ENTOMBED Frontman: 'We're A Metal Band, And We'll Always Be'

ENTOMBED vocalist L.G. Petrov, in the second of two interviews (read the first at this location),recently spoke to Lucem Fero's Welsh interviewer Anthony Morgan. Topics of discussion included the circumstances surrounding the departure of guitarist Uffe Cederlund (current DISFEAR guitarist),the introduction of drummer Olle Dahlsted (ALPHA SAFARI, ex-MISERY LOVES CO.),the reasons for the album title "Serpent Saints" and why the band cancelled its December 2006 U.S. tour. Several excerpts from the interview follow:

Lucem Fero: In what ways does "Serpent Saints" go musically wider and deeper than the "When in Sodom" EP?

L.G. Petrov: "The songs from the EP were written a little earlier, but in no way were they hastily done. Since it was an album, we wanted to concentrate a little more in order to get it properly done. I feel we succeeded with it knowing the album is out, and that many people have heard it now. They like it (laughs). Musically, it's just a little step back to what we did in the early days with a touch of the new style that we're doing right now. It's just good to get that aggressive feeling back."

Lucem Fero: Are you happy with being your own record company?

L.G. Petrov: "Yeah. You have more control, and you don't have to argue that much about artwork, layout and things like that. If we ourselves feel that it fits, then it's a yes. We don't have to argue about little things and can concentrate on the music."
Lucem Fero: How did the album title "Serpent Saints" come about?

L.G. Petrov: "People are trying to do good, but it always ends up being a tragedy or something similar. It can mean anything. You're a saint, but behind every saint — like I said before — there's a serpent lurking. You wish to take profits for yourself, but you want it to be seen that you're doing good things. It can be that dual morality that one has."

Lucem Fero: How did Olle come to join ENTOMBED?

L.G. Petrov: "We've known him for a long time; he's good at the drums, is a good guy and likes playing. We had a list with only him on (laughs),and he was the first name to come up. We asked as a result, and he was glad to join. There's been no problem at all. He's a funny guy with the same sort of humour and things like that."

Lucem Fero: What qualities did Olle show that ENTOMBED liked when he was chosen?

L.G. Petrov: "Olle was sound behind the drums. He had a week to learn around eighteen songs for a live show, and he did it straight away. When we did the first show he wasn't even nervous, and that was in Holland. We felt like 'Hey, hey! This is the guy!,' and we had a great time. It was a smooth transition."

Lucem Fero: Is it alright if I talk to you about Uffe?

L.G. Petrov: "Yeah, you can do it."

Lucem Fero: First of all, can you just give me background on why Uffe left ENTOMBED and so on?

L.G. Petrov: "It's hard because I don't want to sound negative, though I guess he wasn't into the material we were doing. He wanted to play more alternative music and similar such material. That's what I think anyway. We're a metal band, and we'll always be. That didn't quite fit in with him."

Lucem Fero: Did Uffe try adding alternative elements to ENTOMBED?

L.G. Petrov: "Yeah. There were ideas with tambourines and that kind of thing, but it didn't quite fit in with what we had in mind. There were slight alcohol problems also."

Lucem Fero: Could you tell me what you mean by that exactly? Do you mean that Uffe had alcohol problems which affected his playing or his commitment?

L.G. Petrov: "Not the playing, as he's a great guitarist. There were too many fights and things like that though, and these are unnecessary things which come up when you drink alcohol. That did more damage than good."

Lucem Fero: Is Uffe a nice guy when he's sober?

L.G. Petrov: "Oh, yeah, and I don't think he drinks anymore. I don't know though, as Uffe hasn't spoken to me since he left the band basically."

Lucem Fero: Uffe did say in one interview for a Swedish magazine (Close-Up, November 2005 issue) that ENTOMBED is now "more of a name than a band." What is your response to that?

L.G. Petrov: "I have no idea. I feel that we are more of a band right now than what we were before (laughs),but people always have their different opinions about everything. I don't care that much though, as long as I know that isn't the case."

Lucem Fero: Why was ENTOMBED's December 2006 tour of the U.S.'s West Coast with DISMEMBER and GRAVE cancelled?

L.G. Petrov: "There were some complications with the promoter, with the contract not being written and things like that. It's pointless to go and do a tour without contracts. We don't want to get screwed, so it's better to go when everything is a certainty."

Lucem Fero: How do you feel about the time you played drums in MORBID looking back?

L.G. Petrov: "That was great. We were one of the first death metal bands in Sweden, and that band is a classic band nowadays. I'm proud to have been a part of it. It was cool playing drums, and maybe I wish I could still play drums right now."

Read the entire interview at this location.