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Max Thornell (HEARSE) Swedish Pop vs. Swedish Metal!!! Another filthy HEARSE interview on Morbid-Sounds-'zine? Of course! Why? Because they have something to say. Believe me or not. Their latest album "The Last Ordeal" is much better than tons of other Death Metal albums released in 2005. Beginning with the debut album "Dominion Reptilian" in 2003, HEARSE brought such a high quality level back to the scene. HEARSE are leaders. No followers. They are doing their own thing and every new release brings some more excitement to the overcrowded Death Metal scene. Busy as they are, HEARSE will release in 2006 a new studio album via Cold Records and they will play their first concert in Germany at the UP FROM THE GROUND festival. Morbid-Sounds-'zine bids you all to support this fucking great band from Sweden! 
Hi Max. Thanks a lot in advance for doing this interview with us. Firstly, this is HEARSE interview number 3 for Morbid-Sounds-Webzine. Why do you think your band HEARSE deserves it to be featured that often in our shitty 'zine? Secondly when will I receive the payments for our previous interviews? Hehehehehe... Max: Shitty zines interview shitty bands I guess. That's kinda logic, isn't it!? Payments? You told me all you wanted was a night with this handsome dude Gary and I fixed that for you. Isn't that enough!? (Remark: Damn. Sorry. You're absolutely right, Gary...ähm...Max. Damn. Sorry again. Next time we have to use those bandit masks again...hahahaha) Well. A lot happened since our last interview. In January 2005 Karmageddon Media finally released the long awaited EP "Cambodia" featuring the KIM WILDE cover tune "Cambodia", lots of demos and much more important 2 fantastic, unreleased, new songs called "The Accused" and "Wheel Of Misfortune". Is the song "The Accused" a little tribute to the American Crust-Punk-Rock n Roll-Death-Thrash-Metal band THE ACCUSED? By the way. Have you guys written the new tunes exclusively for the EP or were they leftovers from the "Armageddon Mon Amour" or planned to be released on studio album number 3 "The Last Ordeal"? Max: Well, The Accused was / (is?) a cool band, but no. The song is not about this band, he he. Actually I saw The Accused live back in '91 and that was one helluva cool live act! I think we actually wrote those songs for the The last Ordeal album. But then somehow they ended up on the Cambodia EP instead. (Ha ha! Just when I was about to send mail this interview I had the Swedish mag Close-Up in my mailbox and there was a feature on Accused! They've begun playing again. Cool!) As good as the songs are on the "Cambodia" EP the booklet suck big time. Who was responsible for the booklet and the cover (an excerpt from the "Armageddon..." original cover art work)? It looks like a 3 year old kid worked on that. In my opinion the record company wanted a low expenses release with maximum income. Didn't they asked you about your opinion regarding the booklet? Karmageddon Media announced the EP for a mid price release. Was it possible for the band to check if the EP was offered to the fans under this condition by shops, merchants, etc.? Max: To be honest I didn't really care about that EP at all. I actually think that everything about that EP suck big time! It wasn't any good in any way and yep, the cover ain't that beautiful. I agree on that! I guess some dude on Karmageddon made the cover. I guess it'd be impossible for us or anybody to check whether it was sold as mid price or not. But unfortunately I've found it a couple of times on the net as "The new Hearse album!" and that was pretty irritating! Originally "Cambodia" was planned to be released as a tour EP while you guys were touring with DISMEMBER through the Benelux. Are there live recordings existing from that shows or much better has someone filmed one of your gigs? Perhaps for an upcoming DVD or CD-ROM special? Max: The last show of the tour was filmed with a bunch of cameras and there was a lot of talking about some Karmageddon compilation. I haven't actually seen that video uptake myself yet so I don't know if it turned out any good. I doubt that it will ever be released. By the way. With your former band FURBOWL (which also includes Johan Liiva on vocals & bass) you also did concerts and a European tour together with THERION in the early 90s. Is there some old video material on stock for your long time supporters? Max: Nah, not that I know about. The only live recording I have with Furbowl is one from Uppsala (Swedish town). Looks like there's just one person in the audience (Tompa from At The Gates if I don't remember wrong). Then we also recorded two video clips that are... hmmm...not that brilliant, he he! Back in those days FURBOWL released their last cd "The Autumn Years" in 1994 via Black Mark Productions. This fantastic release isn't available these days. What do you think about a re-release of this masterpiece and the debut album "Those Shredded Dreams" (released in 1992) as well? Max: Nah, I guess those albums somehow belong to the past. Am still pretty proud of them though. Back in the early 90's things were a bit different. You either played straight forward death metal or not at all. Guess we were a bit tired of playing that kinda death metal which lead to recording those albums and I guess people around didn't really get what we were about! One more FURBOWL question. During your tour together with THERION in 93 or 94 have you had also contact to the "true" Black Metal elite? Hahahahaha... THERION mainman Christofer Johansson was a "place to go" for the Black Metal kids in those days! What are your memories about the time when Black Metal was a new hype and bloody as fuck? Max: Nah, remember we were really jealous of Therion and the other bands around. We were never threatened or anything. We felt totally lely and forgotten. Couldn't those Norwegians at least have sent a threat letter or anything. Is that too much to ask for? 
