October Tide pour l'album "A Thin Shell"

1. Hi Fred! I'm very pleased to have this interview with you, as a huge fan of what you have done so far with Katatonia and October Tide. After more than 10 years of silence, I didn't expect a new album of October Tide and it was quite a big surprise for me, a good one for sure. But before talking about this new album, could you tell us why you left Katatonia? Was it to play the music you want?

Hi and thanx! It feels good to be back with OT since I had to quit Katatonia. The only reason I had to quit was because I couldn't at the time afford to quit my job for all the not that well paid upcoming tours. I had been in the band for almost 15 years and I could have been for 15 more if it wasn't for my financial situation. Probably the worst reason ever to quit a band.


2. In 1998 and the release of "Discouraged Ones", were you disappointed by the new musical direction of Katatonia?

No, not at all. Jonas couldn't do growls anyway and it was exiting to do something new. So it was the right thing to do.


3. The origin of this project start in the middle of the 90's and 2 albums were released in 1997 and 1999, musically close to the famous "Brave Murder Day", as if it was a way to give second life to the Katatonia early years style. Was it that way you felt October Tide when you start to compose for it?

Yes I guess I was a bit nostalgic when I began to write these songs, I mostly listen old metal. I also listened to both previous albums to get some inspiration and to capture the atmosphere. I must say here that we recorded RWE in 1995 but it was released in 97.


4. Between "Rain Without End" and "Grey Dawn", which one do you prefer and why?

I have to say Grey Dawn, the songs are better on it even though I don't like the vox that much. I can listen to the whole album. On RWE I only enjoy to 3 or 4 songs.


5. Why this project stopped after "Grey Dawn"?

Basically one simple reason, we wanted to concentrate on Katatonia.


6. The reissue of "Rain Without End" was released last year and masterised by Dan Swanö, just in time to remember us the existence of this project before it came back. Was the release of this reissue made to announce the reformation of the band or just a coincidence?

It was just a coincidence, we didn't have any contact at all with Roel of Vic Records. I don't even have a copy of the reissue, not even sure if I want to haha…..it has once again the most ugly cover. On the first edition of RWE me and Jonas wanted to have the picture on the back with the raindrops as cover, but roel had already asked his friend to paint a cover for it. We were not happy about it. Do I have to say we do not support the reissue? ;)


7. Now let's go back to the present. I wondered how spent this reformation. When did you think of reborn the band and where did you meet the other members?

I've wanted to get OT back for a while now and when my good friend Jonas Kjellgren wanted to record the new songs I called Robin (drums) who had been Daniels (Katatonia) drumtech. So I knew him since earlier. Jonas knew Tobias and thought his voice would fit the new songs. So it was us who recorded the new album. Jonas recorded the bass on the album. I was to lazy to record it…or it wouldn't have sounded good if I would have played it anyway;) we also have 2 new members, Pierre from Tobias band “in mourning” on bass and Emil Alstermark (Mandylon) on guitar.


8. Who participate to the writing of "A Thin Shell" and when did you start to compose it?

I wrote the music and Tobias wrote the lyrics together with Pierre. I started to put the songs together in the middle of 2008 and we began to record in March 2009. It was finished almost exactly one year later.


9. Can you tell us more about the lyrics of this album? Is there a concept behind?

I'm actually not really sure, some of them is about one specially vulnerable group in society but I can't tell you in detail.


10. Even if this new album sounds as dark as the previous ones, the style is quite different, closer to the doom/death elite than the first albums. Was it important for you to leave the past behind and find your own sound?

No I never thought of it that way, I just try to do the best out of the music I make. Then if it sounds like the old times or new and modern doesn't matter…but I'm pleased it turned out a bit different from the 2 previous albums. It would have been quite boring if it sounded like a “rain without end” part 2.


11. If I right, the beautiful artwork has been drawn by Travis Smith. How did you think about him for this job? Maybe a good contact from all the years spent with Katatonia?

Yes I knew him since earlier so I asked him if he would interested in doing the artwork…and he was ;) It was robin who came up with the idea with the ball concept, so Travis got some help from him.


12. Is there a tour planned to promote this new album? Will you come to see us in France?

We'll prob not gonna do any longer tours since this was also the main reason I had quit Katatonia. We are gonna do shorter trips like weekends and festivals. we would of course love to play France ;) We have a few gigs planned in Sweden and Romania so far, probably a few gigs in Finland in January next year.


13. Are you still in touch with the other members of Katatonia? And what becomes Mattias Normann? Did you send them a copy of "A Thin Shell"?

Yes I still talk to them of course. I actually tried to get Mattias in the band but he's not interested in this kind of doom/death haha…Mattias now play in his old band Subdive.


14. Can we hope now for a successor of “A Thin Shell” (before 2020 would be appreciated)?

Hopefully yes! It all depends on if we make new songs that we're happy with. But we aim to record a new album…sooner or later.


15. What are you listening to these days? Any good things to share with our readers? And did you listen to the last Mar de Grises album, an excellent Chilean doom/death band?

Except all the good old death/thrash bands I always listen to, I've been listening to darkjazz lately like “bohren & der club of gore” and “the kilimanjaro darkjazz ensemble” are very good. Latest “sun kil moon” is great.


16. This interview comes to an end. Thank you for answering my questions and I wish you the best for the future. The last words are yours.

Thanx for your interest, give the new album a chance and for booking, contact martin at dreamtide music. Cheers.