UNCHAINED – Interview with Per Karlsson

Hello Per! Thanks for your time. In January 2005 you released your selftitled album „Unchained“. It´s been a time ago now, where I wrote a review about it, but it´s still a thing, I want to talk about with you… Tell me, where are you from exactly, who are you guys and how, where and when did the story about UNCHAINED begin?

The band was created and founded by the guitarist David Blome, age 22 in 1999 and is today the only original member of the band. A very talented guitarist and composer. All current members of the band are from nearby city’s of Karlskrona in south-east of Sweden. The rest of the gang in chronological order: Pete Eriksson– guitars, age 23 – today also guitarist in the death/thrash act “Disruption”. Joined in 1999. Martin Michaelsson– drums, age 22 – influenced mostly by death/black metal/folk music, also in “Istapp”. Joined in august 2000. Per (PerilOz) Karlsson– vocals, age 23 – also singer in the old resurrected cult-band “Overdrive”. Joined in spring 2002. Mattias Osbeck – bass guitar, age 30 – also singer in “Locomotive Breath”. Our old bass player Mathias, Pete’s brother, had unfortunately to go in the middle of the bass sessions of the album recordings. We changed bass player right after the recording of the album, and now with Mattias Osbeck filling in it feels like the line-up is complete. Please refer to our biography and member info’s on our website for more in-deep information.

How did you personally end up in UNCHAINED?

I fronted a band called Replica, running in the veins of thrash/heavy metal to begin with. After four years we split up in 1999. I felt a need to discover new styles and techniques so I joined in a heavier pop/rock oriented band called Pudgy doing guitar and background vocals. In the spring of 2000 I got a call wondering if I wanted to join a Black Sabbath tribute band, “Headless Cross”, handling the vox. I gave it a try and to everyone’s surprise I had some quality stuff to deliver! We did songs from all eras of Sabbath and I found that my voice fitted the Tony Martin songs the best. I quit Pudgy in autumn 2002. As for Unchained, the old singer Sebastian decided to quit and they simply dropped the question to me. I had seen Unchained a couple of times and liked what I heard. So didn’t need to think much before deciding to join. I made an audition and the rest is history. I quit Headless Cross 2003 to focus only on Unchained.

Where did you record „Unchained“ ?

In Karlskrona, at ”Salt Island Studio/Productions”

Who of you is responsible for the songwriting?

Dave is the main composer

How does the songwriting process go in detail? How do you start, what comes first and what comes next?

I believe that the music – the main riff and the verse riff comes first in general. At last but not least the lyrics.

How did you find the band name „UNCHAINED“? Which meaning does it have?

A Heavy Metal band should have a Heavy Metal name, right? We stand tall and don’t care what other’s do! We are simply “Unchained”

Could you already get a name locally?

We have figured in the local press many times through the years and have more or less only played live around south of Sweden so I guess a lot of people know who Unchained is around here. We use to have good response from the crowd at our shows.

What about the metal scene where you live? Are there many metalheads?

For a town this small there is definitely a scene. Many young talents that definitely can go far if they play their cards right. Last Thursday for example, there was a metal night at the local club “Kino” with three great local bands playing, Disruption, The Shattering and Visceral Bleeding. All quite newly signed to labels except for “Visceral” which have been around for a couple of years. But most of the local scene consists of heavier bands in the veins of thrash/death or black metal. Unchained is the only band in our region to play this kind of music.

What about concerts in the near future?

We have nothing booked right now and are currently looking for a booking agency/manager to help us with this.

UNCHAINED nearly won the “Musik Direkt Competition”. But a hip hop (!) act made the first position! How did it come that metal and hip hop start for the same contest?

In this specific competition all genres and styles are welcome.

Which bands do you like personally?

I’m all’eating son of a music bitch! But some of the bands that have ment much to me are: Testament, Nevermore, Iron Maiden, Pantera, Metallica, Opeth, Soilwork, Paradise Lost, Freak Kithen, Fates Warning, Nocturnal Rites and Helloween.

How was your way to heavy metal and when did you start listening to heavy metal?

Hehe, a quite usual start for a kid my age, I was about twelve years old when I discovered Metallica and Iron Maiden. Followed by Pantera and Helloween and later on Paradise Lost and Testament which have given me much inspiration in my own musical writing. As you can see I’m much into heavier stuff, and it took about five years before I got really inspired by more melodic stuff in my own writing.

You play power metal. What do you think is different, when you compare UNCHAINED with other power metal bands?

You are not totally wrong in your description. It’s hard to put bands into genres but I would say that Unchained’s music can be described as “Melodic Heavy Metal” (with some progressive elements).

Are the lyrics very important for you?

Of course. When I started to write my own music, the lyrics didn’t matter that much. But nowadays I try to listen to the lyrics when I hear a new song and I think good lyrics really can lift a song to another level. It also depends on which style you listen to. For example singer/songwriters, the lyrics are nearly more important than the arrangement in the song.

Which subjects does „Unchained“ include?

We are not bound to certain subjects in the lyrics. But I guess we’ll never write a song that goes “Hey girl, take of your cloth for me!” or something like that.

Which meaning does „heavy metal“ have for you personally?

Independence! And a worldwide community. When you go to a rock festival everybody with a common interest can have a good time together. Musically – you can’t channel aggressive feelings in a better way than through heavy music.

Why would you recommend your album?

The Unchained album is a strong album with catchy refrains, great melodies, riffs and vocals, and you will not be disappointed if you give it a try.

Where can people buy your CD´s?

At all real music stores! And on net shops such as Amazon, and of course through us.

I really like your fresh melodic songs. Which things do you like on your album and which things would you like to do better, if you had the chance to?

Which is your favourite song on your disc and why?

Right now I think the “The Analyst”. It’s a good song that perfectly describes the Unchained style. It has a little bit of everything in it.

How far do you wanna go with UNCHAINED? Is UNCHAINED a fun band or something serious?

Unchained is everyone’s main band at the moment.

Who was in charge of the cover artwork?

Hmm, we fell for Mattias Norén. He had done many beautiful artworks. You can find something from each song on the cover…very cool

With which bands would you like to tour?

It would be real cool to tour with Nocturnal Rites or Nevermore for example, but I really wouldn’t mind touring with any band I guess.

Is there any chance to see you on a (little) tour in the near future at all??

Not this year unfortunately, but in 2006 – who knows. I really hope so! I really long for going on the road and drink some shitty beer with you all!

Your words for the metalheads:

Check out our album! Download it, and if you like it buy it and support a really good band! If you don’t like it – keep your crappy mp3’s and archive it on a disc called “Metal Albums # 47” or something… Cheers!

Website:
www.unchained.se
www.soundriotrecords.com
Line-Up:
David Blome – Guitars
Per Karlsson – Vocals
Mattias Osbäck – Bass
Peter Ericsson – Guitars
Martin Michaelsson – Drums
Contact: Crew@unchained.se
Discographie:
“Like The Candle” MCD 2002
“My Guide” Single-CD 2004
“Unchained” CD 2005