Ca me r a e y eMa ga z i ne Mor eThe nMe t a l
SPECI AL
HAMMERFALL
Interview Joacim Cans Of Hammerfall:
Built to Last is your upcoming new album and this is your 10th album but the first by your new label Napalm. It is very weird and inspiring at the same time to be able to see you self after almost 20 years as a recording artist, I mean that is one hell of a ride I must say yet. Since we have such a great success with “Revolution� the future was very, very promising for Hammerfall. One of the main reasons we decided to go over to Napalm was the fact that we still believe so much in what we do and we want to have a label that can see the quality in us. And wat we even want is to have someone with that upcoming marketing plan to take Hammerfall into the future.
I know that we had delivered the mastering of the album by the label they are really happy they say this is exactly the album we want to release for Hammerfall. It is based on mutual trust here; we do our job and now it is up to them to show their strength. And of course, it is a little bit scary but you need to take some risks some time.
The album is called ‘Built to Last’ who came with this title and what is the story behind this title? Is there a story that you want to tell in this album?
There is always a story but that is a kind of individual bases, each song is a standalone song. The title “built to last” came from Oscar he thought that we found it a very good title for the album and he was right. Exactly in my opinion it does have a double meaning. First, that Hammerfall now after 20 years built something really solid something that will last for long time I think when Hammerfall is no longer around as a band the music will be still there. The same goes for this album there are 10 solid and unique compositions on this album a great delivery from the whole band. All these songs together become the unity that built to last. There is no concept for this album, the only concept we have is two words Heavy Metal. That is the red line for our songs.
I like to pick out some of the songs of this album and want to know how the idea came together in the song: The Scared Vow: Who came up with the idea to start like it will be a ballad but the you push the button to speed?
That is a big mood changer I would say it is a kind of an intro for the song the story told to one way and then it came up with the punch in the face and then you get a really energetic kind of song. The song was written by Oscar and myself and probably the song represents the album when you hear the song you know what is the album all about.
Dethrone And Defy and Stormbreaker: I picked these songs because I hear music that reminds me of ‘Glory To The Brave’ was that part of the writing as reference to upcoming anniversary of the first album? I don’t think we should remind because Glory of the brave was such a milestone in our career. But “Built to last” is a very fast album with a lot of fast songs maybe that is a parallel to our earlier albums. I can’t say one song is better than the other those 2 songs are written by Oscar and myself and I can say it turn up pretty good.
How do all the ideas come together do you all live close by so you come together or you send the ideas by internet back and forward? Do you plan dates to come together to try things out to find out how I really sounds?
When Oscar is done with his part he sends to me the structure of the songs and then I add my vocal melodies and at the end I add the lyrics, then we present the songs to the rest of the band. So, we never exactly rehearse before we go to the studio. So, these songs have never been rehearsed by the band. When we come to the studio everything there is arranged and we only work more on the details. Oscar and I will never sit down together and write, he writes in his studio and I write in my little studio in Stockholm and do my stuff. Of course, we send files that is a modern way of writing I think.
Who came up with the idea to use a harpsichord sound in the intro of second to none because it gives the song a very unique intro and sound to the song? I love that type of sound and both, Oscar and me, listen to King Diamond. He is very good in using those types of sounds on keyboards. When we talking about the last song of the album “Second to none� it creates a several atmospheres that song is a little bit different in relation to the rest of the songs on the album.
You also take care during the writing of the songs to have sing a long song to be used at the concert or is that something that is created later? All the songs we write are possible live songs we are write them in a way that we can easy adapt them in the live situation. That is also why we not overproduce in the studio we could probably build layer, on layer on layer on the guitars adding different parts but then when you play the songs life they sound different. We try to keep it not simple but very open, we try to relaying the basic rock and roll setup, drums, 2 guitars, bass, vocals.
Are you already thinking about ideas for the tour, how to create the stage and the special effects? We will always do cover up work, we are work around the art work and we would build like an atmosphere and a scenery on stage based on what you see on the album.
We are thinking about how to make this tour unique in a way not with only some new songs of course but even with some effects on stage. But that is a progress that takes some time.
Will you also do something about the 20th anniversary of your first album? We are thinking about that but the point is the album came out in November, the tour starts in January and the continues for a whole year. Maybe it is an idea to do some exclusives show about the first 2 albums, we will see. Interview by Hans & Yolanda Clijnk All photos by Hans Clijnk
BUILT TO LAST – HAMMERFALL Napalm Records Release date: 04/11/2016
Built To Last is the 10th studio album from the Goteborg’s power metal band HammerFall. The album got 11 songs all recorded in the Red Level Three Studio in LA own by James Michael’s studio (vocalist Sixx: AM). The band pushed everything to the highest level.
On ‘Built to Last’ HammerFall proves that they keep respect to bands from the 80’s (Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Helloween) that are a big influence for the band and to albums from the past but to keep the music clear and heavier guitar parts. Joacim pushed his skills to the limit but to make sure it is clear and very powerful. They also use an unexpected element on the song ‘Second To None’.
Now I want to talk about some of our highlights of the album. The song ‘Hammer High’ is an excellent song that fits perfect in the set list for any concert.
It is a perfect song to let the crowd sing a long during the part that is done by the choir on the album.
