Gluttony Interview

1.Can you give us an update on what is going on with the band these days?

We’ve recently released our debut album Beyond The Veil Of Flesh digitally on iTunes, Spotify, Amazon.com and the likes. Then in late May it’s time for the physical CD release worldwide by Vic Records. And we’re rehearsing for the release fest of BTVOF which also includes Soreption and Tribulation.

2.You have a new album coming out in May, how would you describe the musical sound of the new recording and also how does it differ from your 2 previous released demos?

The songs on the album are much faster than the demo songs. The idea was to incorporate all the elements I love about old-school Swedish Death Metal from the early 90’s. Thus we have fast d-beat songs in the vein of Dismember, melodic 2-beat songs like Edge Of Sanity or Unanimated as well as heavier songs like Eaten Alive that remind me of classic At The Gates or Entombed.

3.Can you tell us a little bit more about the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores with the newer music?

Just like on Coffinborn and Eaten Alive, all the lyrics are inspired by horror movies and the occult. My personal favorite is the lyrics for Eaten Alive which are about a cannibal killer that gets executed but is buried in a cursed graveyard and thus returns to life as a zombie to continue feasting on human flesh.

4.The band originally started out as a solo project, what was the decision behind forming a full line up?

I started Gluttony as a solo project because I wanted to write simpler songs. The songs we wrote with My Own Grave took several rehearsals to write and the whole band contributed. I wanted the opposite, a contrast. At first it wasn’t meant to amount to anything, simply me writing old-school songs with my HM2 pedal. But then I decided the songs deserved to be recorded so I teamed up with Max and John of My Own Grave and when we got Magnus Ödling of Setherial onboard, we actually had a line-up that could rehearse regularly as well as play live.

5.Why did you pick the name 'Gluttony' for the band?

I was watching Dawn Of The Dead for like the 100th time and one thing I like about zombie movies is when the horde of zombies finally catch up with the helpless victim and form an eating pile. They attack with ravenous hunger that can only be described as gluttonous and then I decided to call the band Gluttony and to have a zombie feeding on the cover of the debut album to make the connection between band name and concept. I also ordered the cover artwork by Jeffrey Zornow in like 2011 or something. It’s been lying around ever since, in case we got a record deal. In fact, the title track for Beyond The Veil Of Flesh is also an old song that was actually fully recorded for the Coffinborn demo but I decided to keep it because it was such a great title track for a full-length.

6.What are some of the best shows that the band has played so far and also how would you describe your stage performance?

Since Magnus priorities are with Setherial and the rest of us have family responsibilities at the moment we haven’t played live more than once. It was the release fest for Coffinborn, supporting Naglfar. Our stage performance is relentless and the songs are performed a lot faster than on the record. Once you get into that d-beat mosh, there is no coming back, you will get eaten by the pit!

7.Do you have any touring or show plans once the new album is released?

The release fest together with Soreption and Tribulation is the only show we’ve got planned so far. We’ll see what turns up.

8.On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to your music by fans of death metal?

It’s been massive. You can tell that this music speaks to a wider audience than the songs I wrote with My Own Grave. In the first week of the digital release I’ve received merch and demo orders from all continents except Australia, and the fan base is growing at good speed. Despite not being very old-school or trve, Facebook is really handy when it comes to getting in touch with our fans.

9.What is going on with the other musical projects these days that the band members are involved with?

Setherial are releasing a new album this year and My Own Grave will release their long-awaited 10 years anniversary DVD that was shot in 2011 with 5 cameras. The DVD holds really high quality and also features songs from the entire career as well as a lot of guest appearances so it feels great to finally release it!

10.Where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?

We will stick to the formula of early 90’s Swedish death metal scene: Keep it simple, catchy, heavy as hell but also melodic.

11.What are some bands or musical styles that have had an influence on your newer music and also what are you listening to nowadays?

I started listening to classic bands like Kiss, Iron Maiden and AC/DC and then moved on via Thrash Metal to Death and Black Metal in the early 90’s. When I pick up the guitar and start riffing, and especially when I’m downtuned to A and plugged in via the Boss HM2 pedal, what comes out is that old-school stuff that I grew up with. Simple, catchy, heavy and melodic – it’s in my DNA. I don’t really think “Now I’m gonna sit down and write a Dismember song” but as you’ve heard what comes out sounds a lot like them or Grave or Edge Of Sanity.

12.What are some of your non musical interests?

Horror movies and BBQ.

13.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?

Stop by https://www.facebook.com/gluttonyswe  where we post stuff regularly such as news, live videos or hold polls about upcoming releases such as which songs to include. Gluttony exists not to change the world or do anything bold and original, but rather to keep serving you that old and vile Swedish Death Metal you grew up with that gets your blood boiling, the beer flowing and your body moshing!

/Anders Härén of Gluttony