Embedded Files
Music Interview: UNLEASHED
UNLEASHED
English Version:
HELL'S UNLEASHED
- Exclusive interview with UNLEASHED
by Demogorgon
Done in June 2003
Hailz Johnny!
First off, I wish to thank you for give me this opportunity. It is a great honor for me to do the first interview with UNLEASHED from China!
Let's start here, what have you done in the past five years? I know that you did lots of other stuff outside of music (do you got your financial managers degree in corporate economics?), but do you think there will be certain ones who see such a long-time break as some kind of "untrue" to Death Metal?
Hail brother of China!
I thank you for your words and, yes, I did get my degree, but from a private institute here in Stockholm. I am now titled “Business economist”. I am very proud of this since it did cost many hours of hard work. I can also asure you I was the only one they ever had from the Death metal indurtry there. Other students came from companies like “Ericsson”, Astra Zeneca” and so on...
Apart from studies I also played other forms of music...to get some distance to it all. I also made much music to UNLEASHED these last 3 years even though our fans never get to hear them ‘til now.I think it’s good to take a break once in a while to get some distance to what you do...and come back with even more energy!!!
The lineup of UNLEASHED has not been changed from the beginning. I think this is quite unique comparing most of other bands. How could you achieve it? Do you feel if there are any advantages or disadvantages?
I think it’s very good since we know eachother and our individual qualities. Things work smoother that way I think. We also get along fine with the future plans for the band.
UNLEASHED is always a considerable band between Death Metal and Viking Metal - many of us pay attention to UNLEASHED because of that great book Lord of Chaos. Could you tell me how you adopt the Viking topic in your Death-inspired Metal music? Where is the junction?
Simply this that we are Vikings! It is our ancestral heritage. I am very much inspired by what my forefathers did many years ago since much of it applies to the present.
Since I do not have the lyrics page for Hell's Unleashed, could you tell me what topics each songs discuss? Which ones about Norse belief and are there more songs inspired by Lord of the Rings?
Well, if you want a song Inspiretd by the lord of the rings it’s on our first record “Where no life dwells”. The song is called “The dark one”. The songs with vikingish lyrics on Hell’s Unleashed is: Fly raven fly.
I guess you could call “hell’s Unleashed” (the title track) a little influenced by the strength and revenge of the Viking spirit. There is a great number of topic-variety on the songs on this album. Some with a little ironical humor to it like “dissection leftovers” “joy in the sun”. and “mrs minister”.
Do you pay much attention to nowadays Death Metal scene? I see many new formed Death Metal bands - such as those Brazilian bands like KRISIUN and REBAELLIUN - steps further than many old school bands. How do you think about them and their Black Metal-influenced high-speed music?
I haven’t heard the bands you mention, but I think it’s good that our music keep developing all the time. I personally try and keep up with what’s going on in the scene but there are thousands of new bands out there. It’s hard to keep track on all of them.
I notice there are some incredable reviews and interviews are done in Portuguese and German (and interviews with Poland and Brazillian magazines). Do you have a great fan base in those countries or territories? Could you give me some further explanation considering this aspect? Why those warriors love the music of UNLEASHED so much?
You’re right! I think it’s because the metalheads in the countries you mentioned are very faithful to the bands the like. They don’t change just because a new trend is blowing in the wind! They believe in their music and it’s more of a lifestyle than a trend. Just like UNLEASHED. It never dies. UNLEASHED also toured in for example Germany many years and they know us very well. I think they appreciate that we don’t become posers or wimps just because times fly by.
Do you think it is the aggression and anger the most important emotions that should be expressed by Death Metal? Isn't it the thinking about Death? Then how about those artistic and romantic feeling fit for Metal Music too? I heard of there are certain ones - even some insider - who see Metal only as music for savages... Frankly speaking, I do not like this viewpoint. Because that they even do not care about the ideal or cultural background of your music and some of their words are really wrong and rediculous.