Okay. Back to camp HEARSE. In our last interview you told us that Johan Liiva wants to buy himself a guitar to start again writing riffs for the band. What happened with this intention? Why isn't Johan playing the bass guitar in HEARSE as he did in FURBOWL? I must confess that I sometimes miss his rough and native bass sound! Max: I actually doubt that Johan has played a bass the last 15 years! So I guess I better take care of that business, he he! As if I could play the bass better, he he! Now a question I forgot to write down for the last interview. Why have you guys changed the final sentence at the end of the "Armageddon..." and "The Last Ordeal" booklets from "Feel like writing?" into "You've got anything on your mind?" Let us know!" after all those years? I want the old one back!!! Never change a winning team! Hahahahaha... Max: A winning team!? Oh, so that's why we've sold so many albums!? Should've understood that! This must've been one of the strangest questions I've ever had. Even for coming from a crazy German, he he! (Remark: Crazy German who? This is a warrantable question. Just great. There's only one way to do it..."Old School". So let's bring it back! Don't break with bad habits...hahahaha) Jepp. Now we have arrived at the official "The Last Ordeal" question area. This album was your third and final album for Karmageddon Media (aka. Hammerheart Records). Why have you finished this partnership? Were you guys unhappy with them or was the contract between both parties fulfilled? Max: We signed for three albums so we have fulfilled our obligations to Karmageddon Media. They've lately really slowed down their activities, so we felt that it was time to try out something new. To be honest I don't even know if the label is still up and running. Hope so though! This has been a good label to us, but I guess they had some problems just when it was time to release the third album, cos' the promotion was absolutely none! Sad but true Karmageddon Media didn't support the release of "The Last Ordeal" that much. Is it only my opinion that they just threw the cd on the market without any promotion at all? I haven't seen advertisements, interviews or cd reviews (except one in German Metal Hammer in the German press. Do you know what went wrong with them or do you have an idea why they never promoted your latest cd? Max: My guess is money problems. Haven't actually had any contact with anybody from that company in quite some time. But nothing has changed at their website since last Summer, so I don't really know if the label is still around at all! Now HEARSE have signed a new contract with Cold Records from Sweden. A sub label of Regain Records. How came this connection / deal together? Are you friends of label manager Ömer? What are your expectations about this new partnership? What can they do better than Karmageddon Media did or did not? Max: Well, Ömer, who runs the label were after us back in the days when we signed with Hammerheart. So when our deal with Hammerheart / Karmageddon ran out it felt quite natural to sell our souls to Cold. Have actually no expectations at all at the moment. Let's just wait and see! Back to "The Last Ordeal". How do you feel about this album today? I know that you are a very self critical person when it relates your own music and your work. Would you agree with me if I say that "The Last Ordeal" is much more consistent as "Armageddon..." was? Best example for my statement are the 2 instrumental songs "Ambrosia" and "Demon Curd". They are fitting perfect to the rest of the material this time. By the way. What the heck do you mean with the title "Demon Curd"? Max: Well, when I listen to that album now I think that there are some good songs that most likely will pop up in a live set. There are also some songs that are...well, not pure crap, but not that far from, he he! Anyway I think that we so far get better and better with every album so at least we're heading in the right direction! Demon Curd? Ha ha! It's actually a game with words. Got the idea when eating breakfast one day. Then noticed that my girlfriend was eating Lemon Curd. There you've got it! Just turned an "L" to a "D"! Voila! What are the songs on "The Last Ordeal" which every band member likes most? Are there some band internal faves? Is there maybe a song which a band member dislikes or hates at all? Were there songs in the past who didn't almost made it on the cd? How do you guys solve this kind of problems? Max: Guess I can only speak for myself here. My fave song is definitely Shackles of Guilt! Too bad that we mixed that one first, cos' the production on that one sure is worse than it is on the other songs and that sure says a great deal, he he! We always record like 50 minutes of music and then like 40 minutes end up on the album. So usually 2 or 3 songs are put aside when we put together the album. Where between the first and the second album would you range the new one in? Is it more like 80s Metal as on the debut or still in the Death Metal vein of "Armageddon..."