 |
 |
 |
First of all, please
introduce your band to the readers.
J. Carlsson: We are Plutonium, a swedish extreme
industrial metal band. We have been the same persons
since the start: J. Carlsson (me) – Lead Guitar, Vocals,
Programming and Dictatorship, Lars H. – Bass and
H.Fossmo – Guitar. It´s not wrong to say it´s my band to
99%. I develop the music and everything concerning the
band.
How did things get started with the band?
J. Carlsson: Well, we started around 2003. I
hadn´t been in a band where I could realize my ideas for
some years, and I had also had quite big problems
expressing my musical ideas for a couple of years. But I
wrote some songs that I was kind of satisfied with, and
then everything went very smooth. So I asked the other
guys if they wanted to help me out...and that´s pretty
much where everything started.
Why did you pick this bandname?
J. Carlsson: I wanted something really concrete
and in-your-face. Plutonium is known as the most
dangerous element on earth. It is also an element we
have to face in our every day life - direct or indirect.
Some people think it´s a silly name for a band, but I
like it.
What are your main influences? And how would you
describe your music?
J. Carlsson: Musically, I listen to all kinds of
music. Actually, when answering this interview I´m
listening to the “Sleeping with ghosts” album by
Placebo, not very true metal is it? But I guess my main
sources for inspiration comes from extreme metal,
electronic (industrial/ambient stuff) and classical
music. Of course you can question the necessity of
namedropping, but some artists/bands that definitely
have made an impact on me are: Bathory, Mayhem, Celtic
Frost, Black Sabbath, DHG, Dark Throne, Red Harvest,
Motörhead, Puissance, Brighter Death Now, No Festival of
Light, Death in June, Arditi, Grieg, Hermann Kopp,
Dvorak, Händel, Vivaldi, Holst and million of others.
Lyrically, movies and books are big influences, since I
watch at least two movies every week and read 1-2 books
a week as well, both fact and fiction. As soon as any
book or movie force me to think about certain things, it
mostly inspire me to develop my thoughts in some lyric.
But also the every day life definitely have me wondering
about certain things and that´s also an equally big
source of inspiration for me. The stupidity of mankind
really triggers me.
To include ambient influences and intermezzos in
extreme metal isn't a new thing, but it isn't used that
much in the past. What made you decide to add ambient
influences in your music? And how did most people reply
on that?
J. Carlsson: I have listened to a lot of dark
ambient stuff through the years, and at it´s best that
kind of music can create an extremely inhospitable and
hostile atmosphere. That kind of atmosphere really suits
extreme metal as well according to my opinion, and it
really matches - as well as making a contrast to - the
fuzzy aggressive guitars. It just felt natural to add
this element. I guess most people enjoyed it, noone has
really complained about it... I think it adds a
dimension to our sound which is, and will become more,
important.
In 2004 you've released a demo called 'Wind of
Change', which was your first proof of existence. Can
you give us a little information about the demo, for the
people (including me) who don't know that one?
J. Carlsson: As stated in the biography, I did
the engineering with my old recording equipment. We
recorded three tracks which were re-recorded for the
album, and a noisy last song, the title track.
Considering the circumstances around the equipment, the
situation around, and the fact that this was the first
recording we ever did (and I had no idea how the final
result would be like!), I´m still proud of it! If
there´s anyone who wants to hear the demo I still have
some copies left.
What replies did you get on that demo?
J. Carlsson: Well...mixed reviews. Most zines
that reviewed it, liked it more or less. Some people
seem to have a problem with the programmed drums, but I
would like to say they are a very important part of the
concept of Plutonium. However, the drums will be changed
to next time we record, I think it´s important to try
different things out. But to return to your main
question: most people liked it. I have gathered most of
the reviews on our website, check them out!
Little time ago, your debut release 'One Size Fits
All' came out. What can people who blindly buy it (and
who didn't read my review) expect of it?
J. Carlsson: 8 tracks of Industrial Extreme
Metal. A heavy distorted soundscape of complete anxiety,
ecstasy and madness. By the way, do people buy records
blindly these days? I mostly do not, and if someone feel
like listening to Plutonium before ordering our album,
you can go to our MySpace-site and listen to the title
track of our album. And not only listen to it, you can
actually download it from there! So all of you - check
it out !
What are in your opinion the stronger points of the
release?
J. Carlsson: Hard to say. But the most important
thing is that this is a release where I got it exactly
the way I wanted it - from musical content to booklet
and lyrics and so on. I am extremely satisfied with this
album, although I know there are always things to
improve. I consider self-criticism to be a very
important quality.
What is your favourite track on the album, and why?
J. Carlsson: Also somewhat difficult to answer,
since it´s hard for me to make an objective assessment
on my own music...I guess most musicians would agree
with me, you don´t listen to your own creations the same
way you listen to others works. But why not “One Size
Fits All”, the title track, since it sounds most fresh
to my ears, and that I´m really proud of some of the
riffs.
Lyrically you can be described as dark, depressive
and filled with sorrow. Is this really the way you look
upon the world and life?
J. Carlsson: Both yes and no. I mean, both you
and I live in a society where you can read the books you
want, get the information you want, you can express
whatever you want (almost) and most of us don´t starve
or have to live on the streets and so on. It´s important
to remember that. But it is equally important to
remember that the illusion of living in a “free” society
is the perfect breeding ground for changing things... I
can´t remember who said this but it was an east european
author who remembered the communist era: “the west
european citizens never learned what we had to learn: to
read between the lines”. People who have read about us
know that I constantly refer to books like “Brave New
World”(Aldous Huxley) and “1984” (George Orwell). They
are a big influence for me (as well as many other
dystopian novels) but the world has developed like the
scenarios described in these books. And of course that
is “dark and depressive” as you say. But I´d like to say
that I view the world with a cynical approach, which
reflects in the lyrics as there are certain dark
humourous lines!
What are your political and religious points of view?
J. Carlsson: I do not know where I stand
politically, although I like to read about
historical/political events and politics in general. I´m
not a religious person, but I find religion quite
interesting as it has the same patterns as totalitarian
political ideologies.
What can we expect of Plutonium in the near future?
J. Carlsson: I´m working on new material as I
mentioned, so there will probably be a new recording
some time. But we have plans to print some t-shirts.
Thanks a lot for your time answering my questions,
the interview ends here. Have you got any final words
for the readers?
J. Carlsson: Thank you for your interest in
Plutonium! If someone wants to know anything about
Plutonium, just mail us or check out one of the websites
mentioned here! Take care and control!
http://www.plutoniumsite.com/
http://www.khaozstarrecords.se/
http://www.myspace.com/thetrueplutonium
http://blog.myspace.com/thetrueplutonium
Interview by: Gerardo (May 2007) |
|
|
|
|
