While expecting the new Grand Magus album, entitled "Triumph And Power", which will be released on late January 2014, RockOverdose.gr (the greek rock/metal webzine) had the chance to speak with the grand magister JB Christoffersson not only for this new release, but generally for the epic metal scene and his other various activities . As it turned out JB is one of the most authentic old school metallheads and this is probably the secret to success in anything he does!
Enjoy!
RockOverdose.gr: I always wanted to ask that… How did the nickname JB come up?
J.B.- Grand Magus: (laughs) Well this is a very well guarded secret. I think you should ask Michael Amott, maybe he can tell you…
RockOverdose.gr: So it has to do with the Beggars era…If you don’t want to reveal it is ok. I didn’t know I will speak with you, maybe I could ask him last month when he and beggars visited Greece for some gigs.
So , Grand Magus are about to release their new album at the end of January 2014, under the title “Triumph And Power”. Quite an epic, Manowar-like title indeed. Do you want to share with us some info for this release?
J.B.- Grand Magus: The title is “Triumph And Power” and that’s really what all of the songs in it are evicting. It’s a really majestic and heavy metal record. It is not a collection of songs. Every song is there for a reason. Our previous album “The Hunt”, had a more hard rock feeling, this one has a more pure heavy metal sound.
RockOverdose.gr: How would you describe its sound? And what path does this record is following in comparison with your previous works? What new does it add to the Grand Magus totem?
J.B.- Grand Magus: Well, I thing it adds a lot. At first I would say it is more concentrated on the songs rather than the sound. It’s a very honest record, a really strong album and I don’t think I’ve ever been at least at this stage with any album that we’ve done so far. Hopefully people will like it.
RockOverdose.gr: I guess yes, we are looking forward to hear it… Is there also any kind of different orchestration, like the piano on "Son of the Last Breath"?
J.B.- Grand Magus: Yeah! There are a couple of instrumental tracks on this album as well. For example, we use a mouth harp, something being used a lot in Scandinavian folk music and there is also a lot of acoustic guitar and some piano parts…There is a track called “The Hammer Will Bite” which stretches out, it’s more compact perhaps…
RockOverdose.gr: What about the lyrics? Which territories are you exploring this time? I guess they will be Scandinavian and Norse traditions and mythology?
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J.B.- Grand Magus: Yes, absolutely! Basically the lyrics are always on at these two levels, sometimes more than that, but the language of the lyrics is always based on tradition. It has a very strong connection on the power of nature, you will understand that when you listen to “Triumph And Power”. It’s reflections on how the world “works” today and how I feel about that, and also about things that are bigger than “our world” and definitely bigger than the very “short” attentions that we have these days. You know the little things that turn up to stories of Scandinavian traditions…and people have forgotten.
RockOverdose.gr: I can understand because there are also lot of Greek traditional or mythology stories, which pass a message …
J.B.- Grand Magus: Yeah, absolutely! It’s true…
RockOverdose.gr: The cover artwork contains a very Viking-war like image, a great creation indeed. Who was responsible for that? What is the message you want to get through to your fans?
J.B.- Grand Magus: Yes of course, but also we need to give a huge credit to the guy who did the artwork, Anthony Roberts. I had some basic ideas about what I wanted the cover to contain but he did a sketch that had some of those elements and he added a lot of his own … I am extremely happy with the result.
RockOverdose.gr: You took part in the latest Ayreon album and we saw you in a different vocal approach. How did this come up? And how was this experience for you?
J.B.- Grand Magus: It was a very different experience; I’ve been in touch with Ayreon since 2010 in an other project we didn’t have time to do back then. But for this Ayreon album, he really wanted me to do this; I was a bit hesitant because it is very different from what I’ve been involved so far. I wasn’t familiar with the whole thing but I talked with Arjen Lucassen on the phone and he was in a band called Bodine back in the ‘80s and I have bought their album called Three Times Running, the third track Black Star Rising is one my favourite heavy metal song of all times, so I just felt that I need to do this! I went down, we had a great time and I was blown away by his musical ability and everything… It just turned up really cool I think, I’m very happy I had this opportunity, so…thank you Arjen!
RockOverdose.gr: Are you going to be involved in other projects in the near future?
J.B.- Grand Magus: That’s the thing! That’s the reason why I didn’t immediately jump on this thing. I knew about Ayreon, about Arjen and how big and respected it is, but I don’t want to be like a lot of metal musicians today that are involved in so many bands, have three or four projects or appear as guests etc…I’ve never been interested in that but … who knows?!
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RockOverdose.gr: The last years, we are seeing quite a revival taking place in the field of epic heavy metal, with bands honouring their roots from the ‘80s thus resulting to quite an enormous number of bands in this stream. What does Grand Magus of 2014 have to offer into this and what makes the Magus different from the others?
J.B. - Grand Magus: (laughs)… Because we are the Real Thing! That’s it!
RockOverdose.gr: That’s all? Ok … I accept it! Are you following any of these recent bands playing epic heavy metal? Any favorites?
J.B. - Grand Magus: Well, actually no, I still listen to the bands that I got hooked on when I was younger. Many of those bands are still making albums and I always buy those albums… Bands like Amon Amarth or Judas Priest and Accept…things like these. But actually, I don’t find any interest to find new bands or new songs because you know usually when you’re so involved in music you get a bit tired, e.g. if I finish a tour or an album or whatever; I need some time for peace and quiet! I’m pretty tired of music on that time… (laughs) So, the music I want to listen to is a band that I have a very strong emotional connection, I’m the worst person to ask about new bands because I don’t really know…
RockOverdose.gr: Are you going to make a tour in this winter in order to promote “Triumph And Power”?
J.B. - Grand Magus: Well, yeah…I mean the album is gonna be released on the 31st of January and we’re doing a European tour on the 1st of March, that starts on the UK and Ireland and then we go to mainland Europe.
RockOverdose.gr: What about Greece?
J.B. - Grand Magus: Greece is not on the tour, it would be a nightmare to go down to Greece, because of the logistics and vouching. However, all the shows we’ve done in Greece have been special … Last time we came in Athens we had a fantastic time but I also heard that we played short!
RockOverdose.gr: Well, this is somehow a Greek way to complain...
J.B. - Grand Magus: I shouldn’t that was a new thing. We want to come back and play for as long as you like
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RockOverdose.gr: If you could create the festival of your dreams, which bands (existing or not) would you invite to that?
J.B. - Grand Magus: Wow! I will have…let’s see: Judas Priest, Black Sabbath, Dio, Manowar, also Bathory – although they never played live! I would have Deep Purple with Ritchie Blackmore and Rainbow. I would have Michael Schenkers’ group and I would have Accept as well…
RockOverdose.gr: That’s an interesting line up! Let’s close this interview with a message to your Greek fans and the readers of Rock Overdose.
J.B. - Grand Magus: Dear brothers and sisters in Greece, the time of Triumph And Power is here and Grand Magus will bring this Swedish Steel to Hellas!
RockOverdose.gr: We are waiting for it! Hope to see you soon in Greece or in another stage in Europe. Thank you very much!
J.B. - Grand Magus: Thank you too! Take care!
For RockOverdose,
Vivi Zapantiotou
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