Former IN FLAMES Guitarist JESPER STRÖMBLAD On His New Band: 'We Have Such Great Chemistry'

Swedish guitarist Jesper Strömblad (IN FLAMES, THE RESISTANCE, DIMENSION ZERO) took part in a question-and-answer session with Headbangr earlier today (Saturday, May 7). You can now watch the chat in three parts below. A couple of excerpts follow (transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET).

On his upcoming solo album and full-length release from his new project:

Jesper: "I have a solo album in the pipeline, and I've had for quite a while — like, twenty years — but all of a sudden, this other thing happened, so I joined… Well, we formed another band that I can't tell you so much about, because it's kind of… It's not a secret, but it's very early in the process. So the solo album is coming. And at the moment, we're writing for this new band, and we will tour, and we will definitely play festivals with this new band. So let's say that this my new band, this is what I am really, really focusing on, because it turned out to be so good. And I would say that it's the best songs I've ever written, to be humble. What I'm doing now [with] a hundred percent focus is to finish the record with [this] new band and get it signed, get everything.. the shit together, so we can set a timeframe on everything to start recording. And, yeah, I'm feeling good, I'm feeling very creative — much more than in a long, long time. Also because the guys I'm working with right now are giving me so much back, in a way. We have such great chemistry, so it's really fun for the first time in a long time to record and do this process that I quite didn't like before."

On plans for the long-awaited follow-up to DIMENSION ZERO's 2007 album, "He Who Shall Not Bleed":

Jesper: "I have three or four songs in the bag already. It's a little bit challenging now, I would say, because we… It wasn't turbulent; it was just… I asked the guys if they wanna do another record. We're not the most productive band in the world. We did three full-lengths in twenty years, so I asked around if they wanna do another one, but they were busy, basically, and they didn't wanna do it. So me and Hasse [Hans Nilsson, drums], we said that we… I mean, DIMENSION ZERO will always be around, so we will… I will write all the material, and he will be on drums as usual. I can't really say that much right now. I am constantly writing the DIMENSION ZERO album when I have time. But when it will be recorded, I have no idea."

Strömblad announced his departure from THE RESISTANCE in March. The band's bassist, Rob Hakemo, later said in an interview that Jesper "saved" THE RESISTANCE by quitting, explaining that the guitarist is "an alcoholic" and "drug addict" who "doesn't want to [get] sober." Rob added: "[Jesper] thinks that two weeks [sober] is good, and then he can drink some. And then he's gone for a month, and then he's back and he's not drinking [for a short while]. It's a sad thing, and we really tried to help him and wanted the best [for him]. So when he told us that 'I'm leaving the band,' we were relieved. We were really relieved."

Strömblad quit IN FLAMES in February 2010 in order to continue receiving treatment for his alcohol addiction.