Sorti comme d’une pochette surprise, le tout premier album de STORMRIDER m’a tellement passionné que j’ai voulu en savoir un peu plus sur l’identité des barbares scandinaves qui se cachent derrière ce groupe. Avec un cheptel qui se renouvelle sans cesse, la Suède n’a vraiment pas fini de nous surprendre. Entrevue avec YX, parolier et chanteur du groupe (interview en anglais)

VS : Hey YX. To give a good (and basic) start to this interview could you introduce the band for our readers ?
YX: Greetings to you and your readers. Stormrider was formed in early -99 by myself and Strampan. Since then we have recorded 3 demos before our debut on Destructive Records in 2003. A few line-up changes have also been made and today Stormrider consists of myself on Vocals, Strampan & Henrik Larsén on guitar, Morgan Ramstedt on Bass and Kristoffer Ahlberg on drums.

VS : It took 4 years since your beginnings to get a deal and releasea frist album. I didn't have the opportunity of listening your early materials so did you have a musical evolution since 1999. I mean, did you know exactly the kind of metal you wanted to play when you've start. Do you think you've reached your goal ?
YX : I would say we have gone through a big evolution in the past years, but we have always done what we wanted. We make whatever we feel like and sounds good to us. Although we have finally found a sound that we are satisfied with, and for the moment our musical direction is pretty clear.

VS : Let’s talk about this sound you’ve finally found. A lot of journalist are talking about some DISSECTION and NECROPHOBIC influences. In my opinion I also think you’ve got the same riff spirit than a band like VITAL REMAINS. Are you agree with this vision people can have of your music ? Isn’t it frustrating for a musician when everybody’s searching for some resemblance between his band and other ones ? And by the way do you think it’s still possible to have a really personal sound nowadays ? (pretty long question hu ?)
YX : I don't really think it's frustrating, people will probably always try to compare you to other bands. In a way you almost have to do that to be able to give the reader a better image of what the band sounds like. I can agree to a certain degree that we might have some resemblence to Necrophobic and Dismember, perhaps even some Amon Amarth, but I can't really find the connection to Dissection. I must say though that it's a bit funny that different people that review our album mentions very different bands. I think it's possible to have your "own" sound though, but I would lie if I said we were doing something new or unique, cause we don't! Others have done this for several years, we are just doing what we like to do. Although, I have to admitt it would be nice to find a specifik sound (like Bolt Thrower) so when you listen to the album you should be able to recognize it as Stormrider directly! (A long question deserves a long answer?...he he)

VS : Of course, I guess the dream of most bands is to have a personal sound.
Talking about sound, tell us how did you choose Tommy Tätgren to produce the album ? He’s well known for his work with extreme bands like DARK FUNERAL or more recently LEGION but isn’t it risky to work with someone like him ? I mean the Abyss’s sound is really specifik and most of bands who have recorded their album here have a same kind of production. That’s not the best way to sound unique…
YX : We knew Abyss would give us a good production and we had a pretty clear image of what we wanted it to sound like. Like a mix between Amon Amarth and Entombed, and we told Tommy exactly that. It did not take him very long to get the sound we were looking for, he is a pro so we were more then confident that we wouldn't end up with the specifik "Abyss" sound.

VS : Let’s talk about the album. How did you get your deal with Destructive records ? That’s not easy to find a label nowadays, even for killing bands and especially when they’re not that famous. Did you sell your soul to any pagan divinity ? he he he
YX : I'm not really sure if we ever sent them a demo or not, but one day we got contacted through e-mail. I was not sure what it was all about, but after 3-4 e-mails I got the idea that Destructive was interested in the Band. If there is any pagan divinity out there looking for souls, I'm sure we can come to some form of settlement...he he...

VS : It seems you ‘ve choosen to talk about usual religious and warrior’s boring lyrics but you also wrote a kindda love song "Dead love of mine". This song is really different than other ones. There’s a personal vibe in it. I couldn’t imagine I would hear a song like this from a death metal band in your vein? Can you tell us more about it ?
YX : It is dedicated to my girlfriend who died in 1994, the song (both parts) reflects my thoughts about the whole thing. I don't really know what to say about it, I was not even sure we should include it on the album. But looking at it (and listening) I'm glad we did, to me it's one of the best and strongest tracks on the whole album. And as far as you would not expect to hear such a track from a band like us, we take that as a big compliment.

VS : I’m sorry to hear that but, to be honnest, I was supposing something like that. I don’t think you have something to add about this sad story. You’ve already said everything in the lyrics of this song. In my opinion this song is the best on the album.
To go on about the lyrics… Do you think it’s possible to be nihilist, to not believe in God and refer to some viking divinity in your lyrics like in "Odin’s ride". Are you seriously interested by these belief or is that just flokloric stuff or maybe a way to stay close from your origins ? Don’t you think viking’s godz have been to much used into metal during these last years ?
YX : I think it's possible to not belive in any god and still write lyrics about it, since religion and gods can mean many different things. Also the religion in itself can hold a meaning and stand for things that are not really religous. But I do have a genuine interest in Asatru, perhaps because we are still close to it. And the way I write lyrics, some read exactly what the words mean, some might try and "read between the lines" instead. I like to keep it that way, every lyric should mean something different to each reader. In lyrics you have to express yourself with very few words and still say very much, so an example would be the title for instance; "Odin's Ride". That is two words, but what does Odin symbolize? It could also be just the two words with no deeper meaning at all.

