HEAVYDEATH Hails The ‘Sarcophagus In The Sky’
This weekend, Doomed & Stoned is bringing you the world premiere of 'Sarcophagus In The Sky' (2017), the third album by Stockholm's HEAVYDEATH (or Tung Död as they're known in Sweden -- derived from the Old Norse, Þungr Dauði). Formed in 2013 and featuring Nicklas Rudolfsson on guitar and vocals (Runemagick, The Funeral Orchestra, Domedag, Necrocurse), Johan Bäckma on bass (Necrocurse, Rapid Terrör), and Daniel Moilanen on drums (Runemagick, Katatonia), HEAVYDEATH have been quite the busy doomers, dreaming up nearly a dozen demos, four EPs, and two albums (including the much hailed 'Eternal Sleepwalker' on Svart Records).
The album opens in characteristically stormy fashion with an ominous, rumbling – the sound of anticipation that I've come to identify with HEAVYDEATH. “The stone has a purpose,” a grave voice utters prophetically. “A new journey begins, soon after dark.” And with that, we are immersed in the dark, strange reality of the Sarcophagus In The Sky. As with all of HEAVYDEATH’s work, the riffs are intuitive, the rhythms well-placed, the low-end growling like hungry beast on the prowl, the atmosphere charged with electric mist. Heavy as all hell.
Something untoward is about to happen. A sky-bound monolith has appeared suddenly and without warning. Who or what is it? For the answers, you must dive headlong into each of these ten tracks. The new album is releases on November 17th and can be pre-ordered on LP, CD, Cassette, and digital formats.
Sarcophagus In The Sky by HEAVYDEATH
An Interview with HEAVYDEATH
We’re excited to hear about your third full-length record, coming November 17th! Tell us all about the new album.
Nicklas: We are very pleased with the outcome. As usual, we do everything ourselves, DIY low-budget, and record all songs in our rehearsal tomb in a few days. But I think all of us are so pleased that we can say it's our best album so far (which surely every band says...). This applies to songs, arrangements and sound.
As I said, most of the recording was made in our rehearsal room, for a few days during this summer 2017. I made some vocal overdubs in the car and in the forest. Johan (bass) made all the mix and mastering in the rehearsal room too.
I also like that we not only used photographs and photomontages in the cover art and in the layout this time; we also have woven in some drawings and illustrations, which fit well. Many thanks to Catta “Eldhexan” who has drawn some illustrations for us. We once again chose to cooperate with the labels Aftermath Music (LP/CD) and Flowing Downwards (cassette) for the physical editions.
The song material is composed between 2013 and 2017. So there are some "old" songs like “Hunter,” “Darkness of No Return,” and “Dawn Without Sun” that have been featured on previous demos, but most of the songs are new. There are six main songs on the album (“The Stone Speaks At Winter,” “Hunter,” “Path To The Altitude,” “Sarcophagus In The Sky,” “Autumn Of Life,” “Dawn Without Sun”) and then there are some additional songs depending on which edition (LP, CD, cassette, or different digital versions).
Photo by Stefan “Rotting Vomitor” Rodin
Nicklas, can you tell us a little bit more about each of the songs that make up this album?
The Stone Speaks At Winter
“The whole song is basically based on one rhythm pattern in different places. It is about the existence of ancient wisdom carved in stones that those who want see can learn from.”
“A rather varied song that breaks into different passages. A kind of awakening in clarity and a break with slavery in a so-called civilization.”
A journey in passages with “ambient” chords, hammering rhythmic riffs and bass melodies. In a way the escape from the "normal" reality, a view from above altitudes where the tentacles can’t control you.
A heavy rhythmic song with pumping chord melodies, ending in a “speed-paced” crescendo. There were old warnings about what should come, warnings that have been tried to hide, death from the sky.
A mixture of doomy riffs and parts with floating melodies that mixes into each other. An autumn of life, a passage in death, storms and darkness.”
Also based on heavy rhythms and then terminated in the chords of the fall. After storms of death, darkness awaits for a long, long time.
One of the first songs written to the band in 2013, slightly heavier than the previous demo version. The title speaks for itself and fits well after a dawn without sun.
