FACEBREAKER (Eng)

– Hi Mika. First off thanks for answering to this interview. What’s FACEBREAKER currently into?
No Problemo. I am starting to get used to it by now. We are rehearsing as hell and planning a release party for «Infected» in our hometown.

– To start, I would like you to introduce the band a little bit; how did it come together, when, etc.
To make a long story short. Facebreaker was formed at some party in -99 but back then I was not in the band. They wanted to play old school death metal so they put a band together containing. Jannne, Kniven, Jonte, Robert and Janos. At first they were into Pro Pain but that eventually turned out as old school death metal.

– And how did you come up with the band’s name? Does it represent you in any way or could you better say it represents your music?
The guitar player that I replaced back in 2003 ( Janos ) came up with the name. I think that the guys wanted to have a simple but straight forward name that represented the music. Facebreaker is all about breaking peoples faces with true brutality.

– You have just released your 3rd album; «Infected». How has been its feedback so far?
The feedback has been great so far. I read a lot of reviews and they are all about the same. People seem to like it and it turns out that there are a lot of people with a good taste in music.

– Most of the reviews I’ve read so far say this album sounds almost equal to your previous efforts; what are your feelings about that?
Well ….. We do what we do otherwieise we would not be Facebreaker.  We just continued to make songs after Dead, Rotten and Hungry so you might say that it is a continuium to that album.

– Do you see this as a defect? I mean, your evolution is obvious still without changing your style, and I think most people who dig your music isn’t looking for a more modern feeling nor weird experiments.
As I said. We do what Facebreaker are suposed to do. We don´t wanna let fans down.

– Anyway, I think we can notice a clear evolution both in the general sound and musicianship. Could you say this is your strongest piece ‘til date?
All musicians say that their latest work is the best one yet. So why should I be any different. But I know that this is the best and stongest FACEBREAKER album to this date.

– This could be thanks to the band is close to celebrate its 10th anniversary. How do you now value all these years of existence for FACEBREAKER?
Actually we have already celebrated our 10th anniversary.  The past years has helped us to see things differently and we are more serious within the band than before.  I allways try to look forward and and concentrate on makeing more and bettter Facebreaker songs.

– Guitars in this album have a trully «Swedish» feeling, something it might by obvious due to many different reasons, so I guess is just something natural for you?
This is totally natural for us. I don´t think that we have the traditional swedish sound but it is really raw and nasty. We don´t use old and traditional Marshall amps and Gibson guitars to get our sound. We are using ENGL amps that has been a part of every Facebreaker album.

– Some people compare you to «Swedeath» bands such as GRAVE or DISMEMBER, do you feel comfortable with it? Of course they’re both great bands, but I think you have some elements from other different styles as well, a more brutal sound, different production…
We are not craving for that typical sound at all. But if you combine deathmetal riffs and the fact that we come from sweden, then it automatically turns into the Swedish Death Metal that everyone keeps on nagging about. I think that you could compare us more with Bolt Thrower and I personally think that we have parts of songs that reminds me of Machine Head, Morbid Angel and Slipknot.

– I have not had the chance of reading the lyrics for this new album, but the titles make me think zombies are still one of your main themes?
Monsters and Zombies are the main theme of the songson Infected as allways. I think that it fits really well with the music and we are not a political band that has something to say to the fans. We want them to think twise before they go into the basement alone to switch a blown out fuse. There might be something lurking in the darkness.

– If I’m not wrong, you’re quite inspired by horror movies, what are your favourite ones?
I watch a lot of horror movies and have always done so since I was a little boy. Maby that is why I am so damn twisted.  I really enjoy horror movies and one of my favourite Horror movies is Evil Dead and of course all the wicked shit by the mastermind Dario Argento.

– Back in 2008 you signed with Cyclone Empire, so this brand new album is your first with this label (besides the vinyl edition for «Dead Rotten and Hungry», etc.) Why did you leave Pulverised? Are you satisfied with the work done so far by Cyclone?
We left Pulverised because we had some issues that we were not happy with. Otherwise Pulverised treated us well. It was just that time for Facebreaker to move on. All the guys at Cyclone Empire is really great guys. they are really promoting the new album and it is about time that we get the proper distribution that we deserve.

– All your full length albums so far have been released by different record labels, has this been a handicap to promote them? Do you think will you have more continuity this time with Cyclone Empire?
We have finally found the right label for us but this time it feels right. We will definitely be a part of Cyclone for a long time.

– As usually, «Infected» has been recorded with Jonas Kjellgren at the Black Lounge Studios, so I guess you’re happy with the results you achieved working with him.
Yes we are. I would not take Facebreaker to another studio. Jonas is such a great guy to work with and he knows what we want.

– I read this time you have also worked with Peter Tägtgren at the Abyss Studios, how was like working with him?
He is a very professional guy to work with and he has the same sick humor as the rest of the guys. So we got along really well with him.

– And how was the production process? Did it change due to have been working with two different studios?
Nothing changed but the fact that we somtimes recorded in two studios at the same time. Everything that Peter recorded ended up in Jonas studio anyway so he was the mastermind of puting it all together as usual.

– I’m really curious about the effects you used for the bass, since it’s quite audible and brings a really thick sound to your music…
On all the other Facebreaker albums we have recorded the Bass with a lot of distortion. This time Peter was the genius behind the brutal bass sound. We used a SansAmp and that turned out really great. It is a much more clean sound than we have used before. It sounds better when everything is not a big mess and all the instuments melt together.

– And finally, what are your near-future plans? Any upcoming tour to support the album live?
We are talking to several Booking agencies and we will probably do some touring in the near future.

– That’s all Mika, thank oyu once more for your time. Now if you want to add
any final words to the interview feel free to do it.
Well as allways. Keep supporting death metal or I will come and kill you. See ya out there!!
Cheers
//M Lagreen