Evocation – כאוס של דת' שבדי

How many current bands can recall a time when they shared a stage with current members of Evergrey and In Flames back when they still used to burn bibles and appear in front of a 9 people crowd? Sweden's Death metal masters Evocation are one of the few. Hailing from a time in the early 90's when Swedish death metal ruled the world, the band has released a few demos before disappearing into the pages of history, only to return with 2007's old-school death metal masterpiece – "Tales From The Tomb". The band's second album, "Dead Calm Chaos", has just been released, and we thought it was about time we spoke with the band's resident growler, Thomas "Tjompe" Josefsson.

Hey Thomas, I'd like to start with current activities – what can you tell us about your new album?

Once again we recorded it in our own studio and Vesa is the main producer of it as usual. Cyclone Empire is still our record label and still it feels good. The first listening for press was made at Wacken Open Air festival and we got top grades for it and that is of course wonderful because it was lots of frustration and hard working behind it, we almost burnt our selves out. The album cover this time is co-produced with Travis Smith, and it looks really nice right now. We also have two really fat surprises at guest appearances.

How similar or different is it from last year's "Tales From The Tomb"?

Well, first of all we all have taken a big step forward as musicians. The sound is way better and more mature but it is still as Death and Old school that you may wish for. My vocals and my writing have also taken a big step in the right direction. I am very pleased with my voice, it is harder, more emotional but much more easy to understand, and that was my goal – that any person can hear what I sing even though you hate Death Metal. I promise, it is not any kind of new metal going on it is still raw and brutal Death Metal. The drums and the guitar sound is really awesome this time.

About that album, I thought it was probably the best Swedish death metal album since the early 90's. How satisfied are you with the way it turned out?

Thank you for your kind words, it warms our hearts to hear that stuff, honest. Of course we are very pleased with it, it got so much good response all over the world that we could not believe it. And still we don't actually [Laughs]… It is though a very personal album for us, it is of course what we have been dreaming of since childhood. Our first own album, and this awesome Dan Seagrave cover and with our own words. When we started the whole recording, we knew it would be great but as same with the second [Album] coming it went more and more great in the end. Loads of people have been pushing and working hard for it, Martin and all his staff at Cyclone Empire put all of their effort into it. The best thing about it also is that other people in the business start to get in touch now more and more, so in that way we grow together, and that is really nice. That was why we chose Cyclone, a small label were it is easy to be in focus.

What were you striving for with that album, were you intentionally going for a traditional, old-school sounding death metal album?

We just did it, we started Evocation again and we had our chance for revenge… no not really… We aimed for an album with the sound we missed so much and also the sound we only knew, remember that none of us played total Death Metal after Evocation. It was easy to just star from where we once ended. We went for [Dan] Seagrave and we put our old pedals back out and started to have a blast. The thing is also that we have all been in other bands, and tried other kinds of metal but only together and with that love and devotion that we had in the early 90's we new it would be possible to create something that we only do best and that is raw and heavy music.

Did any of the songs, lyrics or riffs originate from your early days in the early 90's?

I think only one riff is from that time and I think Marko named something about some riff in the song, "From Menace To Mayhem", but otherwise everything is written just about a period of 2 years or so before the "Tales" album was released [Laughs]… We work fast when we have a good time, right now we are having a really good time, but there is one catch, we almost always burn our self's out for some reason… Same as in 92', we had the hunger but not the patience. Nowadays we try to think cool and enjoy as much as possible, we try to not care about money and fame, ’cause Death Metal is still not the American dream, is it? [Laughs]…

How did you guys recruit such people as Kristian Wahlin and Dan Seagrave to do the logo and artwork?

We asked Kristian, and we gave Dan the raw recording of the "Tales" album, and of course some money. I think maybe Dan saw his way to a come back as same as we. The result was outstanding, even Dan was more than satisfied. He claims it is one of his best, lucky us I guess, again.

Back in history, how did you guys originally start out?

