Pär Sundström (Sabaton)
June 2008
You just arrived back from Sweden Rock. How did that gig turn out for you?
I am still In shock. (Laughs) Honestly we expected a good response from the crowd but nothing like that. I still find it hard to understand that day, it was absolutely perfect. First we found out that we are number one on the singles charts in Sweden, then we have a most entertaining signing session or more like a meet & greet and then we end the day on stage with the field in front of the stage completely filled with metalheads from all across the world.
Did you get to see some other bands? Did you meet some old rock stars?
I am not the one who wants to see bands on big festivals. Personally I like mid sized indoor venues when I see a band since first I am not too tall and don't really see that much. Secondly the sound on the indoor shows are often much better. But the atmosphere on a festival is fantastic. I love just to sit in grass somewhere, have a beer and chat with anyone dropping by. Meeting rock stars is not really for the backstage of Sweden Rock Festival. The biggest artists go for hotels instead of hanging around. But it's nice to meet some friends playing in different other bands over a beer.
You've also been to Turkey to appear in some TV shows recently. What was that exactly?
Our single, Cliffs Of Gallipoli is about Turkish history during WW1. Actually we did nothing else on this song than what we do on all the others, like I mean writing about wars. But Turkish people appreciated this one very much and wanted to invite us to come and perform in a Turkish rock show and then we also had the chance to actually see Gallipoli, the battlefield we wrote the song about. This is of course something special since whatever books you read, whatever documentaries you watch or whatever other research you can make, it's never the same as actually be on the location.
You gained a lot of popularity over the last few years. From where and when do you count the success story of Sabaton?
That must be 2005 with the release of Primo Victoria. Before that nothing was actually for real. We had very poor distribution and very few people knew about us. We played small shows in our area in Sweden. With Primo Victoria came a distribution that made us known in some parts of Europe, but nothing really happened until we started touring for real. We got the chance to open up for Edguy and I think this was the opening for us in Europe. For the Swedish market it was our show at Gates of Metal festival in 2005 that opened a lot of doors.
Did you expect this kind of popularity when you wrote your debut album Metalizer back in 2001?
I did not. Sure I knew that we had good songs but I also knew that we need to do better to really succeed.
Speaking of Metalizer… why did we have to wait 6 years to get it properly released?
The original version of Metalizer was recorded in 2002 but due to a lot of strange things going on it never saw the light until 2007. We have to thank our fans for seeing it released since it was on their demand that it finally got into the hands of our current record label Black Lodge. We also like the final product with the artwork and double CD now available instead of the original release.
Did you re-record the album for the 2007 release? Did you change anything?
We did not re-record the album. Then it would have been a completely new album since there are a lot of things we wanted to change. But we did a completely new mixing and mastering since we were not satisfied with that on the original release.
Were you already working on new songs for The Art Of War when you did the reissue of Metalizer?
Songs are being written all the time in Sabaton, sometimes a riff can take years before making it into a full song. Sometimes songs don't fit the album and so on… We have songs written during the Metalizer recording that we still have not recorded despite them sounding great. One of my personal favourites have been delayed for about 6-7 years now because it didn't fit into the albums properly. The Art Of War took maybe around 1 year to write except for a few riffs and songs that already existed. The concept and lyrics of the album then took about 6 months for me and Joakim to make.
The album sounds somewhat different from the previous releases. Was it something you wanted to achieve intentionally or just happened?
Not really, it's not in our choice how to sound. Some people claim we sound the same from the beginning until now, some says we change. Personally I say we changed on the new album somehow to a better part of Sabaton. I think the songs are more epic and the keyboards take more space in the sound. That the keyboard is there more then before can be thanks to Peter Tägtgren for producing the album that way.
Did you have a different approach to the writing or was it again Joakim coming up with most of the ideas?
Joakim comes up with the most ideas, we then perfect them during rehearsals and finally me and Joakim fit them into the concept and write the lyrics. This is how the last album was, don't know how the next will be. Sure we others also write songs sometimes but Joakim is far better and we want the album to be as good as it can get. I am glad to play in a band where nobody says, "I wanna play the songs I've written or I wont play at all" or likewise. I know there are bands out there that consists of ego-musicians. Sabaton is not like that.
Btw, how do you see Sabaton's musical evolution from album to album?
With Fist For Fight we started out with writing about the things that many other bands do like bikes, babes, dragons and sexual stuff. That was not really us in the heart but we had to do. This time we also focused less on how it actually sounded and how things were played. With Primo Victoria we had the chance to play in a real studio with a real sound engineer and this helped. We could for the first time try real cool choruses with several harmonies. We still recorded this one quite quick and without caring too much for the small details. When we recorded Attero Dominatus we learned how to make good tunes and good harmonies so here we could focus more on the small details that make good to great. What I think we did everything correct on this album which still makes me a little more proud of this album then Primo Victoria. We also had a real keyboard player here and he could add a little more to the small details. Finally with The Art Of War we had all the knowledge of the old albums plus all the knowledge and ideas of both Peter & Tommy Tägtgren, and this definitely helped us to take another step into evolution of the metalband Sabaton.
