DIMENSION ZERO – Interview with Vocalist Jocke Göthberg

DIMENZION ZERO formed when the scene in Gothenburg, Sweden was still quite underground. Back in 1995-96, classic Gothenburg groups such as AT THE GATES and DISSECTION were first being thrust onto the global metal scene. America was clueless about this thrashing, melodic death metal style. The bands formerly or currently associated with DIMENSION ZERO—MARDUK, SOILWORK, DARK TRANQUILITY and IN FLAMES had not even ventured into America yet. Now the above bands, especially SOILWORK and IN FLAMES are major heavy metal stars. Even though DIMENSION ZERO is an integral group to the classic Gothenburg scene, the group has never received the name recognition of the full time gigs.

DIMENSION ZERO From the beginning, as vocalist Jocke Göthberg later explains, was created for these members to do something different and more aggressive than their main bands. The greater emphasis on aggression and a large portion of their time relegated with their main bands may explain DIMENSION ZERO lacking the name recognition that their main groups enjoy. DIMENSION ZERO does not create the atmosphere and melodies of DARK TRANQUILITY or have the commercial sensibilities of SOILWORK and IN FLAMES. DIMENSION ZERO is about classic Gothenburg riffs and pounding drums that never seem to quit. Melodies do play a part in their music, although guitarists Jesper Strömblad and Daniel Antonsson mostly incorporate them as lead harmonies.

The latest recording by these Swedes, “He Who Shall Not Bleed,” retains the intense head banging qualities from their WAR Records debut EP “Penetrations From the Lost World,” but reveals a band that has definitely matured as musicians. Canadian thrash guitar shredder, Jeff Waters (ANNIHILATOR) added a couple of amazingly fast solos, which was all processed at In Flames studio. Jocke Göthberg called Metal Centre.com from his home in Sweden to speak about this new album, where the band came from, and where it is heading.

What was the writing process like for “He Who Shall Not Bleed?”

Basically, it was the same as we always do. This time Jesper [Strömblad] and Daniel [Antonsson] wrote music together for the first time. They wrote it by their selves and presented the ideas to us in demo version, so we could hear it. I wrote the lyrics at home while listening to the demos. Then we practically got together in the studio, and put it all together.

Your lyrics consist of short lines, as is the length of most songs. Does the briefness of your lyrics and short songs make help contribute to memorable tracks?

I don’t know, really. Of course, I think it is always better to keep it as short as possible, so you don’t lose your intensity and really get your point across.

Fredrik Nordström produced “He Who Shall Not Bleed.” How do you feel about this production?

No, we haven’t used Fredrik Nordström since the first EP back in ’96. We produced this one by ourselves together with Arnold Lindberg, so Fredrik had nothing to do with this.

Didn’t you record in In Flames Studio?

Yes, but it is now called In Flames studio, and those guys own it. Fredrick Nordström has his own studio. In Flames took over the old Fredman studios, so it is now IN FLAMES’ headquarters. Fredrick has moved his studio to somewhere outside the Gothenburg area. I haven’t been to his studio.

How was the bass recorded on this album?

Jesper and Daniel both did it. We didn’t have a bass player in the band when we recorded this album. Now we have a bass player, Niclas Andersson from LORD BELIAL. He didn’t play on the album, though.

Does he play live with you?

Yes, now he is a member of the band, so he will be on the next album.

Why did you choose Jeff Waters of ANNIHILATOR to contribute guitar solos?

He wanted Jesper to record some guitar tracks for his album called “Metal.” Jesper said he would do it if Jeff would play something on the next DIMENSION ZERO album. Jeff said, “Yes, it is a deal.” That was pretty cool. He recorded his own parts—I don’t know where he lives, I think in the states. We sent him a song, so he had free hands to do what he liked to do.

Did you like how he incorporated his solos into your music?

Yes, absolutely. I think it was cool because Jeff Waters is one of the fastest guitar solo players, ever! He incorporated some of that into one of our songs. There are a couple of short solo parts that are so fast that you actually can’t hear it. I really like that because I really like Jeff Waters’ way of playing really, really fast. I just love that! I am really, really proud to have him on the album! He is fantastic!

