BAND: THE POODLES ALBUM: IN THE FLESH - NO QUARTER INTERVIEW WITH: PONTUS EGBERG INTERVIEWED BY: BRUCE ATKINSON Question: Hello gents, it is most likely true that you do not need an introduction to our readers, however I think the formation of this group is a fantastic story… and you came out kicking!... tell us about the early days…. Answer: Well, the band had been around for a few years under the name The Poodles, playing only cover songs, touring around a bit, doing night club shows but in its’ current form The Poodles was pretty much formed around the opportunity to perform the song “Night Of Passion” in the Swedish leg of the Eurovision Song Contest in 2006. We entered the contest, took the Swedish TV audience by storm and after that we recorded our debut album “Metal Will Stand Tall” and headed out on tour. After a hectic period of touring in Sweden in the summer and fall of 2006 we released our first album in mainland Europe in early 2007 and hit the road, this time as support to Hammerfall. Already in September of 2007 we released our sophomore album “Sweet Trade” and headed out on the road again in Europe, this time as support to Gotthard. After this we have released our third album “Clash Of The Elements” in May 2009, been doing hundreds of shows back home in Sweden and at least four more tours of Europe as well as a number of festival appearances. Q: You are now three albums in to your career, with The Poodles, and Focus on:
6 | MRF
a solid line-up…and have achieved so much as well…and all of this hard work is paying off…how did the deal with Frontiers come about? A: We have actually had discussions with Frontiers for some time, even before “Clash Of The Elements” but it didn’t work out that time and we ended up doing that album under our own label. When we started planning for the release of the live package and also our fourth album we contacted Frontiers again, we had some discussions back and forth and pretty soon it became clear that we had a very similar vision so decided to go ahead. Q: Keeping with your new signing… what are you hoping for with this relationship? A: We have very high hopes for this relationship. Basically we hope that Frontiers can help us get the albums out and make them more visible to a wider audience in the territories where we are already present and also to get them out in territories where we haven’t released our albums before, break some new ground I guess. Q: November will see the release of the brand new live package from Frontiers… ”No Quarter” and “In The Flesh”… such a great way for you to be introduced to a wider audience, so let’s discuss the DVD portion, it is more than a concert performance… A: Yes, quite a lot more I would say. The total playing time of the DVD is
roughly two hours and the live set is about one hour, twelve of the tracks from the album “No Quarter”, filmed live at location. Here you get a chance to both hear and see the band on stage, performing. On the DVD there is also a lot of other cool stuff though, interviews with all the guys in the band, behind the scene stuff, you basically get to follow the band on tour for a little bit, you get some background information about the band and its’ members and you get to catch a glimpse of what life on the road is like. Q: Your first release for Frontiers really does show us what all of Sweden already knows… and Europe is also responding very positively… but I also know that you are not content to just sit back and take it all in, that you are already working on your fourth release… can we talk about this new Work? A: Yes, that’s correct. We had an intensive writing period through the later part of the summer and we are actually in the studio right now recording the next studio album. We started recording the last week of September and the recordings will probably continue until the end of November and it’s going really well so far. The new material is sounding fantastic, it’s still early in the process but I’m convinced it’s going to be a killer album, so keep an eye out for that next spring. But first, don’t forget to check out the live package.
THE POODLES - In The Flesh / No Quarter (Frontiers Records)
Sweden’s premiere Hard Rock group have just shouted to the world! “No Quarter” / “In The Flesh” is their start to a worldwide recording contract with Frontiers Records! And what a way to begin, two live documents of The Poodles stage prowess, and a glimpse into why this foursome is creating such a ‘buzz’ in their home country and Northern Europe! “No Quarter” bristles with energy and emotion, both from the group and the thousands gathered to take all this in. One just needs to close their eyes, and you are there!... Being drenched with the energy and perfection that is ‘The Poodles’! Hard-driving, intricate guitar work, and towering vocals, these four musicians perform their collective hearts out! Now, with “In The Flesh” you do not need to close your eyes, you are right there, front row, and seeing just how brilliant these Artists are! Witness the Passion, flawlessness, first hand and prepare yourself to be mesmerised throughout the whole show! The DVD release also holds an in-depth look at ‘The Poodles’, Giving us the answers to why these lads are all the rage in Sweden. The actual set highlights material from the group’s first three albums… presented in a very tight form. Just a extraordinary way to introduce us to one of the hardest rocking groups on the scene today! Oh! By the way… studio album #4 is also on the way, at the time of this writing, “The Poodles” are finishing up their fourth effort, which promises to be a ‘barn-burner’!! Bruce Atkinson (90/100)