TYRANN: No Pressure, Just Pure Metal Fury

Tyrann isn’t your typical heavy metal band—they’re unapologetically raw, fiercely authentic, and refreshingly open about their creative process. In this interview, Tobias pulls back the curtain on their unique approach to songwriting, the delicate balance between tradition and reinvention, and why humor has no place in their brand of heavy metal. From sharing the stage with legends like Tormentor to weaving punk and 80s black metal influences into their music, this conversation is a deep dive into a band that refuses to play by the rules. If you think you’ve got Tyrann figured out, think again.

1. First off, congratulations on your electrifying performance at Pyrenean Warriors Open Air some weeks ago! We were in the crowd, and your energy truly blew us away. Now that you’re heading back to the studio for the new album, how does the momentum from live shows like that impact the recording process? Does it alter the way you approach creating new music?

The Face the Tyrant ’24 tour has really proven that we are the rawest heavy metal band in the world. In the studio, we’ll do what we always do, confident as always, but seeing fans all over Europe enjoying our shows has given the band a lot of energy for sure. This is just the beginning!

2. You’re a band that fully embraces the spirit of pure heavy metal while injecting a unique sense of self-aware humor into your music (I’d dare say). How important is this balance of authenticity and humor in keeping your music fresh? And where do you draw the line between genuine metal fury and tongue-in-cheek self-awareness?

I would never call Tyrann’s music humoristic. There’s nothing about our music that’s meant to be funny or tongue-in-cheek whatsoever. However, I’m interested in tweaking lyrics and pushing the boundaries of what heavy metal lyrics can be. Taking inspiration from hip-hop, black metal, books, or wherever I find it. We take great pride in our authenticity. The rest of the uncreative bunch of heavy metal copycats out there can go fuck themselves.

3. Tyrann plays relatively few but highly selective shows, like the upcoming Chaos Fest in Stockholm where you’ll be sharing the stage with the legendary Tormentor. What’s your thought process behind choosing these exclusive gigs, and how does performing with a band that’s influenced you, like Tormentor, affect the dynamic of your live set?

Our goal is quality over quantity, basically. We only play festivals and club shows that make total sense to us as a band. It doesn’t have to be the biggest show by any means, but the best for both us and the fans. We do want to play everywhere there’s a great heavy metal scene.

Regarding sharing the stage with Tormentor; there’s only two bands in the world we would ever open for. One is Iron Maiden, the other is Tormentor. That’s a show that means a lot to me personally, but it won’t change anything in our live set really. We are who we are and we know what we are doing.

4. Your music has a clear old-school heavy metal foundation, but you also seem to play with the genre’s stereotypes. From leather and vests to headbanging riffs, there’s a sense of homage yet playfulness in your image. How do you navigate the fine line between celebrating these metal traditions and avoiding clichés? Or is there some fun and entertainment in not avoiding clichés?

I don’t know about clichés. Cliché for me is singing the same old lyrics, playing the same old twin-leads copied from Maiden, and having the same old high-pitch vocals. The same way «heavy metal» bands have done in the past 10–15 years. What Tyrann brings to the table is a rawer and truer kind of heavy metal. We have more in common with early black metal or even rock ‘n’ roll than this copycat trad metal stuff.

5. Let’s talk about your songwriting process. As a band that’s fiercely dedicated to a classic metal sound, how do you stay creative within that framework without falling into repetition? Are there specific methods or influences outside of heavy metal that you bring into the mix (like, for example, I’d say Besatt had black metal influences)?

Even though we are a heavy metal band, Tyrann is not really inspired by heavy metal music. I think of Tyrann as a mix of punk, pop melodies, and 80s black metal steeped into a heavy metal form. That’s the unique thing with Tyrann in my book. We have no boundaries at all when it comes to taking inspiration in the songwriting process. Quite the opposite actually. If you look outside the genre, you will find so much cool stuff to laborate with and bring into heavy metal.

6. We’ve noticed a recurring theme of brotherhood in your music and live performances. How do the personal dynamics between the band members influence the music? And when tensions rise—as they inevitably do in any creative group—how do you channel that energy back into your music?

Well, as we have played music and toured together for more than 20 years in different constellations, every kind of tension has already been dealt with way back in the days. Now we just have a good time, all the time!

7. You all have other musical projects outside of Tyrann. How do these experiences in different musical realms shape your approach to Tyrann, if at all? Does it ever create creative friction, or do these outside projects bring fresh ideas into the band?

Well, I can only speak for myself, but I think we all kinda have an approach that first and foremost, Tyrann must be a fun thing to do for everyone involved. We have no pressure from any major record label, we have no extensive tours or any kind of obligations. We all just really enjoy doing this together.

9. For a band that exudes such a strong classic metal vibe, what modern influences—whether in music, culture, or even film—find their way into your work? Is there anything that might surprise your fans about what inspires Tyrann today?

As I mentioned earlier, the key of Tyrann is putting together all different kinds of influences and steeping them into a heavy metal form. But when you say modern influences, I don’t know about that. I don’t think so, to be honest. I listen to a lot of gritty 90s hip hop—that might surprise some people—but there’s tons of stuff in there that you can bring into heavy metal.

10. Given that heavy metal often comes with strong preconceptions and stereotypes, what’s the biggest misconception you think people have about Tyrann, and about heavy metal in general?

That Tyrann is tongue-in-cheek. We are dead serious!

11. Finally, looking ahead to your next album—what can fans expect? Will it be a continuation of your previous sound, or are you exploring new directions?

You can expect an even rawer heavy metal album than Djävulens Musik and Besatt, with even catchier hooks!