by Vpower
The Band: Critical Solution
Country: Norway
Answers by:
Christer Slettebø (vocals, guitar); Egil
Mydland (drums)
Norwegian Horror Thrashers CRITICAL SOLUTION
are back with a new album, “Barbara The
Witch”, a concept album based on a true story from their hometown Helleland
which took place in the 1600s. With this new chapter they confirm their bet as
on of the most interesting horror bands of the current scene.
Hello guys and congratulations for your new
album “Barbara the Witch”!
Thank you
much!!
“Barbara the Witch” is your third full-length
album and I think the most mature
Chris: Absolutely!
We always like to evolve and try taking it a step further. From the first album
til now there’s definetely progress with musicality aswell as lyrics/story, and
lots of elements which are not on the first one.
In 2014 there was a change in the guitar
position, with Bjoernar Grossfjell as the new axeman, how has it influenced
your sound?
Chris: The
biggest difference for sure is that for the first time we share lead Guitars,
so I’m no longer doing all the solos myself. This of course has nothing to do
with our previous guitarist, it just felt natural to do it this way. We are
very different players, from two different worlds when it comes to solos and i
think that is very good for the songs, where as rythm players we play identical!
How long have you dedicated to the composition
and recording of the new album?
Chris: We
started recording in february 2016, and finished around october/november 2016.
As for the writing some songs come from early 2015, but we are constantly writing
and usually when we start recording an album a new one is in the making
already.
“Barbara the Witch” is a concept album, usually
that means more work, more headaches and more problems to put all the pieces
together. So the question is: why?
Egil: Yes
it is! Well, not really. I think it it's easier to make an album as one story
from start to finish. If you have a good starting point with a character,
theme, a certain time in history, or what ever. It is easy to fill the gaps
with interesting things. Of course you'll need to use your imagination quite a
bit, but that's how i like to write and create. And the reason why we make
concept albums, is because it makes it more interesting. It's not just a metal
band playing metal, and singing about the stereotype-lyrics, that many metal
bands seem to do. We represent something, and we create our own universe.
Cool, although I still see it as a very hard
task J You have always moved
inside the terror genre, this album is the natural step in your career or you
have tried to give it a different approach?
Egil: This
album was planned before the release of "Sleepwalker", and
"Sleepwalker" was planned before "Evil Never Dies" came
out, and now we have the story ready for our fourth album. So we seem to lie an
album ahead every time. So that is very inspiring. Musically, it is very
spontanous how it all ends up. We don’t know which track is which until we
write the lyrics, and put the instrumental tracks in the right order. Cause the
story comes first, then the music and then the lyrics. And it has been like
that since our first album.
Egil: Well,
it is based on a true story. Of course, the real story doesn't include Headless
Riders, a Satanic priest or Wallace Green, but the main plot is based on that.
The real story is about a lady called "Barbro Jørgensdatter
Bjelland". She was condemned to death by burning in 1623 for using
witchcraft. She lived not far from where we come from, and some people claim
they have seen her afterwards. The song "Red Hooded Devil's" is based
on what she confessed to the court. So it is very cool to use that story into our
concept album. Especially when it's from our hometown.
Yes, another good point. The narration has been
made by Arthur Brown, a great voice for
this purpose indeed
Chris: Arthur’s
voice is great for everything, but as a story teller over these atmospheric
songs he is pure gold. We are the luckiest band on earth to have him onboard.
And the part where he sings and, kind of connects our story to his story from
his debut album, its just fantastic! The man has the meanest scream i have ever
witnessed!
Hahaha, aweomse once again. As I said before,
this “Barbara the Witch” shows Critical Solution’s best face in terms of
composition. What differences you find with your previous two albums?
Chris: Looking
back at the first one, it was a thrash statement, second one more varied with
elements from not only thrash, and now on Barbara like i said, we have evolved
more. More atmospheric i would say and the use of “unusual” instruments like
organ, waterphone etc
You get a great balance between the thrash base
and the atmospheric moments and guitars you spread along the album
Chris: Agreed.
I think its very important, cause if all songs where the same there would be no
point in having 12 songs. Much variation, at least to us is very important .
Surely many people will say you show a King
Diamond’s style, how do you feel about it?
Chris: Of course
it is an honor to be compared to them, and i can hear some things here and
there, but we get inspiration from so many places and i do think we sound very
original.
Some songs are really long but not tiresome at
all, that tells much and good about the energy you put on it
Chris: Thank
you. We put everything we got into our songs, and again the variation is
important.
In the package you have included a second cd
with covers of big bands such as Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, Motorhead… any
especial reason for it or just too much material in the drawer?
Egil: That
wasn't planned out first of all. That was something that came up when we
decided to make a 2-disc package. Originally we where supposed to have only
"Locked Up In the Snow" and "Gypsy" as B-sides to the
album, but since we had the option to have another disc, we wanted to include
previous recordings of covers. So it will be a special edition for those interested.
Crime Records is releasing your album, how do
you feel about it?
Chris: We
feel very good! Its good to have a great team behind us, and most of all that
we work close together and that we all want the same thing. They are great
people who knows how to take care of their bands.
Probably some people will compare this “Barbara
the Witch” with last year Them’s great debut, both are concept albums, terror
music and top quality, although your music is more extreme, what do you think?
Chris: Never
heard about this band, all i can say, and this is to my knowledge so of course
i may be wrong, but I’ve never heard anyone else do Horror Thrash like we do.
“Barbara the Witch” is perfect for a full
performance on stage, as s whole story, it will happen? Are you preparing a especial
show?
Egil: We
want to include as many things as possible into our stage show. Cause our
albums is like a piece of theatre, so yes, it is perfect for a full performance
on stage. Who would not want to see a witch burning on a pyre onstage? On
future shows/tours there will be more theatrical elements than before so if all
goes according to plan, our release gig in Varberg 28.04 will have something
new and special.
That sounds really, really good, something not
to miss. Any tour dates confirmed?
Chris: At
this time only the release gig is confirmed. We had some offers, but nothing is
written in stone at this moment. However we do everything we can to get on the
road this year as these new songs as well as the old ones will sound killer
live!
You have been rising your composition level
along time, any diziness when thinking about future expectations from fans and
media?
Thanks
again, and Not at all. We make the music we make, and we have found our path.
We will still find other ways to do it but our base will not change to much.
Thank you very much for the interview guys,
hopefully we will enjoy your live show in the near future!
Thanks
again and we hope to play in your country as soon as possible!!
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