LARS) Well, it all started back in 1988 when a couple of guys in the 9th grade put together a band called "Rapture". It consisted of me (Lars) on bass, Daniel Strachal on drums, Jonas Andersson on vocals, Fred Ekstrand and Leif Cuzner (ex Nihilist/Entombed) on guitar. We were all beginners back then (except for Leif) and didn't do much serious songwriting.
Then around 1990 Jonas quit the group and Leif moved to Canada, which
resulted in the band reforming into "Lobotomy". At this time the line-up
was: me on vocals and guitar, Fred on guitar, Daniel on drums and Patric
Carsana on bass. We recorded our first demotape "When death draws near" in
Studio Sunlight in January '91. It was very well received for a debut.
We got a bunch of different interest from small Ep-labels and was set to record our first EP, "Instinct of Brutality", in July the same year. The recording was done, but with the companies lack of money and incapacity of running their label, the project ran out. We didn't care too much about this and instead went into "Studio 16" to record "Against the Gods" which was released in June '92. The demo was incredibly well received and we were featured in over 50 magazines with a lot of great reviews.
Our next demo to be recorded was "Nailed in Misery" in Dec '92. We were a
three-piece at this time, since Fred had left the band. This one was
recorded in "Studio Rockshop" with Peter Tagtgren at the wheel. It was a
cassette-ep for the Italian based "Obscure Plasma Rec" (now called
Avantgarde) but the guy who had signed us left for Metal Hammer magazine,
so the Ep wasn't released until June '93.
After recruiting two new members, Max Collin on vocals (I wanted to concentrate on my guitar...) and Etienne Belmar on guitar, we then decided to go to a new label named "Rising Realm Rec"(Finland), on which we released "Hymn" a seven-inch vinyl in Jan '94. Both "Nailed in Misery" and "Hymn" have been very well received by critics and fans. We were offered various deals from growing rec-labels, and signed, in Sept '94, a deal with Austrian based "Lethal Records". The recording took place at "SVLT- Dead House" a professional 46-track digital studio. Unfortunately the label boss at "Lethal Records" misconduct the deal before the recording was done, so we bought the tapes from the studio and started to send adv-cassettes with songs from the album to various labels. We then signed a deal in May'95 with Swedens "House of Kicks" (the home for labels like "No Fashion Rec" and "Chaos Rec" etc). So we finally got our debut album released.
We were not very pleased with our debut album due to the lack of experience the producers had with this type of music. Because of this we entered "Studio Sunlight" for our second album, "Kill", which I am very pleased with. I believe, after reading many positive reviews, that this album would have drawn a lot more attention if we've had better promotion and distribution.
Now we have just finished the recording of our new album, "Born in Hell".
For this album we wrote 14 songs but only the top ten ends up on the final
release. The production is great and the songs are great. Now we will do
all we can to promote it, which includes making a video (which we've never
done before), playing a lot of gigs and hopefully getting better
distribution and promotion. Some songtitles are "Fistful of Demons",
"Scream for me" and "Bloodangel".
ATL) When writing songs (lyrics) is there any special meaning your trying to put out. What are "Frozen" and "On Red Ground" about? Or any other song you with to speak of.
LARS) I asked the drummer (Daniel) about "On red ground" since he wrote it. He wasn't sure himself what it was about and the same goes for me. I often just write some lyrics not really caring too much about what it really says. Sometimes it can be based on a book or movie (like "Cells Divide"), but most of the time it's just a story open for interpretation.
ATL) What sort of international distribution have you looked into. I think Lobotomy will have a good impact over here in the US, and thats what we really need over here, a band to tear some shit up.
LARS) We have some kind of distribution in the U.S. but it's not satisfying at all. We will now try to get license deals in the U.S. and Japan, so our albums can be made and distributed there instead of imported.
ATL) It seems that the Sweden and European scene has been swept over by
the Black metal scene. What's make you still want to play Death metal?
LARS) We don't care too much about "Black metal". It looks mostly like a trend that will decrease in popularity. We play what we wanna play and we'll never follow any trends. It is my firm belief that "Death metal" will come back stronger than ever....
ATL) Reading over your bio, it seems like you have struggled the first few years with labels and other people screwing you around. So how have you managed to keep the band going for this long of a period of time?
LARS) I was just about to quit the band myself, just before we got our record deal, thinking we were at a dead end. We have after this had long periods of time with no rehearsing, but what kept us going is the belief in our material and that we get along great in the band. It's always nice to go meet your pals at a rehearsal. Now we feel that our new material is so fucking great that we'll make an extra effort.
ATL) On "Kill" you have that total European Death metal sound, something like Grave and Entombed. Is that something youre trying to accomplish?
LARS) No not at all. When recording "Kill" we played everything with our own equipment, trying to get some "Sunlight" off the sound. But you always get some of the sound due to the way the recording is done and the producer being Tomas Skogsberg. I think we have a pretty original sound, though. ATL) What sort of plans do you have for touring. Do you plan on coming to the US?
LARS) We don't have any plans right now, but when "Born in Hell" is released
(sometime in January '99) we'll do everything to get out on the road. To
play in the U.S. is a real goal for us.
ATL) I'm curious on what bands your listening these days.
LARS) Well... that varies a lot. Right now I'm in an old metal retro, listening to old Accept, Queensryche ("Operation Mindcrime"), Exodus, Iron Maiden, Dio, W.A.S.P, Judas priest, Pretty maids etc. When it comes to death and thrash it's stuff like: Morbid Angel, Death, Pestilence, Carcass, Slayer, King Diamond etc. - that has my attention...
