Dawn are the throne usurpers of Black/Death metal scene. Comes from the viking lands of Sweden,
the latest Dawn's album was pure masterpiece named "Slaughtersun (The Crown Of Triarchy)". This
is interview with Dawn's guitarist FREDRIK SÖDERBERG.
Interview taken by V.K. (taken September 5th 1999)
Metal Vision: Hello, First of all I heard you had some line-up changes. Could you
please specify more about it?
Fredrik: Jocke Pettersson quit a few months after the slaughtersun recording because
he started to work on full time in studio sunlight with Tomas Skogsberg.
He choosed between DAWN or work in the studio. He choose sunlight and I
think that was a good chooise because he has always been more into the
technical part of the music and he is not into playing live and perform
onstage, he?s more a laidback guy so that fits him better, he?s a great
engineer now so i just wish him good luck!. In the end of 1997 i moved up
to Stockholm because i was tired on the scene in Link?ping where i come
from and i emediately started to search for a new drummer but without any
good results. Then Philip alias Grave Raper and i concentrated on doing two
new Cranium albums and DAWN was on ice for a while. At the end of 1998 i
heard about Tomas departure from Dark Funeral and he called me up in the
end of April (99) and we arranged an audition and it worked out good. He
also wanted to go in the same direction musicvise as me so now he is a
fulltime member. Now we are a 3-piece band me, Henke and Tomas (alias
alzazmon). We are now searching for a new guitarrist and a basplayer to
fill up Lars and Andreas shoes. Andreas was fired from the band for a while
ago because of diffrent things: first of all it?s 20 swedish miles between
Stockholm and Link?ping so it?s kind of a hard to practise together another
thing was that he didn?t want to play live and that?s what i?m really into.
Lars is another story, i don?t now whats happened with him actually
because i moved up to Stockholm and we just lost contact that was maybe my
fault or his, i don?t no. Anyway he was a good basplayer but he still lives
in Link?ping so it?s the same problem with him as with Andreas so i just
wish them good luck to.
Metal Vision: The latest Dawn album "Slaughtersun (The Crown Of Triarchy)" was very good
melodic Death Metal album. Are you satisfied with the album itself?
Fredrik: Thanks, I had material for 13 songs for the slaughtersun album but we
choosed the best and recorded 9 of them and then picked out 7 songs for the
album because the length of the cd so there are two songs more that we have
recorded but i don?t know whats happening with them, maybe we can release
them as bonus or something in the future. On the album there are a couple
of trax that are really original I mean arrangements riffs and melodies. I
think I have developed an own style and type of riffing that none have ever
done before and i always try to get as epic feeling as possible to every
thing I do. Thats something you will notice on the next album that we have
taken the riffing and arrangements a step futher. The drumming will be more
complex an rytmic on the next cd as well and very diffrent from Jockes
drumming
Metal Vision: What are Dawn's plans for the future? Any new albums?
Fredrik: As I mentioned in question nr 2 there will be a new album, but when? i have
no idea. We will work really hard on the next album so we can show people
that we are the defenders of the throne of Death/Black metal. I have just
finished a negotiation with jackson guitars in Carlifornia about a deal of
the old cult axe Death Angel and they have started to work on them at the
custom shop a few weeks ago. At the moment i?m also working on promoting
the new Cranium album "Speed metal Sentence" and it?s already released when
you read this (September 99).
Metal Vison: What are Dawn's main influences? favourite bands?
Fredrik: There are only two diffrent types of music, good or bad. At the moment i?m
listening to alot of classical guitar music John Wiiliams. There are alot
of extreme Death metal to that i?m into like Krisiun. I also think bands
like Dream Theatre they are really cool band totally progressive, Sisters
of Mercy and alot of film music. The best metal band is definately Judas
Priest and i really appreciate the new singer! he did a really good work on
the Jugulator cd. Im also into guitar based rock and most of the guitar
heroes from the 80?s like Vinnie Moore, Joe Satriani they are just
brilliant. Megadeth really rocks. I?m also into the 80?s speed, thrash
scene with bands like Assassin, Exumer, Deathrow (Raging Steel album),
Agony (The firts defiance album), Agent Steel, they fuckin shreds!. And
lots of other bands and musicians.
