PM: Congratulations on the release of your second album, it is quite something already in my top 5 of the year. What has both the press and the fans response been like for you so far?

Rogga: Thanx, always really cool when someone appreciates the music you write! Especially when it’s considered to be worthy of being in the top five. So far the response has been almost only excellent. I think the only bad review we got so far was in Terrorizer, but it was rather funny and you could tell that the reviewer had taken time to at least listen to the album before dismissing it, which is cool. From the fans the response has been even better, loads of killer feedback and everyone seems to love it really. We didn’t expect that at all to be honest.

PM: How did you conduct the recording process on this album? Did you all record together, or another long distance recording?

Rogga: We did just as on the debut, we recorded at separate studios as we all live in different cities. And now with Ed in the band it was no question about it to record the same way, him living in Holland and all. But it is a very easy way of recording and it’s way cheaper too than meeting up for rehearsals. Neither budget nor the schedules of most members would make for meeting up and playing or recording.

PM: The production is something very special, everything is turned up to the max, is this a natural progression gained from ‘Breath of the Demiurg’ or a particular decision on this recording?

Rogga: Very cool that you noticed that actually, most people just compliment the production for being fat. The first mixes were actually more normal but I sent Swanö back to the mixing desk a couple of times actually, and told him to just push everything louder and louder. I think in retrospect that the guitar may drown everything a bit too much but what the hell. I think Ed was a bit afraid his drums would disappear a while haha.

PM: Do you have any preference – analogue or digital recording equipment?

Rogga: These days digital is so cheap and easy to use, so that way I prefer digital. But analogue is more fun to use, especially older cheap stuff as I really enjoy it when the equipment adds some hiss and noise to the recordings. Digital stuff tends to make it sound flat and boring if you don’t add lots of plug-in effects and stuff, but old analogue stuff just sounds cool and dirty from the get go so to speak. If I ever delved into the whole studio business I would for sure open a 16 track analogue studio, just crappy old mics and a mixing desk the size of a tank haha.

PM: Did you go ‘digital’ on this album?

Rogga: This as well as the first album was recorded digitally. The way we record, by sending files to each other, is so depending on the digital way it'd be impossible to do it any other way.

PM: Where does your inspiration come from in the lyrics; do you have any concept (your first album I think was considered a concept album)?

Rogga: This concept we talked about in the beginning isn’t really too deep. It’s more like that the general feeling is the same throughout the songs. It’s basically an introspective journey through the shittier parts of the soul, as well as coupled with some HP Lovecraft stuff as his whole mythos fits very well into our music.

PM: Now that Ed had artistic license (sort to speak!) when he recorded the drums on this album, do you feel that things are looking good for further albums? I have read in other interviews (certainly for Rogga), that ‘Demiurg’ is the main priority.

Rogga: I won’t really say anything about the future of Demiurg at this time. One thing is rather certain, we will not be playing any live shows with this band due to both Ed and Swanö being extremely busy with their main bands as well as producing career. Of course we all would want to record more albums with Demiurg but that is also out of our hands as the label really is to decide that. If the album sells very badly I guess they will cancel the contract and then I am not sure if we would be interested in beginning to search for a new label. If any label would approach us that would be cool of course, but digging for a deal ourselves wont be something we’d put lots of effort into. As for being a priority for me, Rogga, I can’t really say it is actually. All my bands and projects are equally important to me as they all are really different in how they come about. A demo recording with some friends for fun can be equally important as Demiurg at a certain time. I just play for the fun of it, not to become successful or anything like that.

PM: Leading on from the previous question, how does it feel to have a more stable line-up now?

Rogga: As we don’t play live it’s pretty much all the same. I mean, now we have Ed on drums and a dedicated lead guitarist in Swanö but if that would change to the next album it wouldn’t matter much. If we would be playing live though, I guess having this line-up would be really killer. I think we could wreak some havoc on stage for sure.

PM: Pär’s vocals on ‘Cult of Dagon’ are particularly good, although only on one track. Is this something that would be considered more frequently on future releases time permitting (not taking anything away from Rogga’s excellent vocal style I hope you realise!)?

Rogga: The idea was actually to have Pär sing on at least three songs on this album, but due to schedules clashing and time for mix coming closer we only had time for one song this time. On the next album, if there’ll be one that is, plans are not only to have Pär sing on more songs but also to have him co-write some material with me which will be very exciting.

PM: What makes ‘DEMIURG’ different in terms of musical approach compared to the other projects that the band members are involved with? You have more cross genre and keyboard parts in this band. Do you approach this band differently personally?

Rogga: Just as you say, the addition of keyboards and the inclusion of other styles of music than death metal is what makes Demiurg a bit different for me at least. Most people would probably say that everything I write sounds the same, but for me Demiurg is very different from Paganizer or Ribspreader. In Demiurg I feel that I can incorporate just about anything, even if it hasn’t really come to that yet haha. I mean, I won’t be doing any techno parts or go freeform jazz but in the future there might be even wider differences in the songs than now.

