Former ENTOMBED Drummer NICKE ANDERSSON Returns To Death Metal Roots

In 1998, ENTOMBED drummer and main songwriter Nicke Andersson left the legendary death metal outfit to focus on his rock ’n’ roll band THE HELLACOPTERS. Since then he's stayed clear of anything brutal and downtuned.

In an exclusive interview in the November issue of the Swedish magazine Close-Up, Andersson reveals his plans for a new death metal project. However, it will sound nothing like ENTOMBED.

"I haven't written any lyrics yet, but the music is so old school that people today wouldn't even get that it's old school," says Andersson. "It's more like [DEATH's legendary 1987 debut] 'Scream Bloody Gore'. It's nothing like [ENTOMBED's] 'Wolverine Blues'. That style has already been done so well. At the same time there's only one 'Scream Bloody Gore', so a couple of albums like that I could put together.

"After having read the book 'Choosing Death: The Improbable History of Death Metal and Grindcore' and getting a kick, I went out and bought a lot of records. It was so much fun reading the book; it brought back so many memories. I bought POSSESSED's 'Seven Churches' on CD."

What are these songs meant for?

"I've loosely planned an album. I would never tour or play live. I subscribe to the black metal philosophy, 'It's uncool to play live'," laughs Andersson. "It's mostly because I want to play, it's so much fucking fun. I've recorded some demos."

Joining forces with Nicke Andersson in the as-yet-unnamed project is guitarist Robert Persson, who plays in THE HELLACOPTERS guitarist Robert Dahlqvist's side project THUNDER EXPRESS.

"I've actually asked [REPULSION vocalist/bassist] Scott Carlson if he wants to be involved," Andersson reveals. "He seemed open to the idea — that much I can say."