With:	Pierre Törnkvist - Vocals, Guitars
Conducted by:	Azhidahak
Published:	26.10.2004
Band profile:	Helltrain

-Could you please give us a brief description of your band?

Helltrain was founded in 2002 by Pierre Törnkvist - vocals & bass. The band immediately found recognition for their original sound, mixing their previous experiences in the heavier genres like death-, thrash- & black metal with arrangements and sounds from rock n roll & punk rock music. The unique use of a Hammond organ got people to lend an ear or two.

-How would you like to describe your debut album?

40 minutes of intense, punk-ass rot n roll music. It has got the attitude of a punk rock band, the rock n roll of a motorhead on speed and the heaviness of our deathmetal roots.

-Is there a general message behind the songs from your debut album?

Well, our album is 40 minutes of entertainment. You're supposed to feel good and have a beer or two at satuday night listening to Helltrain. Apart from that there's a bit of irony and dark humour in it. We do try to keep a healty distance to ourselves and what we are doing. Apart from that one could say that the Route 666 is the way to freedom - learn to love and respect yourself and your fellow man before loving god.

- How did you come up with the name Helltrain?

I don't know who came up with the name. I think it was Patrik maybe who found it, it does not mean anything special to us. It is just a name that fits to our music.

-Have you planned any dates for touring?

So far we have not done that. We have been doing interviews for the past 2-3 weeks and still have some to do. After that we will start thinking about tours & live gigs. We will probably also need to schedule some time for shooting a video.




- By listening to your album, I assume that you must really like hard rock and punk. Whats your favourite bands in these genres?

Iron Maiden, the Misfits, Ramones, Twisted Sister, WASP, Helloween, Metallica etc.

-How did you get a contract with Nuclear Blast?

I had been working with Yvette when she was at Century Media. So when we were about to record our demo I surfed some websites, N.B amongst others, and found her name there. So I dropped them an e-mail telling them that we were about to record some stuff. Then we just send the 3 demo songs to N.B and that was it, basically.

-The members of your band have been involved in other well known bands such as: Gates of Ishtar, Defleshed or Raised Fist. How did you get to know each other?

We've know each other since we were around 17-18 years old. We have been partying and playing music altogether ever since. Sometimes we were in different bands, but there has always been a core of people hanging out here together and playing music.

-The idea of mixing hard rock with metal reminds me of Entombed (death n roll anyone?), did you get this idea from them?

No, not really. I think our music differs quite a lot from Entombed. But we love Entombed and their music. They were one of the main reasons for me getting into deathmetal.

-From which bands have you got your main influences?

Just about anything ranging from Oasis to Mayhem.

-How do you guys spend your spare time?

Besides working full time I also spend a lot of time with my family, I have ason at 3 years and a daughter at 3 months. I also spend time in the dojo with karate practice.

- How will the future look like for Helltrain?

Well, we are finishing up the last interviews for the album at the moment. The release is set for 25th of October. After that we will have to wait and see. Hopefully it is being released in the states sometime after new year. We will probably need to make a video for one of the songs. And there is also a need of starting to write new music for the next album.

-What will the last words be?

Thank you very much for your support and time. Take care.