IN FLAMES Bassist: 'We Don't Really Feel Any Pressure From Anybody But Ourselves'

Metal Sucks had the opportunity to sit down with IN FLAMES bassist Peter Iwers hours before the second of two Gigantour shows at New York City's Hammerstein Ballroom (also featuring MEGADETH, CHILDREN OF BODOM, HIGH ON FIRE, and JOB FOR A COWBOY). Peter shared his thoughts about IN FLAMES' new album "A Sense of Purpose", its success in America, the band's writing and recording process, and the group's mysterious guitar-tech/personal assistant Biffin (the truth is shocking!). Excerpts from the chat follow.

Metal Sucks: You talked about changing up the setlist. You guys obviously have a very large discography at this point. How do you go about choosing a setlist if you've only got 45 minutes?

Peter Iwers: Well, there's songs that we kind of have to play you know, that we know that people wanna hear. Then there's the other ones that we just throw around. We've actually been very good on this tour, and we try and change the sets each night. Or there's been two or three spots where we switch out each night. Usually we say that we will but we're too lazy to do it, but this time we actually have. So if the song that I want doesn't get played tonight, we will do it the next day, and that way everyone is happy. But it's hard, because if we were to play one song from each record, that's nine songs and we get 50 minutes, so there you go. But we can't really do that. We try to focus on the later parts and throw in some old hits here and there.

Metal Sucks: Let's talk about the new album a little bit. First of all it just had a really big debut here in America, so congratulations. How does it feel with each album getting progressively bigger and bigger?

Peter Iwers: Well, it's nice, it's a little bit of a relief, I'd say. When we make the music and we record it, we don't really feel any pressure from anybody but ourselves. But at least me, when it's done and when it's out there, you can't do anything more. You just hope that people will embrace it and hopefully like it. And this time interest was bigger than the last album, and that's amazing. Especially in these download days, when people actually go and buy it. 'Cause I always try and make a point of buying a record; it's way better than downloading it because you get the actual physical CD in your hand with the booklet, and you can study the cover and the lyrics, and it's great.

Metal Sucks: So you guys are with Nuclear Blast for the whole world except America. You were with Ferret and now Koch [in America]. Why did you guys choose to switch labels for North America only?

Peter Iwers: Well, first of all, we went from Nuclear Blast because they were good and all to us, and they were really good in Europe, but over here they don't have the same kind of distribution that they do in Europe, as other American labels do. So that was the main priority, we wanted to have the record available to anybody who wants to get it. And then Ferret were great, they were treating us really well and the record was out there, but it was a one-record deal and this time it was in the band's best interest the way Koch came up. They presented the best way of putting the record out there.

Metal Sucks: Obviously you guys have ended up being one of the most influential bands of the past 10 or 15 years. What are your feelings about all these American bands running around sounding like they wish they were from Gothenburg? Do you get sick of it?
Peter Iwers: No, I mean some of it is really good and some of it is not. It's an inspiration, like when we grew up, and we still do have all of these bands that influenced us. So, it's such a big honor. Like a band like KILLSWITCH ENGAGE that's huge these days. I think it's cool.

Read the entire interview at Metal Sucks.