What's happening in the Amon Amarth camp at the minute?
Right now we're on tour with Children of Bodom the UK and Ireland, and at this very minute we're waiting at a truckstop in Dublin, Ireland, for the bus to take us to the ferry and further transport to Nottingham, UK.
With a quick look around the reviewing circuit praising your new album Surtur Rising as being a contender for the best metal release of 2011, does it get much better than this?
Not really. Hahaha...
What is the story behind the title of the album?
The title track is about Surtur rising at the end of the world, Ragnarök, where he will consume everything in his deadly fire. The Asa-God Frej goes to face him but will be killed by Surtur, although he manages to kill Surtur as well.
I once (I presume accidentally) got nutted at one of your shows by a guy head-banging, clearly I should of being wearing a Viking helmet, but have there been any ugly scenes or injuries you've seen whilst on tour?
There's been some massive mosh pits, walls of death and headbanging going on during our shows, but fortunately no one ever injured as far as we know. The worst thing that ever happened was that some kid took some drugs at a show and almost died from an overdose. Fortunately the paramedics were there very fast and managed to save his life.
I take it you've enjoyed rocking/pillaging the UK with Children of Bodom and Ensiferum?
Of course. It's great to be on the road with those guys, and so far every show has been fantastic.
Are you looking forward to heading state-side and hammering the United States?
Hell yeah. Especially since we're doing that crazy show with more or less two and a half hours worth of Amon Amarth. That's going to be fucking killer!
Are there any times when as musicians and a band you kind of wish you got to write about non-Viking stuff or does the theme not really get in the way?
Not really. Whenever I have those ideas or topics in my head I always seem to weave it into the "Viking-stuff" metaphorically.
After 10 years as a continuous line-up how close do you feel to your band mates in Amon Amarth, how does a band achieve such longevity?
We're very close, but since we live very close to each other when we're on the road it's not like we hang out every day when we're at home. I don't know why we've managed to stay together for so long. Maybe because we all have the same goal with what we want to achieve with the band and that we never argue over money since we share everything equally.
What would you be doing if you weren't in Amon Amarth?
Probably working.
Do you see things on tour and at gigs which warms your heart and reminds you of why you play in a band?
Every show we do! It's great to meet the fans and to see and feel their enthusiasm!
What do you listen to at the moment music-wise?
Lately it's been the new Motörhead and the new Enslaved album that's been spinning most.
Do you think that pagan/folk metal bands are a current trend that'll eventually fall out of fashion or are they likely to be with us for a long time?
Only time will tell. Fortunately for us we're not one of those bands.
If you were to go on a Viking expedition to undiscovered lands to meet new peoples and raid them who would you want on your side to take along in the long boat?
A barrel of beer, hahahaha!
