Rock Overdose's Dimitris "Maiden" Mpakoulas had the chance to talk with Hammerfall's bassist Fredrik Larsson about the band, his plans and many more! Read the interview below:
R.O.: Hello from Greece Fredrik,how are you?
F.L.: Hi! I'm fine, thank you!
R.O.: You are about to take a long vacation after the release of the new dvd "Gates Of Dalhalla".Is it like an end of an era and the beginning of a new one?
F.L.: Yes, in a way we kind of sums it up for the first 15 years. We have been touring a lot without any real break for vacation for a long time and we all felt it was time for a break. This DVD is our way to thank all of our fans with something special. Not just a regular show with lots of pyros and stuff, this is really something special with a lot of guests on stage and an incredible surrounding that gives the show a perfect atmosphere. Everything captured by Patric Ullaeus who did a marvelous job, it looks fantastic! And since it was a long time, I think 8 years, since the previous live DVD a lot of things has happened to HammerFall. Both me and Pontus joined the band and we have done 4 studio albums so we really have something for the fans who haven't seen us in a while. This break gives us a chance to recharge our batteries and come back hungry for another 15 years! At least that's what it feels like.
R.O.: Among others,in the Gates Of Dalhalla dvd,we are about to see two original Hammerfall members,like Mikael Stanne and the patriarch of Swedish metal-Jesper Stromblad! Would you like to say a few words about your thoughts for them?
F.L.: I remember back in -96 when I did my first live show with HammerFall, Mikael was the singer and Jesper was behind the drums. Soon after that we recorded our debut album and Joacim took over the duties as our frontman. Mikael was good but he was way better with Dark Tranquillity, one of my favorite band at that time, so it was the best for all of us. Mikael is still a good friend and it was a joy to have him back on stage singing "Steel meets Steel", a killer version that really is something else than the original. Jesper played guitar on "The Dragon lies Bleeding", don't think he has practiced on the drums since-96 😉 He has been involved a lot in HammerFall as a songwriter in the early days and he even co-wrote "One of a Kind" on the album "No Sacrifice, No Victory". He really is something special when it comes to melodies and we all were very happy when he wanted to join us on stage for this. It felt so good to be back with these guys and I think it shows on the DVD that we had great fun!
R.O.: About Jesper,he left In Flames for alcoholic problems,is he now ok? Is there any chance to see him back to Hammerfall?
F.L.: Well, I really don't know his personal situation right now, you have to ask him yourself. I know he have struggled a lot and that it's ups and downs but we had a fantastic night with him and it was no problem at all. It's not unlikely that he will show up as a songwriter in the future but I don't think he will ever be in the band again. He's too busy with a lot of other bands and projects and HammerFall have a very stable line up for now. I know, never say never but…no. Jesper is actually rehearsing with Oscar right now, but with the old Death Metal band Ceremonial Oath. They are doing a show later on in Gothenburg!
R.O.: Hammerfalls debut album "Glory To The Brave" hit the world of metal like a thunderstorm back to the start and the fans reaction was phenomenal! Still considered like a monument,what thoughts do you recall from these days?
F.L.: We recorded the album when nobody liked that kind of music. We were young and enthusiastic and had really no idea about the music industry, we just wanted to conquer the world with Heavy Metal and I think that was a big part of the success. The thing that we just did what we wanted and not listened to anybody else on how it should be. We entered the studio, Fredman, and recorded it really fast. We didn't have much budget but we were well rehearsed and as far as I remember the time wasn't a big issue. There were a couple of things that we didn't have the time for but nothing serious. And we had great fun, very important. I remember that In Flames were hanging out there as well and they were like, Oh so this is what you're recording? Heavy Metal? Hmm, sounds good! Also, this was back in -96 and I remember mixing the record. We were standing behind the mixing console and fading the songs in real time, everything had to be handled manually and if it went wrong we had to start over again from the beginning of the song. It's a lot easier these days but it's some great memories to have been there and recorded on tape.
R.O.: You quit the band after the debut album 'cause you wanted to play extreme music.You also played in Joacims album and for Evergrey.During your absence,did you monitored Hammerfall?Did you listened to their albums?What's your opinion?
F.L.: Yes I left because I felt that I couldn't focus 100% on HammerFall and this was just the beginning so they needed someone who could. I wanted to play Thrash and Death Metal at that time so it was better for everyone that I left. I did not monitor HammerFall but of course I heard of them, it was impossible not to in Sweden at that time. I did not listen that active but it was great to hear that their career were rocketing. I met up with Oscar and the rest on rock clubs and shows and heard the latest news. I've known Oscar since -92/-93 something when we played in a Death Metal band called Crystal Age so it was natural that we stayed in contact. He is still one of my best friends. I didn't think that much about how they sounded or what they did musically because I did my choice earlier and I never regretted that I left the band but when I got a second chance I just had to do this. I had to learn all the old songs and it was then that I discovered the many good riffs and all the fantastic choruses again. I really love the melodies and everything that is HammerFalls trademarks. I still listen to extreme music and love a variety of music but Heavy Metal is what I grew up with so it will always have a special place in my heart.
