Devian
Wywiad przeprowadził Wouter Roemers
Swedish thrashing death/black metallers Devian are set to release their second album "God to the Ill-fated" in a matter of weeks through Century Media Records. As with their debut this new album presents another caustic slab of diabolic Swedish extreme metal. Talking to Masterful Magazine are drummer Emil Dragutinovic, vocalist/lyricist Erik Hagstedt (better known as Legion) and guitarist/backing vocalist Jonas "Joinus" Mattsson. Subjects touched upon the inspirations of the new album, the fan's reception and subsequent touring that followed their impressive "Ninewinged Serpent" debut and how their past helped shape their current musical output.First off, I'd like to thank you for taking time to speak with me today. What is presently going on with Devian?
Legion: Lots! We're preparing the launch of the second Devian attack "God to the Illfated", so far we have two tours to promote the album confirmed: the Winterfest with Deicide, Samael and Vader in January 2009 and in February/March we'll destroy Scandinavia together with Unleashed and Belphegor. A few more tours are in the works but nothing is confirmed yet.
Emil: Yeah, and we are actually also working on new songs for a 3rd full length album. Restless as we are.
It's been more or less a year since you released "Ninewinged Serpent", and having toured the album extensively, and played the festival circuit, how do you feel about the fans' reaction to the record?
Legion: We really couldn't be happier about the way both new metalheads and fans of our past work has jumped on the Devian train. Some staff from Century Media came to check us out when we played Germany and they were amazed to find a fucking riot in front of the stage. We've been received with open arms by numerous fiends in the metal community and there is nothing more we feel we could wish for.
Do you get decent support from the Swedish audiences?
Emil: We haven't actually focused on the Swedish scene yet. We did 2 shows just when we started out and since then we've been busy with the creation of new songs and being abroad doing shows but we will for sure arrange some gigs for the Swedish crowd as well as destroying Swedish cities together with Unleashed in March.
Why the title "God to the Ill-fated" for this new album? Is the once again a central theme, as was the case with your debut "Ninewinged Serpent" or is it more of a metaphor?
Legion: It's a sum up once again, yes, which just grew naturally on us during the creative process. Metaphorically, "God to the Ill-fated" would be the guiding star of all the black sheep or an idol of the cast outs. A lot of the lyrics revolve around the theme of knowing that the general conception of things is not always what's right and for speaking your mind or acting according to your own ideas, you might have to pay dearly but regardless, isn't it worth it anyways? And if you chose to not adjust to a pre-moulded form there'll be an own path you can carve out where you never have to say you're sorry for doing what you think is fair and square. Also, I was thinking about it on the tour we did this spring and the response we got after the shows hanging out with the crowds, the stories we were told about what it means to them to have music like ours in their life after coping with everything to a shit job or tough phases in their lives. It's really humbling that what we've put together make a significance in the lives of someone else, about the greatest compliment an artist ever could get for his work.
Staying with the new album, what was your intention when you began writing "God to the Ill-fated" - did you have a preconceived idea of what you wanted the record to sound like and what you wanted it to achieve, or did that come about naturally?
Emil: The process of writing new songs never stops and that is the band's least problem since we all write material for the band. I basically write new harmonies everyday in my home studio and if I have an idea I can't stop writing. Right now, I have ideas for 25 new songs but we won't record a triple CD, that would cost us too much money and patience! I'm not that fond of recording albums, it's more interesting to create the music itself. For "God to the Ill-fated" I had ideas for songs already at the "Ninewinged Serpent" era and it was great to finally get them on tape. The process of working with this album compared to the previous one is a major leap forward in working terms. This time we had more time and bigger bulk of material. Our goal was more determined this time in which direction we wanted to go and the final result is as best as it could be!
How did you experience the recording sessions at Art Decay with Rickard Kottelin and vocal production at Abyss Studios with Peter Tägtgren for this second album "God Of the Ill-fated" - were there any notable differences compared to the sessions for your debut?
Emil: Well, Rikard is as always easy to work with since he knows my requests and preferences, so I really don't have to tell him what kind of sound I want on the drums, he just takes his 30 minutes of mumbling around the soundboard, connecting cords like an insane scientist!
Legion: Working with Peter again was great since him and me has such a history of working together and I have tons of respect for his abilities and ears. We knew he was the guy for the job and he really delivered!
The new album is a major leap forwards from "Ninewinged Serpent". What are the points of progress that the band is most proud of?
Joinus: Personally, I think the songs are much stronger and easier for the listener to absorb. Mainly because we tried to keep it simple and, of course, the fact that we had more time to rehearse the songs. Everyone in the band was able to leave opinions about the riffs and melodies. If someone wasn't satisfied with the material, we simply rearranged them.
The fact that the new album is so much more organic and straightforward, is that indicative of the fact that you feel more comfortable playing this style now?
Joinus: Well, I think it came natural. With a little more time arranging the songs I think the first album would have sounded more like this one. We came from different sort of styles, all of us. And to mix that without being able to shred all the songs in a rehearsal place, before the actual recording, it might have turned out a bit shattered. But after all I think it's a good album, although the new one is much better. Some things we wanted to use on the first album we didn't really have time for. For example, Tomas [Nilsson] did some really nice harmonies for this album. Legion tried a new vocal technique which turned out killer. I used some slide guitar on one song and tried to do some mellow solos for the songs instead of just shredding on the lighter notes. Emil is beating the shit out of the drums in ways yet not known to mankind. And not to forget Peter's incredible job in mixing the album.
In what ways do you feel Devian has improved since becoming a focussed, actively rehearsing band over a year ago? Has it made the creative process easier and more productive?
