SCREAMER (Eng.)
– Hello, lots of thanks for answering our interview. How is everything going into the SCREAMER’s camp right now?
Henrik: Hey Tania! Thanks for your interest in Screamer, first of all! Everything is going extraordinary good at the moment, we have actually a bit TOO much to do as you probably have noticed while waiting for me to answering this interview 🙂
– First off, as you have just released your sophomore album; could you please make some history of the band for all those who won’t be familiar with you yet?
Henrik: Well, Martin, Chris, Anton and I started playing together in 2009 after me leaving my old band ‘Erottica’, and the other three had just kicked their drummer from the pre-Screamer band. We joined forces, all with same intention at reaching for the sky as, as we didn’t want to just stand around in the rehearsal room, we belong on the stage! About a month and a half after we formed Screamer we recorded our first, and only, demo called “Never Going Down” which got really appreciated and from there we just went on. We managed to do like 65 shows in a little more than a year before we recorded our debut album “Adrenaline Distractions” which we released through High Roller Records. At this point Martin decided to leave the band and in came Dejan. We kept on touring, and it brought us through Europe and even Canada before we went on a bigger tour with our friends in Bullet and ’77. After that we had written and recorded our second album “Phoenix” that was released earlier this year also through High Roller Records. We have toured a bit on that album, and now, here we are.
– This new album is entitled «Phoenix» and, considering the overwhelming response your previous «Adrenaline Distractions» got, did you work under more pressure while creating this new opus?
Henrik: Actually I think we were way more relaxed during the writing and recording of the second album rather than the first. This time we had more confidence in our new songs, we knew what we wanted in the studio so everything went on really really well. I think the fantastic response from the first album gave us quite a lot of confidence and helped us believe in our music as well.
– Though playing a pretty old school style, since your first demo you’ve got a pretty solid identity. Did you have clear since the very beginning how was SCREAMER supposed to be?
Henrik: Yeah, more or less. The inspirational fundaments of Screamer are without any doubt in the NWOBHM era, though, we have no interesting in sounding exactly like bands of that time. The rocknroll elements with a punk attitude is equally important and perhaps that is what makes us a little bit separated from contemporary bands that are extremely “true” when it comes to sound and songwriting, even though we are from the exactly same school.
– In fact you are quite influenced by the NWOBHM I could say, and that’s the main trademark on your two albums. Due to this, what could you say are the main differences between «Adrenaline Distractions» and «Phoenix»?
Henrik: As I said in the previous answer, we can’t deny the quite obvious NWOBHM influences haha. The main differences between the albums are perhaps that we’ve worked harder with the guitar and song melodies on the new album. We have ‘matured’ music-wise and we have also had a huge energy injection with a new member in the band. I think we’re not afraid to try new ways to approach the song writing procedure, and it feels truly fantastic that everyone in the band is involved in that procedure.
– Anyway I’d dare say with «Phoenix» you have even top over your debut record. Was it written in a different way or are you just feeling more comfortable with what you are doing and more self-confident?
Henrik: Thank you! Those are kind words, in deed! Yes, the new album was written with everyone involved, which made a huge different. And, as previously stated, we had a lot more confidence in our music this time around. The most important part is probably that we from time to time spent 5 hourse per day just jamming around, exchanging ideas and trying out new riffs. So when the actual songwriting started everything went very smooth.
– As I said earlier, you are inspired by the NWOBHM, in fact you have some elements at the IRON MAIDEN’s style, anyway you are not coyping them at all. Is it easy playing such a traditional or even «revival» style having your own personality?
Henrik: As a matter of fact it sometimes is quite, as some music illeterats refers us to exact rip off copies on Maiden and Metallica. Obviously those people haven’t even listened to those bands so they don’t know what the hell they are saying in my opinion. On the other hand, none of our fans would ever say that since they know better than that. I don’t know if it’s easy, but we have our own way of writing songs (3 chords is more than enough! Haha) and we have a singer that uses his full spectrum of the voice instead of just reaching for the super high pitched notes all the time. I’d say we have, or at least starting to have, our own sound and that will keep on developing as we continue writing songs and releasing album.
– Musically I could say «Phoenix» is not as raw as your previous album, but really catchy, dynamic and mature, even more Metal. Would you agree on this? Does this mean there is always room for evolution?
Henrik: Well, we can’t argue with that description as that is how we see it ourselves. Yes, evolution is only natural, in some sense. We won’t start playing Limp Bizkit metal, but small steps exploring our musical boundaries will of course always be our goal. We don’t just want to stand still on the same spot for all eternity.
– Beside that Heavy Metal basis you also have 70’s Rock nuances, as on the track «Lady of the River». What could you comment on this outstanding tune?
Henrik: Well, this is the product of us jamming together. I think we played that song three times in total.Two times in the rehearsal room and the third time in the
studio. We instantly felt that it would be the perfect finishing song for the album. Songs like these are for all of us so god damn fun to play, just going with the flow. We have also tried it two times live, and well, yeah – we found it a complete success.
– Due to this I would like to know what have been the most influential bands for SCREAMER.
Henrik: DIO(Rainbow, Heaven and Hell, solo), Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Europe, Accept, Mötley Crue, Black Sabbath, Motörhead, Thin Lizzy are the main influences I would say, but with four people I guess this list could go on forever.
– Theres also another track that caught my attention, «No Sleep ‘til Hamilton». You’ve spent some time on the road, so I guess it deals with this? And is it also a little tribute to MOTÖRHEAD?
Henrik: Yeah, I would say half of the new songs deals with life on the road, “Demon Rider”, “No Regrets”, “Far away from home”, “No sleep ‘til Hamilton”. That song in particular, or the city in particular. Well, yeah. Where should I start and how should make a long story short? The city is Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. We’d spent previous night in Toronto homeless due to a shitty promotor, the we got Hamilton and after the show we decided to sleep in the car. Cops came and told us we had to get a hotel and everything was total chaos. And, yeah, a tribute to the world’s hardest touring band of course!
– All this about «Phoenix» being said; how could you describe it in just 3 words?
Henrik: Energetic, dynamic, party
– And finally, what are your near-future plans?
Henrik: This summer we start writing some new songs, we do two festivals, Headbangers Open Air and Der Detze Rockt in Germany. After that we go on a North American tour all of September with Züül and Borrowed Time. The we have some weeks off and then we could on a full-scale Europan tour. We WILL get to Spain this time – we promise!
– That’s all, thank you once more for answering our questions. If you want to add some final words; feel free to do it.
Henrik: We just, once again, wants to thank you for your interest in Screamer, say a massive thanks to all fans for showing up at the shows and we will catch you on the road!
