In a brand new interview with MetalKaoz, Johnny Hedlund of long-running Swedish dying metallers UNLEASHED was requested the way it feels to have lasted greater than 35 years and launched 15 full-length albums to this point. The bassist/vocalist responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): “Properly, it feels nice. It has been a great experience, I might say. I imply, we have been doing it for such a very long time now that we sort of — you nearly take it as a right. However typically, from time to time, you have gotta simply cease and take into consideration what the hell is occurring. But it surely feels actually good. It feels actually good we are able to nonetheless be doing this and, nicely, at the beginning, we are able to nonetheless have a great time. And I believe that is actually necessary. And we do. So we at all times look ahead to the following album and we at all times look ahead to the following present and subsequent competition. So, yeah, issues are good.”
Requested if it has change into simpler to jot down new music after doing it for greater than three a long time, Johnny mentioned: “In all probability. Since we have been the identical guys additionally for a really very long time within the band, we sort of know one another. Fredrik [Folkare, UNLEASHED guitarist] will not ship round music to try to danger one thing. He is aware of what Tomas [Måsgard, UNLEASHED rhythm guitarist], Anders [Schultz, UNLEASHED drummer] and Johnny like, and I very seldom take an opportunity and write lyrics that the fellows within the band in all probability would flip down. It should simply be a waste of time. So in that regard, it is fairly simple. I imply, as a result of we have been doing it for such a very long time, we all know one another very, very nicely. And it is a easy experience, I might say.”
After the interviewer famous that the present UNLEASHED lineup has been collectively for round 30 years now, Johnny mentioned: “Yeah, I believe, yeah, in all probability. I believe [since] ’97 or ’98; I am undecided. Yeah, it has been a very long time, and loopy. We used to say, ‘What concerning the previous Fredrik?’ [referencing original UNLEASHED guitarist Fredrik Lindgren] and ‘How concerning the new Fredrik?’ And the factor is that the brand new Fredrik has been round for nearly 30 years now. [Laughs] In order that’s unusual. He is like the brand new man within the band. [Laughs] That is humorous shit.”
UNLEASHED‘s fifteenth studio album, “Fireplace Upon Your Lands”, will likely be launched on August 15 through Napalm Information.
In a current interview with Jai That Aussie Steel Man, Hedlund was requested what retains him and his UNLEASHED bandmates motivated to maintain making new music. Johnny mentioned: “Properly, I do not know the right way to cease. [Laughs]. It is unusual as a result of I’ve gotten this query many instances, and I nonetheless do not know actually the reply.
“The factor is that once we began this band, I used to be a younger man,” he continued. “We began it in 1989, and I had performed in NIHILIST for 2 years, so I began taking part in dying steel in ’87. Now that is, like, 400 years in the past [laughs] — no less than it feels prefer it. So the factor is that the whole lot that we spoke about manner again then was principally, ‘Let’s exit on fucking tour and bang heads collectively and drink some beers.’ There was no plan to launch 15 albums manner again then, however because the years saved rolling, and we realized, ‘Man, we would really be good at this’ [laughs], we simply saved on going. And we nonetheless do. And Anders used to inform me, ‘Properly, what the hell ought to I do if I did not do that?’
“To start with, it’s extremely inspiring to make music and lyrics, and we find it irresistible,” Johnny added. “And, after all, going out to fulfill folks and nonetheless bang heads and drink beer and assembly all the chums I have been seeing for all these years, that is the factor, man. There’s nothing higher. So, yeah, we simply carry on rolling.”