THE UNGUIDED (Eng.)
– Hello, thanks for answering to our questions. What’s currently keeping the band busy?
Hey there! It’s definitely Hell Frost! There are new things going on all the time basically. We’re also getting ready for our hometown show by the end of December and actually already started to write some new music for coming adventures as well.
– First of all as you were formed recently, I would like you to share some history of the band.
Well, The Unguided is really just two brothers and three old friends with similar musical passion looking to have a good time! We just happened to consist of 4 out of 5 former Sonic Syndicate members and by a series of events, we continued with the quality sound we had going in that old band a couple of years ago (which is no longer present in it unfortunately.) We want to proceed with going our own way and we’ll have no directing fingers pointed for us, hence the name. It’s insanely organic and everyone is having the time of our lives in the constellation!
– And why the name «The Unguided»? It makes it sound like you are now totally free, doing what you want with no one telling you what to do or play, with no masterplan.
There is a master plan. There is always a masterplan! But yeah, you’re right. In this band we are bringing the power back to just that, the band that is. Putting the music in the center of attention again, where it belongs! And all political and business related bullshit we have thrown to the backseat. This is about following our own musical preferences and visions, not about being altered or transformed the way the market expects you to. The Unguided is not only band name but a statement of the mentality in the band and its working partners. We’ve done it the way others wanted it before, now it’s high time to do it the way WE want it.
– I gues some people may think THE UNGUIDED is like SONIC SYNDICATE part II, how do you feel about it and about comparisons? Anyway, beside the differences in both bands, I could say some kind of comments are something natural.
The way I view it is that in The Unguided we have carried on with the same vision we had intended for Sonic Syndicate originally. It’s the very same organism so to speak. If that’s Sonic Syndicate pt.2 or just in fact pretty much the same force, that’s up to each and every one really. Fact is; in this band we have the people that made Sonic Syndicate grandeur and shaped the sound of it in the first place. No matter how we twist and turn it, our music will always sound more classic Sonic Syndicate then they ever will in the future. If we all were still in the old band; “Hell Frost” would probably be the album we would have written for that band. Think worthy!
– Another band, another name, another record label… Is it like starting again from zero or, as you are already well-known names into the scene, is everything easier now?
It’s not exactly like starting again from zero since our individual names still have a high market value and is well known in the business. Having such strong argument in the backpack as our history, is an excellent tool for building our new band as well. But in some senses it’s like starting all over again yes, but that’s only positive! We wanted a new beginning. And with all the experience we have from the past, we’re not looking to walk blindly or naively into traps. We want to do it right from the start! A clean slate suited us fine.
– Getting a bit into the present of the band, you have recently released your debut full-length album, «Hell Frost»; how’s being its feedback so far? Are you pleased with it?
The feedback has been utterly amazing! We’ve got so much support from all over the world its ridiculous, and fans just continue to flood in as they continue to discover us. Frankly we’ve not been doing any promotion until the album release and people just start to know about our existence. Everything is growing rapidly and we are very pleased with the progress. As for the album, we believe we’ve done our best piece of art up to date and we are all very proud.
– I could say this is an album better than any SONIC SYNDCATE effort released; do you also think so? Why didn’t you do something like «Hell Frost» when you were in the other band? I mean, did it come out naturally or maybe this new start has given you renewed energy and you are now giving you 110%?
I agree. This album sound way more mature, experienced and organic than anything we’ve ever released with Sonic Syndicate. It all came to us very naturally as we got to write straight from our hearts with no thoughts of the business or other stupid variables. Music is art; people should treat it for what it is and not try to disgrace it by trying to fabricate something with every trick in the book; just to gain commercial success. It’s easy to spot whatever music is written from the heart or it’s just… well; written? We sat down, wrote the music and songs we would love to listen to ourselves, recorded it and that’s what you find on “Hell Frost”.
