Chaos Manifesto is the name of the newest album of Demonical. If you haven’t heard it yet make sure that it will happen soon, because this is the album that is not to be missed. I had a chance to ask few questions, and Martin Schulman (bass) found some time to get us in on what is going on currently, what was going on previously, what will be happening. You get the jist. Read on.

Tomek

I want to congratulate you on the job well done with the new album, it kicks serious ass - time and time again!! How is Demonical doing freshly after recording of the album and right before release?

Thank you, cool that you like the album. We are doing fine and rehearsing for the upcoming shows and festivals. We haven't played live since last summer as we have been working on the album so it feels great to return to the stages with new killer material.

It's been five years since the release of Darkness Unbound; so far the longest gap between the albums. Why so long, what was going on, what was happening?

Yeah! It has taken some time since our last full-length, but do keep in mind that we released the Black Flesh Redemption MCD in 2015. Even if it was just a MCD it almost "grew" to a full-length in terms of touring, promotion, etc., hence it has taken some time to get the new album together.

Chaos Manifesto, the new chapter in Demonical saga, will see the light of the day this month. First song 'Towards Greater Gods' is out already and it’s a beast, what can metalheads expect from the rest of new album?

Fans can expect a solid but varied album full of Swedish death metal darkness! There are some differences between the tracks which keep the album interesting; it's not like listening to the same track over and over again for 40 minutes.

Are you preparing anything special for the big date; will there be a video for any of the new songs?

Two tracks/singles have already been released and there is a third one coming before the album is out. We will headline the Braincrusher Fest in Germany on Friday 23 March, the album release-date, so that can be seen as some kind of release show.

New album cover is stylistically close to what Demonical was doing previously (maybe except Death Infernal). Is there a main idea behind the art direction if it comes to album covers, can you tell me more about the process? How do you make your decisions when choosing the cover for a new album?

We always try to find artworks that represent the band and give a hint what the album is all about. I personally hate these standard Photoshop covers; I want more old-school drawings or paintings that are made by someone who is really an "artist", not just anyone who is able to use a computer program. I do also prefer to buy an existing artwork from an artist so I can see it beforehand how it looks instead of telling someone to do something as then there is a risk that it doesn't turn out the way you have hoped or wished.

There are some new faces in the band. Line up in Demonical seems to be ever-changing. Can you please tell us more about the reasons for those changes, and maybe introduce the new guys.

I wouldn't really call it ever-changing, but, as with all bands, we do also have line-up changes - and now it has happened that we have had a few during the last years. We haven't kicked anyone out from the band except the latest vocalist, all other previous members have quit mainly because they have found other things that they consider more interesting than playing in Demonical. Line-up changes can be hard and irritating, but as long as you find better and more dedicated members than the one who left, things are ok. The current line-up is very solid and I hope and believe it will stay this way now.

Pehr Skjoldhammer of Alfahanne appears as a guest vocalist on the new album. How did that collaboration come to life?

Already a few years ago we decided that we want a track with Swedish lyrics for the next album, and when I had written the music for 'Välkommen Undergång' I realized "this is it, this is the track that should have those lyrics". But I knew also that none of us is not going to write those lyrics; instead we knew that Pehr should do it as he is a master of that kind of Swedish poetry. So we asked him and he agreed, being a good friend of us of course helped I think. When he had written the lyrics we quite naturally came up with the idea to have him do some guest vocals on the track, and I think the result became really great. Again, this was some new territory for Demonical but we explored it well.

What was the most important element when you worked on new songs? Do you work collectively on the new material?

I wrote the music to eight of the nine tracks we recorded but then we worked together on some arrangements and all details. So in a way it was a collective work and the result wouldn't have turned out this good without the involvement of the entire band. The process is that I write at home and then I rehearse first with the drummer to get all drum stuff finished, then we rehearse with the whole band and make changes and adjustments if needed. After that, we record a rough demo of the track so that Alex can work on the lyrics and make a pre-production recording.

New album is a definite Demonical, but I was wondering about the creation process. Was it easy and natural, did everything go as planned?

Yes it went rather easy and I had a good flow with ideas when I wrote the music. I try not to limit myself too much when writing, I know what suits Demonical and how the stuff should sound, but I’m open to influences and ideas from other kinds of metal as well, and not only death metal.

