Tobias Olsson

AM : First can you tell us if your previous album was welcomed by the press and the fans ?

Tobias : We got some pretty good reviews and good response from fans, what we didn’t do was to go on tour and therefore lost a lot of promotion and connection with the fans, that will not happen again.

AM : Why did you leave Scarlet Records and how did you get your deal with Pivotal Recordings, why did you chose a US label, it’s quite rare for an european band ?

Tobias : Well the thing with scarlet was that we didn’t get any money to get on tour and they didn’t do anything actually but releasing our album, we wanted a more dedicated label. We found Pivotal in late 2005 and started talking with them since we knew they did a good job with Sonic Syndicate. So far everything has worked very smoothly and we totally satisfied with their work for us.
Since it’s so easy to communicate these days I don’t there’s any problems with having an american label. Yeah, they are quite easy to communicate with and we speak with them on a daily basis.

AM : The first album was a quite traditionnal melodic death metal in the vein of In Flames, the new album shows an evolution of your sound : a more modern approach with more keyboards, alternate vocals, how can you explain this evolution ?

Tobias : First off, a new vocalist. Second as you say it has more modern sound to it, but the biggest reason I have to say is that we’ve developed and grown as songwriters. We’ve created songs that we know will work out as good live as on cd, and if it has as you say a more modern sound I would like to think that it’s a good thing, since who wants to create a cd that’s already have been done?

AM : Tell us about the recordings of « Bedtime prayers », as you’ve produced this album by yourselves, and the result is very good, as good as major producers’ works actually.

Tobias : Thank you. We’re signed to a small independent label so the budget for the recording of this album was very limited, so that’s the biggest reason why we decided to record the album by ourselves, but also as you say we knew that we was capable to produce a really good album by ourselves.

AM : In my review, I compare you to bands like Disarmonia Mundi, Raunchy and Soilwork, it’s something like a « new wave of melodic death metal », what do you think about this ?

Tobias : Tough question, Soilwork has been around since ages, didn’t they release « Steelbath suicide » in 1998? So I wouldn’t call them the new wave… eh about Raunchy and Disarmonia Mundi, I don’t think that we have the same sound as those two acts, I  would like to think that we have more influences from thrash and more traditional Swedish metal

AM : Your albums contains some great songs that could be singles, like « Need », « My Halo », are singles a priority? Do you pay some special attention about refrains, in a way that power goes never without melodies?

Tobias : Well of course you want to have a good refrain but I think that you have to see songs more than the refrains because otherwise you’re really close to creating pop-songs. So on that question I have to say no, but your opinion on singles are quite interesting since everyone that’s been listening to the album has mentioned songs like « Once bitten, twice shy » and
« Heart » as potential singles.

AM : What is your favourite song on « Bedtime prayers » btw, and why?

Tobias : Eh well that's a tough question because in my opinion all songs are good, but if I have to choose one I think it's the title track "Bedtime Prayers". because it has some really good thrash vibe and also has a good 'break-down' in the middle.

AM : Are you going to tour to promote "Bedtime prayers"? With which bands?

Tobias : Yes, we're doing a European tour with Ektomorf and Kayser in February and March.  Please check out our website (http://www.blindedcolony.com) or our MYSPACE PAGE (http://www.myspace.com/blindedcolony) for updated info on the tour.  Looks to be great and we are excited to hit the road with Ektomorf, we had a great time with them in Germany in December and it will definitely be a memorable tour for us!

AM : Our last, ritual question : ask yourself a question, and give the answer ?

Tobias : Are you hung-over while doing this interview?
-Yes Indeed