INTERVIEW... INSISION

Cheers Roger...

I know your last album "Revealed and Worshipped," was released in 2004, but I think you guys did an excellent job on it! This interview is quite awhile after previous release but it never hurts to keep the INSISION name in the spotlight.

R: Thank you. Some things have changed in our lineup since that release. Markus (drums) are now a full member of Insision and we have got ourself one more guitarrist(Magnus Martinsson).

The thing that hasn´t changed that much is our style of playing. Insision will always be dirty, complex and pure evil. Everything feels more solid in the band now. We are focusing on doing 110% when we go up and play e.t.c.

This time we will talk mostly about your new Death Metal killer album "Ikon".

R: Sounds like a good idea.

To start, could you tell us a bit about INSISION and the history of the band?

R: huh…Well Insision started up exactly 10 years ago with a demo called ”Meant To Suffer”, that time the whole scene wanted something new and more brutal than the usual Swedish DM bands playing at that time. The Gothenburg scene had a huge impact on many bands up here but NOT on us. We where a group of guys listening to Cryptopsy, Sinister, Cannibal Corpse, Deicide etc and wanted the brutal shit to some forward and kick the melodic shit ass. And from there Insision was born.

And now we are still here and trying to deliver the thing we like the most, witch is pure brutal Death Metal.

We have released 3 demos ”Meant To Suffer” ” Promo 2000” ”Revelation Of The SadoGod”, 1 Mcd ” The Dead Live On”, 1 Split with Inveracity (Greece) ” 3 Full Length albums titled ”Beneath The Folds Of Flesh” ”Revealed And Worshipped” and now ”IKON”.

In the beginning of 2000 Carl Birath took over the vocal parts from Johan Thornberg and Daniel Ekroth took over the Bass. Later Torbjorn Brynedahl came in backing up on guitars with me.

After The ”Revealed And Worshipped” album we had some differences in the band and Tomas(Drums) and Torbjorn(Guitar) started playing in a pop/glamrock band.

That was a hard period for us cause we didn´t had anyone who could fill in the space after Thomas and Toob until we tok contact with Markus (drummer from Pandemonic in that time).

We had like 3 weeks to reherse a whole set with Markus until we would tour Europe with Suffocation, Dementor and Disgorge U.S.

It was a pretty hectic but really great time we had with all the guys on that tour. After that Markus was of course introduced to join Insision.

Some troubles appeared AGAIN after that, now with our label Earache/Wicked World. Everything is business and as they saw the departure of our drummer and guitarist I think there reaction was that we couldn´t rise up again, At the same time we felt like the focus of the label, was more on other bands than Insision so in a way i think the spilt from Earache was good for us.

So now we have signed a deal with a Swedish label called ”Dental Records” which is Daniel from Threeman recordings and Ömer from Cold Records. Smaller label but hopefully better promotion for Insision.

After the signing we headed out for a second guitarist and where called up by a guy named Magnus Martinsson witch we rehearsed with for a while. And now he fits perfectly with Insision.

Right now we´re focusing on writing material for the next upcoming album.

"Ikon" is your third full-length release. How far do you think the band has come since your debut "Beneath the Folds of Flesh (2002)?

R: One thing is that we now how the music scene works now. Don’t let anyone try to rip us off.

We have matured as a group. Musically we try to go off just like we did when we started. Complex riffing with up and down tempos and and a structure within the songs. But we try to not have the same sound on every album. Trying to change the sound just a little bit on every release.

In your opinion, what makes "Ikon" a better album than your last effort, "Revealed and Worshipped"?

R:It´s a more tight record, More bottom in it. It´s hard to say that this is better because i like all the releases in a way. Everyone got its own things in it. It´s up to the listener to decide which he/her prefers.

Certainly INSISION is a very heavy band. What inspires such an intense and bludgeoning approach to metal?

R: Our inspiration is everything from Suffocation to Miles Davies to Cynic for example. When we write songs, we try focus pretty much on building up the song in a way so the listener can understand what’s going on even if it´s pretty complex. Always try to add a little extra on every record.

