Soilwork pour l'album "The Ride Majestic"

Inutile de présenter Björn “Speed” Strid, frontman et pilier de Soilwork. Un Skype était initialement prévu mais mon emploi du temps (difficile d’interviewer le bonhomme chez mon client…) et celui de Speed ne concorderont pas, le gaillard partira en plus à New-York dans la foulée. Comme lot de consolation voici ses réponses par mail.

Hi Speed, I’m really happy to be able to discuss with you. Let’s go straight to the point. From my memory of old reviewer, I don’t think I saw so many good reviews for an album tagged “melodic death metal” for the last ten years. How did you feel all these glowing feedbacks for “Living Infinite”?

It was definitely a very special album for us. It was a huge but necessary challenge for the band and it definitely paid off. I think it turned out to be a crucial album in our career where we rediscovered ourselves as songwriters. I think it did deserve a lot of attention, considering what a unique piece it is, with a real interesting flow all the way through. Many of the songs turned out to be live favorites as well!

How do you feel releasing a new album after this gamble and masterstroke ? Can you surprise us again ?

I believe we can. Somewhere that one of our main goals: to be able to surprise and challenge the listeners, including ourselves. I feel we definitely picked up where we left with The Living Infinite but cranked it up a little for this new album. The sound is darker and more melancholic. You could say we were letting in the darkness on ”The Ride Majestic”. There’s a lot of unexpected twists and turns on the album. It’s super melodic and catchy but it also hurts in a good way listening to the album. It feels very real.

How does the writing process go in Soilwork ?

We usually write separately actually. I guess it’s not that weird after all since we’re spread out all over the world so we’ve gotten used to working that way. Peter moved to the states already in 2006 so ever since then we’ve been sending each other files back and forth. It’s working for us and I feel we don’t have to sit down as a band and plan our next ”move”. It comes out very natural, whether it starts with a vocal melody, a guitar riff or a melody. We’ve found a formula but we also constantly challenge each other, that’s the beauty of it in the end. We’ve almost become a ’metal collective’.

Tell us about your musicianship ? Do you play different instruments ?

I play guitar and bass. Wish I could play the piano as well, maybe later in life… I actually started out as a guitar player but when I started high school, Peter came up to me one day, asking me if I wanted to sing in a band, that he was about to start. I told him I was a guitar player but that I was willing to try. After that I kind of shelved my guitar for a while and really focused on vocals. I picked up the guitar again as the years passed by and started contributed with a lot of songwriting both for The Living Infinite and The Ride Majestic. It’ s a real challenge and a special feeling building a whole song from scratch and adding vocals in the end!

What does our national Sylvain Coudret bring to Soilwork ?

Sylvain is great guy. A very interesting character and very unpredictable, in a very positive way. He always has a smile on his face so he definitely brings a lot of positivity. He’s also a fantastic guitar player and songwriter. Sometimes he send you new song ideas and at first you’re thinking ”what the hell did I just listen to” but after a few more listenings you can really feel that there’s a lot of thought behind it and a great mind. I think he has challenged me a lot as a singer and made me develop a lot, especially since his writing style is way different than Peters, who I was so used to for so many years.

Did he pass on to you the finest French culture hehe ?

Well there are a lot of French speaking between him and Dirk on tour, I actually would like to learn French so I can understand Sylvain’s world better. He’s also from Bretagne and according to Dirk it doesn’t get much more French than that hahah

You worked again with Jens Bogren for the production, why this choice?

Jens has been perfect for us and the way we sound today. Our songs are very detailed and Jens has a very sensitive ear so we’re really pleased with how he makes our music come alive and give room for dynamics. His productions are also very organic.

Can you explain to us the departure of the historical band member, the bassist Ola Flink? Did he take a job for Game Of Thrones?

