Coldworker Interview

Hey, Anders Bertilsson, guitar player from Coldworker here.

1. Can you give us an update on what is going on with the band these days?

Rehearsing for upcoming live shows, and anxiously waiting for the copies of "The Doomsayer's Call" to arrive.


2. How would you describe the musical sound of the new album and how it differs from previous releases?

To me it's a natural development of our two previous albums. It's Coldworker, but hopefully the most dynamic Coldworker yet, while not straying from our sound.


3. What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores with the new release?

I'd say that lyrical themes kind of connect with the ones from the previous albums; visions of dystopian societies, a "fuck you" to oppression of all sorts, whether it be religion, dictatorship or whatever.


4. What is the meaning and inspiration behind the bands name?

It was something that Anders Jakobson stumbled upon, and has to do with metal work. In his words: "Methods in coldworking is blasting, carving and grinding. Now that sounds like something a metal band in cold Sweden does: blasting, carving and grinding to shape metal without heat."


5. What are some of the best shows that the band has played so far and how would you describe your stage performance?

Some that stand out to me are Essen Death Feast in January '08, Neurotic Deathfest '08, Hellfest '07, and several more. We're striving towards being able to match the intensity of the music with our stage performance, and I think with every gig there's a little progress.


6. Do you have anytouring plans for the new release?

We would love to tour, and it's really a shame that we haven't done more touring! We're trying to change that with this release. All of us feel really psyched about playing live as much as possible. We're hoping to do a small run in connection with the release, and more later on during this year. Up until now it's been a lot of things conflicting with touring plans, and we've had to turn down several offers. Unfortunately it's not always that easy to combine the schedules of 5 people, with work and stuff´. I can just say that we're really looking to fucking smash people's eardrums on stage with this new album!

7. On a worldwide level how has your music been recieved by fans of death metal and grindcore?

Very good I'd say! People's reactions have definitely been mostly positive, which feels awesome! It's kinda mind boggling to think that people on the other side of the world can pick up our albums in a music store and go home and listen to it.


8. Are there any side projects besides this band or is this a full time line-ip/

Joel has recently joined a Stockholm based new band called Overtorture, with people from various Swedish metal bands. Oskar has a side project that is supposed to play some kind of punk/metal hybrid, and Anders Jakobson has the Nasum farewell tour coming up. Daniel and myself don't have anything going on apart from Coldworker at the moment. But Coldworker is still a full time thing!


9. What direction do you see your music heading into on future releases/

Hard to say, but I think we'll try to do what we do, but do it better and better every time (otherwise, what's the point?). Of course we want the music to evolve, and keep it interesting, but we probably won't start playing hip hop all of a sudden.


10. What are some bands or musical styles that have influenced your newer material and also what are you listening to nowadays?

In my case, I try to draw inspiration from everything that I feel can add something to the songs I write. But I guess Death Metal in various forms would be the most obvious influence, along with some Thrashier stuff, and I also tried to incorporate the amazing Immortal into one of my songs. I listen to electronic music like The Prodigy, The Crystal Method, Kosheen, B-Complex etc. Of course a lot of obvious bands like Morbid Angel, Hate Eternal, Slayer, Vader, Sepultura, Pantera etc. But also stuff like Van Halen, The Pogues, and a lot of other stuff. Lately I've been listening a lot to early Candlemass as well.


11. Outside of music what are some of your interests?

I'm really nerdy when it comes to guitars, the guitars themselves. I probably spend more time reading about guitars than playing them, haha. I like mountain biking and spending time with good friends while drinking a few beers. Other than that, and spending time with my girlfriend, there's not much time left for anything else when you get home from work.


12. Any final words or thoughts before we wrap up this interview?

Thanks for the interview, and look out for our new record "The Doomsayer's Call", out on Listenable Records february 13th! Hope to see as many of you as possible in venues across Europe this year!