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Features - Column
 Dethroned Emperor #6 Column by Josh Haun | June 28th, 2008
Grave, Dismember and Unleashed: Three names that along with the equally legendary Entombed make up the foundations of Swedish death metal, a movement that started in the late 80’s and eventually took the underground by storm. Usurping thrash in the early 1990's, the gore-drenched genre soon became the most extreme form of ear abuse. It's hard to believe this trio of esteemed bands have been plying their brutal trade for nearly twenty years, spreading their influence across the globe in pandemic fashion to the four corners of metal scene.
What might be even more difficult to believe is that these three bands are every bit as capable of releasing devastating albums today as they were during their respective primes. In the first half of 2008, the dark stars aligned and all three veteran groups graced us with brand new platters of splatter that just might be their strongest releases in years. Although I already reviewed Dismember's self-titled disc earlier this year and have certainly made mention of all three recordings in previous installments of Dethroned Emperor, a chance to delve even further into this unholy trinity of killer albums was just too good to pass up.
Dismember kicked things off back in February with their devastating self titled release, an album that at times sounds like a d-beat 'n' death metal-damaged version of Iron Maiden, replete with classic twin-guitar heroics mired in steaming pools of raw sonic viscera. Grave and Unleashed would soon follow suit with Dominion VIII and Hammer Battalion respectively. On Hammer Battalion, Unleashed keep things short and to-the-point, with most of the songs clocking in right around the three minute mark. Their take on death metal is a bit thrashier than that of their brethren and songs like the title track and "I Want You Dead" feature some ridiculously catchy hooks. The band also continues their penchant for viking/pagan-themed songs, a lyrical realm typically reserved for folk and so-called "viking metal" bands. While Unleashed and Dismember certainly present their own unique takes on the death metal genre, they are united by a punk rock-like sense of raw urgency that permeates their work. It isn't hard to imagine Swedish hardcore acts like Skitsystem and Disfear taking cues from the rough-around-the-edges ferocity these two veteran bands have perfected over the years.
Meanwhile, Grave roll over everything in their path with the heft of a panzer tank on Dominion VIII, relying on sheer blunt-force trauma in order to get their point across. Although all three records are ultimately characterized by that gnarly, serrated guitar tone that positively reeks of blood, guts and Sunlight Studios circa 1991, it Grave's offering that proves itself to be the heaviest and most traditionally death metal of the trio. Songs like "Bloodpath" and "Dark Signs" are straightforward and totally unrelenting, pummeling the slick trappings of modern death metal into bloody submission with a down 'n' dirty, mostly mid-paced assault. These are the kinds of gruesome tunes you'd imagine Leatherface rocking out to while he prepares his next grisly meal of shredded teenagers.
All hyperbole aside, no discussion of a topic as heady as old school Swedish death metal would be complete without going directly to the experts. With this in mind, I tracked down Grave drummer Ronnie Bergerståhl via e-mail to get some more insight on Dominion VIII, the band's longevity and what it's like to be a part of the Swedish death metal pantheon.
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An Interview with Ronnie Bergerståhl of GRAVE
Sonic Frontiers: Dominion VIII is Grave's 8th studio album. After so many albums and years in the scene is it still a challenge to create such compelling death metal, or can you guys pretty much write killer music in your sleep at this point?
Ronnie Bergerståhl: Of course it's a challenge but we have our sound and we know how to make riffs that fits into that sound. The challenge is more to get the songs as simple as possible but still interesting both for us and for the listeners. We are not trying to do some groundbreaking music but more music that moves, music that people will bang their heads to and go.. fuck yeah, this is some heavy shit.
SF: Grave is considered part of Swedish death metal's originators along with Entombed, Dismember and Unleashed. Does being part of such a highly respected band create any sort of pressure when it's time to write/record a new album?
Ronnie Bergerståhl: There is no pressure at all I would say.. it's more like inspiring. I mean, Dismember released a killer album this year and that's good for us too I think. People will know that this genre, old school Swedish death metal still lives and basically all of us 4 bands still make great albums.
SF: The press materials are rather scant on details concerning Dominion VIII. Where was the album recorded? Who produced it? Please describe the recording process.
Ronnie Bergerståhl: We recorded all the music in our rehearsel room, "Studio Soulless". Ola's brother Peter was there for a few days to help us plug everything in with the computers and shit and then he helped us to mic the drum kit plus set the sound for the drums. I recorded the drums along to pre-recorded guitars together with a click track, the easiest way to record [in my opinion]. I think I spent 4 or 5 days for the drums. The vocals and mix of the album were done in another studio, "Sandkvie". Peter works there and he, Ola and I mixed the album there.
SF: Dominion VIII features that trademark skull-crushing guitar sound Grave is famous for. How do you achieve these sick tones in the studio? Does getting a good sound and recording go pretty smoothly at this point?