– I guess also being with a new label, Despotz Records, has been like breathing fresh air so, if this project works; have you thought about moving to a bigger label? Or is it too soon or is it everything going good with them even to think on something like that?
We are very happy with Despotz and have no intensions of moving anytime soon. They let us do what we want, we deliver. Simple as! It’s not about the size; it’s about the velocity hehe.
– Drummer John Bengtsson has recently joined you, so its just Karin left to complete the best SONIC SYNDICATE’s era. Maybe could this be a possibility in the future?
Karin will never be a part of The Unguided. Besides we are extremely happy with our bassist Henric Carlsson (Cipher System), he’s a great resource to the band and grown to be a good friend to all of us, even if he doesn’t have boobs.
– In fact, though your music is heavier than the latest albums by SONIC SYNDICATE, the pattern or basis seems to be almost the same; do both bands have different influences behind them?
If this album is similar in structure to Only Inhuman or Love and other disasters, I could agree to that partly. But if you are referring to We Rule the Night, you couldn’t be more wrong. The first three albums of Sonic Syndicate were written in similar ways as Hell Frost. Bigger parts (the tainted part obviously) of We Rule the Night was written in an entirely different way. We all get influences by different things and I don’t think they have stayed the same during the years, it’s just when me, my brother and Roland write songs together this is basically how it turns out.
– Lyrics on the album deal with peronal relationships and dailty themes. If I’m not mistaken you are the main responsible for lyrics so, do they deal with you real experiences?
I write all the lyrics yes. And every lyric is a kind of metaphoric and more or less subjective diary entry for me. It’s all connected to things going on in my life. It’s been a busy year for me with fundamental changes in my life. It wasn’t hard to write good content out from that into the lyrics. And yes everything I write is tied to something I’ve experienced or reflected over.
– On the other hand, main songwriters are both Roland you and Roger; how was this process like for the album? Though you they are the two main composers; does everyone have its own saying?
Roger writes the original compositions and Roland sprinkles it with his brilliant ideas, add the guitar solos and whatnot. Everyone does have a saying, but we are pretty close to each other when it comes to taste in quality so it’s never really an issue. We are very diplomatic through, and it’s easy to be diplomatic when everyone actually thinks the same hehe.
– Jonas Kjellgren (SCAR SYMMETRY) took production duties; are you satisfied with his work?
We’re always satisfied with Jonas work and frankly he’s as big part of our sound as we are ourselves. We’ve worked with him on several productions in the past and it’s always top of the line. Wouldn’t want to have it any other way!
– Peter Tägtgren featured some guest vocals; how did you come up with this idea? And what has he brought to the track? I think he has added a new deep to the song, as he has always had a really extreme harsh vocals.
Jonas and Peter shares studio (The Abyss) actually. Initially those parts were supposed to be melodic voice parts but it just felt more natural to have them screamed. And since I always been a huge fan of this legendary man, I walked into his part of the studio and asked if he could shoulder them for us hehe. Turned out amazing!
– Anyway, you also confirmed Mikael Stanne, Whiplasher, Hansi Kürsch and Christoffer Andersson to be featured on the album but they finally couldn’t so, can we then expect a next album with all those guest artists?
I’d love to include them all on guest vocals on our second album. Whatever it will be reality or not; only the future can proclaim. But I will sure push for it!
– And finally, what are your near-future plans? Can we expect some touring for the album?
We’ll support the album as much as possible. We won’t do any extensive touring but we’ll do weekend gigs and maybe two week variants of tours. We’re also looking to record more videos of the album and other fun features for the fans. The Unguided’s Facebook is very active and there’s new stuff going on all the time. We’ve, as said, already started to think about the next album as well! Seeing we won’t tour as much, we think we at least can release albums more often hehe.
– That’s all from our side, thanks again for taking the time. If you now want to add some final words; feel free to do it.
Thank you! If there’s something that hasn’t already been answered I’m sure it has been addressed in my blog earlier over at http://richardsjunnesson.blogg.se Check it out. All the Best /Richard
