VICIOUS ART

Torture need

-Where do you see a major difference, comparing this new effort to „Fire Falls And The Waiting Waters” from 2004? How would you describe band's progression?
When we did Fire Falls.. we had just been playing together for maybe a year so I think that maybe if something it is the years and gigs together that has made the big difference between the two albums. We have become tighter together as a band, both personally and musically.

-Is there any overall theme to „Pick Up This Sick Child” lyrical content? And how did you come up with such a cool idea for the album title?
The title came from a song that we had called „Pick up the sick child”. It never made the album though it was recorded. We thought.. this is our baby, we made it with alot of heart, it is sick, please buy it or at least listen to it, hahaha.. It also tells pretty much about the lyrical content. Thought it is not a concept album like for example „...of frost and war” with Hail of Bullets or „Abigail” by King Diamond, it has a red thread through the lyrics. We have got alot of praising for the standout lyrics and that makes us proud!

-Go into other things. Years and years have passed since you started your musical career. You've played in many bands, been involved in many albums... Could you tell me which album is the one you love the most, the one making you say "I'm so fucking proud of you, my little bastard!"?
It is hard to pick just one but „Into the Grave” with Grave is of course special since it is the first. But I rank „Pick up this sick child” very high and i am extremely proud of it!

-Has your attitude toward metal music changed during the years you have played? What keeps you faithful to extreme metal music?
Sometimes I get bored of listening to extreme metal and I have to go back and listen to stuff that i grew up with. Motorhead, Judas Priest, Ac/Dc, Bob Marley, David Bowie etc etc.. I dont think my attitude toward the metal music has changed, I have always loved it. Always will.

-Let's also mention in this interview your brand new project, I mean TORTURE DIVISION formed a year ago together with your fellows from THE PROJECT HATE and VOMITORY. I have been listening to your music and it sounds very cool, direct and brutal, no shit. But the question is- does the world really need another death metal combo?
There is always a need for Torture Division!

-Actually, Swedes have always been extremely prolific when it comes to death metal (almost like rabbits). What does it come from? Does your government put something to food and water or maybe it's more like a testosterone- related problem?
I think in general swedish people is interested in music and kids get into their metal and start playing. We are a talented people that is for sure, haha..

-Going back to TORTURE DIVISION, as far as I know you decided not to release an album, you even aren't looking for a record deal and so on. It seems you guys just want to ignore music market, right?
No, we dont ignore the music market. But just as you said before, does the world really need another death metal album? We have decided not to rush things and record albums just because we are blessed with being in other „bigger” bands. We just wanna record some demos before we know what the hell we are all about. Also, with the technology these days it doesnt cost us shitloads of money to record 3-4 songs. So we decided it would be cool to give it away for free to the death metal fans out there, and if they like the band then support us with buying a shirt or two so we can keep recording stuff and give it away for free. In the past, it was hard to distribute demos for free since you had to print covers and tapes and then the postage.. Now all that is not necessary, just download it, print out the cover that is on the website and make your own copy. We even let people sell our stuff if they want to. We dont mind at all. Just distribute our stuff however you want and we be happy! At the end of this year we have recorded 3 new songs and over a years time we have given away 9 songs for free. I think it is pretty cool.

-Does it something common with today's music scene? What do you think about its quality, compared to 80/90 for example? How can we accept metal scene dominated mostly by female-fronted crap, all that emo- bullshit and greedy labels?
There is still a good death metal scene out there and that is more important to me than any of the trendy stuff that gets hyped. I couldnt care less about them actually.

-Future of metal? Is there a light at the end of the tunnel? Isn't an oncoming train?
Metal will always be alive for the ones who wants it.

www.viciousart.se

Line-Up
Jocke Widfeldt - vocals
Matti "Dominion" Mäkelä - guitar
Tobbe "Necrobarber" Sillman - guitar
Jörgen Sandström - bass, vocals
Robert "Gaahnfaust" Lundin - drums

Discography:
Fire Falls And The Waiting Waters (2004)
Weed the Wild (EP 2006)
Pick Up This Sick Child (2007)