LEGIONS OF WAR, coming from Sweden, they play some sort of mix between old Thrash and melodic Black Metal. They’re often described as a hybrid between Kreator, Sodom, Venom and Dissection and well, I guess it’s an honest description of their music. It’s about war so why not call it War Metal, dirty and mean but still a beautiful caress of your ears!! For the moment they are rehearsing for a gig and after that they’re going to concentrate on their new songs and give the world some new hits from Sweden!! There also going to be some new T-shirts printed in the near future…..

Tell us about evolution. Not really about evolution in general but perhaps maybe about your evolution as a “musician” and getting involved in the scene. What is your opinion on the underground nowadays than it was before?

Well, I have to admit that I’m not an expert on the underground scene. I, C.Stalinorgel, have been involved in the underground for years, in different project but from time to time I also have left the scene to concentrate on other things in life; produced a family and other stuff. Back in the end of the last century I was mostly in to the punk scene but I also played with Suicidal winds on their first records and these guys was really into the underground so they taught me a bit about the underground metal scene. Back then we got in touch with other bands, magazines mostly through gigs and festivals and also through trades. Today it’s easier to get in connection with other bands because of the big influence of internet like myspace. But it’s also harder to get a selection of all the good and bad music out there…Or maybe I’m just old and tired……

Well, as musician I hope I have become a better musician, more skilled. I never was (or is) a fan of practice my drums which I today think was a big mistake, should have been a better drummer by nowJ!! But Abbadon (Venom) isn’t the most skilled musician but a very “coolplaying” drummers…I mean I’m soon a middleaged old man and I have just realized that a metronome could be helpful instead of a bad “machinefucker” that tear apart the feeling!! Nowadays I can see the bastard as a friend…

About song writing, how long will it take to complete a song (your song). Is it possible to complete it all in an hour, or in day, or it might even took long periods of refining the lines, etc. How do you know or when can you say that the song is finished? Who wrotes the lyrics? Do each and everyone in the band contribute their ideas?

I write most of the lyrics and the other three warriors write the music. It could take from one or two rehearsels to months to get a song finished. It depends on the mood in the song, if it give us a good feelings from the start, well, then its not necessary to rewrite the song and its finished very fast…But we only rehearse about 3-4 times a month so maybe we’re pretty fast in writing songs.

What music format do you prefer the most; vinyl, CD, or cassettes? Do you think it is really good to release one album in these three mentioned formats? I mean, CD first then vinyl or vinyl first then CD is acceptable (at least to me), but CD first then vinyl then after that a cassette with same songs on them over and over again is something that I don’t understand! For collectors?

VINYL!! For my own taste. But to be honest I haven’t thought about it. If a band wants to release in all those formats, so what, most of the fans probably listen to MP3 anyway….you know, buy the cassette but put it up on the shelf and listen through their computer :)!! No, I guess you’re right, items for collectors mostly.

Then what is your opinion on bands who keep on releasing “rehearsal recordings” on various formats? Is this good or what? There are some bands who are fond on doing this and releasing same “rehearsal tracks” for about 4 releases (only with different album title) and if you’re not interested buying this, “you’re nothing but a poser” like is what being said in the ad.

In the old days when there wasn’t so many studios out there it probably was useful, but today I cant see a reason to release such recordings, with help of mother computer one can do a decent recording even in the rehearsal room. But to some people it may be more “necro” to release such stuff and if the purpose is to get that raw “underground/necro/hate-common-people-mainstream” sound, well, let them have it. I like it dirty too but there are limits even for me. I prefer to hear what a band play. Aaarg – but maybe I’m also an old poser then J!

Artworks… how important is this to you? Do you buy a record just because the artwork is great? What about the photoshopped “artworks” nowadays? What do you prefer; a photographed being enhanced by technology, a b/w goats, or a hand painting?

As long as it’s a nice cover and tell me something it doesn’t matter if it’s a painted cover or a photo. No, I don’t buy a record because of a cover. Sorry, I lied to you. I bought a record with a group from the eighties called Axe victims, they we’re so ugly and cool guys that I couldn´t resist it, the music wasn’t very good but the cover ruled!!

What is your opinion on bootlegs and also the massive downloading of albums in general? Do you think all these ripped audios in filesharing sites helps the band? For nowadays over-crowded scene, what’s the best way for a band to get an attention? Is originality important?