Metal Vision: What is your opinion on current state of Death Metal? or Metal overall?
Do you feel personal belonging to the Death Metal scene as a band?
Fredrik: At the moment I think it?s really good with bands like Krisiun and
Centurian wich is really bring new life into the scene, wich almost was
forgotten. I think a new era of death metal is on its way but the biggest
bands wich started it all will always be there: Morbid Angel, Vader,
Deicide. I?m definately a part of the death metal scene because DAWN has
just keeped doing albums with only one thing in mind! to create the best
extreme metal and keep it that way instead of compromise. And we played
this type of music long before many other bands got into the scene. We will
never change the style but we will develope and take each album a step
further. It has taken quit long time between the albums but i think it?s
wort it as long as we are satisefied with final result. I have seen many
bands come and go and especially people that just played Death Metal back
in the begining of the 1990?s because it was a trend but where the fuck are
they today in 1999?.
Metal Vision: The Swedish scene is one of the leading scenes in Metal nowadays. What
are your feelings about it?
Fredrik: In Stockholm there are alot of bands but many real bad musicians. I know
that since i have had many on auditions. The Gothenburg scene is probably
the best scene with bands like inflames and Haunted as leading acts. The
problem nowdays wich was diffrent from when i was a kid is that people
don?t practise on there instruments as much as we did back in the 80?s but
there are alot talents out there like bands from smaller towns like Darkane
wich really show how to play metal as it should be. We have a great,
strong fanbase here in sweden and people buy our albums so i can?t complain
about that but people really have to pratice more on there instruments and
find there own style instead of copie other bands music.
Metal Vision: Nowadays Black Metal took over the Metal scene and even took it to the
level of commercialism and trend. What do you think about the Black Metal
trend? Have you ever took part in it?
Fredrik: No definately not!. We can just take an example Dimmu Borgir. I think they
did the right thing because they wanted to be rockstars and they had a huge
label that was behind them 100% and they toured alot to get the huge
respons they got. If i had the back up and timing i had done the same thing
but DAWN is something diffrent. We are more extreme then any other band and
we want to keep it that way! and i think thats better in the long run to be
honest to your self and don?t create something thats doesen?t works in the
long run. If you are into this buisiness to make money it doesen?t matter
if you play in Dawn or Dimmu Borgir you will never earn a quid! if you are
into metal and you believe that your gonna make some money out of your
music then you definately choosed the wrong type of music. Take for example
Satyricon wich does the same thing as we do, keep doing albums and don?t
care at all whats happening with other bands! thats true metal. For me is
not about money! it?s pure art and to have a great contact with the label
instead of having a fuckin label that just tells you what to do. This
business sucks if you don?t know how to handle it.
Metal Vision: How about Dawn's concerts?
What is the usual atmosphere going on?
Fredrik: We have done a few gigs but not so many but i hope it will be more in the
future. Usually we have had an intro "the imperial march" and alot of
fuckin smoke onstage and we have been covered with blood. I bought a huge
backdrop with DAWN logo on wich we have used a few times wich is awesome.
Henke has always been totally crazy on stage and have stagedived into the
audience. I think stage-diving is a long forgotten art wich we definately
will introduce if we play live again. Thats metal!!. We often where alot
studs and shit and thats cool and it gives the show an extra spice. This is
another thing wich is really important how the band works live! then you
know if a band are as good as they where on the record.
Metal Vision: Does dawn associets with any kind of religion?
or personal beliefs?
I think religious beliefs are just a lack of self confidence. I am my own
good and i can think for my self. The world downfall of the church is near.
