BLACK TRIP – Swedish Death Metal Veterans Embrace Vintage Hard Rock Sounds

September 8, 2014, 9 years ago

Mark Gromen

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BLACK TRIP – Swedish Death Metal Veterans Embrace Vintage Hard Rock Sounds

Sweden is a fertile ground for metal, not only embracing all sub-genres, but giving rise to some of the greatest names within each category. More and more, these musicians are spreading their wings, demonstrating abilities beyond a pigeonholed niche and espousing love of music seemingly far afield from their claim to fame. Case in point, newcomers Black Trip. Raised on a backbone of blackened death metal stalwarts, like Necrophobic and Entombed, as well as the traditional metal minded Enforcer, the Goin' Under debut (released domestically on Entombed's Three Man Recordings in 2013 and now available worldwide via Prosthetic) is steeped in ‘70s hard rock.

A surprisingly jovial Sebastian Ramstedt, former guitarist in Nifelheim, Exhumed and Necrophobic explains the transformation. “We were just trying to make an album that would appeal to ourselves in our youth. When we started to listen to music, way back then, the NWOBHM was the thing. It’s true that for most of our careers we have played heavier music, but it has always been heavy metal bands like Saxon, Lizzy, and ’70’s Scorpions, that have inspired us the most. When we started to rehearse the songs that (guitarist) Peter Stjärnvind (ex-drummer for Entombed, Unanimated and Nifelheim) wrote for Black Trip, we kind of heard that we could make this sound very vintage. So we decided to aim for the British sound around 79-81.”

That seems to have worked, as reviewers (including myself, when I put Black Trip in my Top 10 for last year) have thrown around names like Iron Maiden and Thin Lizzy, pretty lofty company. “That’s fantastic,” says the guitarist. “The response has been so much better than what we could ever expect. We just wanted to do a heavy metal/hard rock album and did not think much of the reception. To be named among the giants like Maiden and Lizzy is, of course, a big honor.”

Funny enough, Black Trip aren't the only death metallers who have turned over a new leaf, as countrymen The Dagger (featuring ex-members of Dismember) are also playing a similar style. What's going on in Sweden? Ramstedt laughs, then answers, “Yeah it seems like you are onto something. The guys in Dagger are close friends and they grew up in the ’80’s, just like us. I guess it´s natural to look back and try to get back to your roots. I think there is, and has always been, a big genuine interest in heavy metal in our country. There has always been a lot of bands, and right now the music festivals that are the most successful are metal fests. There are a lot of people that stay true to the old way of metal, before the poser ages, and there are lots of talented musicians in Sweden.”  

 

 

Visually, the band also harkens back to the days of denim vests, studded belts and Flying Vs. All an integral part of this band, according to Sebastian. “Attitude and image has always been an important part of heavy metal and rock. The music is aggressive and I have always liked bands that match that visually. Heavy metal is best enjoyed live and I have always preferred the shows of  ’80’s Venom or W.A.S.P rather than Metallica in jeans and T-shirts. There are a lot of great bands that make perfectly good albums but dull live shows. Black Trip do not overdress in spikes and leather. We look more like the typical heavy metal fans from the first half of the 80’s. It’s nothing planned, it’s just the way we dress. But I will never enter the stage in baggy shorts.”  

The band's moniker also comes from the black/death metal underground. “It is actually taken from the Samael song (of the same name). A lot of people seem to think it’s about drugs, but it is about astral traveling in the dark realms beneath. Peter listened to the Samael a lot at the time and when he wrote the first Black Trip songs, the title just got stuck with him.” Speaking of the album, while new to most outside Sweden, a follow-up is already planned. “All the songs are written,” he confirms. “We still have some arrangements and lyrics to write, but most of the work is done. We are going to start the recordings this fall and hopefully the next album will be released spring 2015. We play some of the new songs live and a track called “Danger” has become a favorite among the Black Trip followers. I think we have a lot more to give and we are eager to get out and play and make more albums.”

Following the band online, the live front has been one area they've yet to conquer. “The release outside Scandinavia was delayed so we haven’t had much opportunity to play outside Sweden. We made a short stop in Greece, which was great. The album was not even released there but still the crowed knew the songs and sang along. We get a lot of feedback from around Europe and we have had a lot of success in the north of Sweden. As the album is out now, we will book more shows outside Sweden.”

Lastly, attention turned to a few of the tracks on Goin' Under. First up, “Voodoo Queen”. Ramstedt: “That was one of the first tracks that we rehearsed as a full band. It was Peter’s absolutely favorite song and that’s why it’s the first on the album. It was also the first track for the album that I heard Joseph’s (Tholl, aka Enforcer's guitarist) vocals on. I think it’s great.” While “No Tomorrow” sports a different vibe. “That one bears marks from our past career, in Nifelheim. At an early stage it was the track that people who liked our earlier bands could relate to. I think it’s a great bridge from extreme metal to Black Trip's hard rock music. It’s a personal favorite.”

Just a single listen is guaranteed to create a few new favorites for your iTunes/Spotify playlist. Hopefully, in the not too distant future, we'll get a chance to see them onstage. Remember that name, Black Trip!



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