Interview by Jason Guest

Having recently played London's High Voltage Festival, Gothenburg Blues Rockers Graveyard recently took time out to speak to Midlands Rocks about their album Hisingen Blues, their label, and what to expect of them in the near future.

Thanks for taking time out to talk to us at Midlands Rocks. Your second album has been out for a while now. What are your feelings about it now that you’ve had time to play the songs live and reflect on it? How do you think this album differs from your debut? How do you see the band progression since then?

It still feels great even though I haven't listened to it for a while, don't want to get too tired of the songs.  I think that the biggest different between the record are that the first one was recorded only three month after we formed Graveyard and Hisingen blues was recorded after years of touring so I think we are more mature as a band now days. It took a lot longer to record the second album so we had a lot of time to "erase" all bad parts and most mistakes.

Where does the album title, Hisingen Blues, come from?

It was taken from the song from the album and it's about bad situations in working class areas on Hisingen island.

How does the band compose songs? Do you write individually or do you jam on ideas and see where they take you?

We usually jam and write all song together but mostly someone has an idea that he brings to rehearsal.

The songs have a live feel too them. Did you record them that way in the studio?

We try to record as much as possible live but it would take a lot of takes if we never did any overdubs or repairs. The vocals always comes last.

Can you tell us about the album artwork? It has a kind of fairy-tale feel to it with dark undertones.

A friend of us who plays in a band called Bombus made it for us. It was mostly his idea and he put everything together in a computer. We just sat on a bench trying to look as we were shipwrecked.

Nuclear Blasts’ roster is composed of bands whose sounds are considerably different to yours. How did you come to be signed to the label? And given their roster, why did you choose to go with Nuclear Blast?

They liked us and we like them. I really don't think that people cares anymore which label you’re on. They have a big machine even though they still are an independent label and they have done a great job so far.

I saw you on the Metal Hammer stage at the High Voltage festival in London recently (23^rd July). I enjoyed your set very much and the crowd response was very positive. How was it for you? And did you watch any of the other bands?

It was great. Didn't get to see much of the other bands though but I did see Gentlemens Pistols, Black Spiders and Neurosis and I liked it.

What’s next for Graveyard? More tours? More music? Any new tracks in the pipeline?

We got a quite full schedule, right now we are finishing the summer festivals after that we are gonna take some time off to write new song. But later in the fall and in the winter there are more touring with some more dates in Europe and a longer North American tour.

And finally, anything you’d like to say to our readers?

Thank you and hope to see you out there.

Again, thanks for taking time out to talk to us at Midlands Rocks.

Jason

Click here to read Midlands Rocks's review of Hisingen Blues.