or was the opportunity just very good, the venue and your spirits, etc.?

To be honest, we turned an offer to do a DVD down last year and felt obligated to do it now when they offered us again. We would have preferred to do it in the middle of a tour but that was impossible. It turned out to be a very good show and the crew were more than professional. We're very happy with the arrangement.






- I haven't had the chance to see it yet. Maybe you can give me a little preview of what will await me? How are the quality of the recordings and the overall sound quality? What kind of bonus material does it feature?

The production is top notch! Unfortunately we couldn't include all the old stuff that we've collected and gathered through the years due to legal rights and copyright issues.
Hopefully we can do it ourselves and hope that we don't get sued.


- Are you happy with the new CD and DVD? Some things you know you could have done better, some songs you experienced difficulties with? Are you proud of the new releases?

I'm very happy with them both, but as I mentioned earlier, the DVD could've been done in the middle of a tour when you're a little "warmed up" so to speak. The album is the best Grave album so far, with the exception of Soulless which is my personal favourite, and everything went very smooth. Only the photosessions got screwed up a bit, copyright stuff again! One huge improvement on "ARC" compared with "FR" is that Ola's vocals actually can be heard! They were much to low on "FR".


- Seen that you're already veterans in our scene, what do you think your future will look like? Do you think you will keep on producing this music for some years more?

I certainly hope so! The opportunity is there!


- Do you already have any plans for the next album?

We haven't started writing music yet, but ideas are popping up. Note that Grave will celebrate 20 years as a band in 2008 when the next album will be out.







- When I go see you live, what should I expect to see at a Grave concert?

Us four guys doing what we do best, Death Metal!


- Yeah so that was it from my side. Is there anything else you would like to say to your fans?

Support the scene, thanks for the interest, come to a show and finally, Stay Metal!


Thanks a lot for your time and good luck with the rescheduled US tour!

Special thx to Jonas, Grave and Agnieszka @ Metal Mind