As a band, when writing music what is the goal, or what is it that you're trying to achieve?

R: The goal is to raise the limit on every record we do and in the same time, get the energy of the music and just go off and have a cool time as a band. We don´t want to take a step down and change the direction off the music. The day we start o think in that way then it is time to throw in the towel.

What kinds of topics does INSISION cover lyrically? Are the lyrics and important part of INSISION?

R: The lyrical parts is one side off Insision, the musical part is the other.

Carl- Generally?? Anti-religious and theological aspects of life and all around ones own existence, but It differs. I write lyrics from feelings and interpretation's of daily life and whatever comes up in that specific time or space are covered and channeled through my own personal beliefs and views on the world and beyond.

Lyrically, what concepts have you covered in the past, and what has been covered on "Ikon"?

Carl- Though i try to write concept or theme-based lyrics its hard to sum up some sort of ongoing "concept" and to try to list things that I cover lyrically, it is a waste of time and is a question of how you comprehend and "see" each lyric.

But I guess; life and death, Anti human and nihilistic views on the world and my fellow men and as well different kinds of atheism but also theism. Anguish, hate, depression and separation both physically and mentally... they are all "covered" on IKON. Writing should be a personal thing and giving the reader a journey into one's soul and mind... My latest work on IKON is just that.. A glimpse of my inner world and a reflection , a fraction in time, a part of my life.

What do you think the greatest beneficial change in INSISION has been over the years?

R: To have had the chance to meet up with all the crazy people within the DM scene. We´re all the same everyone of us. Even if you play in a band or not. Feels fucking great to be a part of it. Also that we have got the chance to play in different countries, Thailand, Australia, Europe region etc.

But we´re not done yet hehe.

How do you think INSISION is different from other death metal acts?

R: Well, It´s hard to be original nowadays but we try to write songs that has a little bit of everything the brutal scene deliver. I think Carl´s low voice is one of the best the scene has. With him, together with the riffing, i think Insision can be recognizable among the other bands.

Are you happy with the production on "Ikon"? Tell me more about the album production.

R:We had about two weeks to record the album and one week of mixing it so the time was pretty tight as always hehe

We got in and layed down the drum parts with a crappy guitar sound at first. Then Daniel came in and layed down the Bass parts. After that, i stepped in and recorded the guitars. And last Carl´s voice.

We usually take the same approach. Now we recorded the album with click which we didn´t do on our previous albums.

We got different mixes and we choose the one we liked the best.

How has your new guitarist, Magnus Martinsson , been doing in Insision?

R: He has come in with fucking great energy and it´s a step forward for all of us. In the beginning it´s hard to make a decisision if it is the right person or not. The guy who steps up as a guitarist must not just be a beast on guitar but also a cool guy personally. And Magnus is all of that.

Band members side projects?

R:Markus(Drums) is playing in a grind band called Remasculate. Fast and complex shit. Very cool band. Besides of that everyone is focusing on Insision right now.

Do you plan on touring in Europe in near future?

R: We are trying to deal with some promoters at the moment and hoping to do something beginning of 2008.

What albums have you been particularly impressed by from year 2007?

R: Honostly,In the death metal scene, It seems that a lot of bands are competing in who can play as fast as possible without thinking about the riffing. But one band that i think doing a great job at the moment is Sweden´s Degrade, they got fucking heavy parts and fast stuff, trying to mix it up in a good way. Defeated Sanity from Germany has developed and deliver good stuff to, as same as Italian Hour Of Penance. Great bands all of them.

What are you looking forward this and upcoming years?

R: Hope to get some new fresh tunes for the next record and tour with the guys in the band as much as possible.

Well, thank you for your time. Any final comments you'd like to make?

Thanks for this Interview. To everyone who hasn’t heard our new shit.

Be sure to get a copy of I.K.O.N.

Brutal Regards

R.Johansson / Insision

http://www.insision.com