THE HAUNTED Guitarist Says 'Decline' In Band's 'Financial Situation' Forced Him To Get Regular Job

Barbara Teruggi of Spain's GoetiaMedia.com recently conducted an interview with guitarist Patrik Jensen of Swedish metallers THE HAUNTED. You can now listen to the chat in the YouTube clip below.

On how difficult it is to find the time to focus on THE HAUNTED in 2014:

Jensen: "Almost since the second album, we have been professional musicians, which means we only did music. But we noticed a decline in the financial situation within the band, which resulted in that I went to university and I got myself an education. I work as an IT consultant now and Jonas [Björler, bass] is a financial accountant. So, doing music, I mean, I manage the band, I do a lot of the interviews, I write a lot of the music, and I have a full-time job. So it is a really busy time. [For example], tonight I have four hours of interviews. Usually, before, I would only maybe play a little guitar during the day, because I know I'm going to be working during the evening. But now I have done eight hours of work, so I had to hurry home and then I have another four hours [of interviews] here. I'm not complaining, but it is a different situation. And when you ask, 'Are you relaxing?' Well, I am and I'm happy that the [new THE HAUNTED] album will soon be out, but there's a lot of things that still need to be done."

On how geographical challenges make it more difficult for THE HAUNTED to stay active:

Jensen: "Only two people in the band live in the same city — Marco [Aro, vocals] and Ola [Englund, guitar] live in Stockholm. I live two hours from Stockholm and Jonas lives in another city two hours from Stockholm and two hours from me, and Adrian [Erlandsson, drums] lives in London. It's difficult to plan everything. And some of the other bandmembers are in different bands and they have plans since a long time, [playing some of] the [summer] festivals and everything, and it's really hard to find time where we can all get together. Like, we need to do two videos before the album is out. I mean, it's really hard to find that schedule."

THE HAUNTED's new album, "Exit Wounds", will be released on August 25 in Europe and September 2 in North America via Century Media. The CD was once again recorded with the group's longtime producer Tue Madsen at Denmark's Antfarm Studio (DARK TRANQUILLITY, HEAVEN SHALL BURN, SICK OF IT ALL) and features THE HAUNTED's revamped lineup: founding members Jonas Björler (bass) and Patrik Jensen (guitar) along with with returning members Adrian Erlandsson (drums) and Marco Aro (vocals),and the band's latest addition, guitarist Ola Englund.

"Exit Wounds" features two special guests appearing on the song "Trend Killer": Jed Simon (SCAR THE MARTYR, STRAPPING YOUNG LAD) on lead guitar and Chuck Billy (TESTAMENT) on vocals.

THE HAUNTED released a new three-song single, "Eye Of The Storm", on January 20 in Europe and January 21 in North America via Century Media Records. The single marked the recording debut of THE HAUNTED's new lineup, which was announced last summer.

Vocalist Marco Aro (ex-FACE DOWN, also in THE RESISTANCE) was previously involved with THE HAUNTED for three acclaimed releases between 1999 and 2003 as well as for several worldwide touring campaigns. Drummer Adrian Erlandsson (also in AT THE GATES and PARADISE LOST) belonged to the original lineup of THE HAUNTED together the Björler twins after the demise of their previous legendary group, AT THE GATES. Together with Jensen, they launched THE HAUNTED's self-titled debut in 1998, an album which has been widely considered as the kick-start for a new era in the thrash metal movement and which, despite its initial underground status, climbed to be a massively inspirational record for a whole new generation of musicians and bands in the following decade. Guitarist Ola Englund is a highly talented young player from Sweden, who has recently been active as touring and recording member of U.S. death metal institution SIX FEET UNDER.