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1. First off, the "Frost-Work" MCD is excellent! Could you give us some history of the band? Thanks and Certainly, Kyle! We started out back in '97 as a band flirting with the American 90's metal like Pantera, Sepultura e.t.c. but with time new influences appeared and our musical style changed as well. It wasn't until summer of '98 when we recorded our first demo "The festival of fools" that you could hear the melo-death influences. By then Christian Alvestam of Unmoored joined us as session-vocalist but became a permanent member in 1999. We recorded our promo CD Desideratum late '99 ( Frost-Work is the same recording, only re-mastered ). We recieved great response on that one and in summer 2000 we signed a deal with the danish label Mighty Music. 2. What's the meaning behind using Solar Dawn for the band name? I don't think it's a special mening behind using it. We thought it was a suitable name. Easy to say and powerful at the same time. We used to call us Jarawynja in the beginning but then we noticed the American band Wynjara and thought the similarities was too big. So that's one of the reasons we changed it. We are pretty sure now that Solar Dawn can't be mistaken with any other band. 3. Hows the response been to "Frost-Work"? I would say it has been better than expected! I can't recall reading any bad review this far! I heard by our labelboss that a german magazine gave us an awful review. But I guess they expected us to be another grind/death band as most of our collegues on Mighty Music he he. Or the reviewer didn't like us at all .Frost-Work recieved great reviews in Canada and the States too, and that's really cool! I'd really like to play live in the States but I think you guys will have to wait for us some years. 4. There were no lyrics included in the release, could you give some explanations to the subject material? I think both me and Christian writes lyrics about subjects that fascinates us or touches us. For example "Arisen Composure" was written after I had watched a TV program about a big fire in a nearby town, where 60 young persons died due to blocked exits. They discribed this young boy who had to amputate one leg and one arm and looked like something the cat use to brought in. I think he went through 22 plastic surgeries as well. But he had such a love for life and was so extremely glad to be alive, it didn't affect him beeing damaged for life. It was really touching!!! 5. I know you've just finished recording your first full-length album "Equinoctium". How did the recording process go? We had like one week booked in the Abyss and thought like: Damn, we havenīt got any time, we won't make it! But when the drums were recorded it all just went on great and by the end of the week we had a lot of time to focus on lyrics and mixing. We decided that the one who made a song played guitars on it. That way we saved a lot of time I think. So Christian plays additional guitars on some songs. Another fact is that it's easy working with Tommy Tagtgren. He listen to your opinion and works fast plus he functions both as an engineer and co-producer. 6. Are you completely satisfied with this album? I don't think you will ever be 140% satisfied with a recording. But this IS our first full-length album and the first time we've ever been in a real studio plus the lack of studiotime. All in all it's a hell of a job we made that week in the Abyss! So of course we are satisfied! 7. I read that you used a session-drummer for the recording. Have you found a permanent drummer yet? Henrik Shconstrom who's the drummer of Unmoored asked us if we were interested in using him as drummer. He really liked our new material. And since we split rehersal room with Unmoored, we thought it could be a great idea. We haven't rehearsed with him yet, since he lives about 400 km away from us. But if it works out we will use him. 8. How does "Equinoctium" sound in comparision to the " Frost-Work" MCD, that was released in january? Hard to say! First of all, some songs on F-W are 2 years old. We have developed our technical skill and composing skill since then. We have also worked more with arrangements and contrasts on Equinoctium. I wrote like 95% of the material on Frost-Work. This time Christian wrote a great deal, so there will be some major changes. He composes in a total different way than I do. But the major difference, I think, is the brutality and groove on Equinoctium and the contrasts between each and every one of the songs. 9. Could you name off some songtitles for us? OK! First "Spellbinder" track no.1. A real "HIT". Then it's "Vulturous Needs", track no.2. This one is a bit slower but extremely heavy. "Deicidal Beliefs" track no.5. A song that is very melodic and flirts with blackmetal. "At the threshold of time" track no.3. A song which is calm but heavy at the same time. This one is very influenced of traditional swedish folkmusic. Well, I won't tell you more. You have to wait until the release in Aug/Sept.:) 10. Sounds like we are in for a treat! Have you done any liveshows yet? If so, how did they go? Unfortunately we haven't done a liveshow since August last year. We lost our drummer at the end of the year and then we had to prepare for the recordingsession plus I work on a foundry a lot so we havenīt had the time! But there will be a change! We will do some livegigs when releasing Equinoctium. It's important to do marketing for an album and I think playing live is the best way. We also have to rehearse with Henrik first. 11. I know Christian has a half dozen other bands that he plays in. Do you have any other projects at the moment? Yes, I play in a band named C-ment! Some sort of Disco,Industrial,Metal-project! Further I have plans to form a thrashband. I just have to make sure I got the time for it. These are just sideprojects, since I prioritate Solar Dawn. 12. What is your favourite album of 2001 so far? I think The Forsaken "The Manifest of Hate" is no.1. I heard it when recording Equinoctium. Tommy played it on his CD and it was like: Wow! Extremely aggressive and brutal, just the way I want it. Vomitory "Revelation Nausea" is another release I listen to a lot. I would say they are the best death metal band hailing from Sweden, right now. Together with The Crown. 13. What do you like to do in your free-time besides music? Personally I like to relax from work. Watch TV and have a pizza for example. I also try to play the guitar and compose as much as possible. But I'm kind of a "in the mood person" I need some kind of inspiration to be able to write music. It is,however, not difficult to find mostly. I also like having a beer with my friends. 14. Thanks for your time, any closing comments? Thanks to you, Kyle! It's been a pleassure. To all metalheads out there: Check out Solar Dawn "Frost-Work" and keep your eyes open for "Equinoctium", release somewhere between August and September 2001. If you are fans of heavy,brutal and melodic deathmetal this is a MUST! Also check out the official Solar Dawn homepage: www.solardawn.cjb.net /Metal to the bone! |