Withering Surface are releasing their first new album in 15 years and continuing where they left off. But this is not the kind of reunions with only nostalgia and nothing new to manifest. This is a far better version of the band with inspiration from the very early material but also with a new take on the classic Scandinavian metal sound they’ve always loved and represented.
I had a lot of questions. It’s been 15 years after all.
But I narrowed it down to one thing.
Hej and welcome to MHF magazine. We are thrilled to have you on board.
Hej! We are happy to be here. Thanks a lot for the interest in our band!
Imagine the smile of your fans’ face when they open one of the 500 limited blue vinyl LPs. Imagine you are in the room with them. Pick one reaction: Casual hug, hand-shake, bro fist, a welcoming squirt of hand sanitizer, or horns up the DIO way?
I’d foot bump the hell out of them! Foot bumps are so silly, but also kinda fun and takes the seriousness out of the situation while keeping it serious.
What’s one thing you missed after so many years not being active in the band?
I missed the people and I missed playing melodic music. After we quit in 2005, I went in a quite different direction, maybe as an opposition to all the bad shit that lead to our breakup. For the last five years, I’ve been writing a lot melodic music for a project and when I was approached about the reunion with the “close-to-original” lineup, I realized that it was exactly what I needed.
And what’s one thing you didn’t miss at all?
The controversies and the bad energy.
What would you like to be known for? Pick one thing to be your legacy.
Memorable and catchy tunes.
What’s one message you really want to get across with this particular album?
That after four albums and a looooong breakup, we still have the best to offer!
What’s one thing you’d say to your maker if you were to meet them now?
I believe, you are your own maker and meeting your maker is a reminiscence of your life. So it would be like talking to myself and waaaay to comprehensive for this…
What’s one thing you have in common with all the band members?
I guess the love for music. Really, nothing else. We are very different types of people! Music really is great in bringing people together.
From your experience what’s one bullet-proof way to kick off a career in the metal music industry?
Do your own thing and do what you want to do. You can’t launch a career based on what you think to be popular or will get you well on the way without believing in it. You’ll fail and you’ll be miserable doing so.
What’s one piece of advice you’ve gotten during your career that actually helped you a lot to become the artist that you are today?
Trust yourself.
Let’s envision the future of Scandinavian metal. If you could ensure one thing about the future of Scandi metal, what would that be?
That we will ALWAYS have the Swedes, haha!
Thanks again for you time and effort! It is much appreciated.
Cheers,
Allan and WS
Until we meet again I salute you (with a bro fist, a foot bump, and no hand sanitizer)
Chelf on behalf of MHF magazine.
