HYPOCRISY

Scorpio: Hello, Peter! How are you doing? How did you celebrate the winter holidays?

Peter: I'm so busy right now that I haven't celebrated much.

Scorpio: So what have you prepared for your fans after the "Catch 22" experiments?

Peter: The new album is called "The Arrival". Musically it's a return to "The Final Chapter" and "Hypocrisy".

Scorpio: How much time did you spend in the studio?

Peter: We recorded it in a month. And the whole writing process took half a year.

Scorpio: Why do some bands spend a month or more in the studio while others do it in just one week?

Peter: It depends on how the bands prepare for the recordings. Sometimes bands don't need much time, and sometimes they need a lot — I don't know. I think it's just up to every band to decide for themselves how much time they need.

Scorpio: And how much money they have.

Peter: Yeah, exactly, that too. How much they want to spend.

Scorpio: Oh, the Abyss again. One of the songs on "The Arrival" is called The Abyss. Is it your favourite word?

Peter: You know, I wrote this song ten years ago. It only came out on a digipack as a bonus track, limited to about 1000 copies. A lot of people kept asking for it, and we didn't decide to include it until this album, because it suits this album better than "Catch 22" or "Into The Abyss".

Scorpio: I was told that you play a 7-string guitar.

Peter: Yes, sometimes. Usually live I play a 6-string.

Scorpio: And was it hard to switch to 7-string after playing 6-string?

Peter: No, not really, because I don't do too many solos on the seven-string. I think it's more about the speed.

Scorpio: And why did you decide to do that?

Peter: To get a 7-string?

Scorpio: Yes.

Peter: Oh, that was back in '96-'97, when not too many people were playing 7-string. It was pretty cool to do that.

Scorpio: Ex-Immortal drummer Horgh recently joined HYPOCRISY. Have you already performed together or just rehearsed?

Peter: We haven't rehearsed yet — we're gonna do it next week. But I know what he can do. You know, I've recorded three IMMORTAL albums with him on the drums. I know exactly what he can do. He's high quality and a very good guy!

Scorpio: But he was playing in a black metal band, and now he's playing in a death metal band.

Peter: Yes, but he can play all styles of metal. He's a very talented drummer.

Scorpio: So you think his blast beats are perfect for your music.

Peter: Yeah, I think so.

Scorpio: Will Horgh perform in corpse paint?

Peter: No, no, no. We don't do corpse paint, so...

Scorpio: Now about your cover art. Is HYPOCRISY from Alpha Centauri?

Peter: Yeah, yeah, for sure! Heh!

Scorpio: Have you already planned a tour to support the new album?

Peter: We're gonna go with CANNIBAL CORPSE to America. And then we're gonna go to South America, Europe for the No Mercy festival. And then we'll go to russia, actually, to moscow — one gig.

Scorpio: And what about other parts of russia, Ukraine, and Belarus?

Peter: I don't know yet if we have anything. I mean, this time we want to go everywhere we haven't been before. It all depends on local promoters, booking agencies and stuff like that — they have to contact our manager.

Scorpio: You've always been signed to Nuclear Blast. Have you ever thought about changing labels?

Peter: No, not really. We work very well together. There are no thoughts about changes.

Scorpio: What's the latest news on your project PAIN?

Peter: I'm working on a new album. I think the single will be released in May or June and then the album in September.

Scorpio: You did a cover of THE BEATLES' Eleanor Rigby on the last PAIN album. Are you a big BEATLES fan?

Peter: Yeah! I've got most of their albums. You know, I was brought up on THE BEATLES when I was a kid.

Scorpio: And what are your favourite bands?

Peter: I would say KISS, still. I also like a lot of other stuff. I've been a big collector of KISS merchandise for about 25 years now, you know.

Scorpio: And what do you think is the best album of previous years?

Peter: Uh, I don't know, maybe the first DEICIDE album, the first MORBID ANGEL album.

Scorpio: One of the main themes in your lyrics is paranormal activity. Why is it so interesting to you?

Peter: It fascinates me, and it's a more captivating topic than what other death metal bands use. Space, aliens, and all that stuff — it's interesting to me.

Scorpio: And since when?

Peter: Since I was a kid — since "Star Trek" in the '70s and stuff like that. I was always interested in paranormal activity.

Scorpio: Do you collect articles from newspapers about flying saucers?

Peter: No. But I watch a lot of documentaries and read books about it.

Scorpio: Do you dream of meeting an alien someday?