Death metal is the best way to express aggression, hate and violence. Emotions that will come out one way or the other. People who listen to pop/rap music perhaps get their violence out in the streets? I don’t know. Maybe they kick their dog or something? I regard Death metal as the highest form of art! I couldn’t care less what others think about it. I’d like to take the opportunity to qvote Anthon lavey here: If evil they have named us...Evil men we are, Why not take advantage of it and LIVE!!!
All the best wishes with UNLEASHED! Here is our Hailz from Far, Far East!!
Demogorgon
Thank you for your interest in UNLEASHED, hope to see you guys in China one day!
Cheers!
Johnny&UNLEASHED
Chinese Version:
被释的地狱
——UNLEASHED独家专访
Demogorgon
瑞典的UNLEASHED（被释）作为一支在全世界范围都有着显赫声名的死亡金属乐团，早已为我们所熟悉和钟爱。但是这些维京勇士们在第五张专辑《战士》（Warrior）后沉寂了五年时间……2002年，乐团的新专辑终于在Century Media（世纪传媒）旗下发表，十五首新作让所有死亡金属战士们都留下了深刻印象。以下是我对乐团灵魂，贝司手兼主唱Jonny Hedlund的专访：
Demogorgon：Johnny你好！首先，我希望感谢你给我这个机会。作为第一个采访UNLEASHED的中国人，我把这看成是一种巨大的荣耀！
让我们这么开始吧，你们在过去五年里做了什么？我知道你在音乐之外做了很多（是否已经拿到你的金融硕士学位？），但是你是否觉得会有人认为这么长时间的间断是某种“不真”的死亡金属？
Jonny：中国兄弟，你好！谢谢你，是的，我拿到了学位，但是是从斯德哥尔摩是一家私立学院。现在是“商业经济学家”。我觉得这很光荣，因为它花费了那么长时间的艰苦努力。我还能对你保证我是自从有死亡金属工业以来的唯一一个。其他学生则都来自于诸如“爱立信”、“阿斯特拉制药”等等的公司……
除了学习之外我还演奏其它类型的音乐……和这一切都保持一些距离。在过去的三年里我也为UNLEASHED写了不少音乐，即便我们的乐迷迄今为止压根还没听到过。
我觉得暂停一段时间，和所做的事保持一些距离很好……因为回来的时候会有更大的力量！！！
Demogorgon：UNLEASHED的队型和开始没有任何变化。我感觉这一点和其它很多乐队相比十分特别。你们是怎么达到这样一个状态的呢？优劣各在什么地方？
Jonny：我感觉这很好，因为我们彼此熟悉，还有各自的脾气秉性。我想这样工作十分流畅。而且对于乐团的未来走向我们也有着很一致的看法。
Demogorgon：UNLEASHED一直被视作是介于死亡金属和维京金属之间的一支乐团——我们中间有很多人注意到UNLEASHED是因为那本精彩的《混沌之主》（Lord of Chaos）。能否告诉我你们是如何采用维京主题作为受死亡启迪的音乐形式的呢？结合点在哪里？
Jonny：很简单，因为我们是维京人！这是我们祖先的遗产。我受到我们的祖先很多年之前所做的事启发很大，因为其中很多也适用于今日。
Demogorgon：我现在还没拿到《地狱被释放/地狱是Unleashed》（Hell's Unleashed）的歌词，你能否告诉我一下每首作品都在讲述什么主题？哪些是关于北欧信仰的？是否还有很多歌曲受到《指环王》（Lord of the Rings）的启发？
