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Interview with Olof
Wikstrand of Enforcer
October 2008 by Metal Mark |
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Enforcer hail from Sweden and play a style of
metal that is heavily influenced by both NWOBHM and early thrash. I
recently got to interview vocalist Olof Wikstrand to find out more.
Hello, please introduce the members of your band and tell what
instrument everyone plays.
Enforcer are:
Olof Wikstrand - Vocals
Tobias Lindqvist - Bass
Jonas Wikstrand - Drums
Joseph Tholl - Guitars
Adam Zaars - Guitars
Tell us a little about the history of your
band.
Enforcer has been the band it is known as today since the fall of
2006. But it started about a year earlier. As you might know
Enforcer started as a one man band. I recorded some songs I’ve had
in mind for a couple of years and put it out on the internet. The
interest seemed huge and soon I was offered to make a 7” single and
I was also offered to make a few gigs. I called on my good friend,
Adam, and my brother Jonas, to help me perform live. We continued as
a full band since that time and after a few line-up changes we are
the band we are today. Sometime in 2007 we were offered to make a
full length album and we spent the entire following winter to record
it. The album is called “Into The Night” and it is scheduled for a
worldwide release November 18th. |
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Who are your musical influences?
We’re mostly influenced by 70s and 80s heavy metal bands like Venom,
Iron Maiden, Diamond Head, Judas Priest, Angel Witch and such bands.
We’re doing the same thing, just slightly faster.
You guys look and sound like it’s about 1984.
How did you come to get into a style that peaked twenty some years
ago?
Well, I guess we started out our metal carrier like any other kid,
you know, listening to the big bands like Iron Maiden, Metallica and
such bands. But apart from most other kids who stop there, I grew a
genuine interest for the music and started to explore what was
beyond those bands. I searched for contemporary bands and bands that
influenced these bands. I cannot understand why all these big bands
can sell hundreds of thousands of tickets while for e.g. Angel Witch
never would be able to pull a crowd of more than 500. It kind of
scares me that people seem to stop by the big ones and their hits
and not explore heavy metal any deeper. |
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How did you manage to get signed by Heavy
Artillery?
We contributed on their compilation CD/LP ”Speed Kills.. Again” and
then we just continued our cooperation.
How has your relationship with them gone so
far?
It’s been great. They have really helped us a lot and we will
release at least one more album together with them.
Tell us a little about your album “Into The
Night”.
It is basically songs in the same style as the earlier releases. We
have re-recorded songs Like Black Angel, Evil Attacker and Mistress
From Hell because we want people who don’t collect tapes and vinyl's
should get a chance to hear those songs too. Except from that you
can expect a broader album. We have songs leaning both towards
straight NWOBHM and other towards speed metal. But the concentration
is still the mixture.
Wasn’t the album or the recording delayed at
some point? If so then why?
It wasn’t really delayed; we were at some point just too optimistic
with the recording sessions. We’ve put down almost 6 months on the
recording of this one and we didn’t really expect that from the
beginning!
In what areas do you think that your band
needs to improve?
Of course we don’t need to improve anything musically or our style
wise. But sure, lately we’ve been more aware to improve what we say
to media and the way we move on stage. We’ve worked with layouts and
prints a lot too. |
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What are some of the best clubs that you
played at so far? What’s so good about them?
That’s really hard to say. We’ve had great times both on small
illegal clubs with friends and serious clubs. Even though it’s more
comfortable on bigger clubs and venues, the crowd almost always
lacks in that kind of places. It just doesn’t come as many people to
those places as the smaller and the crowd don’t get crazy enough.
Who have you opened for so far?
We haven’t played as opening act to any big band or so yet. Most
often we play with other bands in the same size as us.
Who would you love to open for?
Iron Maiden
What would be your response be to someone who
said that “the young thrash bands of today are not doing anything
that wasn’t already accomplished by bands in the 1980’s”?
I’d agree with him. |
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We are rapidly getting towards the end of 2008
so what do you are some of the best albums that you have heard this
year
I listen to good albums everyday, but if you mean albums of 2008 I’d
say the Cast Iron EP and Portrait’s debut. If late 2007 counts, I’ll
add Nifelheim – Envoy Of Lucifer.
Pick the band from each of the following pairs
that you prefer and tell why you picked them.
Saxon or Tank
Saxon anytime. Haven’t listened too much on Tank while Saxon is one
of my favourite bands ever.
Raven or Venom
Venom easily. Raven have their good moments, but I don’t like their
style and outfit. Stuff like that doesn’t really belong in heavy
metal. It just makes the whole band feel unserious together with
their too rockish type of heavy metal. Venom on the other hand have
everything. Evil, music, attitude and over the top songs.
Exciter or Metallica
Exciter. I can’t really deny the impact the first Metallica record
has on me, but after that they messed it up totally. Kill ‘Em All is
among the best albums ever, but so is Violence And Force. But the
difference is that Exciter released albums that is just as good as
Violence And Force both after and before it.
Iron Maiden or Judas Priest
Pass
Is there anything else that you would like to say about your music
or your band?
Heavy metal is alive. Spread the word.
www.myspace.com/enforcerswe
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