John P: So you�re the new drummer?
Fredrik:: Yeah.
John P: How long you been with the band?
Fredrik:: Um, since April, the beginning of April.
John P: How�d you get in? Did they come to you, did you go to them?
Fredrik:: They came to me.
John P: Okay, so what band were you in before?
Fredrik:: I played bass in a band called Count Raven and before that I played drums in a band called Abramis Brama.
John P: No shit. I just listened to the live album. Were you on that one?
Fredrik:: Except for the last track � that was the new drummer.
John P: Now what brought you to Witchcraft? What drew you to them - besides the fact that they asked you?
Fredrik:: It�s one of my favorite bands, ever since the first 7� came out when I was a big fan of Magnus� old band Norrsken. We played a couple of shows with Abramis and them over the years so we got to know them a bit. Their old drummer quit and Magnus sent me an e-mail asking me if I wanted to join.
John P: And you�ve been in since the beginning right?
John H: Yeah, more or less. I was on the first 7� and then me and Ola we quit and we just helped Magnus out with the last 7�. We joined in 2004.
John P: Why�d you quit?
John H: Well, we didn�t quit, we just helped out with the 7�.
John P: Oh, I gotcha. Who does the majority of the songwriting � is it Magnus or is it more of a collaborative effort?
John H: Yeah, it�s mostly Magnus.
John P: How would you describe the growth of the songwriting from the first album to the new one?
Fredrik:: It sounds pretty silly to say �More mature,� but I think it is. It�s a bit more progressive at times. We worked more in the studio, had better production.
John P: Speaking of which, Magnus made a comment on the StonerRock board that there was something about the production on The Alchemist that he wasn�t happy with.
Fredrik:: Yeah.
John P: How do you guys feel about it?
John H: I�m pleased with it because that�s the way I wanted the record to sound. It was my idea to get that CD out.
John P: Did you do any of the production?
John H: Yeah, we produced it, me and Magnus.
Fredrik:: I don�t think you�re ever 100% pleased with an album � there�s always some parts you want to change. The snare should have been a little bit louder on that part or whatever...
John P: You guys are still using all the vintage equipment, right?
John H: Yeah, well, the studio just has stuff we can afford. Our guitars are new and are like reissues of 70`s guitars.
John P: How tough is it in today�s studio environment setting up with all the older equipment? Did you do the recording all analog as well?
John H: The studio`s all connected with vintage amps and equipment so we just plugged in and played.
John P: Whose idea was it to throw in the saxophone solo?
John H: Yeah, that was my idea [laughs].
Fredrik:: Are you the guy who reviewed it?
John P: Yeah.
Fredrik:: You didn�t like that part.
John P: Nah, I didn�t like it.
Fredrik:: I know who you are! [Laughs.] That�s okay.
John P: How long has this tour been going on for you guys?
John H: Six weeks.
John P: Six weeks? How long has it been going on for now?
Fredrik:: About five and a half
John P: Oh, so you�re wrapping this up then?
Fredrik:: Yeah this is our second to last date tonight.
John P: That�s right. You�re also doing a midnight show tomorrow, right?
Fredrik:: Well, not until 2 o�clock in the morning.
John P: Jesus. Is there anything special about doing it or is that just the way it fell together in New York?
Fredrik:: The guy, the promoter of the club, he hadn�t sold enough tickets, pre-sold enough tickets, so he booked another, I think it�s like two or three bands before us, so there�s like six or seven bands playing tomorrow and we�re playing at 2 o�clock. Our plane leaves at 7:30, 7:40 in the morning, so we�re going to play, pack up, and go to the airport.
John P: What would you say is one of the best shows on this leg of the tour? It�s been sold out hasn�t it? Most of the shows?
John H: Not really. Some of them have. I think our best show has been in San Francisco. We played at Slim�s to like 600 people.
John P: No shit. Who�d you play with?
John H: Saviours and Danava.
John P: Danava�s pretty good. A little wonky on the record but live they�re a little bit stronger. I like the new 7� they just came out with.
John H: Oh right, yeah.
John P: Speaking of which, you guys also did one with The Sword.
John H: Yeah, that�s right.
John P: Do you have a copy of that here for sale or did you sell out of it?
John H: Yeah, we sold out of that one. The New York people actually got the last of that.
John P: Now how�d that come together?
John H: Kemado asked us.
John P: Now are you going to stick with Rise Above going forward?
John H: Yeah, I�d like to, but we haven�t really spoken about it; it�s so early now.
John P: What have you guys been listening to on the road lately? I`m going to give you the softball questions now.
Fredrik:: I bought an album by a band called Feathers� kind of folk music, have you heard of them?
John P: Yeah, I�ve heard of them but I haven�t heard them.
Fredrik:: It�s two guitar players from Witch; they`re really good.
John P: Did you get a chance to do any record shopping while you were out?
John H: Yeah, yeah we did.
John P: Did you actually get a chance to go to the place down the street?
Fredrik:: We were there today.
John P: Anything good?
Fredrik:: Yeah.
John P: I haven�t been in a while. The last time I was there I bought an Armored Saint record and that was about it.
John H: Do you mean the one, Cheapo Records?
John P: Yeah, Cheapo Records.
John H: I got an Aretha Franklin record from 1962.
John P: Nice. Well that�s about it unless there�s anything else you guys want to throw in there.
Fredrik:: Nope.
John P: Cool. Thanks for your time.
