Soilwork interview ('Speed' Strid): "We knew that we had to break some boundaries to keep it interesting"

Completing seventeen years in their career, Soilwork are called to prove with their brand new double album that they're not incidentally included among the top bands of their kind. Indeed, with "The Living Infinite" they perform a worthy comeback which in the future will most likely be referred to as one of their career's finest moments. The Swedes' singer, Bjorn 'Speed' Strid, is the one to take us on a tour inside the new album, to resolve the scenery around Peter Wichers' second departure, but also is proven to be a cool guy and a even more pleasant conversationalist.

Hi, this is Speed from Soilwork.

Hi Speed, it’s very nice to have the chance to talk with you.
Likewise, likewise...

It’s fair to say that "The Living Infinite" is your most ambitious album yet, as it contains of 20 songs and it clocks for approximately 80 minutes long. What made you take such a bold decision?
Well, I did have an idea when we were in pretty rough times with Peter (Wichers) going back and forth in the band, and we were not sure of what was gonna happen. And I did have an idea of making something bigger and having a big challenge for the band. And myself I could sense that we had a big distress, but we equally wanted to create something unique. You know, there’s not a lot of double albums that have been released by melodic death metal bands, for sure. So, I presented the idea, including the title "The Living Infinite", to the band in the summer of 2011, while we were doing the European festivals. And people were positively intrigued by the idea and thought it was pretty cool. But, that’s true, obviously we were a little bit worried about how we were gonna come up with that many songs. We didn’t wanna compromise, because the first part could turn out great and the second one less great, you know, and we didn’t want that. So, as soon as we started writing songs we thought that there was a really nice flow and there was a lot of inspiration, everyone in the band started writing songs, and it became really diverse, so at the same time it all made sense together. So, that’s how the album became like that, it was definitely our plan from the beginning.

You know, someone could say that this overcapacity is well expected and justified due to pages like iTunes, through which people can buy individual songs rather than albums. How would you respond to that?
Yeah, yeah, I see what you mean. Well, preferable you want people to listen to the whole album, but it does make sense for some people to buy songs every now and then, and maybe not whole albums. But the main purpose behind this album is really that it’s a double album in the true sense of the word, like it used to be in the old days, when bands released double albums. There is a reason even at the track order, it’s like a story. And this time it was like ‘yes, we should release a double album, there is a reason for it and it helps the story’ and that’s how I wanted it to be, it was something that I really wanted to do. But, of course I would prefer people to pay attention to the whole album.

Nevertheless, the album has a remarkable quality, which could not be foreseen even by your most optimistic fan, I guess, considering the recent line-up changes. What would you say was the key factor for this?
Well, I think that the key factor is that the whole band was involved, it’s really a matter of a band effort, while in most metal bands there’s usually two or sometimes one person writing all the material. You know, I thought it was quite unique in metal and being able to do something like this as a band, such an ambitious project, that’s really remarkable, as you said. And we knew that we had to break some boundaries to keep it interesting. Though the key of doing that in the studio is dynamics, you know, and that melancholic feeling of all of the albums. It’s sometimes turning into a hopeful vibe that we have and sometimes into a really dark feel. I guess the album is pretty easy to relate to.

I was personally caught off guard by the album, as I didn’t expect it to be so solid and focused. Because, you know, seen twenty songs you think that maybe the ‘fillers’ would be more than the ‘killers’, as we say. But that’s not the case at all. And I understand that most bands write many more songs before deciding which ones make it to the album. How many did you guys write?
We wrote probably a total of 26 songs. We didn’t really decide what songs were gonna be on the album, until the end of the recordings. We wanted to keep a little bit open, and I think that one of the key things to this album is that we left things open. I mean, I wrote some of the lyrics in the studio, and created some of the vocal melodies in a very spontaneous way. We have never really done that before. That was one of the reasons that it turned out so good and interesting.