I think, and I hope that you'll agree, that every Demonical album is a step forward in development for the band. What do you think you have made better this time around, how does the new album progress the band in your opinion?

Yes, I think this album is a good step forward and one of the reasons for this is the new line-up and the dedication everyone has put into the recording and band in general. We made also a proper pre-production recording this time, this was also something new for us, so we got a better picture of how the album will sound, and we were also able to make some changes before we started with the actual recording. So all in all, there are several reasons why this album is clearly our strongest effort so far!

I've never had the chance to see you live, so let me ask you this: what are the three songs that you "just have to play" at every show?

There are a few tracks from each album that people want to hear, for example 'Death Metal Darkness' from our second album Hellsworn and 'March for Victory' from Death Infernal. So we try always to have interesting set lists containing both golden classics and newer stuff.

Since we are on the subject, will you follow the release of the new album with some touring; are there shows on the agenda yet, any USA dates?

We have quite a lot European shows and festivals coming up this spring and summer and then we will see if there will be some real tour in the fall. We have played the US a couple of times, at Maryland Deathfest, and it would be cool to come over for some proper touring, but of course everything depends on the logistical and economical factors. But let's hope something will happen later this year or during next.

You've been with Cyclone Empire since the beginning I think but new album comes out through Agonia Records - what was the reason for the change?

We left Cyclone Empire already in 2014 when we had fulfilled our old contract, as we weren't really happy with the label and how things turned out. So we checked with other labels and got a bunch of offers, Agonia had the best one and they seemed genuinely interested in the band - so we signed with them. The 2015 MCD Black Flesh Redemption was our first release through Agonia but yeah, this is our first full-length through them.

There used to be some kick ass cover songs on Demonical albums in the past but there are none on anything newer. Why did you decide to drop that idea?

We have felt that our own material is strong enough so there is no need for any cover songs. Of course it would have been cool to record some cover tunes for upcoming "B-sides" so to speak, but we haven't really found any good tracks that are interesting and that we feel we can give justice to. Better to concentrate on our own material and make that as strong as ever possible. There are too many bands recording covers just for the sake of it, I mean how fucking exciting is it with a lousy death metal band doing an Iron Maiden cover with cookie monster vocals that sounds like shit?

When I visited your website, I noticed a link to Killer Vodka in the menu. Not much else can be found when you click on the link though, what gives?

Well our website is not really up-to-date anymore, there will be a new site online any day now, but the Killer Vodka is a German brand we had a small sponsor deal with. Or maybe we still have, I haven't been in touch with them for a while hehe.... Well we got some free vodka bottles every time we were in Germany so that was a nice deal [laughs].

Thanks for your time. Last line is yours.

Thanks for your support, much appreciated! Keep the flame burning!

Perhaps unheard of outside some of the more cluttered European scenes, Heimdall are making some waves with their strong power/heavy metal tracks. "The Almighty" is album number three from these 6 Italian stalwarts. I, myself am not a big power fan, but I really have to give these guys credit for coming out with such a credible and infectious record. Band founder and guitarist Fabio Callurio was good enough to have a glance at my questions and jot down a few answers.

Jack 'Odel'


First off, thanks for answering these questions for myself and the power metal fans around the world. Congratulations on "The Almighty," it is one of the most satisfying power albums of last year. You guys ought to be proud.

Thank you very much. I'm very, very happy that you like our last album. "The Almighty" is very important for us because it represents our return after three years of absence from our previous CD "The Temple of Theil" because of some problems such as the change of the vocalist and the change of the label. It's like a new start and we are happy about how the songs have come out.

Heimdall started in 1994 with you and your brother who wanted to make a heavy metal band. Did you guys have power metal in mind from the very start, or did you want to be a death metal band or what?

Heimdall started as a heavy metal band from the beginning, we just wanted to play the music that we love. However my brother and I had already experience in an 'epic-black' metal band with whom we recorded a CD.

One thing that struck me first about Heimdall and "The Almighty" is that you seem to be striving to be making a name for yourselves based on your unique attributes, instead of being another Rhapsody clone for example. I think it is all too easy to become another 'nameless band' in the power metal scene.

Many people have told me that Heimdall have their own personality and I'm happy that you think that, too. For us it's a great compliment and with our music we don't want to be similar to this or that band, but just to express our way to play music. When I compose a track, I try to follow only my ideas and my feelings and not to copy the other bands. Of course we like many bands that obviously influences our way to write music.