Peter: Oh, I don't know if they exist. But of course, you know!

Scorpio: What is your favourite film?

Peter: I think "Fire In The Sky". A cool film.

Scorpio: And would you like to act in a sci-fi movie one day?

Peter: Actually, I'd like to be in a movie in general — work a little bit more with film stuff.

Scorpio: And do you read books often?

Peter: Not so much, but I try. I'm not really much of a book reader.

Scorpio: And what kind of books?

Peter: Usually biographies about bands and stuff like that.

Scorpio: Now I'll name some bands from Sweden and you'll say a few words, OK?

Peter: OK.

Scorpio: IN FLAMES.

Peter: Pretty good.

Scorpio: DARK TRANQUILLITY.

Peter: Haven't heard too much, I can't really say.

Scorpio: ARCH ENEMY.

Peter: Very good musicians.

Scorpio: And what can you say about their female growler Angela?

Peter: I think it's pretty cool what she does!

Scorpio: You know, it was quite a surprise to find out that a girl sings on the "Wages Of Sin" album.

Peter: Yeah, heh.

Scorpio: MARDUK.

Peter: Very good friends.

Scorpio: DARK FUNERAL.

Peter: Also very good friends.

Scorpio: So, you're better friends with the black metal bands.

Peter: Yeah, but we're also good friends with IN FLAMES.

Scorpio: TIAMAT.

Peter: Also good friends — really cool guys.

Scorpio: And do you know anything about russia, Ukraine, or Belarus?

Peter: Not too much, to be honest, because we've never played there before. But we really want to go where we've never played, you know. I mean, we're gonna play in russia, and then we'll try to get more gigs around Eastern Europe.

Scorpio: But maybe you know something from TV or newspapers.

Peter: Uh, me... me and news. I don't have time to watch the news. I'm just totally into the music.

Scorpio: And do you know any russian words?

Peter: Pravda! (Truth! - auth.)

Scorpio: And what is your favourite Swedish word?

Peter: Kuk.

Scorpio: And what does it mean?

Peter: Dick. Ha-ha-ha!

Scorpio: Ha-ha! So the next thing after music is sex for you, yeah?

Peter: Yeah, ha-ha!

Scorpio: And how's your son doing?

Peter: Oh, very good! He's five and a half years old now and he's a really cool guy!

Scorpio: Is he a metal fan?

Peter: Yeah, of course. He likes all kinds of music, but mostly metal.

Scorpio: With a father like that!

Peter: Yeah, heh!

Scorpio: And what about alcohol?

Peter: Er... Vodka.

Scorpio: Oh, let's do my favourite drinks questionnaire.

Peter: What? What do I have to do?

Scorpio: I'll name some drinks and you say whether you like them or not.

Peter: Oh, OK. Cool.

Scorpio: Water.

Peter: You need it, heh.

Scorpio: Milk.

Peter: Milk is good!

Scorpio: And do you drink milk often?

Peter: Yeah!

Scorpio: Next, coffee.

Peter: Coffee is good too, to wake up.

Scorpio: Coca-Cola.

Peter: Gives you holes in your teeth.

Scorpio: Beer.

Peter: You get fat, heh. And you have to piss a lot, heh.

Scorpio: Heh, but you do drink beer, of course.

Peter: Yes, I drink some beer, but I'd rather drink vodka or rum.

Scorpio: Wine.

Peter: It's pretty good — you get a little buzz. Not too much, maybe a couple of bottles, but not enough to get fucked up on.

Scorpio: Champagne.

Peter: Eh, no. Pussy drink.

Scorpio: But it's traditional for New Year.

Peter: Yeah, for New Year, you know, I have a couple of sips and then I go back to my vodka.

Scorpio: Whiskey.

Peter: Whiskey is OK, but I get such a hangover, heh.

Scorpio: Vodka.

Peter: Makes the world go around!

Scorpio: Next, samogon. Do you know what that is?

Peter: What is it?

Scorpio: Samogon.

Peter: No.

Scorpio: It's our traditional home-brew. It's about 60 proof. People make it in villages.

Peter: Oh, to get warm.

Scorpio: Aha, during the cold winter nights, heh.

Peter: Yeah, yeah. Ha-ha! Cool!

Scorpio: Please tell us a tour story.

Peter: Oh, it's always crazy. Anything from playing in your underwear to waking up naked. There's always crazy stuff happening, you know.

Scorpio: Maybe you play jokes on your bandmates?