? When you have started working on "The Last Ordeal" were there plans how the album should sound or were there no limits for the contributions of the included people at all? Max: I actually never plan anything while writing music. I just make music and what you hear on the albums is what comes out when I make music. Don't know really how to compare The last ordeal to the other albums. Have actually never thought about it. For me it's just another rock'n roll adventure in death metal land! Hopefully we've progressed in some way! On "The Last Ordeal" your guitar player Mattias Ljung came up with tones of great guitar solos. Once more! What the hell is this guy eating for breakfast? Are his solos well planned / worked out or is he recording them very spontaneous with lots of improvising? Can you tell us something more about Mattias's musical background? This guy slices flesh with his leads! Max: Mattias usually have a bit of a plan when we go into the studio, but there sure are some improvisation in his playing too. Well, this dude sure has hardrock in his heart, but he has also been playing a lot of softer music. Guess that's why I asked him to play with Hearse. Wanted someone who wasn't totally into metal and would just do all the clichés. Mattias approaches music in a different way, which I think is a good thing! Your website www.hearse.se says, that the pre-production for album #4 is finished. You recorded 13 new songs at Studio Gubbsjuk. What the hell is studio Gubbsjuk? Is it your privat little studio in the basement? By the way. What the hell is a Gubbsjuk in English language? Max: Studio Gubbsjuk is actually my 16 channel digital porta studio, he he! Started out with a small 4 channel cassette porta ages ago (on which I actually recorded the first Spiritual Beggars demo) and then there was an 8 channel cassette porta, then an 8 channel digital porta and now a 16 channel digital porta! Soon there will be a multi million dollars studio! Album #4 will be the first release for Cold Records. Is there something special planned for the release? A vinyl version for example? Little tour or summer festival shows? I think it's a shame that no one of the promoters brought HEARSE to German stages until now! Weren't there enough good offers or was it a question of time? Because I know that you are guys are also very busy with jobs and family! Max: As we're one of the most popular bands around just now we almost drown in offers from all countries around. The thing is we've just been offered 2-300.000 euros for the gigs and we sure want more than that! I mean, we wouldn't actually do a gig if we were offered less than a million I guess. That'd feel like prostitution! Could you please give us a little pre-view regarding album #4? Is there something new on the way? Where will you do the recordings? Will Jonas produce the album again? Who will be responsible for the mix? We have to know it...ALL! NOW!!! Hehehehe Max: As it seems right now we'll do the recording at The White Chapel Studios as usually and then let someone else mix the bastard. I really begin hating mixing so it'll feel just super leaving it away for somebody else to take care of that! Then there's also a chance that the end result will sound good, he he! Okay. Now it's time for the fun part of the interview. Morbid-Sounds-Webzine presents to you "Swedish Pop vs. Swedish Metal"! hehehehe Please be so kind, judge over the following bands and determine the winner and please give us your personal grounds why this group or artist is top and or not! Here we go... Abba vs. ENTOMBED Max: Here you have two of Sweden's finest bands! Hard to compare! Most stuff ABBA did was of course fantastic. Those dudes had a feeling for hits. Well, haven't been that interested in Entombed's latest efforts, but the first two albums are classics! And it's still a great live act! A*Teens vs. DISMEMBER Max: A-Teens is probably one of the biggest jokes in Swedish music history ever! A totally unnecessary band! Making a carrier on copying ABBA! That's pretty pathetic, isn't it! The Cardigans vs. BATHORY Max: I gotta say I love both those bands! Cardigans getting better and better with every album and Bathory got worse with every album in my opinion. But the first Bathory albums are just brilliant! Love them! Have never been that much into the Viking stuff though. Aqua vs. NECROPHOBIC Max: Have never been into Aqua. Even though working as a teacher made me hear them over and over again some years ago when they were popular. Besides they are from Denmark, not Sweden! What kind of journalist are you!!? I have some Necrophobic albums though and that sure is a fine band! (Remark: Journalist who? Denmark! Aqua must be from southern Sweden. So southern Sweden is almost Denmark. Aren't you originally coming from South Sweden? This point goes to Germany...hahahaha) Army Of Lovers vs. GRAVE Max: I sure prefer Grave, he he! Seems like most people prefer the first album. That sure is a good one, but I gotta say my fave album is "Soulless"! Whigfield vs. DEFLESHED Max: Whigfield? Actually never heard of! Who / what the hell is that? A Swedish popband? You obviously seem to be more of a pop neard than I am, he he! Defleshed then? To be honst I've heard like half a song or something. But I'm till pretty sure I'd prefer that to this Whigfield! (Remark: Whigfield was a blond chick from Sweden. In her early 90s video clip "Saturday Night" she is sitting in front of a mirror and gets herself dressed up. Remember now, Max?) Ace Of Base vs. MERCILESS Max: Well, Ace of Base has never been my cup of tea and well, to be honest I haven't listened much to Merciless either. Rednex vs. FURBOWL Max: I once met the dude behind Rednex and he was a nice man. He shared office with Step One records (first label Furbowl was on). And well, I wouldn't say I'm much into the music, but I think the idea was kinda funny and obviously it worked! Furbowl was pure crap! A bunch of idots who didn't know shit about good music! Dr. Alban vs. UNLEASHED Max: Dr. Alban must be one of the biggest jokes in Swedish music history ever! How that man has been able to sell even 10 records is a mystery far bigger than Nessy in the Lochness Lake! Haven't been much of an Unleashed fan either to be honest! Well. Max. If you have survived the above (unholy) game, it's time for the final words. Please be so kind and share with us your heartstrings. Thanks for the interview and good luck for HEARSE's upcoming activities. Max: Well, do I have any final words? Really hope to see you Germans in August at The Up From The Ground Festival! Will be nice finally playing in Germany. Supergeil! Hope you all aren't as crazy as Marc! Then we might stay here in Sweden instead! (Remark: Who's crazy here? The readers will judge...hahahaha) (Marc) |