SOILWORK Frontman Discusses Plans For New Album

SOILWORK frontman Björn Strid recently spoke to Rockdetector.com's Welsh interviewer Anthony Morgan. Topics of discussion included the group's inaugural decade in the music industry, guitarist Peter Wichers' departure last Christmas and their search for a replacement, working with Devin Townsend, the group's Download festival cancellation earlier this year, plans for the new album, side projects, and performing with TESTAMENT's Chuck Billy. Several excerpts from the interview follow:

Rockdetector: It's been a decade since SOILWORK's formation. How do you feel you contrast as a human being now compared to ten years ago?

Björn Strid: "In a way I differ, yes of course, but I'm basically the same person. We all develop whether we become 'rock stars' or not, but I don't feel that much different, the only exception being that I've gone through ten years of something which is quite unique to this very day. I'm very grateful being able to perform, as this is really what I like to do; it's a hobby that became a job so to speak, thus it's probably the best job you can have even though it's tough sometimes. It's something really remarkable to happen in my life — I didn't really have any 'rock star' dreams as a little kid, even though I wouldn't really consider myself a 'rock star'. Having said that, what we've achieved is still quite fantastic."

Rockdetector: Could you tell me about Peter's (Wichers, guitar) departure during Christmas 2005?

Björn Strid: "Basically he just got fed up of touring, and wanted to have a more secure life. He always had dreams of being a music producer, so that's something he wanted to do."

Rockdetector: Is there a chance of him producing future SOILWORK material?

Björn Strid: "I don't think that would be a really good idea — it'd be so strange, so I'm unsure. He's been in the band, and is a great friend of mine still, so let's keep it like that. It'd be kinda weird, it's hard to explain."

Rockdetector: So there wasn't any creative differences, personal conflict or any other such issues the media usually speculate about?

Björn Strid: "No, nothing like that. He was just fed up, and screaming inside 'I need to have a break.' He might even start touring two or three years from now, who knows?"

Rockdetector: Are you going to work with Devin Townsend again?

Björn Strid: "I will while recording this next album. I'm going to cut all the vocals with him — I plan to lock myself in a dungeon for two weeks with the 'Crazy Professor'!"

Rockdetector: How does it feel working with him?

Björn Strid: "It was really cool, and as I said very inspiring. He's really focused on the whole project, and is kind of a little bit crazy though in a very good way — we know Devin pretty well, so I really enjoy working with him. It's a great experience.
Rockdetector: Could you tell me about plans for the new album?

Björn Strid: "Well, we intend to begin recording the new album in March, it looks like now, with mixing scheduled for April."

Rockdetector: You said you'll be working with Devin on the vocals, so is there anybody else you'll be bringing aboard to produce guitars and so on?

Björn Strid: "We pretty much record everything else ourselves. We're going to do it in DARKANE's rehearsal space — they have a studio there too which is really good. We're gonna do everything ourselves and then hire a good producer for mixing it."

Rockdetector: Where would you like to take SOILWORK in the coming years?

Björn Strid: "I'd like to take it to a level where we'll be more secure. We've gone the long way I think, the really long way which is a healthy process — that's the only way to go, the hard way, instead of just making a big selling album right away with the whole kit image and so on. It was better going the long way to earn the great, devoted fan base that we have."

Read the full interview at www.rockdetector.com.