Interview with vocalist/guitarist Tom S. EnglundInterview with vocalist/guitarist Tom S. Englund
Evergrey’s latest masterpiece, Recreation Day, was released in the States on March 18 and in Europe on March 24, 2003. The career of this Swedish progressive metal prodigy spans four albums, dating back to 1998. With each one, they seem to grow bolder, darker, heavier and more accomplished. The mastermind behind the group is vocalist/guitarist Tom Englund, who took some time out to answer our questions.
Tom, thanks for taking time out to talk to Transcending the Mundane. As I understand it, the initial plan was to have Neil Kernon travel to Sweden to produce Recreation Day. A problem with obtaining a visa apparently put an end to that plan just as you were about to head into the studio. Did this lead to your decision to co-produce the album with guitarist Henrik Danhage? Was any attempt made to bring Andy Larocque back in again?
Yes, it most definitely led to that as we felt we needed to do something to sort of keep our interest and freshness up. I mean, we did record it in Andy's studios, but as you said we produced it ourselves and we are extremely happy with the result.
The sound on Recreation Day is BIG. Bigger than anything I’ve heard yet from you guys. Most noticeably different are the vocals, which almost sound as if you are singing in a great hall. What was the approach that you and Henrik took in the studio, and did you get what you were looking for in the final product?
Well, we actually started with the vocals this time as we had a full pre-production that we could lay all the vocals on. So we did vocals for three weeks before we started with the drums. We felt it to be very contradictory to lay down the vocals in the short amount of time that's left after everything else is there. And as for the sound, this is really funny, we tried 20 different microphones—everything from 500 dollars up to 5,000 dollars—and ended up singing the whole album with a Shure Beta SM58, which is a 200 dollar mic. That proves that everything need not be that expensive.
Tom, I’ve heard you say that your interest in alien abduction comes from your reading of Whitley Streiber’s Communion, and is not based on any personal experience. However, this theme in your lyrics dates back before In Search of Truth to Solitude, Dominance, Tragedy (“The Shocking Truth”) and even The Dark Discovery (“December 26th”). All of this material is very emotional and feels entirely sincere. Is there something you’re not telling us?
I mean, of course I put my personal ideas and feelings into the fictional story and take the emotions that I have experienced myself at some other time and try to convey what I felt at that time. I mean, the songs and albums you mentioned are about alien abduction. Then all other songs come from me, myself.
After a concept album like In Search of Truth, what was your lyrical approach on Recreation Day?
It’s about death, how you handle being left behind after some one close to you dies and how you take care of the aftermath—the frustration, the fear of loneliness, basically the ordinary Evergrey themes. ; )
Where do you call home? Did you start playing guitar at a young age?
Gothenburg, Sweden. I started playing guitar when I was 14, so not too early.
Your vocal style is very unique, very emotional. I’ve heard you say your girlfriend has been a big influence here. What vocalists from the metal world were a source of inspiration as you developed your voice?
None, to be honest. I just tried to make my own voice sound as good as it possibly could without sounding like anyone else. I mean, I do not have the range that reaches the sky, so therefore I try to put more emphasis on the emotions—the sincerity—to make it as honest as possible.
You seem to be a fearless artist, willing to pull in a number of musical elements to better Evergrey’s sound. For example, the monk-like chanting on “The Great Deceiver,” the beautiful female vocals in the breakdown section of “Your Darkest Hour,” and the poignant piano work throughout Recreation Day by Rikard Zander. How deep, exactly, is your bag of tricks?
As deep as you can imagine. Evergrey has never been about putting ourselves in a spot, or genre if you will, where we would be bound to stick to a certain style or anything like that and that has brought us our own identity which is what all bands strive for.
Has the Evergrey line-up finally solidified? How does the song-writing process work at this point?
Well, I would have to say no as Patrick, our drummer, has recently left the band because of lack of interest in music. Too bad, and very unfortunate, but that's the way it is. It’s hard to find five dedicated persons that all have the same goal in mind. The drums will now be handled by our former drum roadie Jonas Ekdahl who is only 19 years old.
The songwriting process has always been evolved around me and that is only natural since I do the vocals, some keyboard parts, and also the main parts of the lyrics. As for this album, me and Henrik have written the whole album with the exception of a few songs, where also Rickard has been involved. Actually, Rickard has been really helpful in a lot of ways when it comes to arranging all the songs, [he’s] a great musician.
Can you tell us what Evergrey’s touring plans for the remainder of 2003 will be? Will fans in the States be graced with your presence?
Well, as for the States we will play the BW&BK festival in Cleveland in June and also the ProgPower in September. That is all that is confirmed right now, but we are planning a full-scale USA tour as we speak. We just have to hope that it will come through as we have to tour on this album in the States.
Tom, my final thought is that Evergrey is the best pure Progressive Metal band in existence. Any final thoughts of your own?
I agree. : ) Except for the fact that we ourselves don’t consider ourselves prog. Keep up the darkside.
Discography:
2003… Recreation Day (InsideOut Music)
2001… In Search of Truth (Century Media)
1999… Solitude, Dominance, Tragedy (Hall of Sermon)
1998… The Dark Discovery (Gothenburg Noiseworks/Black Sun)
Current Line-up:
Tom S. Englund… Vocals and guitars
Henrik Danhage… Guitars
Michael Hakansson… Bass
Rikard Zander… Keyboards
Jonas Ekdahl… Drums
| TTM reviews of albums by Evergrey: | |
 | 2008 - 'Torn' |
 | 2006 - 'Monday Morning Apocalypse ' |
 | 2004 - 'The Inner Circle' |
 | 2003 - 'Recreation Day' |
 | 2001 - 'In Search of Truth' |
| TTM editorials involving Evergrey: | |