This song was written during the recording session of the album, atmospheric pieces mixed with some “old school.” She exists in another “dimension” (and maybe also here?). She gives you a choice to stay or return.
During the recording session we also recorded two demo songs (Tidal Clarity and Shadow Of The Equinox) without Daniel on drums (I play drums) to test the sound. Both songs would fit into the album's "concept" but there was already enough material and “Tidal Clarity” might be too similar to “The Stone Speaks At Winter,” at least we were reasoning so at the time. Afterwards we decided to release the demo versions as bonus material. Available as bonus songs on the album (Bandcamp only) as well as the single “The Stone Speaks At Winter” (Bandcamp only).
Daniel working on arrangements during the album recording.
Several of your music videos, including the recent one for “Sarcophagus in the Sky” have you taking us into the forest at dusk. Do the woods hold a special meaning to you?
Nicklas: It's not a “music video" in that way, so to speak; more a simple visualization of the song. I filmed a walk in one take from our house through the forest up to a higher mountain, called "Örnekulle Knalte".
Personally, I like being in the forest as much as I can. Relaxation, inspiration and recreation. I live in the countryside with large forest right next to the house. Many in today's society certainly do not know how important the forest is.
Daniel and Nicklas relaxing after the first day of recording.
The album cover looks like a Noah’s Ark nestled in the trees, yet it appears to be a vessel of death. I’m intrigued – what is the Sarcophagus in the Sky?
Nicklas: The title and cover can certainly be interpreted in several ways. It's perfectly ok for the listener to do his / her own interpretations. The sarcophagus or coffin is more a visual picture of death. As I mentioned earlier, it may be that the death from/in the sky is forgotten in the present day. It also applies to death from/in the oceans. The large stone or we can call it the megalith can be a symbol or guidance. Or a monument of death...
Lyrics to “The Stone Speaks At Winter”
You are quite the prolific band: three albums, four EPs, and 10 demos full of great ideas. Has making music always come this easy to you or did you sell your soul to Satan when you were with Runemagick? Seriously, though, how do you do it? We’re impressed!
In recent years, I have had a long period of dense waves with inspiration. Cannot directly explain why, but it comes and goes. In the past I have had years of minimal lust and inspiration for music. But now it's like a high season in creativity for my part. I write music in my head when I drive car, walk or if I get a short moment with a guitar. I never practice getting better on guitar or any other instrument. My focus is on creativity and composing. Make trips in soundscapes with riffs.
It often happens that I or we take a lunch break and record simple demos. You can record some songs in 30-60 minutes. It's important to be effective when you have a lot of other things to do with your little life.
We’d love to know more about the tools of your trade. Can you show us around your studio show us your wares? What pedals and effects do you find most useful to you in the music you’re composing and performing these days?
The royal tour of gear and sound.
You do all your recording, mixing, and mastering in-house. How long have you been doing that?
Nicklas: I've recorded that way with many bands and projects over the years since the 80's. In the beginning there was the 4 channel portable tape studio, which I actually still use sometimes. Then there have been periods in bands with larger budgets when the labels rented real studios. Periodically I have also worked a bit in a studio (Los Angered Recording, which later became Sonic Train Studios). But most of the recordings I've been involved in have we done entirely or partly on our own, often with so-called low budget equipment.
This also applies to HEAVYDEATH. We have recorded all the albums in different rehearsal places with our own equipment. The previous album we chose to get mastered by Andy at Sonic Train Studios. But otherwise we have done everything ourselves.
Recording drums with Daniel Moilanen.
As an engineer, what’s the secret to making HeavyDeath sounds like HeavyDeath on record?
Johan: We have no secret, plan or template. But you hope it will be better for each recording. You always learn something. On the last album, we feel like we got a good and heavy sound where our instruments fit together in the soundscape/mix.
Finally, would you play something for us acoustically from Sarcophagus in the Sky?
Mungiga and a very difficult question to Pelle Hellbutcher.
Thank you so much for visiting with the readers of Doomed & Stoned.
Thank you! Big thanks to those who support the band! And watch out for the Sarcophagus In The Sky!
Vinyl • CD • Cassette • Digital
