AMON AMARTH Frontman Setting New Goals

Dawn of TheMetalWeb.com recently conducted an interview with AMON AMARTH frontman Johan Hegg. A few excerpts from the chat follow:

TheMetalWeb.com: The band decided to use a new studio and producer for the new release, "With Oden On Our Side". It was stated in your press release by Olavi, that the band felt producer, Jens Bogren (Fascination Studios) has taken the band to a new level both production and sound-wise and that the band had never worked with a producer before the way it should be done. Can you elaborate as to what you feel Jens brought to AMON AMARTH that perhaps lacked in your prior releases? In my opinion, he did an exceptional job on capturing the band at their best on this release.

Johan Hegg: Well, Jens worked very hard getting the best possible sound out of every instrument, and to make all the instruments noticeable in the production and as you said he did a great job. He also pushed us very hard in the recording process to get the best out of us as musicians. It was also good to have one guy in charge instead of five band members with different opinions about everything.

TheMetalWeb.com: When writing for this album, it was stated that for the first time, the band used more of a non-stop approach with rehearsals being 9-5, 5 days a week, with a very minimal amount of time off. Why so much more intensity than before?
Johan Hegg: Well, the main reason is that we're able to make our living as musicians nowadays, and that made it possible for us to work more intensely in the writing process. It felt good to do that kind of thing, and to be able to work more focused during the days instead of in the evenings after a day of work, which we had to do before when we had day jobs on the side.

TheMetalWeb.com: The artwork and packaging for "With Oden On Our Side" was so pristine and well put together as opposed to past albums where the covers were nice, but more basic as far as packaging and so forth. Was that the intention?

Johan Hegg: Yes, definitely. We were working on a more traditional idea at first. But, as that didn't quite turn out the way we wanted, we decided to go for a more powerful and simple cover. That also made it easier to do more special things with the packaging.

TheMetalWeb.com: Back in May, the band also released a DVD, "Wrath Of The Norsemen", as a "thank you" to the fans, which I absolutely loved! When touring in the U.S., will there ever be a chance that you'll include the theatrical show on stage of the Vikings battling it out here in the U.S. as you did in Europe? Hey, GWAR and ALICE COOPER have their thing! (Laughs) I think it would go over great.

Johan Hegg: I think that would be extremely difficult to pull off, and we'd probably have to play arenas over there to make that happen. It's even difficult over here in Europe as most clubs don't have big enough stages. For now, we're mainly working with this Viking group during special performances such as the DVD show or Wacken Open Air festival.

TheMetalWeb.com: Speaking of success, last time we interviewed for "Fate Of Norns", I asked you if you were surprised at the bands success and what you felt keeps AMON AMARTH victorious. Part of your answer was, "It's not that I'm surprised really. We've been working very hard for this and to get where we are today and we still want to go further of course". After having much success with the releases of "Fate Of Norns", "Wrath Of The Norsemen" DVD, as well as great reviews for "With Oden On Our Side", do you still feel that you'd like to go further or do you feel as if your goals have been met?

Johan Hegg: Of course, we want to go further. You put up new goals with every release really, and when you have reached those goals, you put up new ones. When the time comes that you don't see any new goals on the horizon, whether it's writing a good album, touring a certain part of the world or just wanting to get piss drunk somewhere in Tokyo with a bunch of Japanese school girls and a middle-aged Japanese businessman, drunk out of his wits, singing "My Way" at the karaoke machine, it's time to quit. (Laughs)

Read the entire interview at TheMetalWeb.com.