VS : So was does Odin symbolize for you as a musician and as a swedish guy ?
YX : All the gods have certain traits, how these might apply to our music/lyricsand so on I leave to others. On the personal level, the most basic is that you should always stand proud, never giving up. Even if the odds are againstyou it's better to "die trying" then cowardly give up.

VS : It’s better dying on his feet than living on his knees… Not that easy to stay proud, especially in music business. There’s a lot of guys who have sold their soul for a deal or for popularity.
Do you think it’s easy to stay uncorrupted by money when you’re playing in a band who start turning famous ? Did you ever think about that or do you imagine STORMRIDER as a "forever underground" band ?
YX : I can only speak for myself and I'd say it is easy. I could never perform or record anything I did not felt strongly about. So from that perspective Stormrider will always be "underground". There is nothing wrong in making money though, I would lie if I said I wouldn't like to be able to live off the music. But in "our" world it comes as a bonus and is not the goal.

VS : Living from music is luxurious nowadays.
To go back on "First battle won", I’ve heard "Addiction" was composed and recorded in only one take during your time in studio. Do you use to work like this or was it the first time ? What do you think this spontaneousity has bring to this track ? Can you imagine recording in studio some live takes for a futur album ?
YX : Actually, most of our tracks are done in the same way. Strampan often got one or two riffs and then we build the track in the rehearsal room the same day. The only real exepction would be Dead Love Of Mine Pt 1 and 2, those tracks were built during a longer time by myself and Strampan.
When you don't think too much it becomes more natural, it brings a form of purity to the music. It would be a nice experiance to record something live in the studio, that would be the ultimate way to work for us. On first battle won most tracks were recorded on the first take and both drums and one guitar were recorded at the same time, so I think we would be capable of such a thing

VS : What about the early recordings you’ve done with STORMRIDER. Did you use some old materials for the album ?
I’ve noticed on the cover of your first demo "Born of chaos" you guys were wearing some corpse paint. Does it mean you used to be a black metal metal at the beginnings ? If yes how did you choose to turn into death metal ? Are you following musical tendencies or are you to old to play with make up ? What kind of look do you have on this period ?
YX : We have used much material from both our second and third demo, although nothing really from our first. We've always played Death Metal, it was more or less me that was more into Black Metal and brought more influences and those stuffs about BM into the band. This is clearly showned on our second demo, were you also can find Odin's Ride and God Is Dead, but with a sound much more blackish. I'm still just as much into BM, but I don't wear any pain anymore. It has mostly to do with all damn bands making it a "money-making-trend" instead of it's true meaning. Can't say I take much pride in our first demo though, 8 tracks were recorded and mixed in 2 days, the material was not very well thought through and thus everything about it is lousy...

VS : Well you’ll have to let me hear that one day. I’m just curious to hear the musical evolution you had.
To go back on the album, "First battle won" was recorded in February but it was avalaible six month after. What’s happened ? When you’ve hear for the first time an original version of the album released by the label what kind of impression did you have ? Pleased or is there something you would change if you could ?
YX : I don't know really, Destructive Records stated they had some problems with the pressings, that is about all I know about that. We had heard both the raw version and the mastered version of the album before DR published it, needless to say we were pretty satisfied. There are only two things I'd make a little different, the vocals should be a bit higher on some tracks/places and have just a little less bass in the bassdrum.

VS : What about your nick name ?Did you choose it because your real name is unpronouncable or just is it a way to refer to the famous SAMAEL’s drummer ? By the way what do you think of this band’s evolution throught ages ? Is that something you can understand ?
YX : I'm sorry to say that no questions about my nick will be fully answered. I can however tell you that neither of what you mentioned is the reason behind it. This will be up to each and everyone to inteprete. There is not much to say about Samael, it's a band I really think have gone their own way, without giving a shit about what others think of them. One of the first bands that ever used the inversed pentagram in a video if I'm not totally mistaken...

VS : Well I’m not sure this is something that important in SAMAEL’s career…
Talking about other bands, what’s your actual playlist ? Are you only into metal or do you listen some other kind of music ? Is that true you’re a big ABBA’s fan ?
YX : I know EVERYTHING about ABBA, got all of their recods and stuff! Ehem, to be honest I'm mostly into Metal, everything from Aor to Extreme Death/Black. Although I don't like grunge, hardcore, industrial or damn neo-metal. Might be some world-music otherwise, like Era/Enigma and such.

VS :Quiet interesting but what about your playlist ? The stuff you’re actually listening these days? Hellooo ? Do you receive me ? That’s sad to be drunk so early in the day…
YX : Hey, I was not that drunk, just a little he he he...(ndt : the interview has been done in several parts) I don't mention bands that often cause they are too many, right now I'm listening to Nightingale (Dan Swanö) and yesterday it was some Vader, Amon Amarth, Iron Maiden, Grave Digger, Dissection, Dark Funeral. When it comes to Metal the range is from Aor to Black/Death, so pretty many bands are in there. Perhaps Godgory (Way Beyond) and Unmoored (Indefinite Soul-Extension) has gotten some more time then other albums the last few weeks.