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BACK
 THE
DUSKFALL
Out of the Gates, Into the Dusk
By Adrian ‘The Energizer’ Bromley
Every now and then in the music journalism business you run across
a band that may not be the most original band out there, but their
dedication and creativity brings an extra glow to their musical
delivery.
One album that has caught my attention this last little while is
The Duskfall’s Frailty (on Black Lotus), a melodic death metal
act from Sweden with a slight ’80s metal attitude.
"I’m more than pleased with the way this album turned
out, but the album initially faced some problems," starts founding
member/guitarist Mikael Sandorf about the recording of Frailty.
"At first we were supposed to record at Studio Fredman, but
due to deadlines and other problems we had to take the recording
to Dug-Out Studios. [Producer] Daniel Bergstrand, who is the studio
engineer, is a god. He was always one step ahead of us and was great
to work with. We [the band is rounded out by singer Kai Jaakkola,
bassist Kaj Molin and drummer Oskar Karlsson] talked about the way
we wanted the album to sound and he hit the nail on the head with
this production. We also made some changes while in the studio,
taking out some of the songs’ melodies and adding a bit more
aggression."
So you think adding the aggression to your sound was important?
"Yes," he says. "I think that playing this type of
music with a bit more of an aggressive sound is an advantage for
us over other bands in the scene. I have been playing this type
of music for ten years now and I won’t really change much of
the sound, though adding more aggression has been quite inspiring.
I’ve already started work on the next album and have three
songs written. They are in the same vein, but a bit more technical
and furious than our current work. I will always try to evolve as
a musician and make things more technical and interesting for me
to play, but at the same time I'll never forget my roots."
And those influences would be…?
He responds, "I have been listening to all sorts of metal since
the mid ’80s. I love old ’80s acts like Motley Crue, Yngwie
J Malmsteen, Helloween, Iron Maiden, Europe and Metallica. I also
listen to bands like Slayer, Deicide, Morbid Angel and Meshuggah.
I don’t intentionally write songs with an ambition to copy
any of the bands mentioned. I have always been writing my metal
from the heart and from what I like to play. If people can hear
my influences through the music I create, then I’m happy because
then I have done them justice."
One element of The Duskfall record that boggles my mind is why Sandorf
or Glenn Svensson (ex-rhythm guitarist) decided not to play any
of the guitar solos. The solo duties went to guitar whiz Magnus
Olsson. Why had the band decided to go with Olsson rather than do
the solos themselves?
"Glenn and I talked a lot about the solo parts for this album
and we felt that we couldn’t do the leads justice since we’re
both rhythm guitar players. Then Glenn told me about his old friend,
Magnus Olsson, a guitar genius that lived in his hometown. We talked
some more and decided to ask him to play lead on two songs. He got
ecstatic and recorded some improvised leads in his home studio.
I remember listening to the first solo for ‘Age Of Errors’
and I couldn’t close my mouth, and after hearing the second
solo I called Glenn and told him to tell Magnus that he had to do
the rest of the album. I would never do a solo on the same album
as that guy," he laughs. "He’s an excellent player
and knows his way round the guitar. After that, Magnus gave us the
green light and he recorded all the solos in his home studio in
just six hours!"
Like a lot of bands out there nowadays, The Duskfall was created
out of the ashes of another band, Sandorf’s old band Gates
of Ishtar. But it wasn’t an easy process to get things going
when Sandorf and Svensson started the band in 1999.
"We have had a lot of hard times for almost four years now.
I have to give credit to all the fans for their support. Their e-mails
and guestbook entries have been a tremendous kick in the ass in
those times I thought, ‘Fuck it, I’m quitting this shit!’"
he reveals. "I also have to thank Glenn, the other guitar player.
He has carried me through when I lost the energy to focus and give
the music my soul. It has been a hard ride and when I was almost
out of hope we got a great response from Black Lotus Records and
signed with them. Now I feed on the great responses we have received
from fans and the media worldwide."
And what experiences had you learned with your old band that you
brought to this new one?
"My old band Gates of Ishtar had a lot of problems—not
with lineup changes, but with all the parts involved. We signed
to the German label Invasion Records and got ripped off big time.
I’ve been burned and therefore I trust no one. It’s sad,
but I’ve learned my lessons from working with Invasion Records.
From all that was going on with label problems and elsewhere, we
had fights within the band and the music suffered.
"So from all that was going on, we decided to put the band
to rest and then I started The Duskfall with Glenn. I have learned
to take charge of the situations and make sure to ask twice about
everything, no matter how small the issue."
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