I) Hell’s ! What’s up ? Tell me what are the feedbacks about your last album ? 

Hello, we’re just fine!! The feedbacks on our latest album have been great so far. We’re really satisfied !! 

II) The last 3 years, you’ve unleashed 2 LPs and a reedition of your demos. Do you think it’s a good choice to release something every year ? 

I don’t know if this is a good idea or not. We released “Dödsfärd” in August 2003 and now in September 2005 we released “Vredens Tid”. In between we released “Vargaresa-The beginning” and that was just something we wanted to do. We thought that it was a cool idea and hopefully something that the Manegarm fans would enjoy since it shows how we sounded like back them. The idea was born a few years ago and last year we thought that the time was right to release it.

Our first two albums were released in 1998 and in 2000, so we don’t release an album every year….. 

III) Can you present to our readers your last album ?

“Vredens Tid” is recorded, mixed and produced in Studio Underground by Pelle Säther and Manegarm. If you compare it to our previous albums it’s more like the “Dödsfärd” album than the others, we just added more heavy metal to it. The album contains several great songs that are spiced with superb violin and beautiful female vocals.

The production is great and once again Kris Verwimp did the cover painting, fantastic stuff !!! 

IV) There are few evolutions between your 2 last albums. We can easily recognize your music. Do you think it’s important to keep the same touches in the music or to have an evolution on each album ?

As I said, “Dödsfärd” and “Vredens Tid” are rather alike, even if “Vredens Tid” is heavier and more heavy metal. The songs on “Vredens Tid” are also more complete, since we worked a lot harder on composing, rehearsing and arranging these songs.

If people recognize our music and if we have created our own sound, then I’m satisfied. It’s important not to stand still though. You must try to develop your music even if you have found your own “sound”. I think we have managed to do that, even if there’s a resemblance between our two latest albums.

V) The band’s name is referring to Nordic myths. Why did you chose specifically this name? What does it represent for you ?

Manegarm is the name of a wolf that lived in a dark and terrible forest, called the Iron forest. He was the son of the Fenris wolf and Hyrrokin and he feasted on blood from dying people. During Ragnarok he hunted the moon which caused an eclipse of the moon. He also caused an eclipse of the sun as he spitted blood among him that blackened the sun…..

We started up in 1995 under a different name but after a month or so Jonas found the name Manegarm and we all thought it was a perfect name for the band. 

VI) As usual Verkimp did your cover. It’s a fucking beautiful cover (like the others he did for you). Did you give him some indications? Does the cover represent a specific legend ? 

It was Jonas and Pierre that came up with the original idea for the cover painting. We told Kris our ideas and the “theme” for the painting and he really liked the idea. The result is absolutely great, as everyone can see!!

The cover painting shows the giant troll “Kolöga Trolltand” as he destroys the churh after being awaked by the enjoying church bells. The whole story behind the painting is told in the song “Kolöga Trolltand/ Charcoal-eye Trolltooth” on the album. 

VII) What are your lyrics talking about? I suppose it’s about your country, legends etc. Are you proud of your country? How do you explain that, in some countries, (like France) when you’re proud of it you’re considered like a fascist? Can a country be strong without the support of its own people ? 

The lyrics are short, separate stories that are inspired by our heathen heritage and natural surroundings. Some lyrics are based on true stories/legends and some lyrics are more “fiction”. We are proud of being Swedish of course. I think that you should be proud of your heritage and of your country no matter what country that might be. It’s sad that you in some parts of the world are considered a fascist just because you’re proud of your heritage. Unfortunately it is like that in Sweden too in some ways. You can barely have a Swedish flag on your house without hearing people’s comments…….

I don’t think that a country can be that strong without the support of its own people. I think that support is a must. If people stand united and if they fight for the same thing, much can be achieved. 

VIII) You’re playing a kind of pagan metal with big bollochs. I think it’s the way that pagan must be played. What do you think of the so called pagan bands, singing romantic lyrics about a nature they just know through their TV, playing kinda soft folk metal? Give me please names of good pagan bands. 

With big bollochs, hahaha!!.....thanks, that was great feedback. I agree with you, I also think this kind of music should be played with a lot of power and intention.

There are a lot of bands in this genre and everyone can sing about what they want of course, but personally I don’t think that romantic lyrics fit this music. Soft folk metal is no favourite of mine…….

Good pagan bands……Well, for starters I can name Thyrfing, another Swedish band, almost as good as Manegarm, hahaha!!! This year we’ve played with several great bands but two of them I really enjoyed, these are the German bands Menhir and XIV Dark Centuries. 

IX) What are your main inspirations? What are the bands which did influence you ? 

I can get inspiration and influences from all different kinds of music but “metal” of all sorts is of course a big source for inspiration. Nowadays I mostly listen to good, old heavy metal like Motörhead, Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Dio etc.etc. These old bastards are totally great and give you a lot of inspiration, motivation and ideas.

X) The drummer is doing all the voices. Does he sing in live? If it’s the case how many lungs has he ?

You’re talking to him!!! On stage I play drums and sings at the same time. I have a

Head-set so that’s no problem. Pierre and Janne also help me out with backing vocals.

I only have two lungs……..as far as I know, haha !! 

XI) Do you plan some tourdates out of your country? What are the bands you’d like to tour with? What will be the ultimate pagan fest for you ?

In March we’ll headline at “Hammerfest” in Germany and in May we’ll do a gig in Holland. We’re also in contact with several other organizers but nothing’s really set yet. 

XII) Now if I’ve forgot something, tell us, it’s time to conclude… 

Buy our new album “Vredens Tid” and visit our concerts if you have the possibility!!!

Rock N’ Roll !!!