Game of Thrones would have been perfect for him! Actually I think he really came to a point where he wanted a normal life with normal routines. As much as he loves music and have had so much fun touring and writing all these years, it’s only natural that you would come to a point where you’re tired of traveling and just want some peace and quiet. I don’t think Flink had any dreams of becoming a professional musician from the beginning but that that it was still rewarding for him. When it stops being rewarding, that’s when you know that you have to quit and change things in your life. I will always miss him though.

Some of your first fans (including me), have unfortunately abandoned Soilwork in the mid-2000s but eventually returned. Looking back, what do you think of this time of your career ?

It was a time of our career where we wrote some really good melodies but, looking back I feel that our music became a little predictable at times, with very traditional song structures. A bit too much midtempo as well I feel.. regardless, I’m still very proud of most things we’ve done, even the mid 2000’s..

"A Predator's Portrait" is part of my worship albums, did you hear recently from previous members of the line-up: Henry Ranta, Peter Wichers, Ola Frenning, Carlos Del Olmo Holmberg?

I have contact with Carlos, Henry and I’m also slowly reconnecting with Peter (who I think needed some time away from everything Soilwork related, including me). The Predator era was a special time for sure, very exciting times! Henry Ranta was a fantastic drummer and top 5 cymbal player in the metal world, I think. I’m in touch with Carlos pretty frequently, he’s also a brilliant photographer - really cool stuff!

A lot of bands do this kind of event but can we imagine a “Steelbath Suicide” played entirety in 2018 to celebrate its 20th anniversary?

I guess we’re a bit stubborn when it comes to stuff like that - we never want to do what’s predictable. We almost feel that it has become a bit watered down with playing old albums in their entirety but in a way I almost feel that we owe it to the fans…I guess we’ll see..

Do you think of a new album for Terror 2000 ?

I doubt it’s gonna happen, it was a lot of fun while it lasted, especially recording our last album ”Terror for Sale”. It was absolute madness. I feel we should ”let sleeping dogs lie”..

The new Disarmonia Mundi “Cold Inferno” is out, how did the recording go ? What is your relation with Ettore and Claudio ? Do you have now a holiday spot in Italy ?

I consider them good friends of mine. Always a pleasure to be invited to Ettore’s studio in the Aosta valley in Italy. Beautiful place! They are very talented musicians and Ettore is definitely a mastermind. Their new album is really good! Too bad I couldn’t go to Italy to record my vocals this time around, I did them myself at home instead..

Besides Christian Älvestam also sings on a bonus track of the Japanese edition (Iron Maiden cover), do you know him and have you ever met the guy (many similarities with you in the voice)?

Not sure which track you’re speaking of cause we’ve never recorded an Iron Maiden cover..? Christian has never done any guest vocals for us either. He’s a very talented singer but I never understand the comparison between me and him, it’s a totally different musical expression to me.

Soilwork allows you to live or do you have a job beside?


I’ve been lucky enough to live off Soilwork for the last 12 years, something I’m very grateful for.

What is your opinion on the current music market and streaming platforms?

It’s a very boring topic but also very valid I guess. There are so many ways to reach fans nowadays, so that’s definitely a positive thing. As for streaming sites etc, I feel it’s a good way of discovering bands but unfortunately some people doesn’t go further and just stick to the free stuff. It’s just way to easy to find a song or band today and the ”quest” is gone I feel..

And of this true rebirth of the vinyl record format ?

That I am really happy about! I think labels should really focus on releasing beautiful vinyls and also include a download link so people get the album digitally as well. It’s a win win situation!

What are you listening to right now ?

New Ghost album. Fantastic song writing!!!

You Tv show at the moment ?

Empire

Did somebody in the street mistake you for Billy Corgan ?

Unfortunately. He’s not a very pretty man and he also seem to have lost his mind lately. Love some of his work though.

Thank you for your answers Speed, last words are yours.

See you in France, we’re coming for you in December!!! 9 shows!!! Cheers!!

DOSSIERS LIES

Soilwork - The Ride Majestic Août 2015