Lucem Fero has issued an interview with X-WORLD/5 / ex-HAMMERFALL bassist Magnus Rosén, conducted by Welsh interviewer Anthony Morgan. The following is an excerpt:

Q: How did X-World/5 form?

A: "One year prior to my departure from HammerFall, X-World/5 was formed. I wanted to participate in the song-writing process and discuss future musical plans, and that was something I felt very very strongly about. This wasn't possible during my time with HammerFall, so I was more than happy to search for other musicians who actually liked working with me. KING DIAMOND's Andy LaRocque, a guitarist that's from my town, was one musician whom I liked. In our earlier years, we performed in different outfits. We've known each other for a number of years. When we discussed both the ideas I had and the vision I held for the group, he replied; "Yes, I'd like to be involved". Several years ago, I recorded an album called Out to Every Nation (2004) in Skien, Norway with Jørn Lande. Skien is the town that Nils K. Rue hailed from, and where I met him. Over a mug of coffee, we had a conversation. I'm aware of the material he has recorded with PAGAN'S MIND, and feel that he's a very good singer. In addition, he's also a very good person. If you wish to form a group, that's a very important element. A group should be composed of musicians who are nice, and down to earth. Drummer Big Swede is an old friend of mine, and lives in Los Angeles. He worked w ith Reeves Gabrels (DAVID BOWIE) at the time, so he asked Reeves to join and record New Universal Order for that reason. X-World/5 was formed with a great vision; to have a group where each person can use their knowledge, and musical experience. Each member of the group became involved in the song-writing process, and that made the eventual results very very powerful. We have much skill and experience in our respective roles, and it was interesting to use all that. In short, that's how X-World/5 was formed."

Q: Given your reasons for leaving HammerFall, was each respective member being able to make songwriting contributions important to you?

A: "I'm a very creative musician, and a creative human being. As the bassist of HammerFall, I didn't have the opportunity to be creative. After ten years as part of the group, I felt that it was time for me to move on. That's why I left HammerFall. When I departed from a famous group like HammerFall of course, I said “No thank you” to both good money, and stability. However, that wasn't so important - in my life, being able to express my musical creativity was the most important. Of course, I needed to strenuously work together alongside other musicians. This is what I'm achieving as a member of X-World/5, and as a result, my musical life is very interesting now."

Q: Could you provide an introduction to New Universal Order?

A: "New Universal Order refers to the fact that the human being needs the machine. Today, human beings handle a lot of machines. We drive cars for example, and that's a type of machine. We log onto computers too, and that's another type of machine. More and more, we use machines. I'm not saying the fact that we use machines more and more is wrong, nor am I saying that it's right. However, this is reality. More and more, machines are becoming a part of our daily lives. In some respects, this is what X-World/5's about. Machines need the human being, and the question is if we can actually handle this situation. If machines remain machines, then human beings will stay important. That's due to the fact that human beings will simply be the most important."

Q: How did writing songs for the album develop?

A: "Usually, both me and Andy LaRocque met at Sonic Train Studios, which is Andy's studio. At that studio, we composed the guitar riffs, the styles, the chords, the intro, the verse, the chorus, and the bridge. In terms of the guitar and bass, we laid down those specific parts. Following that, we emailed all those recordings to the United States. In the United States, Big Swede cut both the drums and loops, whereas Reeves Gabrels added a second guitar to the tracks. Following that, they emailed all the recordings to Norway, where Nils K. Rue lives. He laid down both the vocals, and the melodies. Once he had made his respective contributions, Nils then emailed all the recordings back to me and Andy. Upon opening the file, it was rather absorbing given the fact that we didn't know how the tracks should sound. We then placed the material into the mixing table, and mixed the numbers. The composition of most of the tracks began in Andy LaRocque's studio with me and him at the helm, whereas the composition of some of the other tracks began in Los Angeles. It's an extremely interesting way to work."

Q: Are there any specific plans for X-World/5's sophomore album? Musical direction? Lyrics?

A: "In writing X-World/5's sophomore album, we'll continue with the audio landscape we chose. X-World/5 boasts a sound, an idea and a vision, so we'll move on with that general style. Slowly yet surely, we'll build our music via this direction. Also, we've made plans in terms of stage performance. During X-World/5 concerts, we wish to take listeners on a journey. When you come to an X-World/5 concert, it will slightly different in comparison to a regular concert. However, I'm not saying that there are deficiencies in regular concerts. We'd like to take one step forward, and people can then say; "This is something else, and is different in certain respects. Interesting"."

Q: Is there a tentative release date for X-World/5's sophomore album? Will it be released during 2009?

A: "Yes, we'll try to release our second album during 2009."

Q: Can you reveal X-World/5's touring plans?

A: "Yes. Right now, we're discussing how we will approach concerts, and how we will actually play those concerts. All in all, we want to reveal something else to the public. Although we don't intend to tour right now, we have plans to embark on tours in the future. In my opinion, that's what being a musician is all about; writing material, and performing before people. That's the pleasure of being a musician. I don't know when we'll begin to tour, although we'll tour in the future I'm sure."

Q: Of the albums you recorded with HammerFall, do you have a favourite?

A: "Yes. Personally, my favourite album is Legacy of Kings (1998). I think the first two HammerFall albums (1997's Glory to the Brave and 1998's Legacy of Kings respectively) have a spirit inside of them, and you can actually feel something unique. I'm not saying that everyone agrees with my opinion, although I think this wonderful spirit is easy to kill - the production values can kill an album's spirit. I like the first two HammerFall albums the most, but Legacy of Kings is my favourite."

Go to this location for the complete interview.