When you play live, are you going to use a recording of Jeff’s playing?

No, Daniel would have to do his version of it.

Is Daniel still playing with SOILWORK? I saw something about him being in DARK TRANQUILITY.

Yeah, that’s right. I think the original guy, Peter from SOILWORK, came back, so Daniel had to move (laughs) or something like that. Then he basically fell right into the lap of DARK TRANQUILITY, who needed a bass player for their upcoming tour, so I think he is an actual member of DARK TRANQUILITY. I saw online the other day that he got some endorsement from some bass companies, so I think it is pretty serious.

You originally released “He Who Shall Not Bleed” in 2007. It didn’t come over here to the states until just recently. Why did it take two years for it to reach America?

I have absolutely no idea why it took so long to be released in the states. I don’t really know much about that. All I know is that this album had trouble—it went through a very long and hard way to be released. The cover was ready in April of 2007, mastered and ready to go to the printers quite early in 2007. It took quite a while to be released. I am just happy that is released (subtle laugh), finally. We started working on the material sometime around September or November of 2006. So as I said, this album has had quite a journey. Now it is finally, finally out.

DIMENSION ZERO has been around since 1995, but you have only released three full lengths and an EP. Do the various projects your members are in involved with (SOILWORK, DARK TRANQUILITY, IN FLAMES) make recording albums difficult?

Yes, that is right. It is because our other, main bands take up a lot of time. The point of DIMENSION ZERO is so we can have some sort of a haven. We have a place to go do something we don’t do with our main bands, and sometime it takes a very long time to get together and do a new album. That’s the fine thing about it: We can choose to do an album whenever we think it is time, when we have the time. It’s a real privilege because people are into the band. People want to hear new music and we want to do new music, so it doesn’t matter how long it takes between new albums. The main thing is that we are able to create this type of music, which we really love doing. It is honesty all the way through in this music and in this band. It is quite meaningless for us to do an album just because we have to. It is a privilege to have this kind of band, to be able to release stuff when we have time to do it.

How do you see the progression of the band since you first started?

We have kept the music and the intensity within the same frame as the early stuff. This is the music that we like, and that we want to do—this thrash metal, this death metal with a lot of melodies to it. For every album there have been some new influences. We have incorporated some early NAPALM DEATH stuff into the new album. There is a little more punk nerve to it. It is good to add different slices of what we listen to, as well. More and more, I think you will hear more influences from what we are listening to. DIMENSION ZERO is always developing, although very slowly.

Everybody seems to be involved in other bands. You are best known for fronting MARDUK? Are you currently involved in a black metal project?

No, I am not doing any black metal. My full time band, nowadays, is called NIFTERS. I am actually a drummer. I have been playing drums since I was ten years old, so that is my main instrument. I have always played the drums. Now I am doing something that I can really grasp; I can really progress for myself. That has been my main band since around 2004. You could say it is sometime of mixture between pop and metal. I usually call it hard rock. It can be hard to label your music. You will have to listen to it and decide for yourselves. It is not the MOTLEY CRUE kind of sleaze rock. It is a little heavier. The band is going on ten years, but before I joined the band they started out as a HELICOPTERS copy. Now it has really progressed, and you can’t hear anything of the old band.

Does DIMENSION ZERO tour often? If so, where can we expect to see you?

We haven’t done a proper tour since 2004. We did a European tour for the “This Is Hell” album. It is really hard for us to tour. It is hard for us to do live shows. We try to find openings at festivals because you can cover a lot of people. We did Wacken in Germany in 2007. I think that was the last show we did. Hopefully, we will get a chance to do a festival or something this summer. I hope to, but there is nothing confirmed yet. It would be great to come do some shows in the states. We haven’t been there, so it would be really cool. Only time will tell!

Read the review of “He Who Shall Not Bleed” listed at the REVIEWS section.
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