CD: Firstly, congratulations on an utterly killer album! I've followed the band since the release of the original MP3 rough mix tracks all those years ago now. How was the creation of this album as opposed to the first album?

JL: Thank you very much. Well, the creation of this new effort was totally different from the first one. Mainly because we now feel more like a band than before. I did almost the whole debut while we have more songwriters on this new one. And you can also hear the differences in the sound cause everyone has put more influences into the whole package. More melody, more groove and more attack.

CD: The album art is again of the highest calibre. Something I've wanted to ask is – the “mascot” figure in the artwork, does he have a name or a back story? (I know I'm inviting ridicule here with the likely answer to be “The One Man Army”!).

JL: Hehe, well, he will be named very soon cause we have a competition going on right now where you can win my old guitar and all kinds of shit, if you give us a good name. This is like our Eddie and I believe he and the 4 undead dudes will be around in the future as well.

CD: “Error In Evolution” seems to have more hooks and grooves than “21st Killing machine”. Was this a conscious decision, or was it a natural outcome of the songwriting process?

JL: That is basically the outcome of a band more united than before. Everyone has grown more into the band now and dares to take a step forward and come up with songs and I’m really proud of that cause I was kinda afraid that I would have to do everything when I got the band together. Basically because I didn’t know the guys but now the machine is tight and strong which feels awesome.

CD: What was the process of finding your band mates? Are they all people that you've known for a long time, or did they come to “answer the call”?

JL: The only one I knew was Valle who left straight after the recording of the debut. Mikael was found via Valle and the other guys were found after I put out an add on the net. Robert, the new guy played with Pekka in his other band “Fraction of chaos” and seemed like a great catch and he immediately found his place in The Army. Now everything feels great and stable.

CD: In terms of quality, the one-two combination of KISS and Such a Sick Boy are easily the best two consecutive tracks I've heard all year. What are your favourite tracks on the album, and why?

JL: Well, these songs are pretty good but other than that I like Nightmare in ashes and blood as well as The sun never shines. “Nightmare… “ because of the groovy verses and the middle part. A complete song with a lot of rockvibes on it which I´m real proud of to have done. “Sun…” which Mikael wrote is another very good melodic thrashy song that makes me feel good.

CD: You seem to have toured with just about everybody there is to tour with in a relatively short space of time! Just how important is the live setting to One Man Army?

JL: Extremely important because nowadays when people choose to download instead of buying the albums you need to prove to people that you are a good band that deserve to be on that stage. I mean, there are millions of bands out there and only the strongest survives. An album is one thing but it is on stage you can prove that you are a kickass band. We love it and have total fun when doing it.

CD: You were (famously) in The Crown, which I think if I turn my mind back to the reason given on the website, split because of the constant struggle and lack of financial success after so long in the music business. How long did it take for the hunger to be in a band to return, and what differences are there with One Man Army which allow you to continue on making music?

JL: Well, what was written on the webpage wasn’t the complete truth to be honest. Just take a look at the other bands that the former Crown members plays in nowadays. I mean, it was more about the main songwriters in The Crown wanting to quit playing extreme music rather than to quit just because the last year was a disaster when it came to touring. I had the hunger all the time cause I came back to The Crown after a year off before the last album was recorded, so when I came back with new strength, quit my day job just to tour with The Crown it just felt natural to go on even if I had to begin from scratch.

CD: If you had the option of choosing three bands to do a world tour with, who would you pick, and why?

JL: Slayer because they are the gods of thrash, one of my all time favorite bands. Metallica cause they was the one that got me into more heavy music. Earlier I just listened to Kiss and Ac/dc and bands like that. Finally I would choose Kiss because they are the best band in the world.

CD: Johan, the side-burns have become somewhat of a trade mark look for you, making you the Elvis of Deathrash! Like The King, your voice is very distinctive; how did you train your voice, and how do you keep your throat from turning into leather?

JL: I hardly ever train my voice but I have started to do warm ups nowadays before rehearsals and live shows. I regret not training it more when I was younger cause it’s harder to get in shape before tours and studio the older I get. Well, mainly when we have had a bigger break or something.

CD: I noticed from the blog on the website that you've recently tracked down some old games for your PS2. What else (other than gaming) occupies your time when you're not writing or singing?

JL: I spend a lot of time with my dog, my girlfriend and I watch a lot of movies. I’m like a real movie freak.

CD: Also from your blog, I see that Born Again is your favourite Sabbath album! I'm shocked! Why do you prefer it to Sabbath Bloody Sabbath or Heaven and Hell, man?

JL: Hehe, well, this is like the most underrated albums of all times. You have songs like Trashed, Born again, Zero the hero, Disturbing the priest and Keep it warm with one of the greatest rock singers ever namely Ian Gillan and on this album he does his best job ever in my opinion. The feeling could not be described in words.

CD: There seems to be a really cool team vibe about your current line up. I know that you've had one member change since the first album. How important are the personalities in the band?

JL: The band vibe must be on a top level at all times if you want the band to continue to be strong. You can’t have loose ends here and there if you know what I mean. The circle must be complete and these members have what it takes to stay in this band for a long long time.

CD: Nuclear blast seem to be doing a killer job of promoting you guys. This will be your second album with them – how do they compare with the previous record companies of your other bands?

JL:Yeah, they are doing great with us. I’ve only worked with 2 major companies but Nuclear Blast is one of the biggest metal labels in the world and we have potentials to grow here, probably more than on another label.

CD: There is an incredible amount of energy apparent in all of your tracks – indeed, I think there should be a “headbang challenge” with “Error in Evolution” - who ever can sit through the whole album without banging their head should get a free beer! Any plans for a live DVD so that those of us who live in rural hell have a chance to see the Undead Quartet doing their thing?

JL: Haha, yeah, that was an idea for a new competition. No, no plans at the moment but we will definitely do a live DVD in the future but it doesn’t make any sense to do it after only 2 released albums. Thank you very much for your support and this great interview. Hopefully we can grab a beer together on a future Armyshow somewhere. Cheers man!!!

So there we have it! One Man Army are looming large on the festival circuit this year, so head out and see them - high energy metal is still alive and well!

You can visit One Man Army and the Undead Quartet on the web at www.onemanarmy.tv

Interviewed by Chris Davison
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