Fawkes: I know you're going to be on Headbanger's Ball this Saturday...
Michael: Yes, we've all been watching Headbanger's Ball for I don't know how many years when it was broadcast in Europe, and you know, it's a real honour for us to finally be guests ourselves on the show. It's fantastic.
Fawkes: A big step for a band, I guess?
Michael: Yes, absolutely. It's really a show through which the media gives you acknowledgement for what you're doing. It's a fantastic opportunity for us to get our name out to a lot of new listeners. It's a big chance for us.
Fawkes: The shooting will be done in America. Will it be your first time across the ocean?
Michael: No, we've already done four festivals there and toured last September, so this time we're going over again. We have a very strong fan base there that continues to grow every day. And I know that this tour will bring in a bunch of new listeners.
Fawkes: OK, wish you a nice trip and a good show there! Let's go on. Your newest album is called "The Inner Circle". Maybe you'll laugh, but the first thing that comes to my mind is Norway, early '90s, ugly kids setting churches on fire and all that wicked stuff. But what does the title actually mean?
Michael: "The Inner Circle" is a concept album about being corrupted by a religious cult. The Inner Circle itself is the highest level you can reach within a cult. It has nothing to do with that specific thing in Norway. This album is about religious fanaticism in general. We've created a fictional story about how a person deals with all that and how the people around him deal with it, from everyone's point of view. We took the concept from the fact that in today's society, so many acts are committed in the name of religion or a certain god.
Fawkes: The album is set to be released later in April. I think you've already got a dozen reviews. So, what are people saying?
Michael: We've gotten very good reviews; we've been received very well everywhere. We're happy that people appreciate all the hard work we put into the album. We're very proud and happy about it. It's truly nice to see that, you know — in magazines, when other people share their opinions.
Fawkes: I haven't heard your album yet, but I don't give up hope of getting a promo from Soyuz-Music...
Michael: From those guys who set up this interview?
Fawkes: Exactly! Now tell us a bit about the new material. What are the differences compared to "Recreation Day"?
Michael: Well, I think it's not as intense as "Recreation Day" was. That entire album was really intense, and the new one is a little calmer. There's a great variety of different songs. It's a mixture of different elements. It's a really powerful and emotional album.
Fawkes: Most journalists define your style as power/prog metal...
Michael: I don't really see us as a prog band or a power band. Sure, we have some progressive elements in our music, but we're not as progressive as DREAM THEATER, SYMPHONY X, or bands like that. I usually call our music melodic metal, but I know people aren't satisfied with that definition. They want more information. But I don't really think we belong to the power/prog scene.
Fawkes: The two previous albums were produced at Los Angered Studio, with Andy LaRocque behind the mixing desk. Does the new album continue that collaboration?
Michael: No. This album was recorded in our own studio. We just built one last summer, and "The Inner Circle" has been recorded and produced by ourselves. This way we had no time constraints and could spend more time working on both the material and the sound. The production is really fantastic! We couldn't do better right now.
Fawkes: Yeah, having your own studio is a very useful thing...
Michael: (chuckles) It's true...
Fawkes: You're all perfect musicians. So perfect, in fact, that when I went to your website, to the Band section, and started clicking on your names one by one, I found no bios — just dry technical specs instead. All these guitar models, power amps, processors, and other complicated gear you use to create your music. What's that about? Some sort of joke?
Michael: No, I don't think it is. When we had the previous website, there was some information about us. But we've always gotten a lot of questions about what kind of equipment we use and all that, so we decided to put it all up when we started the new page. That way, people who are interested in those things can easily find the info. We're currently working on the page and more bios will appear in the future.
Fawkes: After a long look at your photos, I have to say that you look like the most rock 'n' roll person in the band...
Michael: (giggles) Alright! Thank you very much!
Fawkes: Don't mention it. A bass player is usually the liveliest guy in a band. What do you think about that?
Michael: Eh (chuckles), maybe that's true.
Fawkes: And what could you say about the rest of the band?
Michael: The five of us are all different people, but we work the same way, have the same goals, and share the same ideas when it comes to music. We're all equal. There are no specific roles in the band. Tom and Henrik are the main composers, but... I don't think there are specific roles, really.
Fawkes: Can you remember a funny story from EVERGREY's life?
Michael: Oh, we're out playing quite a lot, so funny things happen all the time. We have a tendency to get lost whenever we go out together. We're always walking around exploring whatever town we're in, and we never find our way back. We always need to grab a taxi to get back. It's ridiculous, really. Everyone's like: "I'm 100% sure this is the way we came..." And no one is ever right.
