THE CRAZY DEATHTRAIN!!!

DENATA

DENATA ARE FROM SWEDEN AND WITH THEIR DEATHTRAIN WILL TAKE YOU FOR A JOURNEY THROUGH THE DARK! ARE YOU READY TO GET ON BOARD?

1.TELL US IN A FEW WORDS THE MOST IMPORTANT MOMENTS OF THE BAND'S HISTORY. WHICH IS TODAY'S LINE UP?

1998 was the most important year as we brought Denata alive back then. In 1999 our self titled EP was released and Roger Blomberg hooked up on bass Armageddon. In the year 2000 we entered the studio to record our debut CD Departed to Hell which was released through Ghoul Records and in 2001we signed for the American label Arctic Music Group which just released our new album Deathtrain. The current line up is me Tomas Andersson (guitar /vocals), Roger Blomber (bass) & Ponta Sjosten (drums / vocals).

2.WHAT DOES DENATA MEAN? HOW DID YOU SELECT IT? WHAT DID YOU HAVE IN MIND WHEN YOU WERE THINKING OF BAND NAMES?

We wanted a short and evil name so the big Latin word book was taken down from the shelves. After a few minutes we found the ultimate word Denata that couldn't have fit our band better. Denata is the Latin word for dead.

3.HOW WOULD YOU DESRCIBE YOUR MUSICAL STYLE? WHICH BANDS DO YOU LOOK UP TO AND WHICH DO YOU THINK "HARM" HEAVY METAL?

I think old school thrash / death metal is a good explanation of our style. And if I only were aloud to use one word it would be thrash metal as thrash metal is our main inspiration for what we do. I don't know if we look up to any bands particular but the whole German thrash scene have always meant a lot for us. I don't think we have felt that any metal bands ever harmed the metal scene but I must admit that I really hate this new wave of melodic power metal that been around for a while now. But as long they don't play their records in my bedroom I don't care.

4.WHY DO YOU PLAY OLD SCHOOL METAL? WHY HAVE YOU DECIDED TO PLAY THAT STYLE? I MEAN WE ARE IN THE NEW MILLENNIUM. HAVEN'T YOU THOUGHT OF ADDING NEW ELEMENTS IN YOUR MUSIC?

We play this kind of metal because it kicks ass. We have grown up with it, we still love it and there is no need for compromises. A simple rule is that what's uncomplicated often sounds best in the end anyway, old school! I have hard to imagine anyone of us want to experiment with new elements this millennium but maybe next.

5.TELL US A FEW WORDS FOR EACH OF THE BAND RELEASES (MUSIC, PRODUCTION, RECORDING, ETC..). ARE YOU STILL SATISFIED WITH THEM OR IS THERE ANYTHING YOU'D LIKE TO CHANGE?

First we have the 4 track EP that was recorded in a basement with a portable 8 channel studio. We recorded everything over a night and the sound quality really sucks but I find it charming anyhow. It was released on Ghoul Records in 1999. Second up we have our 10 track debut CD "Departed to Hell" that was recorded in Guja studio located in our hometown. The mastering was handled by Goran Finnberg and it was released through Ghoul Records again in the year of 2000. The third release is the 12 track Deathtrain CD released through Arctic Music Group Records. This production was recorded in Guja studio once again and also mastered on the same place as Departed to Hell. I think it's the same for all musicians, you always regret something from every recording and afterwards you think why I didn't do it that way. But when you really are in the studio everything isn't that easy and you have to compromise sometimes. Overall we are really satisfied with our releases and of course we have some things that we could have done better but I won't tell you what it's hehe

6.FILL US IN ON THE BAND LYRICS. WHAT KIND OF SUBJECTS DO YOU LIKE TO HURT? WHY HAVE YOU NAMED YOUR LATEST RELEASE "DEATHTRAIN"?

For our latest release the topic follows the classical things such as death, Satanism and darkness. Ponta wrote the lyric for the track Deathtrain and we thought it was so great that we had to use it as title track and album name. The concept of Deathtrain is how you will be taking to hell after you die. Behave or maybe you will be on the Deathtrain when you die.

7.WHY SWEDEN IS SO FAMOUS ABOUT ITS DEATH METAL SCENE? WHY MOST OF THE BANDS THERE PLAY EXTREME METAL?

