SOURCE WEBZINE | We don’t have readers – we have believers.

SOURCEWEBZINE – You’ve changed your record company several times now. What made you do this and are you finally satisfied with Regain Records?

Erik Grawsio (V/D) – Not THAT many times, we have only changed record company two times during 15 years… Our contract with Displeased Records reached its end after a nearly 10 year long collaboration and then we moved on to Black Lodge Records. After only one released album there was some contract disagreements with BL and that made us move to Regain Records. We’re satisfied so far, RR is doing a good job! Our collaboration is quite new but we think that this collaboration will contribute in making Manegarm an even better and more popular metal band.

SOURCEWEBZINE – Can you give us a sneak preview of the upcoming studio album “Nattväsen”?

Erik Grawsio (V/D) – On “Nattväsen” we have tried to write songs that are more “straight forward” and with lots of good hooks and strong choruses. In total I think that “Nattväsen” follows the same path as our two-three earlier albums but “Nattväsen” is a bit darker oriented, more “straight on”, it’s rawer and harder and we have incorporated more classic heavy metal.

SOURCEWEBZINE – “Nattväsen” combines a number of different elements and sounds, some of which are more straightforward than others. How and where do you see these elements coming together from ?

Erik Grawsio (V/D) – Don’t know where they come from really, they just do…We just try to compose music that we think is good and fun to play and that is what you can hear on the album.

SOURCEWEBZINE – Were you overwhelmed with the popularity you received from “Nattväsen” or were you confident that someday you would reach a higher status in the metal scene?

Erik Grawsio (V/D) – We were really satisfied with the final result and we thought that we had composed a great album but it’s always nice when people like it and when you get some really good reviews!! We have always aimed higher and I think (hope…) that we will take Manegarm one step further with this album.

SOURCEWEBZINE – You recently released a video for the track “Vetrarmegin”. Could you tell us a little bit about the video. Whose came up with the idea to it?

Erik Grawsio (V/D) – “Vetrarmegin” is shortly about the raw and untamed force of the winter. We filmed the video on site in this amazing Viking village with its beautiful surroundings. We rented the whole village that weekend and we also got some fantastic help from the people there who assisted in the video. Standard Film Team (Dark Funeral, Sonaria) made the video and they did a great job I think. The reason for choosing “Vetrarmegin” is because it’s a good song first of all but besides from that we came up with some really cool ideas for the story. “Vetrarmegin” is also a very varied song which is good for a video we thought.

SOURCEWEBZINE – Since you’re a band with such a strong presence on the Internet, and the album did well anyway, does it bother you when people “illegally” download your music?

Erik Grawsio (V/D) – I guess the illegal downloading makes us sell less CD copies but on the other hand the music is reaching out to a lot more people because of the internet and we gather more fans that way…I don’t know, maybe it’s a win-win situation.

SOURCEWEBZINE – Being a band from Sweden,and being a Swedish… Could you tell us the Swedish people characteristics?

Erik Grawsio (V/D) – I don’t really know what typical Swedish is but I guess we are a nice, friendly people that doesn’t makes to much noise.

SOURCEWEBZINE – I’m always on the hunt for quality music within the Metal genre, and therefore I would like to ask you if there are any bands you would like to recommend…

Erik Grawsio (V/D) – I don’t have any NEW recommendations but I always recommend good old quality music such as Deep Purple, Motörhead & Running Wild. It doesn’t get any better than that!

SOURCEWEBZINE – How important is staying true to the recorded material while performing live?

Erik Grawsio (V/D) – I think most bands play their songs the way they are recorded but I don’t know if it’s that important. If you come up with some other cool live arrangements for a song why not try it??!! We mostly perform our songs the way they are recorded but sometimes we have to do it a bit different; some songs have female vocals and since we don’t perform with a female live singer I have to do those vocal parts. For us that is no problem and I don’t think others think different.

SOURCEWEBZINE – If you could go back in time and actually be a viking, would you?

Erik Grawsio (V/D) – Of course, who f***ing wouldn’t?!

SOURCEWEBZINE – What are your future plans when it comes to touring? Any Brazilian/South America tours booked so far for 2010?

Erik Grawsio (V/D) – We are planning a tour in 2010 but I don’t know any details right know. Some European summer festivals are booked so far but we’re hoping for more. No Brazilian/South America tour booked so far but since we’ve never been there it would be awesome!!

SOURCEWEBZINE – Care to say something to your fans?

Erik Grawsio (V/D) – We really hope to see you all some day and in the meanwhile I suggest that you all take a listen to the best Pagan Metal release of the century – “Nattväsen”!

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