Well, it’s a hard question, file sharing can be helpful for a small band with limited releases, then those who didn’t get the record before its sold out can get a chance to hear the music and then support through merchandise and tickets to concerts, but its harder to sell records nowadays. Too many people just download and don’t buy the record even if they like the music and that’s a shame. About get attention as a band? Originality, yes, but there are also band which copy other musicians and are totally unoriginal but then have a major label behind their back which pay for huge tours with more famous bands. There could be better bands signed to a small label that don’t get the same chance, because of limited economy from both the band and the label….as in life in general.

Do you listen to other forms of “music” in general? Something non-metal like classical or industrial? Do this somehow influences you? Where do you take your inspirations when you write your songs?

I still listen to punk and crust sometimes, of course that genre also contain distortion and rapid drums and so on….not so far from metal…but that influence my lyrics a little I guess…We have a swedish Elvis up here in the north, he’s dead now but its more like old rock’n’roll with nasty lyrics about pussys, dicks and other important stuff in life! Eddie medusa! Check him out J!!!!

What is your opinion about “life”? Do you believe humans really got “souls”? What is success, because there is a lot of definitions, specially on some people that thinks travelling all over the world is already a “huge success”? What are your goals with this band? When is the time to quit metal (ie: listening, buying, being in a band, etc)?

I’m a Darwinist to 98% and believe that we are made of flesh and with help from our defected human brains we make up some ghost that we will call gods, souls, spirits and what so ever. But then from time to time I got my doubts, and I may think maybe there is a tiny chance or risk that there is another power upon earth that we cant see………

If you do what you really want to do, then I guess you’re a person with success, that’s my simple opinion. You can travel around the corner and be glad for that and experience a lot more than running around the world. Just keep your eyes open!!!

The goal with our band is just to play honest and good metal!! Maybe sell some albums too and do some gigs! And well, I’m 35 years old and have no plans to skip the music with all that stuff which comes along with it!!! I can’t see myself without music!! I quit playing for some years but I missed it so much that I was forced to get up on the train again!! Many people quit playing when they get kids but I keep the best of two worlds in my hand –my family and Music!!!! And a beer in the other handJ!!

Back to the band, what is your opinion on the use of keyboards? Is it really a problem? Do you think a metal band should not use this instrument just in order for them to stay “purely metal”? Then what is “purity” in metal? Do you think “experimenting” in music is bad? What is your opinion on the modernization of music (technical playing, etc)?

Ozzy, Dio, judas priest used keyboards – are these not metalgods? As long as its good it doesn’t matter to me, but if Venom or Sodom had used keyboards I don’t know if it would had been suitable……Lord Belial use flute, very beautiful and evil in the same way……But wait, Lord belial? Didn’t they play black metal?! HeHe And good metal too……see my point?

I prefer more old school metal with lack of technical stuff but not always, depend on the mood. But in LEGIONS OF WAR there’s no need for keyboards.

Some bands claim that they are here for a message? What do you think is that message? I mean, if these bands really want to spread a message across, then why are they releasing limited amount of copies? I don’t think that releasing 250 limited copies is enough to spread that “message”.

I guess you think of underground bands that claim the death to the church and so?? And then has limited their stuff to 666 ex of their album? I can see your point, but I can’t see it as a problem either… It’s the way it’s supposed to be if you are true I guess….. a difficult path to walk for those who choose that way, both be true and sell records and not get famous but still get well recommended at the same time……nothing for me… But I like to have some of those limited copies in my collection if it’s a good band though, like Denial of god or Pagan rites.

It is also noticeable about bands being so “defensive” nowadays. Loading themselves with a lot of excuses like: “no technical playing”, “no clean professional sound”, etc. I think only a few are doing good, but the rest are just trying to be hip. Anyway, what is your opinion on all of these?

As in the question before, that’s in the same vein, to be “true” you should not be playing to well and have a raw sound, Maybe it’s a way to claim what kind of music you’re into? Raw black metal should be played like that if you will keep the evilness from the Norway scene in the beginning of the nineties (just one of many examples)?? I like Darkthrone but have a sound like Transylvanian hunger don’t necessary make you more evil to me, how about “raining blood” with Slayer, good productions (for the time) but a evil feeling in beneath. Its more than a production, it’s about feelings too….cant describe it better than that…….

Alright, we’ve come to an end. Do you have any final thoughts? Thank you for your time…

Well, thanks for all those very well done question and thoughts! If someone out there want to get a nasty bite of warmetal just get in touch for trades and so!! And as always: Remember, “stalinorgels sending out concerts of death as we marching out to the tunes of war”!!!!!