From the very start we met and got to know each other through ice hockey and skateboarding when we were very young. I and Marko met in school. First time I heard the Death album "Leprosy" I was sold forever. I and Johan Oudhuis (Lakes Of Tears) had a band and Janne and Vesa had a band. Marko just sat home trying to figure out what a guitar was all about. I knew Vesa wanted to start a Death Metal band and he first asked if its possible to join Johan and me. Pretty soon Marko, Janne and Vesa started up the Evocation project and needed a bass player. At that time I was singing and playing guitar. I tried out [on bass] and got a really good vibe about it. I stayed and put more and more effort into Evocation. Then, the former vocalist at that time, Jani Karvola, soon left the band and I tried vocals / bass. It was too hard for me to do both so I only did vocals. After we made the "Ancient Gate" demo, Christian Saarinen left Cemetary and joined in as well. Now the whole thing started to role.

What do you recall from the Swedish metal scene from back then?

Hey man, I almost can't recall yesterday [Laughs]… In the beginning it was awesome, everybody loved everybody and it was amazing. I think we "Deathers" owe the Thrash scene a bunch of thank you's for bringing the good vibe into it. Tape trading, zines, party, concerts, clothes, long hair, stagediving, headbanging, friends etc. Then the fucking bullshit about originality destroyed it, fuck that. That’s why we sound so good today I guess, we don’t care [Laughs]…

What kind of memorable gigs did you have during that time?

On our first gig the riot police showed up, the organizer thought it was a riot going on and called the police. One time all of us went to Gothenburg to see the Seance & Edge Of Sanity show. Turning Crosses was first out that evening. While we were having a blast at the parking lot one of the guys in Turning Crosses approached us and told us that Edge Of Sanity and Seance cancelled the show and the place was sold out. He was devastated, asked us if we could do a show. We were totally boozed away that evening but decided to give it a chance anyway. The show was a blast. We also did one show with Master and Ceremonial Oath, 9 people paid and showed up that evening I think Jesper Strömblad [In Flames] was one of the organizers for that show.

We also did one really cool show / festival in Gothenburg with Dismember, Exempt, Dark Tranquility, Caedes, Ceremonial Oath and some more. It was Tomas [Evergrey] and Oscar [RAM] that organized that one, I think. We crucified a girl on stage and lashed her, we used regular pigs blood for it, filled up our mouths and man it tasted so bad you could not imagine. Caedes [Tomas & Oscar's Band] tried to set a bible on fire but they did not open it so the pages could not burn at all. They also had a fucking big upside down cross built in their living room before the show, how they got it outside for the show is a mystery. The whole stage looked like a mess, blood all over [Laughs]… insane. There was even a report in the local news paper about it. Sara, got lashed and crucified on stage by Evocation… and she loved it [Laughs]

What caused you guys to drop the band back then go your separate ways?

Musical differences and lack of maturity and to much hunger and to less patience.

What did you do as musicians since?

Marko joined Rajoitus [Finnish Band], Janne went for a hardcore act called Gripshift, Vesa joined Stoneflow, Christian went for Lake Of Tears and I headed for Cemetary / Sundown. Eventually in the end we all stopped playing. I think I've been the one who has been in to music scene most but I had a gap for many years, between 1997 to 2002 I did not do anything at all. I travelled a lot after 1999 and in the hammock somewhere in Asia I decided to start again no matter what. I bought myself a new bass and I was slowly but yet back on track.

What caused you guys to get back together?

Fans, fans, fans… We made one last shot by sending out the two demos and this German label Merciless got hooked on it and released it. We got really good reviews for 12-13 year old material, so you people left us no choice to start it all up once again. We are so grateful you could not believe, thank you so much people!

How well was your new material accepted by newer metal heads?

It’s amazing, we could not believe this. We have been having only two bad reviews yet, one American and one Swedish (of course). Swedish press is the worst, not only in sport but in music as well.

What do you think about the current state of things in today's metal scene, how different is it since when you guys started out?

It is so fucking big, it is amazing. Thanks to bands like In Flames, Behemoth, Dimmu Borgir, Soilwork, Kreator, Bloodbath etc. They are big influences on young people having a dream, being a rockstar without sounding like Guns N' Roses or Metallica.

I understand now's a very busy time for the band, including a live show in Wacken Festival. What are your other current activities and what are your feelings towards Wacken?

Wacken was amazing, the organization was outstanding and there is a fair chance for the band to develop now. "Dead Calm Chaos" is on its way and it will land a big mark in the scene we hope. We have some shows coming up and more are on its way. As it looks now, Evocation is on the move I can say. Thank you for this interview and all of the Evocation tribe wish you all the best in the future. See you beyond 2008 people!