Swedish-Canadian collaboration AngelBlast has recently released their second 7" called "Throne Of Ashes" on Edged Circle Productions (review can be found here). The guys who are also involved in bands such as Darkened, Necrophobic or In Aeternum deliver a really awesome mixture of black/death metal on this two-song piece. I was pretty much (attention, a pun) blasted when I listened to this and had to get more into this band. So, I took the chance and asked guitarist Hempa Brynolfsson some questions about the band and their future plans.

Michael

Hi Hempa, I have to confess that I wasn't aware of AngelBlast until I stumbled over the new promo I had in my mailbox. Can you introduce the band a little bit?

Yes, Hi Michael! AngelBlast are a new project by me and Gord Olson, also vocalist in my other band Darkened. It all started with some tracks I wrote one evening in late 2019. And it didn't really fit for Darkened, so instead of just putting in the vault of riffs (that I usually do) I thought that this would be cool to do something with. So I contacted Gord and said: Hey, I got two tracks that are too good to just put away. And asked him if he was interested to work with me and put out a 7". And he thought it was a great idea, so the same evening I wrote down the foundation lyrics for 'Rotting Paradise' and 'Descending Of The Immortals', and Gord finished them later on. So, we were a two-piece band, me doing the guitars and bass, and Gord doing the vocals and lead-guitars. The drums are programmed, but I think it sounds ok, not as good as real drumming of course. Gord did a great job with mixing and mastering. So, we had a product ready for release. I talked to our label that release the Darkened stuff, Edged Circle Promotions. They really liked the tracks and agreed to release the 7" vinyl in late 2019.

You released your new 7" in January which is called "Throne Of Ashes". I was really amazed about the aggressiveness and the energy that the two tracks have. How did you get the ideas for the composition?

Well, after the release of Rotting Paradise we felt that when the time comes, we really wanted to do another 7". So, again I wrote two tracks in the same vein as the other ones, and right away felt that we really need a real drummer this time.

A really cool element in the title track is the gloomy piano part in the end. Who had the idea for it and who played?

Yes, that's Gords idea, and he's playing it. Just a perfect ending to that track. It really gives the right mood to the track.

Listening to the songs, I find quite a lot of influences in the tracks, just to name a few: Dark Funeral, Necrophobic (which isn't such a big surprise having Johan as bass player), Slayer, Morbid Angel…would you agree with me?

Well, I'm of course influenced by all the metal I grew up listening to. And I like that you're mentioning Slayer and Morbid Angel, that's two important bands for me, along with the early releases from Possessed/Death/Pestilence/Sepultura.

In comparison to the 2019 EP, where only Gord Olson and you were involved, you are now a quartet playing together with Johan Bergebäck and Perra Karlsson. How did it come to this?

Yes, when we prepared for the second 7" we realized that we really need a real drummer. So, I asked Perra if he was interested, and he was. Then we thought that Johan would be perfect for doing the bass. Me and Johan have been close friends for 30 years, and we've never been playing together, so that is really cool that we finally managed to accomplish that now.

Talking about Johan, I was pretty surprised that Sebastian Ramstedt isn't on board, too. Quite usually they always use to play together in a band, haha!!

He he, yes that's true. They are great guys and always doing great things together.

What are the lyrical topics you mostly deal with? Looking up on metal-archives, there are mentioned giants, Nephilim and demons…. quite general.

When it comes to the lyrics of AngelBlast it mostly dealing with Armageddon and the end of humanity. But again, it's more up to the listener/reader what the lyrics is about. There can be more to the lyrics than you can see in the text, many different layers, and ways to perceive it.

What is the 'Throne Of Ashes' you're singing about?

The 'Throne Of Ashes' can be a symbol for mankind's ego and immaturity, that we think we're the greatest species that exists. A throne of gold, that in reality is just a throne of ashes, as we're nothing compared to advanced civilizations that may exist beyond our knowledge.

On which formats will "Throne Of Ashes" be released? Will it only be as a vinyl single and as a digital version or also on CD?

It will only be released as vinyl and digital version.

Now, my most important question….do you have planned to record a full-length?

Well, we've recently decided to start the progress to do a full length album. We're blown away by the reviews and feedback of the 7", and I think that triggered us to continue this path of pain!

Are there some other plans for the future (as far as one can figure out something these days)?

We've just finished our second full-length with Darkened, mixed and mastered by Dan Swanö, sent to the label, will be released in May 2022. So now I'll just continue doing music for AngelBlast and Darkened.

Do you have some last words for our readers?

Thank you, Michael, for this interview! Cheers to the readers of MetalBite!! If you haven't heard AngelBlast, check it out and be prepared to be blown away by brutal aggressiveness and pure HATE!! Hails from the northern cold, Cheers!

Thank you very much for the interview!