Joinus: It has definitely become easier. I talked to Emil about song writing the other day and he told me he writes his own sort of diary. So, every night he sits down and composes something that reflects his feelings that day. I think that's a cool way to make music. It also results in lots of material. A typical songwriting session would be one of us showing the material either in practice or sending a file before practice. We go through the song and the rest of the band add whatever might be missing. And as all of us have ideas for songs I'd say we've been productive since day one. I've never played in a band that has so much material to work with.
Since the release of your debut The Kult Of the Serpent has helped spreading the name and music of Devian. What led to the formation of this fan-based street team/community? Is the Kult active in Europe only or also in different continents?
Legion: Devian has always been really close to our fans and their input has helped inspire us and kept us motivated from the start so the street team came as the next natural stage to keep the most rabid fraction of the fanbase under the same roof as the band. Anyone that feels at home in the Kult is welcome no matter where in the world they are. We have members in many countries on the North - and South American continent as well as other places in the world.
"Ninewinged Serpent" was supported by a massive European tour alongside Polish genre veterans Vader and Septicflesh. For this album, you are heading out on a European tour with co-headliners Deicide and Vader, plus up-and-coming US extreme metallers Order Of Ennead in January. Late February until mid March you'll be embarking on a two week European tour with Swedish death metal heavyweights Unleashed and Austrian death/black metallers Belphegor. I guess you must be stoked to take this album on the road and test it in the live arena?
Emil: Of course, we are! We can't wait! My experience from our last tour has showed me that the members in Devian are one of the coolest bunch of sickos I've ever played with. I really enjoy being on tour with these guys and every opportunity to present our art to people is proud moment for me as an artist, especially now when we have this upcoming album on the way!
Was there ever any bad blood between Devian and Marduk? When we interviewed Legion in December 2007 he spoke extensively about how far he had grown apart from bandleader Morgan Steinmeyer Håkansson. Is there any chance of both bands ever sharing a tour together, given how you are both working through the same booking agency?
Emil: Well, I have not much positive things to say about Morgan, let's leave it that way. To share a tour bill with them could work with me. I have nothing against them, it would be worse for Morgan, I guess.
When you joined Marduk, did you ever think this band would ever be one of the most renowned "true" black metal bands around?
Emil: I never thought in those terms at all, I joined the band and came with ideas and songs (actually more than half of "Plague Angel" is written by me) and I will never regret joining them because those 5 years are some of the most amazing years of my life. I got to know many people, fans, and of course Erik and the others. Devian wouldn't have existed without mine and Erik's friendship.
Coming from a seasoned band like Marduk, what did you learn during your time with them that you would say helped you get to where you are the moment?
Emil: As a drummer I just developed my skills in speed. On a more personal level, I guess I got my name out more than it was before.
With the band's music being as diverse yet extreme as it is, you could easily tour with melodic acts like Arch Enemy, Diabolical or Scar Symmetry as to more traditional sounding bands like Amon Amarth, Necrophobic or Vomitory. I guess this is really the band's forte; the ability to blend into different markets.
Joinus: That means we've made our point. The important thing we all agreed on when we started Devian was to never leave out any influences and therefore not being locked to a certain genre. Once again we come from different backgrounds and the only thing we have in common was that we all have been involved in extreme metal bands in some form. I have my influences in Judas Priest, Mercyful Fate and Root. Tomas being more into skilled guitar shredder based music like Megadeth and Yngwie Malmsteen. Emil takes a lot from folk music both Northern and Slavic. I don't really know where Legion gets his influences but I know he's a huge fan of Led Zeppelin, the Doors and the Cult but doesn't necessarily bring that into the lyrics. So, we want to speak to a bigger crowd but of course never leave out the aggressiveness that is the main ingredient in metal.
This is your second record for Century Media Records and they seem to go out on a limb in the promotional push they are giving the band. Are you happy they way they handled both records, regarding distribution, marketing and promotion?
Legion: Yes, it's amazing how much time and hard work they've been giving us since the get go to give the band as much of a momentum as possible. I've never experienced anything like it throughout my years on different labels. When I first went to Dortmund to talk about things they had so many great ideas and they really took time to listen and understand which was one of the reasons we were more than happy to ink the deal. Century Media Records is an extremely proficient label and they've got all areas of their business covered, you never get the impression they're not in the driver seat. I can give you an example: we're discussing new merchandise and the responsible person had a sick leave from her desk but still at home feverish she sorted out everything on the spot anyways. They never leave us hanging and we have immense respect for them.
Any concrete plans on how you will promote the release of this debut outside of Sweden? How is the touring cycle for this album shaping up so far? Will you also be touring North America now that Devian is more established compared to one year ago? Which market is the most important for Devian right now: Europe or the US?
Legion: In Europe things are starting to get on a roll and people have more awareness of the band already but we've started the discussions with Century Media Records US about the future there too. We take each day as it comes but our goal is dead-set on total world domination!
Emil, you are also involved with The Legion. How is the follow-up to 2006's "Revocation" shaping up? I also read you have had your fair share of problems finding a suitable vocalist, how is the search going?
Emil: We never had any problems finding a new vocalist, we just didn't give a shit to look for someone new since The Legion focused more on creating songs without vocalist. Right now, we are mixing the 3rd full length album which will turn out in stores just before summer, I guess. It will sound killer, it is much wider in dynamics and better songs than ever before and as for vocals we decided to have our old bass player as a session vocalist for this album.
Thanks for the interview, and good luck with all your future endeavours. Feel free to add anything you want...
Legion: Thank you! Make sure to check out "God to the Ill-fated" for a juggernaut of a metal onslaught!!!
Booking: www.massive-music.pl
Site: www.devian.se
