Profundi pour l'album "The Omega Rising"

Ave Jens! Can you introduce briefly your new band Profundi?

To put it short, Profundi is a solo project of mine. It's a one-man project in almost every aspect since I, of course write all music and lyrics, play all instruments, but also do all artwork and stuff like that.
Simply, Profundi is my vision of extreme music, how it shall sound, look and feel.

What are your main musical influences?

Nothing particular. My ideas and visions for music and lyrics comes from within. I'm not a fuckin' copycat who write similar songs as the latest good album I've heard or stuff like that. I just play the music I want to hear and the kind of music I think is missing out there.
No, I've heard so much metal music in my life that I've got to this point where I don't have to check out new release to get new ideas, I have a mind and memory full of awesome tracks that keeps me satisfied. I rather seek influences or inspiration from other kinds of music, it gives me more to ‘transfer' non-metal details into pure fuckin' vicious tunes that Profundi represents.

What is the meaning of the title « The Omega Rising »?

The arrival of the apocalypse.

How does the writing and recording process go for the new album (with your studies nearby)?

Well, I spent quite a lot of time with the recording of The Omega Rising. First, I did the recording entirely by myself, from the first tone to the last second and by this I was able to really work with every tiny detail throughout the album. Since there were no ‘studio budget' I could simply work with the recording, mix and mastering until I was completely satisfied, and not to finish things just because some fuckin' budget is running out.
Second, I was also able to do this in my own pace, from my conditions and this way it was still possible to perform all this at the same time as I did my studies.
This way of recording is something I really prefer, because this makes it possible for me to get my ‘touch' over the entire recording, and not the audio preferences of some studio engineer that I might not share the exact sound opinions with. And, since it's not recorded in a popular or famous studio, the album doesn't sound exactly the same as everyone elses. But again, the main benefit is the quality, I can't stand how some record labels work with their studio budgets... I don't care if I need a week or 6 months to record and album. The quality is all that matters for me, not how much time or money the album cost ended up with.

The Omega Rising is somewhat « straight in your face »: how do you get such aggressiveness? (A bad mark at your exam?)

I wanted to do an aggressive album in my way, what I consider an aggressive album shall sound like. And, I think it turned out really fuckin' vicious. But still, the album contains the depths, details and variety that I consider to make it last. Yes, it turned out quite straight in your face, but I think it's partly because of the mix of agressiveness and calmness too you know. There are albums out there that goes in fastest possible speed from start to finish throughout the whole album, but I don't think that these albums sound very agressive, because the lack of variety makes the aggressiveness invisible (or more likely, ‘inaudible'). I've aiming for what I consider to be the perfect mix of high-speed fury, slow atmosphere, up-tempo cathyness and heavy power, all this mixed up toghether but still without loosing the overall agressiveness. To put it simple, this is my vision of how extreme metal music shall sound.

How do you create and work your voice?

I just let go of my demons inside of me. My voice is their fury, their agony and pain.
Again, this is basicly the kind and style of vocals I prefer. The mix between high-pitched screams and lower kind of grunts... I like this kind of variety, but it's still important of not overdoing it since it can turn out very rediculous if it's done badly.
Also, I work out vocal patterns and rhythms that I consider fits to the music in a good way and improves the riff at least one or two levels. I always write the lyrics after the music, so that the lyrics really fit in with the music. I can't understand people who writes the lyrics before the music is finished, I mean, then it's about luck if the words actually fit in with the music.
Anyway, I'm really fuckin' proud of how the vocals turned out on
The Omega Rising, I think it's by far the best vocals I've ever performed. And I think it's mainly because I've been able to record everything myself, and therefore been able to record the vocals when I'm really in the mood for doing it. You know, in a normal studio recording situation, it's not possible to choose what days to record the vocals, right? Of course, it's still possible to do a great recording anyway, but for me this time I choosed to record all vocals when I was in the right spirit for it, and naturally, the result became even better and more aggressive.

What are your favorite's metal singers?

I'm not sure. I think most metal vocalists has theirs ups and downs... it's more like I have a favourite album with great vocals.
But, to mention some singers... well, Blackie Lawless of Wasp has pretty much the best heavy metal voice out there, I guess. David Vincent of Morbid Angel is in a league of his own too.

Why did you leave Naglfar after more than 10 years to form again new bands?

I decided to concentrate on my studies and to do this I decided to move to a completely different part of Sweden. And of course, I left the band too.
But the point is, with Profundi I now have completely new goals I want to accomplish, new tasks that wouldn't been able to do in a band. So, I formed Profundi to be able to do what I really want to do, I listened to the voices inside of me, and so with Profundi I'm doing all these stuff that I want to do now. I'm fuckin' satisfied with my time in the band and I think that I accomplished everything I could and wanted to, so I'm damn sure that I made the right decision to move on for new paths to tread.

What do your studies consist of?

Graphic design. It's something I've been interested in for a long time and it's something I'm confortable to make a living from. I have two main interests in life, it's extreme metal music and it's graphic design. I'm convinced that it's impossible to make a living out this kind of music, or at least not to be able to do it without selling your soul and integrity to some fuckin' major record label. I'm not interested to become a sellout and I rather keep my musicianship on a level that I feel is genuine and true. And for graphic design, it's a bit different conditions compared to extreme metal. There's no ‘soul' so to speak, to sell... so I rather concentrate on design as a profession than to make a fool out of myself in the music scene.

Are you still in contact with Naglfar's members?

Sure.

Have you listened to Pariah and Harvest? What do you think of that evolution compared with Sheol?

Fine.

How do you like Marcus voice?

Fine.

Do you consider doing some shows or festivals (in France) with Profundi?

No. I won't do any live shows with Profundi. This is a solo project and I'm very determined to keep it that way. And, I rather spend the time on writing and recording new Profundi material than in trying to find some decent session members...

Dead Silent Slumber is still alive?

The good thing with solo projects is that they can't split-up, right? So, if I wake up tomorrow with great ideas for a new Dead Silent Slumber album, then I will do it of course. But for now, I'm much more into the atmosphere of Profundi, and that's where I want to put my energy, time and dedication at the moment.

Some other metal projects in your mind you‘d want to realize?

No, nothing I can think of now.

How do you feel Jon Nödtveidt's suicide?

I respect his decision.

Swedish black/death scene is getting smaller and smaller despite a few bands (Necrophobic, Naglfar, Vinterland's come-back…). How do you see that scene compared with mid-90's?

I guess that's the backlash of the Swedish ‘boom' in the 90's. Back then there were so many new bands all the time, most of them got signed and released albums that sounded a bit similar to eachother, some of them were good and some was bad... I think it got to a point where people got tired of it, and maybe that's part of the reason why, or if, the swedish scene is a bit smaller today.
Of course, there are still lots of new bands around today, but very few I've been interested to check out. Too much mediocre stuff, basicly.

Your favorite beer ?

Odin. Actually, it's a cheap and lousy swedish beer, but since I end up drinking it everytime anyway I have to mention it.

Your video game at that time?

Metal Gear Solid 3 is a damn fine piece of work that noone should miss.

The last movie you have seen?

The Departed. Actually, I think it's very good and I can truly recommend it!

Last words for your French fans are yours!

Thanks for the interview and the support! Your dedication and effort will not be forgotten.