Fawkes: EVERGREY is based in Gothenburg. What do you think about the Swedish scene today?
Michael: I think it's still really good. I mean, there are still a lot of fantastic bands and new ones coming up. I think it's the strongest scene in Europe. We have a band there called PAIN OF SALVATION. Those guys are really fantastic musicians. We have bands like IN FLAMES who are really big all over the world. They're changing their sound but still getting bigger and bigger, and I think what they're doing is a step in the right direction. We have a new band here in Gothenburg called WITHIN Y which is a really, really good band. They're playing in the old Gothenburg style. So, that's about it.
Fawkes: OK. Let's step away from music. Let's talk about other stuff. Women, for example. What do you think?
Michael: Oh, they're wonderful creatures... (they are!!!)
Fawkes: Tell me, what's the most attractive thing in a woman?
Michael: Eh, well... Mmm... I'd have to say that intelligence is very important to me. A beautiful, intelligent woman is my ideal...
Fawkes: Are you married?
Michael: No, I'm not. I've been living with my girlfriend for some years but we're not married yet... Probably sometime in the future.
Fawkes: And what about kids?
Michael: (chuckles) Not right now — music is taking all my time...
Fawkes: How does your girlfriend handle your long absences?
Michael: I have to say, it's very hard for both of us. But this is what I've always wanted to do, so it's just something we have to work through together.
Fawkes: Are you a religious man?
Michael: No. Definitely not.
Fawkes: So you don't believe in all that paranormal stuff like ghosts, UFOs, etc.?
Michael: No.
Fawkes: A practical state of mind, yeah?
Michael: Yep!
Fawkes: I'm going to name five people. Don't think — just say whatever comes to mind first, OK?
Michael: OK.
Fawkes: Let's go. Pavel Bure...
Michael: Oh yeah, the hockey player! I love him!
Fawkes: George Bush...
Michael: Asshole.
Fawkes: Astrid Lindgren...
Michael: She was a very, very nice lady who wrote really fantastic stories. She's immortal...
Fawkes: Michael Hakansson...
Michael: Eh, a cool guy who's just having some fun.
Fawkes: Jesus Christ...
Michael: Fiction...
Fawkes: Well, a slightly more serious question. Do you think a person can be justified for committing murder?
Michael: No. I don't think someone who has committed murder can be justified.
Fawkes: No exceptions?
Michael: Maybe when it's self-defence or an accident. Either way, I think murder should be punished severely...
Fawkes: I'll tell you a story. It's about a russian man who lost his family — a wife and two children — in a plane crash about a year ago. Maybe you've heard about it — it's when two planes collided in mid-air?
Michael: No, I haven't.
Fawkes: So, the crash was evidently caused by a failure of Swiss air traffic controllers. And this man borrowed money from his neighbours, took a plane to Switzerland, found one of those controllers, and murdered him...
Michael: Mmm... I know what you're trying to say, but it was just stupid. It was some kind of revenge, but for me, revenge can never be justified. That's my opinion.
Fawkes: I remember an interview with Chris and Henrik (the drummer and guitarist of EVERGREY, respectively), in which they said that Sweden is a boring country. Good to visit, but stifling to live in. Could you comment on that?
Michael: Well, I don't know why they'd say it's boring. For me, Sweden is a fantastic country to live in. People are nice here, we have fantastic nature, and in the big cities there are plenty of clubs and nightlife. So, for me it's very good to live here.
Fawkes: Could you describe a typical Swede in three words?
Michael: Eh... Mmm... Shy... Quiet... Mmm... (making funny sounds, like rapid "phh-phh")
Fawkes: OK. Let's stop at two!
Michael: (with relief) Yep!
Fawkes: Maybe you know something about russia?
Michael: I've actually been to moscow...
Fawkes: Wow, (interrupting him) I'm speaking to you from moscow!!!
Michael: Great! It's a very beautiful city and I really like it. I was there for two weeks, playing at the CSKA moscow hockey school (!!!). It was back in 1992... We (EVERGREY) have been trying to get over there to play but haven't had enough luck so far. We'll definitely try to make it happen this year. The other guys haven't been there, so they're really eager to see moscow.
Fawkes: Hope you'll come here and play for us!
Michael: Hope so too.
Fawkes: You should know that russian fans are way better than American fans!
Michael: (chuckles) Yeah! We'll come and try you out!!!
Fawkes: OK. I think that's all. Bye, Michael!!! Thank you for the great talk!
Michael: Thank you very much too!!! Bye-bye!!!