Jonny：好的，假如你想听到一首受《指环王》启发的歌曲，它在我们的首张唱片《没有生命居住的地方》（Where No Life Dwells）里。歌名为“The Dark One（黑暗的一个）”。而《地狱被释放/地狱是UNLEASHED》里带维京歌词的曲目是“Fly Raven Fly（飞吧，渡鸦飞）”。
我猜你可以称“Hell’s Unleashed（地狱被释放/地狱是UNLEASHED）”（标题曲）受到几分维京精神中的力量和复仇影响。这张专辑里的歌曲主题十分多样化。有些有着些许反讽的幽默，例如“Dissection Leftovers（解剖剩余物）”、“Joy in the Sun（太阳里的快乐）”和“Mrs Minister（先生小姐）”。
Demogorgon：你对今天的死亡金属界还有很大关注吗？我见到很多新的死亡金属乐团——例如巴西乐团KRISIUN和REBAELLIUN——比老式乐队走得更进一步。你如何看待他们和他们受到黑暗金属影响的高速曲风？
Jonny：我没听过你提到的乐团，但是我想我们的音乐总是保持着发展非常好。我个人试图跟上圈中所发生的事，但是那里有着成千的新乐团。很难跟上他们的每个脚步。
Demogorgon：我注意到有很多难以置信的评论和采访是用葡萄牙语和德语做的（还有来自于波兰和巴西杂志的采访）。你们是那些国家或者地区有着很好的乐迷基础吗？能否在这方面给我一些更深远的解释？那些战士们为何如此热爱UNLEASHED的音乐？
Jonny：你是对的！我认为这是因为在你提到的国家，金属乐迷们对他们喜欢的乐团非常忠诚。他们并不会运维一个新的潮流随风而起就改变！他们相信他们的音乐，这更是一种生活态度而非音乐。正如UNLEASHED。它不会灭亡。UNLEASHED也在例如德国的地方做过很多年的巡演，所以他们非常熟悉我们。我想，他们赏识我们并不随着时光的流逝而变得装腔作势或者软弱无能。
Demogorgon：你是否认为攻击性和愤怒是应该在死亡金属中得到表现的最重要的情绪？难道不应该是对于死亡的思考吗？而且，那些艺术化的、浪漫的感觉是否也适合于死亡金属？我听到过有人——甚至是圈内人——认为死亡金属只是给粗人的音乐……坦白地讲，我不喜欢这种观点。因为他们甚至不关心你的想法和你的音乐的文化背景，从而会说出很多十分错误并且荒谬的话来。
Jonny：死亡金属是表现攻击性、仇恨和暴力的最好方法。情绪总会以某种形式得到表现。听流行/说唱音乐的人也许是在街上表现他们的暴力？我不知道。可能他们打他们的狗或者别的什么？我把死亡金属看作是最高的艺术形式！我不关心别人怎么看。我想在利用这个机会引用Anton LaVey的话：如果他们把我们命名为邪恶（EVIL）……那么我们就是恶人，为什么不从中获取优势而生活（LIVE）！！！
Demogorgon：希望UNLEASHED一切都好！请接受来自我们遥远东方的敬意！！
Jonny：感谢你对UNLEASHED的兴趣，希望有朝一日能在中国见到你们！谢谢！
乐团的第七张专辑《起誓效忠》（Sworn Allegiance）、第八张专辑《隆冬祭礼》（Midvinterblot）和第九张专辑《战锤之营》（Hammer Battalion）也已经面市，再多说什么肯定是让力量变得苍白。还是引用乐团自己的话——“我们创造地狱，你来释放它！！！”
附2002年10月24日新闻：
金属战士们！
我已经得知有几个懦夫在四处散布关于UNLEASHED的假传言。暗示乐团和我是“右翼”政治分子的传言。
撒旦在大笑……
UNLEASHED的全体乐迷都知道这是死错！
对于不知道我们的你而言，我想用这个机会来澄清；UNLEASHED赞颂自然、野兽和人。人……不管背景，出生地或者肤色。
我个人以最强烈的信仰相信，这些拼命给UNLEASHED抹黑的个体，自己就是纳粹、法西斯主义者，也可能是3K党（这很有可能，因为他们是基督徒，可能从心里恨我们）！……如果是这样，就让下面的话用到你们所有人身上……
地狱被释放了（地狱是UNLEASHED）！！！！！！！！！！！！！！！！
以雷神托尔之锤的名义
Johnny & Unleashed
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