That they got very inspired by some 80’s bands are clearly to hear on the next songs ‘Dethrone And Defy’,’Stormbreaker’ and ‘The Star Of Home’ but they do it in their own style. I must say it is excellent done songs and it is not that they made copies. What I really like is the guitar parts that are really 80’s sound in a 2016 HammerFall jacket.
On the album, there is also space for a ballet (‘Twilight Princess’) to take the speed down and to give the listener a break before the speed is on again. It is a perfect song for on a set list and to take a listen to the perfect vocal skills of Joacim.
Then it is time for my last favourite of the album and that is ‘Second To None’. Is the use of the unique sound of a harpsicord louder in the intro and during the 30 seconds of the song in the back ground. The guitar part that follows is again a perfect example of an 80’s sound. ‘Build To Last’ is an album that is made to build to last forever!!
Cd review written by Hans & Yolanda Clijnk All concert photos made by Hans Clijnk Album cover and band photo by Napalm Records
Interview Oscar Dronjak of HammerFall:
On the age of 15 you decided to play guitar can you name bands and guitar players you listen to that gave you the inspiration to play guitar? I began playing when I was 14 when I started. actually. I was listening exclusively to metal but playing the trombone for 4 years, and as you know, it’s not a Very useful instrument for metal music, haha. My mother really wanted me to play an instrument, so She approved of the switch to guitar. Initially, I had Wolf Hoffmann (Accept), Glen Tipton (Judas Priest) and Ace Frehley (KISS) as inspiration.
Was it hard to create your own sound and your own style that is know now as the Hammerfall sound? Not really. I am a self-taught guitarist, playing along with my favourite songs is how I have learned. That is a great way of getting exposed to different guitar players and how they handle their instruments. As far as song-writings the same goes for that, but there was never any question as to What Kind Of band HammerFaII was supposed to be. It all came Very natural.
How soon after the release of (r)Evolution you started to think about ideas for ‘Built To Last’? Right after, as a matter of fact. The same week (r)Evolution came out I became a father for the first time, so my mind was 100% preoccupied with the kid aver the next couple of months. My head was filled with nothing but baby 'melodies, and one in particular. One day I was in my car and started thinking about this melody, what would happen if you converted it into minor - since most kids melodies are happy, in major. When I got back, I had the entire Chorus to "Built TO Last" in my head, and I wrote that song really quickly after that.
What is for you the best time to get ideas for new songs? When I'm home, relaxed and in a good place, that's when I write the best Stuff. On average, it takes me about a month from start to finish of a sang, so I need to be able to think about music, think about the stuff I'm writing without having any distractions. That's why it doesn't work at all for me to write songs on tour for example.
Interview by Hans &Yolanda Clijnk All photos made by Hans Clijnk
Interview Fredrik Larsson of HammerFall
Was being a bass player a child dream or did it grow that way?
I started out playing piano and tried a bunch of instruments before it was time to form a band and bass was the only instrument left. I tried it and really liked it from the beginning and moving forward a couple of years it was a very good move because everybody at that time wanted to be guitarists or drummer so I had the opportunity to step up and play with more skilled musicians all the time. Of course I couldn't picture myself playing large stages all over the world but who didn't want to be Steve Harris in the 80's.
What bass players in other bands are a big inspiration for you?
I'm inspired by a lot of different players, although I don't sound like them at all but I like how they play and approach music in general. Peter Baltes and Steve Harris was my childhood heroes and later on I listen a lot to Tim Commerford (RATM, Audioslave, etc) Jon Stockman (Karnivool), Troy Sanders (Mastodon) among others. I take inspiration from a lot of different music and I don't really care how to play things right, I listen and fell what's right for me.
Did you got any education in playing the bass guitar?
I took a couple of private lessons when I was young but I don't think I really learned something from it, I was too young and just wanted to play in a band instead of struggling with scales and stuff. I was too lazy for that and I think I learned more from playing my favourite covers and I think I still do. I think it's really educating to play songs that someone else wrote, you get another perspective.
Was it a very hard process to create the perfect bass line for the songs on the album ‘Built to Last’?
Not really, in HammerFall my part is to be a steady foundation along with the drums.
But it was the first time recording something with David so it was a bit different and I really didn't know what he would come up with. We've played a lot of shows together so in the end it was pretty easy and straight forward to lock in with the drums and just groove.
What do you do with bass parts you cannot use for this album you save them so you may can use them later or you delete them at all or your mole them so they can be used?
I have a lot of ideas when I enter the studio but often I just got a pretty rough demo so I don't have the full picture yet, with all the song melodies and stuff, so some ideas just don't work and I just let them go. Some ideas stick longer than others but since I don't play lead riffs it's no use to hanging on to stuff that don't fit.
Can you explain how big is your role in forming the basic of a song?
I'm not involved in the songwriting process and I get a demo with a basic bass line but from there I can create whatever I want. Of course there are "rules" how HammerFall sounds and we play classic Heavy Metal so there's no room for a funk solo or whatever but that's not me anyway. I bring my ideas and influences and we try it out in the studio to see if it fits on the album. Everyone is free to contribute and say what they think and it's a process that hopefully leads to what's best for the record.
Is there anything you like to tell or say to our readers?
I'm really psyched to see what you think about our new album and I can't wait to get out on the road and experience your reactions. I hope to see you on our European tour or maybe on some festivals later on! Cheers!
Interview by Hans & Yolanda Clijnk
All Photos made by Hans Clijnk