Have you already picked a song for constituting the first video from the album? I’d choose "This Momentary Bliss" with no second thought...
Yeah, yeah, that’s definitely in there. We are gonna release a video and we’re actually debating, as we speak, which song to pick for a video, to think that it’s worth it. And it’s harder than ever, obviously, because we have twenty songs. But there’s gonna be more than one song and definitely "This Momentary Bliss" is one of them. So, yeah, that one is definitely gonna be one of the singles, so yeah.

With this album you have taken modern metal to an even higher level. Especially on tracks like the one that I mentioned, I simply can’t think of any other band being or have been so damn catchy yet remaining heavy at all cost. Is this due to the production style, the performances, the compositions themselves or some other factor?
It’s a combination, it’s got to be a combination. I mean, we have grown a lot as songwriters and we have definitely the best producer to realize our ideas, because Jens Bogren is really emotionally involved in our music. He loves the band and I think he did a thorough job at bringing a really organic sound. The album is not edited like crazy, like some other albums that you hear by a lot of bands, albums that sound so perfect. It’s almost like we wanted to keep this sound alive and I think you can hear that. And of course you can also hear that we had a lot of fun recording this album. There was a great vibe and so much passion on the music and we definitely shined through. And I think that’s exactly what you’re hearing and why you like the album. I think people can feel that.

There is a guest appearance from New Model Army’s Justin Sullivan in "The Windswept Mercy". Could you tell us more about that?
Well, he’s one of my absolute heroes, both as a singer and as a lyricist. And I’ve been growing up with this band, I began listening to the band at the beginning of the 90s. I met him actually in 2009, I talked to him, we had a long talk actually, even up to one hour, he was a really cool guy. So I got his e-mail address and, when I was in the studio working on "The Living Infinite" I was writing lyrics to a song named "The Windswept Mercy", I must have had New Model Army subconsciously in mind when I wrote that song, because I was feeling like 'Wow, the title really reminds me of New Model Army and even there was a first connection to New Model Army’s music'. So, I just decided to send him an e-mail and ask if he would be up for doing some guest vocals on the album. And he said 'Whoa yeah, it would be an honor, it will be cool, just send me the track and I’ll see what I can do'. So he got the track and he just found it fresh and beautiful and I thought that was amazing. We were recording vocals in London when he sent me back the track and just hearing him singing my lyrics, it was just joyous, really amazing to hear. And I think as a track it turned out really good.

You already told me that you have recorded six more songs. And you have the healthy habit of always including bonus material in every album you release. Is this album going to have any extra stuff on the side as well?
Well, it will have some extra stuff, I think there’s gonna be a 'making of' extra material, but about the bonus tracks, I’m not sure how they will be used, as it’s up to the label whether they have some plans for them, so I can’t reveal too much by now.

Ok, that’s understood. So, this is your second album without Peter Wichers in the line-up. What is different this time around, in comparison to "Sworn To A Great Divide"?
I can understand that some people, as soon as they heard that Peter was gonna come off the band again, they were immediately thinking of "Sworn To A Great Divide", you know. But this album is so much more powerful and I think especially since there was way better communication between the two guitars, Sylvain (Coudret) and David (Andersson). And I think that’s really fortunate because back in "Sworn To A Great Divide" Ola Frenning and Daniel (Antonsson) didn’t have much of a communication, both musically and on a personal level. So I think that’s mostly why. Because when you see them live, Sylvain and David, they have a great communication. So I think that’s what makes the difference... Plus obviously the production, which is not very ‘big’, we just wanted to go to clear, rock and melodic. That’s definitely something much different.

What did actually happen with Peter’s departure from the band? Is the term 'creative differences' covering for it or not?
No, not at all actually, and I’m quite shocked that he would put that as the reason. Because there were no creative differences, it was just a matter of him not being able to tour and being stressed and wanting to be with his family. And that’s very understandable, I mean I agree to that, anybody could understand. I don’t know why he would put that... It was a pretty big disappointment, to tell you the truth. But then again we’re definitely better off with David who really likes to tour, he enjoys it and he is very passionate about the music. As about Peter, he is now living in Phoenix and he’s working at Fender guitars. So I think he’s definitely happier about that too. So, yeah, it’s been a very interesting statement...

