Akasha was a Swedish magazine written in Swedish. It was not a pure metal magazine, but also included some Punk/Hardcore and some alternative rock. Here’s you have an interview translated to english.
With a recent album that has proven to be a great success, an equally recent member change and a tour debut in Europe, we at Akasha thought it was high time to have a chat with the Gothenburg boys.
After a successful gig at Studion here in Stockholm, I meet the band, and got some one-on-one time with frontman Jon Nödtveidt.
For those of us who have followed Dissection since you started, we quickly notice that you have replaced one of the members; drummer Ole Öhman. What is this?
— We all just felt that it was time for a change. Ole was not developing the way he wanted in Dissection. He wants to experiment more and not JUST play fast, but there was no room for all his experiments in our music. We tested the drummer in Swordmaster mostly for fun, but it turned out that he was exactly what we needed. So we told Ole how it was and he accepted it. We haven't parted ways as enemies, we were so happy to see him go when we heard during the tour that he had joined Ophthalamia.
The tour, yes. You were out for almost a month with DISMEMBER. Did you get a good reception from our European headbanger friends?
— We had no expectations when we went, had nothing to compare it to. But I can imagine that those in Dismember weren't that happy. They've played to much larger audiences than the ones we met. But it was pretty much only the first two gigs that drew a few people. Otherwise, we drew as many as Morbid Angel did at the same venues, so we have every reason to be happy.
A new tour is coming, I heard.
— Yes, we're going out with the Norwegian Satyricon in April. It'll be pretty much the same countries as now, but with some additions. Nuclear Blast (the record label, editor's note) wanted to take us to a festival first, but when we heard about the bands that would play there, we said no.
“Storms Of The Lights Bane” is selling terribly well, it turns out. Was that expected?
— We knew when we signed to No Fashion that it was a small label with little opportunities. We just wanted to get our debut album out then. This time, when we signed with Nuclear Blast, we knew that the opportunities for promotion, interviews and tours were much greater. It has turned out to be successful.
— No record label is perfect, but Nuclear Blast is making great progress. We like them very much.
Have you got a manager too?
— We just want to make music. Not run a damn business. When we noticed that it was becoming more and more of a business, we decided to involve a management company. They handle our bookings and everything. We are responsible for the music, that’s how we want it!
A while ago, in an evening newspaper, we read that you didn’t want to appear evil. Yet you are a Satanist and a member of a Satanic organization. Comment?
— It's hard to be quoted correctly by someone with pen and paper who doesn't know a damn thing about what we're doing! She asked me if I considered myself evil. To which I replied that you can't define a personality with just one word. That's a matter of interpretation.
— For many, evil/good is the same as right/wrong or good/bad. I don't stand for anything bad or wrong. For me, evil is Darkness. It doesn't really matter which powers you worship, does it? Darkness may not be right for all people, but it doesn't matter how others perceive us. I believe in what I do, and that's what I stand for!
Finally, the best thing that happened in 1995?
— VENOM live in Holland in June!!! I was there!!!
Expectations for 1996?
— Personally, I have no expectations, but with the band I hope for new songs and a new album. And a successful tour.
