NECROPHOBIC

Swedish Death/Black Metal band NECROPHOBIC are one of those obscure underground hordes that always kept their music true to the fans and to the musical path they started back in 1989. Drummer Joakim Sterner was cool enough to answer a few questions of mine. Read this brief conversation right before the dawn!



Hails Joakim! As I see you have some special live appearances in preparation for 2015. Please enlighten us more details about these gigs and tours to come. Do you plan an extensive European tour as well?
- In the nearest future, we will go to Mexico. We also have a festival in England and some more that we are not able to release information about at this time. Check our official page on Facebook for the latest news. You find it at facebook.com/necrophobic.official
Compared to the previous two albums "Womb of Lilitu" became less monumental sill very dark with some abstract touch that I've experienced for the first time in the band's history. How do you see this? Was it due to the changes over the guitarists' spots?
- It has of course something to do with that Fredrik is the main composer to the songs on the latest album. However, I think all the basics and our foundation is still there, the stuff that the band has had as our trademark since the beginning.
Now the band performs with one guitar live. Since I witnessed NECROPHOBIC only with two guitarists in the past, the question rises, does your songs sound enough informative, massive and atmospheric with one guitar?
- I understand the question and all I can say about it is that it still sounds powerful, but also more clear and distinct.
Fredrik Folkare of UNLEASHED joined NECROPHOBIC in 2011. Does it easy for him to maximally focus on both bands, play live and create music? Don't you plan to involve a second guitarist to the band in the future?
- Fredrik is fully capable of handling all his musical duties in all bands and projects he's part of. It's all about dedication and planning. A second guitarist is something that is not discussed as of yet.
I am very happy to see Anders Strokirk in the band again. But tell me what went wrong with Tobias? Recently his new gothic formation ORDER OF ISAZ released their debut album. Did you check that album yet? If so, tell us your opinion and impressions.
- Yes, it's great that Anders is back again, since he was part of the band before. The thing with Tobias is something that we have put behind us now, and no, I have not heard the album. I'm sure it is a good one within that goth genre.
Now as Anders is in, do you plan to perform more tracks from the classic "The Nocturnal Silence" album live? Can you share with us the actual set list you play live?
- The recent set list we performed on the Black Christmas festival in Norrköping, here in Sweden, was a set of 45 minutes and it included Splendour Nigri Solis, Dreams Shall Flesh, Astaroth, Furfur, Revelation 666, Blinded by Light, Enlightened by Darkness, Before the Dawn and The Nocturnal Silence. We plan to include more from the first album, but what more and how much more, is not decided yet.
During this absence Anders has been active with BLACKSHINE and they've released 4 albums to date. Did you listen to those albums? Your opinion about their kind of Thrash/Death'n'Roll?
- I have heard all their albums and I think they do it good.
"Womb of Lilitu" was your first record out on Season of Mist. Since more than a year passed since its release, please tell us how this new alliance works. Are you satisfied with your new label's job? What kind of deal you signed with them?
- Season of Mist is a big label with a lot of people working with different specific areas, so to speak. So far, we have had a good collaboration with them. The deal is something that doesn't necessary has to be revealed, even though it's not a secret or anything, but I believe both parts will continue to work for a long time together.
There was some oddity behind the release of your compilation album called "Satanic Blasphemies". Three labels released it. First Regain Records in 2009, then Floga Records in 2011 on vinyl and Hammerheart Records in 2012. You had some disagreements with Regain Records on that subject and I suppose that was the main fact you parted ways with them, am I right? Tell us the whole story behind it.
- I really don't know every detail behind the releases from HHR and Floga, but I called David (Parland) before doing it together with Regain Records and discussed it with him. The other stuff is beyond my control. What happened to Regain is that they left the surface a few years back and is not able to reach.
I guess it is too early to speak about a new NECROPHOBIC release yet. Anyway, do you have some new tracks ready? If so, tell us more about their musical approach as well as what kind of lyrical themes will be used there? When do you plan to release it?
- It's too early to speak of. We have a few embryos. That's all I can say right now.
NECROPHOBIC's music was always dealing with obscure, occult and black topics. Where all those dark inspirations come from? What motivates you personally to walk on the dark path of life?
- The music, the image, the art all go hand in hand for what we do as artists. We put these topics in the spotlight to tell about this strong force.
Are there any records out of the Death/Black Metal scene that impressed you lately? Name us your Top 10 records of all time. How's the situation of selling your physical merchandise (CDs, LPs, T-shirts, etc.) in Sweden? Is it differs too much from other European countries when you are on tour for example?
- The latest album I got a kick out of is the album ”The Formulas of Death” by Tribulation. I don't really understand what you mean with the merchandise, but I think it's not so different from other countries, but it's more hard to sell our merch in poor countries, but on the other hand, those poor countries really appreciate that you come to their countries and play.
A top 10 list of all time, would be something like this, in no particular order:
Iron Maiden ”The Number of the Beast”
Bathory ”Under the Sign of the Black Mark”
Metallica ”Ride the Lightning”
Slayer ”Reign in Blood”
W.A.S.P. ”W.A.S.P.”
Entombed ”Left Hand Path”
Morbid Angel ”Altars of Madness”
Kreator ”Pleasure to Kill”
Judas Priest ”Screaming for Vengeance”
Accept ”Restless and Wild”
Thank you very much for taking the time to answer these questions. Share your final thoughts to all the Ukrainian Death/Black fans. Last blackened words are yours!
- Thanks for the support and hope to see all of you fans on a future tour!


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