Athera of Susperia
Interviewed by Dave Fonseca on 11/29/2007
Transcribed by Dave Fonseca
DF: On Cut From Stone, it sounds like you've chosen to stick with the sound you developed on Unlimited. Do you think Susperia has found their signature sound at this point?
Athera: Yes, you might say so. We were really satisfied with the sound we created on Unlimited, very powerful and distinct, so that would be a good formula to stick with. But we are not afraid to experiment within reason, and we did not work with the same people either on the recording of Cut From Stone. So it might be due to our equipment and determination now that made the sound just as strong. And of course the fact that we worked with people on the same level of professionalism. We were planning to do the mix at Fredman`s again, but he was overbooked so we decided on Daniel Bergstrand instead, which was a good solution. He works the raw, analog old school way, which we can appreciate and the result is really cool! But again, I guess much of what you refer to as signature sound, lies in our melodies and compositions.
DF: Your clean vocals have developed a lot over the years. Your voice on "Distant Memory," is one of the stand out performances on Cut From Stone. Do you take lessons or are you self-taught? How do you prepare for live performances?
Athera: Ha ha, thank you very much! Well I went to a vocal coach a couple of times before the Unlimited album to get some basic tips and lessons and that was really helpful. I got used to some new techniques and learned some warm up exercises. But I am mainly self taught yeah. I have developed over the years and have picked up a thing or two over the course of 16 years of singing. I hope to keep developing my voice and performance, it can never be too perfect. I`d like to experiment more with mellow parts such as the one you mention on “Distant Memory,” I like stuff like that. It brings a nice contrast to the heavier stuff and creates an interesting variety. When it comes to live performances I need at least 45 minutes of warm up time in a smoke free room, and I do not consume any alcohol at all prior to shows, that is anyway just ridiculous to do. I take my performances seriously. I mean people pay money to see you and you should give them 100%, and I just hate to not perform to my best ability.
DF: In 2005 the band toured with Testament. A lot has been made out of Susperia's similarity to latter day Testament. Can you talk a little bit about Susperia's relationship with Testament and what it was like to tour with them?
Athera: Yeah I have noticed... Once we managed to finally get rid of the label "new project from ex-Dimmu Borgir drummer", which haunted us for years, this comparison turns up. The funny thing is, Testament only began their new-found style of thrash that is the base of the similarity the very same year Susperia started out, in 1999, but that is beside the point. I do not have a problem with it, and I can understand that my voice nowadays sounds as bit like Chuck`s, but all in all, if you go deep enough into each of the two band's music you`ll find that we are quite unique and different in many ways. But you can always find things that is in the same vein, but hey, it`s the same style of music, and they are fans of us just as much as we are fans of them, ha ha. Mainly this is a thing of the media, always eager to compare bands down to the last note. I see no reason to hide the fact that I have been a fan of Testament since I was a young boy and they have inspired me in many ways emotionally and musically, so it was with great enthusiasm I received the phone call back in 2005 with the confirmation of the invitation to be main support on their reunion tour. More special that it was exactly the reunion tour with all the original members I grew up with of course. Too bad it only lasted for eight days, but it was a huge success for both and a wonderful time. They are the most down to earth people you`ll ever find in the music business at their high level of popularity, so nothing bad to say at all. And no restrictions whatsoever when it came to the live shows or to the conditions around them. We have contact via mail and we occasionally meet up whenever we have the chance. We`re becoming good friends. Hell we make the same music as you all say!!! Ha ha. On my 30th birthday this summer they invited me on stage to do "D.N.R" with them live at a festival here in Norway. That was a nice birthday gift you might say, as that is my all time favorite song from Testament!
DF: There are some slower and more contemplative songs on Cut From Stone ("Distant Memory," "Release"). What inspired these reflective tunes?
Athera: I see your point. When it comes to “Distant Memory,” the main plan behind that song was actually to try to create somewhat of a “Devil May Care” 2... Due to the fact that Devil is our most popular song ever, we must have done something right. So we decided to try to go for something contemplative and epic, and of course songs like that usually pass the five, six and even seven minute mark. Whether or not we managed to create the same atmosphere as on Devil is uncertain, but it turned out very special and nice, and stands out from the rest of the songs on the album. And the feedback from the female part of our audience has been overwhelming when it comes to this tune! Sweet. “Release” is a result of a cool bass line that Memnock and Cyrus were playing around with, and realizing we had never made a song that starts with a simple four beat was what made this song come alive. It is more easy listening yes, but the energy and vibe we get live from this song is a real high, and it will be included in the live set no matter what. It gets the crowd going alright. I also like the contrast between the hard n` heavy verses and the dreamy chorus where I played around a bit with some double vocal tracks of different pitches. I think the main reason for the more atmospheric and serious songs on this album are due to the fact that it was written in the worst period of the band ever, where internal struggles almost pulled us apart. But we refused to let this break us as a band and kept on writing songs all the way through the crisis, and we are glad we did because when the album was made, all broken pieces were mended, and we were suddenly back together again as best of friends and brothers as well. I guess you could say this album was our common therapy.