Peter: Yeah, sometimes we put soap on the floor so they can't move anywhere on stage. We pour honey and they stick to the floor, heh.

Scorpio: And maybe you throw somebody's shoes away?

Peter: No, but sometimes we drink out of shoes.

Scorpio: When you have no glasses?

Peter: Yeah, I mean, me and Silenoz from DIMMU BORGIR once drank from my Adidas shoe. Everyone was fucked up! Heh!

Scorpio: Heh, and how did it smell?

Peter: Oh, I don't know — we were drinking so hard we didn't have any taste left, heh!

Scorpio: Heh, so you weren't bothered by that.

Peter: No, no. It was my shoe — he should've been scared, heh!

Scorpio: Heh, yeah! And how long have you been into metal music?

Peter: I mean, from the beginning, when it all started. From LED ZEPPELIN to what it is today.

Scorpio: And what about your studio, Abyss?

Peter: I'm not doing too much there right now because I'm so busy. Touring and working on PAIN and HYPOCRISY takes up most of my time. I'll do more albums in the future, but right now the only things I have are MARDUK and DISSECTION.

Scorpio: What music do you listen to?

Peter: I listen to all kinds of music, from THE BEATLES to black metal.

Scorpio: And do you like it when musicians mix different styles of music, from ambient to black metal?

Peter: It depends on how you do it. Sometimes if you do it wrong, it sounds like shit, but if you do it right, it sounds good, I think.

Scorpio: Do you have other projects besides PAIN?

Peter: No, no other projects right now.

Scorpio: And maybe you'd like to create a new project?

Peter: No, not right now. I'm so busy I don't have time for any other projects.

Scorpio: But maybe there are some ideas?

Peter: No, not yet. I've been so busy these last years, I haven't even thought about it.

Scorpio: Do you remember a moment in your life when you were really frightened?

Peter: No, not really, to be honest. I'm usually not very easily scared. I don't know.

Scorpio: Maybe when you were a kid, you were scared of monsters, darkness?

Peter: No, the only thing I was scared of was the dentist.

Scorpio: Did you have bad teeth?

Peter: No, but I just didn't like going to the dentist.

Scorpio: Imagine that you have a time machine and can go whenever and wherever you wish. What would you choose?

Peter: I would be Elvis Presley.

Scorpio: Would you also want to die like Elvis?

Peter: No, not really, heh.

Scorpio: To have his fame?

Peter: Not especially. He was a very good singer — I admire him a lot.

Scorpio: We could also call him the great-great-grandfather of metal music, heh.

Peter: Yeah, heh!

Scorpio: Have you ever received an electric shock?

Peter: Yeah, I have. When I was a kid, I stuck my fingers into an outlet and it kicked my ass.

Scorpio: Heh, and how did it feel?

Peter: Oh, it wasn't good, because my hand turned completely black.

Scorpio: Whoa!

Peter: Yeah, it was very bad, you know.

Scorpio: And what about your hair?

Peter: My hair? No, it was still there, heh!

Scorpio: Heh. And did you have long hair back then?

Peter: I think I've had long hair all my life, since I was a kid. I cut it off only once, I think.

Scorpio: Were you an obedient boy?

Peter: Obedient? I was a crazy kid, fighting with everybody, you know.

Scorpio: And did you have problems at school?

Peter: Yeah, I did!

Scorpio: Did you fight because of your musical tastes?

Peter: No, it was just about everything — fighting about everything.

Scorpio: Fighting for no reason.

Peter: Yeah, but that changed a lot as I grew up.

Scorpio: Who is a better vocalist — Chris Barnes or Dani Filth?

Peter: I don't know, Chris Barnes maybe.

Scorpio: And do you think long hair is important for metal musicians?

Peter: No, not really. It's not about the hair — it's in your heart.

Scorpio: The same with corpse paint, yeah?

Peter: Yeah, the same, I think. It's all in the heart.

Scorpio: Some bands look funny with painted faces, chains, and axes.

Peter: Yeah, but some bands look good too.

Scorpio: Do you want to become a metal star, or do you think you're already a metal star?

Peter: No, I'm happy with what I am.

Scorpio: Your future plans.

Peter: Touring a lot and trying to visit every country we've never been to before.

Scorpio: Last words.

Peter: I hope everybody enjoys the album. Hopefully we'll come to your country and play, and people can check it out.

Scorpio: Thank you for the answers, Peter!

Peter: Thank you for the interview!

Scorpio: Bye!

Peter: Bye!