Robex Lundgren virkblogg.

What´s the name of your band? Fredrik: DAWN

How was the band formed? Fredrik: The idea for a new band started when the members in Obduracy didn’t show interest in the rehearsals around 1989–1990. I felt that the other members were not into the music and the metal lifestyle. I was already in it for life then and I had an inner need to create heavier more melodic metal and the others were not. It ended up that I fired some of the members and some left the band. At the time we shared a rehearsal place with Seance, and Patrik Jensen (The Haunted) introduced me to Andreas Fullmestad and I met Henke Forss via a childhood friend in school. I came to know Karsten (nowdays Falconer) and Lars (nowdays King Of Asgard) via a friend and tape trading. We started to rehearse and be inspired by new music. An important thing was that we all lived in the countryside and had at the time two rehearsal places: one down in Mjölby at Karsten’s parents’ farm and one in Linköping. The guys in Seance were inspiring at the time and they were way ahead of us in terms of musicianship,  they were a couple of years older than us and were a real band with a goal. And I really see them as an inspiration for the early Dawn.When I was at this stage I decided for myself that I had to find loyal band members that were into it 110%. I just wanted to sit down at band practises day in and day out.

Can you tell about your band? Fredrik: I started writing my own songs before Obduracy in the mid-eighties with the band Legion. The songs were a mix between Dio, Mercyful Fate and Manowar. More traditional heavy metal. I always liked the most evil, haunting, heavy and melodic songs on their albums like the Dio song Egypt (The Chains Are On) and Mercyful Fate’s song The Oath and the song Battle Hymn on Manowar’s first LP. The first two Ozzy albums is important to mention here since Randy Rhoades is my fave guitar player all time. Other influences was the thrash movement with Slayer’s Hell Awaits and Kreator’s Pleasure To Kill. Obduracy was a mix between all these bands but more in the vein of death metal like Death, quite primitive. Later on I was blown away when I bought the first Infernal Majesty album None shall Defy, it was like a crossover between thrash and death metal. This was the first time i heard blast beat in the song SOS, then I started to write faster and heavier music. The song Overlord sounds a bit like a somewhat slower Morbid Angel and it was very inspiring at the time. I have always followed King Diamond and i saw him live on the Abigail tour, and I see him as an inspiration even today. I bought Death’s Leprosy shortly after it was released and during the same years 1989–1990 Morbid Angel took over the scene together with Entombed and Carcass. These bands and alot of other ones not mentioned lead to form Dawn.

Where are all band members from?/Who does what in the band? Fredrik: Henke and me are foundning members and Tomas Asklund ex Dissction joined the band in 1999. Philip joined the band 2001.

Could you explain your music to someone that haven't heard you? Fredrik: We play a crossover between Death and black metal with an epic/melancholic and melodic approach.

Where was your first gig? Fredrik: In Linköping at “Arbis” in august 1992.

Where was the latest gig? Fredrik: In Denmark on tour with the band A Qunorous Quintet in 1996.

Who writes your songs?/Who writes the music who writes lyrics? Fredrik: I write all riffs and arrange them and Henke Forss does all the lyrics.

Why did you pick that particular style?/What are your songs about? Fredrik: We never picked a style since we where the forerunners of our genre. Our songs about being an outsider, death and destruction.

Do you write your own material or mainly covers? Fredrik: Only own material.

Have you made any albums?/If yes what are they? Fredrik: DAWN have made four albums and they are available from our label on CD and LP at http://www.centurymedia.de and on Itunes and Spotify and all other digital services.

Do you have any clips on YouTube? Fredrik: There are a lot of fanclips on Youtube and you can listen to all songs from all albums there and on Spotify and itunes. Also our label Century Media Records sells LP´s and CD´s.

How old are you?/What got you started in music? Fredrik: I’m 41 years old.

At what age did you start playing? Fredrik: When I was 12 years old.

How old were you guys when you first stood on stage? Fredrik: 20 years old.

What year was the band started? Fredrik: 1990

Best/worst gig you've played? Fredrik: All gigs have been an experience so I would not say best or worst.

What places will you be playing in in the imidate future? Fredrik: We will not play any gigs in the coming year since we are working on a new album.

Witch band is the best you´ve seen? Fredrik: Morbid Angel in Fagersta (Sweden) 1989 on the Altars Of Madness tour.

What are the plans for the rest of the year? Fredrik: Continue to work on the new album ‘The Fourfold Furnace’

What are your goals with your music? Fredrik: The goal is to create the ultimate Death/black metal experience.

When did you decide to go all in for the music? Fredrik. Just a couple of years ago when we finally started to make money on our music.

Is it easier to get your inspiration from older bands or from bands more modern? Fredrik: I listen to all music I can get my hands on. If its old or new does not matter at  all.

What are your sources of inspiration? Fredrik: Practise on my instrument on daily basis a good sleep and healthy living.

What's the first step when making a new song? Fredrik: It starts with one good riff and a good beat and I go from there.

How do you feel about the downloading of music instead of buying albums?  Fredrik: I’m not a nostalgic person so all new modern technologies like downloading and on-demand is just great.

What would be your dreams for the band? Fredrik: Be more active with tours and gigs since it’s a demand for it.

What do you hold most dear? Fredrik: Family and friends.

When you are on stage, what do you fear most then? Fredrik: Only that the technical stuff will hold together.

Have you been part of any other projects? Fredrik: Cranium

What do you work with outside of the band and the music? Fredrik: I do studies in Music Business at the University.

What would you do if there was no music? Fredrik: Restore cars.

How important are your fans? Fredrik: Extremely important. Without them we would be nothing.

What's the funniest/most memorable thing a fan has done for you? Fredrik: Sending bones for a neckless.

How often do you rehearse? Fredrik: we just rehearse when a new album is finished. So its not that often. But when we rehearse we work day and night.

Where do you rehearse? Fredrik: In studio Monolith. Tomas Asklunds own studio.

Name 2 of your own songs you like at the moment? Fredrik: Falcula and Svart Skinér Solen

Do you have any webpages? Fredrik: http://www.dawnband.com  (under reconstruction, meanwhile it links to our official facebookpage)

What advice would you like to give other bands? Fredrik: keep doing your own things and try not to copy/rip-off other bands ideas.

Do you have anything to add? Fredrik: thanks for the interview.  Til our new website is up: Join the dawn hordes on facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/DAWNOFFICIALBANDPAGE