PM: Do you all allocate a certain percentage of your time to ‘Demiurg’ or just take it as it comes (in regards your other projects)? It’s fair to say that you are all hard working musicians with various projects!

Rogga: I basically have loads of tapes lying around with riffs from years ago. So when time comes to begin writing for a new project, like a new album for Demiurg, I just sit down and try out both new riffs and stuff from old tapes. Usually it doesn’t take me more than a week or up to a month to put together an album depending on what particular band it is. A dirty basic death metal band like Ribspreader of course is easier to compose for than Demiurg where I tend to use a bit more time on trying different types of riffs in each song.

PM: The partnership with Mascot Records seems to be working well. Do you have a long record deal with the label and do you have artistic freedom?

Rogga: I think we only had a deal for one album being the debut and then two options for more album. They chose to use the first option of course but for a possible third album I have no idea if it will be Mascot or if any other label might be interested. If neither we’ll just call it a day, as so far we are very pleased what we have done anyways. PM: Was there a particular reason for ‘The Hate Chambers’ release date being delayed?

Rogga: You would have to ask mascot that haha. I asked them myself but so far I don’t know either. My guess would be that they needed a bit more time for promotion.

PM: Will you be releasing band merchandise for ‘Demiurg’?

Rogga: Again I have to be a boring fuck and refer to the label. I don’t think there will be any merch though, as we have not been approached on this matter by the label. These days I think a band needs to either sell very well from the beginning or build a fanbase by playing live and for us neither applies. So printing merch for Demiurg might be something like throwing money into the fire for Mascot haha.

PM: Do you have any plans to play live and maybe add the UK to your tour diary at all in the future? We would love to see ‘Demiurg’ presented in a live setting.

Rogga: No plans at all really. All I can say though is that for me and Johan it wouldn’t be any problems as we are not known people with lots of things on our plate. But Ed and Swanö would need too much time to get ready and time they don’t have. And playing live with a line-up without them both would just be like pissing on the fans. I mean, Demiurgs music is the thing I hope the fans appreciate the most but most certainly they also are into the band because of Ed and Swanö being members. Both guys are immense musicians and have a huge following of fans, so a Demiurg without them on stage? No.

PM: Now that ‘The Hate Chamber’ is released, if not touring, what are your immediate plans for the future?

Rogga: No plans at all really. Doing the interviews and hoping people like the stuff, I guess that’s pretty much it. I mean if the album would be a huge hit and at least one of the pop stars had time on their hands I guess some gigs could be done. But as mentioned before, no plans at all as of now.

PM: Are there any particular musical/band heroes you look up too, maybe a top 3 of all time?

Rogga: When it comes to growling Kam Lee has always been a hero, as well as Rick Rozz as a songwriter. His riffing and structures are simple but immensely catchy and brutal. Dan Swanö is also a personal favourite both when it comes to growling and song writing, he has written some of the best songs ever if you ask me. Roky Erickson is also totally amazing; to be able to write and perform such magic music is just beyond me. That’s something I always have wanted to be able to do, play and sing like that, but it’s not for everyone.

PM: How, if at all, did the above bands/artists influence your decision to play death metal?

Rogga: Massacre was one of the first bands that got me into playing death metal actually, them and Dismember as well as the first Fear Factory album which is heavily Napalm Death influenced. Before I played death metal I played in various industrial and industrial metal bands, but after a few years I mainly got into death metal. Still love industrial stuff though and still record my own stuff from time to time which people who stick around to the outros of my albums would know haha.

PM: What do you think of the current scene in your homeland and in various countries around the world?

Rogga: The Swedish scene is once again huge, almost boiling over with new bands playing old school stuff or old bands reuniting. It’s very cool, but I don’t check them out too often unfortunately. I guess I’m one of those assholes just writing music instead of being a fan as well. I mean, I check out new stuff all the time but I am sure I could do much more digging and find even more cool bands. As for abroad scenes I am even more out of the loop haha, I don’t know much at all really. I of course get magazines and stuff but after discovering something new I want to check out is usually forget about it after ten minutes.

PM: Can you explain why you think that Sweden has so many very good death metal bands?

Rogga: I would have to say that we have a very good social structure when it comes to culture. It’s rather easy to get to borrow instruments at an early age and try out to play music. Most schools or youth centres have rehearsal rooms available so it’s easy to get going. And metal in any form is I guess something very fun to play, just as rock or punk. So that’s maybe why so many bands pop up here, besides death metal we have a very good crust punk scene too. Actually that’s something I started out playing before I turned to death metal, and I guess that’s easy to hear in most my band, not Demiurg though haha.

PM: Do you ever have time off to pursue other avenues of entertainment or creativity outside of music?

Rogga: I am a technical idiot, being I am stupid when it comes to learning stuff. So I never got into making videos or digital stuff in any form. And I suck at drawing too haha. So not much creative stuff besides music. I drink lots of beer though, but I wouldn’t call that creative as I haven’t improved at it much the last fifteen years.

Thank you very much for your time.

Thanks for the interview!

For more on the band check out http://www.myspace.com/demiurgofficial

Interviewed by Paul Maddison

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