Ronnie Bergerståhl: Hehe, well... I could tell you that we used this bla bla bla amp and this and that mic to get the sound but I'll be honest instead.. For this album, all we used was a Line6 Guitar Port effect plugged straight in to the computer. Ola did all the pre-production recordings with that sound and we were suppossed to mix that sound with a sound from a "real" amp. The problem was that we never got a sound that good, angry and heavy from either of our amps in the rehearsal room so we thought what the hell, who cares what we record the album with.. if it sounds good, lets do it! I think we re-recorded the guitars like 4 times with different sounds from our amps until we decided to go only with the Line6 Guitar Port effect to get what we wanted it to sound.
SF: You guys recently filmed a video for the track "Bloodpath". What made you decide to film another music video after all these years?
Ronnie Bergerståhl: First of all we got the money for it from our new label, Regain Records. Second, it is as you say, many years since Grave made a video and we thought that the timing couldn't be better. I mean, 20th anniversary, new killer album out and so on. The video should be out online very soon and hopefully it will get some air time on tv also, if there are any channels showing real metal these days, I doubt it.
SF: Dominion VIII is your first album for Regain Records. What made you decide to part ways with Century Media after such a lengthy relationship with them?
Ronnie Bergerståhl: We had fulfilled the contract and released the 7 albums the contract was written for.
SF: Unfortunately, my promotional copy of Dominion VIII didn't come with lyrics. What are some of the themes running through songs like "Bloodpath" and "8th Dominion"?
Ronnie Bergerståhl: It is basically the same as always. Good against evil and some anti-religious stuff, nothing fancy or more deep things.. just the ordinary "meat and potatoe" death metal lyrics haha.. We're not out to change the world or try to stick our personal opinions down peoples throats... we're here to entertain and play music the one and only way we can!
SF: In the underground, Sweden is known the world over as a hotbed of extreme music. Why do you think the country has been so consistent in producing quality death/black/thrash/etc metal since the 1980s?
Ronnie Bergerståhl: That's a good question and I haven't really got any good answer to it. I think though that all musicians from Sweden, as we're a small country population wise, all musicians have to give their very best to stand out from the rest. You have to sound good and play your instruments well, otherwise there's no one listening to you here. It's not enough to just say "we're true death/black/thrash metal and we don't give a shit what you think about us" to get noticed. People here laugh at that kinda attitude and that's a good thing I think! That makes the quality of the music better.
SF: From your myspace page, it appears you have some pretty extensive touring lined up in support of Dominion VIII. Do you still enjoy being on the road after all these years?
Ronnie Bergerståhl: Oh yeah, we sure do. Touring and playing gigs are the main reasons why we still do this. There is no better feeling then go up on stage and play for an audience that are really into it. Adrenaline rush to say the least. The tours we have lined up will hopefully be some of the best we've done for years. Both Nile and Belphegor are two highly respected bands and with us in that package you have a really well balanced line up. The Vader tour will also be lots of fun. Lots of gigs in Sweden in that tour which I really look forward to.
SF: 2008 marks the 20th anniversary of Grave. Are you planning anything special to commemorate the band's longevity?
Ronnie Bergerståhl: We haven't really discussed that in the band. Of course we would like to release a new dvd but I'm not sure we have the time to involve us in another big project this year, there simply is no time.
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You can check out the new Grave tune "Bloodpath" as well as a number of classic tracks at the band's Official MySpace page. To my knowledge, the accompanying music video has yet to surface at this time, but expect further info once it does.
Prostitute Disfigurement releases Descendants of Depravity
 In other news, Dutch death metal merchants Prostitute Disfigurement might have broken up, but not before releasing a nasty little disc appropriately entitled Descendants of Depravity. Focusing more on the technical aspects of their sound, Prostitute Disfigurement might have abandoned some of the groove and thrashiness they were previously known for, but ended up sounding all the better for it on tracks such as "The Sadist King and the Generalissimo of Pain," "Fatal Fornication" and "Life Depraved." The musicianship throughout the album is tighter than orifices of a shriveled up cadaver and vocals of Niels Adams have developed into a sickening growl that sounds much more threatening than the mutant pig squeals of previous releases. Descendants of Depravity sees Prostitute Disfigurement really coming into their own as a gruesome death metal force to be reckoned with and it if this truly is the band's swansong, than they have left the realms of death on the just about the highest possible note.
As if releasing one the year's most out-and-out brutal death metal records wasn't enough, Neurotic/Willowtip have also included a bonus DVD along with the first 4,000 copies, featuring an impressively recorded live set from the Dynamo Open Air and a music video for the aforementioned "The Sadist King and the Generalissimo of Pain".
You can check out the Prostitute Disfigurement songs "Carnal Rapture" and "Torn in Bloated Form" on the Neurotic Records official website as well as the Willowtip Records official website.
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Bands or labels interested in news, interviews, or reviews for future installments of Dethroned Emperor, please get in touch: jhaun@sonicfrontiers.net.
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