Do you truly feel that "The Almighty" is your strongest album? I haven't listened to your other two records; could you tell me how "The Almighty" differs from those?

"The Almighty" is our third album after "Lord of the Sky" and "The Temple of Theil." I think that they are different to each other because each of them catches the sensations and the emotions of the time when it was composed and recorded. "Lord of the Sky" can be considered as the result of our first 4 years of life... in this album you can hear the best things that we composed from the birth of the band. Some of its tracks were written between 1994 and 1995. The CD is a storm of metal; rich of emotions, anger, power... that album has all the spontaneity that has always characterised our sound. It's a true storm of energy! In "The Temple of Theil" you can hear more attention towards the arrangements in comparison to our first album and a more symphonic aspect due to a major presence of orchestral parts. In spite of this, it preserves energy and spontaneity. "The Almighty" is more direct than "The Temple of Theil," and the guitar sound is more present. Someone told me that it can be considered a natural continuation of the previous albums, someone else said that it's something a bit different... however the people that have listened to the new album have defined it as a personal and involving piece of work. For me "The Almighty" is a fist in your face, a mix of energy, melody and anger pervaded by a sense of melancholy, probably due to the particular and difficult period – characterised by many changes - both for the band and for me when it was composed! This album is also rich of force, pride and braveness... it's Heavy Metal!

Does the Italian music scene provide a good fan base? There seem to be quite a number of metal bands coming out from Italy.

In Italy metal is followed by a solid number of people, but our scene cannot be compared with the German or Scandinavian ones where there is more attention and more possibilities for the heavy metal bands. In Italy these last years the scene has increased and many new bands, new labels, many web sites have started. I think that the situation will be better in the next years, even if there are still many things to do if we want reach the levels of the German metal scene, I'm not speaking about the passion of the metal fans but above all of the organizations that are around the metal bands.

Anything particular you wanted to achieve lyrically with "The Almighty?" Is there a theme to what you write, something that binds each song from "The Almighty" together in such a way that you can tell a song from your new album from one of your previous albums?

Regarding the lyrics, like "Lord of the Sky" and "The Temple of Theil;" "The Almighty" is a concept but it's very different from them. While "Lord of the Sky" was a concept about the Nordic myth and the god Heimdall, from his birth to the twilight of the gods and his death, and "The Temple of Theil" was a mythological and fantastic story – created by us - based on the deeds of two warriors, Sidgar and Iselin, in the new album each song has an own story even if the lyrics are linked by some common subjects. They are all about the search, the journey, often towards something difficult or impossible to reach and seen through different experiences such as dream, death, art, love, war, glory and/or immortality. The protagonists of the lyrics roam in search of something - often unexplainable or unreachable. It could be a divinity, the wish for being immortal, a woman, the absolute knowledge, the eternal glory, the mystery that lies beyond our existence... with the word "The Almighty" I summarize these elements that they miss and that they manage to reach often with all their strengths. In the opener 'The Calling,' the epic melodies follow a lyric that talks about the journey towards the glory and freedom in battle. It is inspired by those men who, during the history, have been able to lead their armies to fight in the name of what they believe in, even in the darkest times. In 'Wanderer' the protagonist finds himself to roam in a dark and unknown world where words have lost their meaning and where the gods also have died in search of something or someone that appears always distant. In 'Return to the Fatherland' a warrior goes back to his land after many journeys and many battles, but he discovers that it has been destroyed... in spite of this, he can still feel the power and the ancient grandeur of these places that will never die. In the lyrics for 'Eternal Race' the human existence is compared to a frenetic and melancholic race towards someone or something probably unreachable, a race where we often feel alone. What we do, what we create arises from a lack and from the wish to fill this gap. Art can be the only way to feel nearer in what we search for. The main character of 'Symit' creates to live again a very single and deep moment, even if he realizes that the words cannot give back what he previously lived. Sometimes the impossibility to reach what we want transforms this frenetic race in immobility or wait for something. In 'Godhall,' an old pilgrim remembers his life; spent travelling and roaming in search of a noble and magic land. But only now that his power is fading away and his dreams and his hopes left him, he feels this land nearer... In 'Beyond,' the main character is a semi-god. He has the power to make his creations live but, at the same time, he is a man and so destined to die. He would like to reach the world of the gods but he cannot so he feels immobile, imprisoned in this condition of suspension, condemned to roam in the "land of no one." This time also there are some links with legends or mythologies. 'Last Journey' is inspired by the story of the god Baldr, one of the most tragic figures of the Nordic Myth, who sees in his dreams his sad destiny of death. 'The Search' is inspired by the myth of the Grail. It talks about a knight who is destined to search for it. His life has only one aim: find the holy object and find his mystery. When he discovers it, he dies.