I have thought about that too and I don't have any good answer on your question. Maybe the Swedes are so bored that they take out their aggression the musical way?

8.HAVE YOU DONE ANY LIVE SHOWS? HOW IS A TYPICAL DENATA LIVE OR HOW WOULD YOU IMAGINE IT?

Believe it or not, we haven't done a single show with Denata. I don't know why but I guess the right offer hasn't shown up yet. We enjoy the rehearsal and studio time better than playing live. I can't imagine none of us would like to stay on the road for along time but it would be really nice doing a smaller tour just for a couple of weeks. We'll see what time will bring. I could imagine our shows would attract a lot of drunken bangers out there!

9.IF SOMEDAY YOU HAD THE CHANCE TO MEET THE CREATURE THAT CREATED THE UNIVERSE, WHICH WOULD YOUR BIGGEST QUESTION BE?

Haven't thought about that before but something I always wonder is why this creature made Rob Halford gay?

10.IF TIME TRAVEL WAS POSSIBLE, WHICH HISTORICAL PERIOD WOULD YOU LIKE TO VISIT AND WHY? WHAT WOULD YOU MISS THE MOST FROM OUR TIME?

I would have travelled to 1200 century and bought my self a huge two hand sword. I have always wanted to have one that would make me get blood on my hands. I would miss my bed most because I can imagine the beds back there weren't too comfortable.

11.WHAT PROLOGUE AND TITLE WOULD YOU LIKE THIS INTERVIEW TO HAVE?

DENATA - "Swedish thrash hell" would be fine.

12.MANY METAL MUSICIANS ACCUSE POP STARS FOR THEIR LIFE STYLE, YET WE SEE SUCH BEHAVIOURS IN THE METAL SCENE AS WELL (BANDS PAYING TO MAKE A COVER FOR SUCCESFUL MAGAZINES, HAVING A GOOD REVIEW, METAL
LABELS PROMOTING SPECIFIC BANDS AND GENRES EACH EPOCH,ETC).IS IT MAYBE AFTER ALL TRUE THAT THE METAL INDUSTRY DOESN'T DIFFER FROM THE POP? WHICH ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT?

I have never thought about this either but I guess it's the same with everything. If you have connections you will get publicity and if you get publicity you will sell records. It's a sick world we live in but I hope there is a bit dignity left in the metal scene.

13.HOW ARE YOU PLANNING TO PROMOTE YOUR MUSIC? WHICH SONG OF YOUR DO YOU THINK IS THE MOST IDEAL TO REPRESENT YOU?

We try to answer all interviews we get and hope the media will enjoy what we do so the word about Denata will be spread. I hope we will be able to do some shows before the end of the year but nothing is planned at the moment. It's hard to just choose one song but I think it would be 1349 or The Black Lodge that represents us best.

14.IF YOU HAD ENOUGH MONEY TO MAKE A VIDEO CLIP HOW WOULD YOU LIKE IT TO BE?

It would be fucking cool to do a video of The Black Lodge. Shoot it like an old horror movie and in black white, with blood running through the walls while we play inside. Hire an actor, to play the old butcher Grim and hunt around with his butcher axe and cut flesh into pieces.

15.WHICH IS YOUR MOST BELOVED MOVIE YOU'VE SEEN LATELY AND WHICH BOOK YOU ENJOYED READING?

The best movie I have seen lately was The Others with Nicole Kidman. I thought it should be another boring modern movie but it kicked ass. It was the best movie I seen since Stephen Kings Storm of the century. The latest book I read was Michael Connelly's Black Ice, fairly good but not the best I have read.

16.IF YOU WEREN'T INVOLVED WITH THE MUSIC, WHAT ELSE WOULD YOU LIKE TO DO?

There is nothing else I can compare with the music. Music is everything for me and without it I would probably do nothing, just watch movies and drink beer, nothing else can compare with music.

17.THANK YOU!HAVE I FORGOTTEN TO ASK YOU ANYTHING AND YOU'D LIKE TO MENTION?

Thank as hell for the interview Christine! I can't come up with anything more I would like to add right now. I wish you all the best with Behind the Veil! You thrash metal maniacs out there remember to check us out!! Thrash till death!

CHRISTINE PARASTATIDOU

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