R.O.: Are you satisfied with the path that Hammerfall chose to follow during those years?If it was possible what would you have change?
F.L.: Yes, I think that HammerFall made the right decisions and stayed true to what they believed in. It wouldn't be the same if they would have tried to follow trends and stuff. Thats not HammerFall. And the thing that is Heavy Metal for me isn't long hair, studs and denim. It's doing what you believe in and stand up for that, regardless. I wouldn't wanna change anything. I can't say that I love all the songs on all the albums but most of them are really good. And I think every song has it's place on the albums, because that was what HammerFall did. Albums. Not just a couple of singles and then fillers. And that is what we still do, really strong albums. At least in my opinion.
R.O.: What do we have to expect from the band in the future?
F.L.: Well, I don't have a crystal ball but we will definitely be back in 2014 with a new album. It's a bit early to talk about since we all just looking forward to the release of the DVD and then the break. I still believe that we have a lot more to give so I hope HammerFall will be around for many years to come.
R.O.: The anticipation for the new dvd is huge,specially for the fantastic location that the live appearance took place.Can you describe the feeling for being in a place like that?
F.L.: It was marvelous! The surroundings is absolutely stunning. We spent the entire day there but it was at night that the magic happened. Starting off in almost daylight, so everybody could see and enjoy the view, then after more than two hours it was almost pitch black and the walls of the quarry was lit up and all the pyros and light show really made an impression. This is a show that I would have wanted to see from the audience perspective. I'm glad Patric did such a great job so I could watch it over and over again and remember that night.
R.O.: It also contains 26 tracks,a well satisfying overdose of Hammerfall.How did you experienced this live?Your reactions?
F.L.: It was actually so much on my mind that time just flew away. Everything had to go according to plan and in the end I think it actually did. Except from the weather, it did start raining in the end but everyone that I talked to afterwards told me it didn't matter. It started to rain in "Glory to the Brave" and it just made that song even more epic. We had a lot of guests, a big choir and a fire show, otherwise I think it would have been hard to keep such a long show interesting. It doesn't matter how much you love a band, if they play for too long without things that happen it will get boring in the end. I really think we pulled this off and made an incredible show and we had good fun doing it!
R.O.: Fredrik,when did you decided to make music professionally and how did your parents influenced you?
F.L.: I quit my day job to be a guitar tech in 2005 I think. I was a tech for Evergrey and they toured a lot, later on the bass player Michael Håkansson left the band and I was asked to be a member instead. I accepted and we did a lot of shows and started to do preproduction for a new studio album. But right then I was asked if I wanted to join HammerFall again and that was an opportunity that I couldn't say no to. In between I also did a session on Joacims solo project, Cans, together with Stefan Elmgren. We had a great time on the road, that's probably one of the reasons Joacim asked me if I wanted to join. As I speak I actually remember that I did a job as guitar tech for HammerFall during one show. They never called me back for more work, ouch 😉 At home I was raised with The Beatles and that kind of music. Can't say that I enjoyed it then but nowadays I don't mind listening to it on the radio. I started to listen to Heavy Metal and my father borrowed Deep Purple's Machine Head for me but although I liked it I thought it sounded a bit old. I wanted something cooler and the first record I bought myself was Restless and Wild with Accept. That was really something!
R.O.: Tell us about your childhood idols and your all time favorite albums.
F.L.: After my first record with Accept I had to see them live but I was too young so I had to drag my mother to the show. She sat there with ear protection and I was on fire! It was awesome and I was hooked, since then Accept has always been one of my favorite bands. I listened a lot to Iron Maiden, W.A.S.P., Motley Crue and later on Helloween, all the big metal bands at the time. When I first heard Anthrax I really loved it. I bought everything I could get my hands on and that's still one of the bands that I see whenever I can! Can't decide if I will choose "Among the Living" or "Spreading the Disease" as their best so I give up. Later on I listened to Pantera and a lot of Swedish bands like Meshuggah, Opeth, Pain of Salvation and A.c.t.. There's so many good bands out there and I can't just pick one all time favorite but I still listen to Opeth and Meshuggah's last one is a killer!
R.O.: Sweden is a music industry,full of quallity bands.In your opinion,what is Swedens most important album and most important band?
F.L.: I would say that ABBA is probably one of Sweden's most important band. Roxette too maybe but I'm assuming you mean it the metal genre. It's hard to say, HammerFall has been very important and opened a lot of doors for Heavy and Power Metal, In Flames is world known in their genre and what Meshuggah has done with extreme metal is fantastic. And Yngwie Fucking Malmsteen! Almost forgot him, what he has done for swedish guitar players is amazing. And I must mention Europe too. They really shook the world with their music.
R.O.: Fredrik,i don't have anything else to ask you...i hope the best for you personally and for the band and i expect truly the best for a fantastic return after your time-out.Send a message to the Greek fans and close this interview as you like.
F.L.: I hope the best for you all and the greek economic and that we will be able to see you on tour in 2014! Thank you!
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