DF: One tune that seems to be universally loved by Susperia fans is "Off the Grid" especially for its lyrics. Can you talk a little bit about what that song is about?
Athera: Ha ha!! Yeah, well…. the lyrics... They are either the most loved or the most hated, depending on who you ask. Not many people understand the irony in the chorus; "are you one of those people who still believe the unicorn exists.” By that I'm referring to the rest of the text where I talk about drug abuse and a hard life style, hence hinting to becoming so numb and stupid that you would believe a creature like that ever existed in real life at some point. The text is also about paranoia and trying to escape yourself in the midst of some personal madness. Strange that so many people relate to the lyrics of this song, but I guess it`s not an alien setting for most folks. Anyway, it`s a cool thrasher of a tune with maybe one of the best guitar solos Cyrus has ever come up with, damn!!
DF: Lyrically, what are some of your songwriting influences, be they books, movies, world events or other songwriters?
Athera: As I have stated earlier, I never write about politics or directly about religion. I question religion, but never interfere and judge it. I just don`t follow the whole hysteria surrounding the many beliefs in the many different gods. I can do fine without that sort of "soul-selling", if you catch my drift, no disrespect intended, people do what they want as long as they care and behave. My main influence would be personal experiences, be it things I myself have gone through or I have witnessed friends suffer through. I have lived a hard and complicated life with many challenging people, many of whom have died or succumbed to other bad things such as drugs or mental states. I am, to be real honest, surprised that I am still alive today or not in jail, so you could say I have enough shit to write about and get out down on paper. But hey, we`re talking metal lyrics here aren`t we? Music is what has saved me as a person so I find it easy to delve into it and express myself, even though some of my lyrics may appear a bit strange and deep.
DF: Cut From Stone has been out for about six months now. Is Susperia working on new material? If so, can you talk a little bit about what it will sound like?
Athera: We`ll know when it`s down on tape! No, really, we`re heading for an even more raw and in your face sound on the next record. Only a couple of song structures are presented as of now, but they sound really promising. As we speak there`s only two weeks until we all travel to Memnock`s cabin deep in the forests again. When we split with Nuclear Blast in late 2003 we all went there to write songs despite the complicated situation, again therapy, (laughs). And three of the songs that were written during those sessions were; “Devil May Care,” “Home Sweet Hell” - I was so drunk I could barely hold on to the guitar - five in the morning, creating the opening riff, (laughs) - and “Chemistry.” These are the three most popular songs we`ve ever made, judging from the word of the fans, so this seems to be a formula, a way of writing that really works. Being gathered, all five of us and creating music together without no outer interference. And not like last time, where much of the music, as I mentioned, was created individually in a stressed situation. The vibe of being away from everything - sorry girls and children (laughs) and just being the crazy gang that is Susperia on its own, is a wonderful thing. So we`re leaving to write the next album shortly and I`m really looking forward to see what we come up with this time, going back to the spiritual way of writing songs you might say.
DF: Susperia has had a pretty successful career and toured extensively across Europe. However, despite their popularity Susperia has never made it to the United States. Will Susperia ever make it across the Atlantic and play in America?
Athera: True, and if there is someone that wishes Susperia could finally get a tour together in America, it would be us! In the eight long years we have been together one single show in the States is close to catastrophic! That 20 minute show at Milwaukee Metal Fest has become something of a cult performance, and I believe there exists a bootleg DVD of the show, taped by a local television station, but I have never seen it myself. By now there is nothing we want more than to finally tour the US and meet up with our many fans there in a live situation. The sick irony behind all of this is that even though we have never toured the US this is the country where we sell the most albums in total! So yes, we really need to do this. But so far the support and finances and opportunities have not been there, but it is being worked on continuously. The confirmation of last year's tour with Edguy was a big misunderstanding, it was believed that the funding would present itself, something that never happened. It was confirmed at a much too early stage by a third party. And we apologize for the inconvenience and to the disappointed fans. We will spend the following months writing and recording the next album. And when this is completed sometime next spring, all focus will be on making it to the US! That`s a promise!
DF: If Susperia could cover one song and put it on an album, what would it be? Why?
Athera: Man, I would say we have already done that one!! We always wanted to make a good cover of "Wild Child" by W.A.S.P. and I feel we really pulled it off! The ultimate sex, drugs and rock n` roll song of our youth and we got insane feedback on it. So there you go! Check it out, it`s on the Devil May Care EP that came out in 2005.