I mean who wants to go to the church? it´s embarrcing especially here in
sweden because everybody knows who built them back in the 1600´s rich
warriors and priest´s that sucked out every fuckin farmer on the
countryside on there money and thats my ancesters. Thats pathetic. I don´t
like it when the government can spend all that money to the churches
instead building universities or apartments or whatever.
Metal Vision: Does Dawn has nas any plans on doing a tour through North America?
Fredrik: Back in 1996 Dani in Cradle of Filth was in contact with Necropolis about
having us as an opening act for them on their european tour but we had at
that time changed drummer and we where working on the slaughtersun album so
we couldn?t tour with them at that time. In the autum of 98 we where going
on tour but something happened with the arrangement and there where some
other problem with the booking agency metalyssee. But i have heard so many
roumurs that everything on their tours just don?t work. If we are going
tour we sign a contract first of all, about what?s happening on the tour so
we at least can get warm food a hot shover and great bussdriver that don?t
smoke mariujana when he?s driving. If the booking agency dont send
contracts dont go on tour!!, then they are definately a crap firm. About
the North America i don?t know it depends what they can offer us. The best
thing to do is to make smaller weekendgigs down in europe instead of tour
around in the middle of the week and having a small audience. We are
interested in touring but under the right conditions.
Metal Vision: Everyone probably heard by now about Dissection, the murder and etc.
Have you ever been in contact with Jon from Dissecion or his murder
partner Vlad? Do you have any view about the whole thing?
Fredrik: I met Jon in Str?mstad in 95 and just talk with him over a beer and he
seemed to be a nice guy. I haven?t followed the the trial or anything so i
don?t know so much about it so i don?t have a view about it.
Metal Vision: What are Dawn's musical skills? what level they are on?
Fredrik: I have been playing guitar and writing songs for 15 years, Tomas has been
playing drumms for 18 years, Henke don?t practise on his voice at all, he
just screams in the studio ti?l his blood throated and he pukes as all
other vocalists in this scene.
Metal Vision: What bands, album's have you been hearing lately?
Fredrik: I have been listening to King Diamond, Vinnie Moore, Testament, John
Williams, H?ndel, Grieg, old Star Wars sound track.
Metal Vision: How important is the image for the band? spikes, black clothes?
Fredrik: If you want to be no 1 it?s really important if you will be no 2 it?s not
important.
Metal Vision: For the recording of "Slaughtersun (The Crown Of The Triarchy)" you went into
the Abyss studio. Was the result satisfying? Did you get the sound you
wanted?
Fredrik: I think the Slaughtersun is one of the best recordings Peter has ever done
but i dont?know if we will use Abyss again. I would like to try another
studio and see how it works out. The sound mainly comes out from the
musicians and how they play on there instruments and what kind of equipment
they use but working with Peter gives you an extra spice so if don?t find
another studio we will continue the recording at Abyss.
Metal Vision: You are currently signed to Necropolis Records. Do they treat the band
well? are you on of the best bands of the label? how does the promotion
works for you?
Fredrik: We are not signed to any label at the moment but we will negotiate with
some diffrent labels when we are ready with the record contract i?m working
on at the moment. Necropolis has done a great job for us and they really
know how to promote a band and take care of them simce they are really into
it 110%. In May i made a promotion tour in Carlifornia for the new Cranium
and i also made alot of interviews for DAWN so they really support us. I
don?t know if we are the best band on the label but we definately have the
first priority on the label. The label that gives us the best offer is the
label we continue to work with in the future and Necropolis is definately
one of them.
Metal Vision: Thank you very much for this interview and I wish best with Dawn. Do you
have any last words to our readers?
Frdrik: Why not visit our new webpage at
http://www.swedish-metal.com/dawn/ and
find out more about the band and the current situation. The webpage is
alwys updated with latest news about the band. There will also be a Cranium
webpage and it?s up in a few weeks probably on
http://www.swedish-metal.com/cranium/ .
FREDRIK SÖDERBERG Contact:
mail to: dawn-hq@swipnet.se
INTERVIEWS
