Metal Shock Finland (World Assault )

Perhaps many of you know Death Metalers Hypocrisy, but for the rest that don’t, I have to tell you that they are one of best Melodic Death Metal bands in the world from the land of METAL- Sweden, and are led by Super busy MetalHead Peter Tägtgren. They have been playing METAL for more than 21 years now, resulting in 14 great albums favoured by all who bang their heads with Death Metal.

I had my chance to interview them and ask them some questions that you may like to know, especially about their new album, Hell Over Sofia – 20 Years Of Chaos And Confusion.

How the things are going with the band? any SHOCKING news?

It’s going really good! We’re very happy to finally release the new DVD.There are no shocking news at the moment but you never know whats gonna come up in the future…

Your website is closed and i also checked your page on facebook for some info about your upcoming tours and shows but i only found news about Rockstad. It seems the band was inactive for a while, do you want to tell us about that and also if you have some info about your upcoming shows?

Yes that’s true that the website is down at the moment but we’re working on it and a new homepage will be set up as soon as possible. We’ve been active all the time even though we not been playing that many shows since the “Long time no death” tour. We’re constantly working on new material for the next album plus we’ve been busy with the new DVD.

Would you tell us more details about “Hell Over Sofia – 20 Years Of Chaos And Confusion” DVD, especially about “Long Time, No Death 2010” show.

It wasn’t easy to find out where to record the live show. We’ve played in so many great places all over the world and to find the right place was pretty difficult. We never have played in Bulgaria in twenty years so we were thinking it was time to do it. Peter had played with Pain in Sofia before and he said it was great. So we decided to take the risk to go there because we didn’t know what to expect. But we were lucky! The crowd was fantastic in Bulgaria and the organisation was great. It was a fantastic moment that I’ll never forget. I’m really happy that we did the right choice.

With choosing that name, it seems this album is the second part of your previous compilation album “10 Years of Chaos and Confusion” , is that correct? are you thinking of making a third part too, or how about a special announcement right now for the fans?!’ 

It’s kind of a second part of “10 years of chaos and confusion” but at the same time not. The differnce is that “Hell Over Sofia – 20 Years Of Chaos And Confusion”dvd was planned to be released.
We didn’t know that the show in Wacken 1998 was recorded when we went on stage. But afterwards we heard that they got it recorded and we wanted to release it because it was a great show and a special moment for us.
“Hell Over Sofia – 20 Years Of Chaos And Confusion”is including a documentary and finally we could tell the true story of Hypocrisy.

HYPOCRISY

“Finally after 20 years a DVD will be released to tell us the history of Hypocrisy. It’s called “Hell over Sofia- 20 Years of chaos and confusion” Mikael Hedlund said. Please analyze these 20 years of Hypocrisy…

Crazy, funny and fantastic!

It’s been many up and down moments in the history of Hypocrisy. But I think it’s normal for a band that has been around for a while. If I don’t think about all the problems we’ve had with different managements during the years I think it’s been a fantastic journey. We’ve toured with great bands and met so many fantastic fans all over the world. If it would not been because of that I think we would have quit long time ago. In the end it’s all about playing and having fun.

How do you choose the setlist for your shows? Are there any particular factors that may influence your decision or other thoughts behind it?

For the first we try to play songs from all the albums. But in the show in Sofia, Bulgaria we didn’t play one song from the “Catch 22”. Don’t ask me why.. Before the “Long time no death” tour we asked our fans to choose the setlist for the tour and I think it’s a good way of choosing the songs because it’s for the fans we’re doing this and we want them to be happy.

“Hell Over Sofia – 20 Years Of Chaos And Confusion”

Where did the idea of the Art work come from and who painted it?

The painter Kristian Wåhlin did send over the idea to us. When we saw the painting we all said that it would fit perfect as a cover for the dvd. It’s a very interesting painting with many details in it and it’s absolutly a fantastic picture in my opinion.

Have you any plans to go in the studio to record a new album this year or next year? If yes do you want to continue those brutal themes that you used before in your music or will you surprise us?

We’re focusing on writing a new album. Thats the most important thing for us at the moment. It’s too early to say what it’s going to sounds like but all I can say is that it’s not gonna be any change of style.
It will be a classic Hypocrisy album without no compromises. We already got some material
and we’re really looking forward to enter the studio again. We don’t know yet when it will
but hopefully after the summer 2012. Nothing is confirmed yet. We’re doing the MetalFest tour in
May/June plus some other festivals. Thats the plans at the moment.

Peter Tagtgren

With releasing new album of PAIN, “You Only Live Twice”, It seems Peter will be more busy from now on, how do you think this will influence your future plans?

It doesn’t matter because don’t think it will effect Hypocrisy in a negative way. When he’s doing something, he’s doing it for 100%.

As a last question how do you define the word ‘Hypocrisy’ your band as a whole?, the goals, the ideas, etc?

The the whole idea for us is to have fun and thats what we’ve had and what we’re having in the band right now. When it’s not fun anymore we’ll stop doing this.
We’re all looking forward going into the studio again and start to record the new album and after that doing a new headline tour all over the world. That’s our next goal!

Hypocrisy, North American Tour, 2010

Any final words or message for your fans?

Hope to see you all in May/June on the MetalFest tour!

Thanks and wish you all the best.

Interview by Mohsen Fayyazi