What do you think what are the trademarks of Sabaton's music?
What we are most famous for is the live show which is very energetic and appreciated by the crowd. But if you count the music I think Joakim's voice is definitely a good trademark. Its unique and really cool sounding. Something one got to have to make a good metal band. Also the combination of real party tunes and the very important theme of writing about history is something that we are known for.
Yes, there's one thing constant about the band and that's the lyrics. Are you all fascinated by wars?
We are not all really fascinated by wars, it's more like a strong history interest at me and Joakim. We are not war fanatics but personally I enjoy doing research about huge events in our history and especially those where there are actual facts. Reading about stories from the middle ages or so you can never be sure about weather or not it's a fact or rumour. Writing about more recent events gives us more real facts and that's what makes it interesting.
What is the most interesting war in history for you?
I would definitely say World War 1 & 2 because of all the operations made during these terrible years. So many people affected by this and so many stories from this period. I think also this because it has a lot for us to learn so hopefully we won't repeat this. A World War 3 would end a lot of life as we know it today.
There are wars going on as we speak and people are dying for stupid reasons. What is your biggest concern about the world today?
My biggest concern is that it's in the human nature to destroy ourselves. We build bigger weapons to protect ourselves but its just the race for having the biggest gun that's dangerous. Even today there are weapons that have such destructive power that it makes me sick of just thinking about it. Unfortunately we often fight about stupid differences, in the end we are all the same, walking the same earth and breathing the same air no matter what religion we have or which side of the river we live.
One more thing about lyrics. What do you think about bands that sing their songs of dragons and sci-fi themes?
I personally love fantasy, I am a big sucker for a lot of such literature and movies and totally understand the whole genre. It's exactly the opposite of Sabaton, we write about what people don't want to happen and rather forget but must not forget and the fantasy theme bands write about the things we want to happen. But although my interest in fantasy I don't think you will find an album with a fantasy theme from Sabaton in the future.
You are one of the few bands that consist of the original line-up. How can you keep this together?
Being on the road as much as we are and staying this close we are in the same boat. We have to stay together and help each other out. We are closer to each other in the band then our girlfriends and we all want the same goal. This is what's behind this and I pray that it will last even longer.
When and what was the biggest crisis about the band and the members... if there was any?
I guess we did not had one of those big ones yet luckily. Maybe when I got assaulted in our studio and my arm was destroyed by an asshole with a crowbar or when Daniel Myhr's boss refused to release him from his job to make the Edguy tour.
You've been out on tour with so many different bands over the years. What was the most memorable experience to date?
Hard to say. Once I wished for one time meeting Helloween as a fan. Today I have been on tour with the guys and to realize that they were so nice persons was a good experience. There are also other such stories like with Grave Digger that has been a personal favourite of mine for a long period of my life.
You also had the chance to play in the US. What kind of memories you have of that visit?
Well, we played a showcase at South By Southwest. A huge festival with 1700 bands showcasing and hoping to get seen by someone important. We enjoyed our stay a lot and realized that people in the US are very friendly.
As far as Europe goes you seem to be really popular in Hungary lately. Do you consider this as your second home?
We consider the tourbus our second home and wherever it takes us. But we like Hungary a lot. Coming from Sweden we see really the difference with the people. And Hungarians are much more friendlier then Swedish people and therefore I love spending time in Hungary. There are also a lot to see in Hungary compared to a lot of other countries, castles and other buildings plus personally I think there is something special about your girls. (Laughs)
What could be the secret of this popularity?
I don't really know. We have played in Hungary now three times and will also play Sziget this summer. Unfortunate there are no dates in Hungary on the upcoming autumn tour. But don't worry, you are definitely in our plans and we will make something for you. I guess playing and playing again helps. Also I know there are some very good friends of us helping us with as much as they can.
What are your touring plans for The Art Of War? Are you going to do a headliner tour or support some big bands?
We have just published most of the live shows for 2008 on our website. There are both festival and headliner shows and also some support shows for the rest of the year. This is not the whole Art Of War tour since there are already several shows booked for 2009 and I am sure that when we come to autumn or spring, summer and next autumn is fully booked. Sabaton is a touring band and so we shall remain.
What are you looking forward to the most in the second part of 2008?
I'm looking forward to this Saturday. We will record the DVD then. I have been doing pre-production for days now and the show will be great I am sure. Then I also look forward to hit the road in a nightliner in the autumn. I love to be on tour.