The album cover for "The Almighty" is pretty wicked. That dude with the chunky sword and almost cybernetic eye looks like he means business. What is the relationship of the cover with the lyrics and/or music of Heimdall?

The cover was realised by an artist from Milan. We gave him the title of the album and the lyrics and he made it! I think that it's the perfect way to express the concept behind the lyrics. I don't know what the artist wanted to express though it but one of my personal interpretation is this: the warrior that presents both past – the sword - and future - the cybernetic eye - elements can be seen as the symbol of man of all eras, also of those that will come. The divine image that you can see behind can be seen as a metaphor of the things we lack, the things that give life to our search. The places as the paths – often dark and solitary – that we have to cross in our life to reach what we need.

The production is fantastic for this record; a big part of the overall feel of "The Almighty" must be attributed to the production. You guys must be rapt with how it turned out.

Thank you! I agree with you that the production of "The Almighty" is very good. The recording sessions lasted about 40 days between January and March. As regards the choice of the studio, while the first two records were recorded in Rome for "The Almighty," we decided to work near the place where we live, in the Zappingsound Studio in Salerno. This allowed us to work in a calm state of mind and so the atmosphere during the recording sessions were more relaxing than before and I think that you can hear this in the new songs.

Speaking of production, it always amazes me that most power metal bands; whether they are big acts or small acts seem to have above average production for their records. In comparison to the average black metal band, power metal albums are usually miles ahead in production values. Why do you think this is?

I think that in black metal there is the will from many bands to remain in an underground situation or to have a very essential, direct and 'rude' sound to create a violent and silk atmosphere similar to the first albums of bands like Venom, Bathory or Mayhem. In heavy and power metal the situation is different. The arrangements are often complex; it's very important that everything sounds in an even way to appreciate all the passages and all the atmosphere of a band. So the production is very important for the bands here.

Quite some time has passed since the initial release date of "The Almighty" (September 9) and we are now in April. What has Heimdall been up to as a band since then?

In this period we have supported our new album doing many interviews both with magazines and radios. In August 2002 – before the publication of the album - we started our live activity taking part to some festivals with bands like Destruction and Vicious Rumors and after the publication of the CD in autumn we were on an Italian tour. We played some gigs as headliner and others with important bands like Shaman. Perhaps European tour will be a possibility but nothing completely sure... we'll see. However in these last two months we are concentrating on the composition of the new songs; we would like to publish the new record for the beginning of the new year.

With that being said and the 7 months that have elapsed since the record came out, has there been much work on a new forthcoming album for Heimdall? Heimdall album #4; will it be a great departure from "The Almighty?"

We are writing the songs for the fourth album. It will be published at the beginning of the next year with Scarlet Records. So far we have five tracks and I have to say that they are real killer! They are more heavy and aggressive, but at the same time very epic! We are very satisfied about these and I'm sure that our next album will be the best in our discography. You'll see!

Scarlet Records is well known as a label that produces some high quality power metal acts. Is it awkward being on a label where you have so much musical competition? Do the other bands provide you guys with support? Do you have much contact with them? Live gigs, touring etc, etc...

Yes, Scarlet is a very good label full of good bands. We are in good relations with many bands of the label and we don't feel in competition with them. We are following a way of our own without thinking about the other bands, we want only try to improve writing our music to be always better.

Thanks for answering these questions for me and the Metalbite readers! The floor is yours if you wanna say anything...

First of all thank you for the interview! Of course I would like to thank all the Metalbite readers that have always supported our music... (go on doing it) and listened to "The Almighty," an album which we believe in because it has 9 very good, powerful and involving metal songs.
Follow us also through our web-site: www.heimdall.it. Glory and Honor to you ALL!