You had more than a few line-up changes throughout your career. What would you say was your greater loss, be it specific persons or the impact it had on the band as a whole?
Well obviously, especially the first time around, I mean when Peter left the band, it was pretty rough on a personal level, especially to lose Peter. He was a real friend of mine and it was hard in that way. But I was never really that worried about the musical part, because -even though Peter was the main songwriter- I was very confident that we had so many other great songwriters in the band. But on a personal level it was hard again, when you’re being together since you’re seventeen and one person drops off, obviously it’s pretty rough...

You and Ola Flink are the only members since "Steelbath Suicide". What hopes or dreams that you had back in ’98 have you accomplished up to today? Are there any that remain yet unfulfilled?
Hard to say, I mean I don’t think we were dreaming very big back in '98 with "Steelbath Suicide". We were just so happy to record an album in Studio Fredman... Seriously, that’s what we were into, just printing those songs and having a very good production. Having somebody like Fredrik Nordström producing it was fantastic. And the fact that we went to Japan was a major moment, you know, we didn’t expect that to happen. Already in 1999 we were there for the first time. We definitely had our ambition so many times, although we never expected all of this to happen. So I’m really grateful that we’re able to do this so far, because that was not easy, I couldn’t even put that in my mind.

You have worked with Devin Townsend on "Natural Born Chaos" and then again on "Sworn To A Great Divide". I can only assume that you are a follower of his work. What would you say that you’ve learned from him?
Well, I’ve learned how to not be afraid of breaking boundaries and go away from the norm and really experiment with my vocals. That’s one of the most important things, that you should not be afraid and really put yourself into the vocals. I’ve learned a lot from Dev...

Soilwork is definitely taking their unique style further with each release. Could you make a prediction as to where will your sound be at, five or ten years from now?
Oh man, that’s impossible... I mean, we have a feeling that this new album is marking a new era, so I’m very curious to see where this would peak at. Because I feel like we have a lot to say with this band and I think we’re reaching a new level with this album. So, it’s gonna be an interesting journey, for sure, but it’s really hard to predict.

You haven’t been in Greece for a show since 2001, when you were opening for Annihilator and Nevermore.
(Interrupts me) Twelve years, that’s insane...

Yeah, and I won’t ask you if you remember anything from that show, or the reasons why you never return, but is there a possibility for us to see you again here in the near future?
I really hope so, I doubt that there are any Greek festivals coming up in the summer, you know, because of the economy, which is really bad that has happened. I just hope that the economy will let us come back, if not on a festival then definitely on a European tour. I just find it remarkable that we haven't had a single European tour gone to Greece since 2001. ‘Cause we really enjoyed playing there that time, it was a great crowd, for sure, and it’s a shame that we haven’t come back.

I’ve always wanted to ask you... When Rob Halford praised your vocal abilities, how did you feel?
Oh, it was an amazing feeling, seriously. I remember it. The day I got to hear it, I remember that day clearly. I saw it in a magazine and just had to hold myself from breaking down and cry... (laughs) Yeah, it was a joy, for sure, I mean he’s one of my absolute heroes. I felt amazing, I can’t even express it with words...

Can you tell us your favourite albums for 2012?
Oh... that’s always a tough one. It’s just that I haven’t really though that there has been anything that had piqued my interest that much. I mean, I liked the Baroness album, I think it’s a pretty cool release. I guess I will just mention this one.

Ok Speed, is there anything else you’d like to add?
I really want to apologize for not being able to come to Greece for twelve years. I will try to push for it and hopefully we can return sometime soon, so I hope to see you there.

I can only say that the new album is amazing it sure will bring you here.
Thank you so much, man! Take care!