Swordwielder Interview
Gothenburgs Swordwielder has poured its epical resentments into the cold for quite som time now. An urgent and dirty deed made with such a heartfelt sincerity that Hinsides Magazine had to approach the band to go beyond its hostile surface. So, if you´re not afraid to take a dive down the drain, join the ride!
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Text:
Hinsides Magazine 2022
Images:
Used with kind permission
Cover of “Grim Visions of Battle” (Cubo de Sangre 2013).
Modern Classic Crust
Let the wielder of swords be greeted unto the (pretentious) realms of Hinsides Magazine! Please introduce yourself and let us know something about what mundane or metaphysical activities you´ve been occupied with today?
Hello! We are Björn, Nicke and Sikas. We are occupied drinking beer and being merry with our good friend Jimmy Tallbo of Dörrterror fame.
Swordwielder is a unit that´s been around for some time now. Is it possible to recollect what the initial plan looked like when the band were formed? It would also be interesting to know how you reflect upon the development of the band so far?
N: Hmm, I think it all began back in 2011 with Patrik, Walle and our old drummer Mange. They started rehearsing something that was supposed to sound like crust in the veins of Amebix. In 2012 Walle called me and asked if I wanted to do the singing, and I was just waiting for him to finish talking so that I could answer no. But the more he talked about the sound they where going for the more interested I got. The only band I would be interested to be a part of was the true crust he described. Filthy metallic crust with inspiration from the UK crust from the mid- and late 80s.
Another thing that felt equally important was to be a counter part to all the repulsive neo-crust who everyone played at the moment (and still do). It had given crust a bad name for far too long and if someone else didn´t do anything about it, we had to do it ourself. God, I really do hate neo-crust (thank you Tragedy).
I think the development of the band is stable meaning we still go in the same direction that we wanted to go back in 2012. In the beginning we only had the song “World Funeral”, a very Axegrinderish one that became like the template for the sound of Swordwielder. From World Funeral we just kept on doing more material and you can trace it all back to that song I guess.
New single expected to be released early 2023.
It is no secret that swordwielder originates from Gothenburg. A city known for it´s bad weather, dry humor and red politics. According to your experience; Is there any particular advantages/disadvantages that life in this area has to offer?
B & S: Yes. We really like humor. I for one (Sikas) would really like a “Humorns Hus” in Gothenburg. Otherwise I guess its the same like in every semi-big city more or less. Its great to have the opportunity to go to shows but we don’t. We prefer the local bar.
What poetic euphemisms would you use to describe the sound and purpose behind Swordwielder if you met someone completely unaware of both metal and punk-rock music?
B & S: Picture yourself high on glue in November in the middle of the winter. You fall asleep outside, but its above zero so you don’t freeze to death. You wake up with wet pants and wonder if its you or the Gothenburg weather.
Haha, ok…that leads us straight to the next question; When you approach Swordwielder, the term "stenchcore" appears every now and then. So, how much do you stink, and why? Please unveil your interpretation of this concept and how you relate to it?
N: Ah, “stenchcore” - the 10.000 dollar question. I aint gonna try to explain that term because it will take me all night and the rest of the band would disagree anyways. But music labelled stenchcore tend to have a neanderthal feeling to it – being ruff, primitive and often played by incompetent musicians. Therefore, it usually sounds quite good. We don’t stink that much anymore since all of us has jobs we need not to lose. But to be honest I haven't had a shower for over a week now.
Speaking in general terms, it´s easy to associate both the name Swordwielder and the music itself to the metal scene while lyricism and aesthetics seem to draw more inspiration from crusty punk-rock. Would that be a legitimate observation, and to what extent does Swordwielder rely on or care about genre identity?
B & S: We play “Modern Classic Crust” (M.C.C - remember where you read it first). Its punk, its metal, its ok.
Oh, what a scoop! Now you have to print new merch with that slogan, right?
Live at Fraggelberget/Gbg.
So, what inspires you and why? What inspirational sources has been of importance to Swordwielder, and what inspires you today?
B & S: Our main inspiration is Amebix, Axegrinder and the “Skitsystem goes to Poland” show.
Your lyrics deals a lot with different kinds of power struggle. How would you explain the lyrical content of Swordwielder, and how do you wish it to be recieved?
N: I agree, even if it might not be intended most of the lyrics is about power struggle. The elite against the masses, the strong against the weak, the rich against the poor, the one who wage war against the ones that get blown to pieces by it. Sworwielder sides with the weak against the strong but we are not a part of the weak in the sense of real people fighting for their lives against real poverty, real dictatorship, real war, real hunger and thirst and so on. Nor is any other punk band in the western world even if many use their lyrics to try to tell you that they are the ones that are the victims. That is, in my opinion, utterly disrespectful to the ones that lives in total misery (and they are many). Thats why Swordwielder lyrics always is about bigger subject like System Overlords or nuclear annihilation. Swordwielder never write songs on a more “personal level” cause its simply not of any relevance when the world looks like it does and when so many people fighting just to survive. When world peace reign I will however write a song about my boss being a total dick making me work extra hours.
Fair enough. How would you describe a typical fan of yours in terms of personal qualities, and whom of todays world leaders do you reckon would fit best to this description?
B & S: A typical Swordwielder fan wake up late and hungover. Downs an Arboga 10,2% beer just to get off the floor. Hurries to his (or hers) work practice, notice he has pissed his pants. Choose to ignore it. Apologizes and sees the contempt from his boss. The world leader that would fit best to this description would be Tanzanias prime minister Samia Suluhu Hassan.
Cover of “System Overlord” (Profane Existence 2019).
Is there any sequel to the superb "System Overlord" in the making, and if so, in what stage of the process are you and it there anything to say about what we can expect from this next release?
N: Yes, it is. We got our new material ready and we will record it in less than two months. Hopefully it will be out in the end of this year. You can expect more Modern Classic Crust, this time it might go a liiiittle bit faster than it has done before. But I guess we just have to wait and see.
So, before we part, please add whatever this conversation might have overlooked, and thanx a lot for your participation!
N: Nothing to add, you fucking nailed it man. Thanks for letting us be a part of your zine or whatever it is that you doing.
CHEERS!
Well, cheers to you to and thanx for taking the time guys!
You’ve just read an interview made by Hinsides Magazine, March 2022. The conversation as a whole will be published in the next physical issue, expected to be out later this year. To order previous issues go here: