Ambush is a heavy metal band from Sweden they released a kick ass album last year called Firestorm they are back with a new album this year called Desecrator going to be released on High Roller Records! Hope you enjoy the interview with the guitarist Adam Hagelin
1. Hello Adam thank you for your time. So tell me how everything is going with Ambush? I'm guessing you guys are pretty excited to drop the new album?
Adam Hagelin: Hi Nathan! Thanks for having me. Everything´s going great at the moment, a lot of hard work but this is what we all want to do so we´re just doing it with a smile on our face. Yeah! the 30th of October is the day that our new album ”Desecrator” will be released, looking forward to that so bad. Both me and the boys have been hearing the songs for quite some time now so we´re desperate to get it out there! I think our fans will be blown away actually...
2. Could you tell me about the writing process for this new album? Also, where was the album recorded and how long did it take to get to the finish product?
AH: In Ambush we all write, it could be Oskar that comes with a new lyric that sounds interesting and we´re start to work around that, or Olof can come up with this new riff and we start to do something with it. Sometimes we just start to jam in our rehearsal and make something from there. The guitars and bass where recorded in our friend Linus (ex The Scams) house and the Drums in Pama Studios. Oskar recorded the vocals by himself in his own studio. I think it was a pretty smooth ride I think, when the guitars and bass where about to get recorded we just locked our self in with Linus and we started to drink beer and record. I can tell you it was an hell of a party! The truth is that we haven’t received the physical copies of the album yet, so although it was a smooth ride it clearly has taken along time!
3. I bet it's hard to pick just a few but what are your favorite songs off the new album?
AH: It's always hard because you put so much love and effort into every single song, but if I have to choose one it has to be The Seventh Seal. It´s by far the most complex song we have ever written, with both slow parts, mid-tempo and we finish it of in a speed metal kind of way that will rock your brain out! that´s a promise.
4. What made you guys choose the song Possessed by Evil to be are first teaser from Desecrator? Is this technically the first "single" off the album?
AH: Hmm.... that's a good question. Possessed by evil was one of the first songs I wrote after our debut album and when I played the song for the guys the first time we all thought that it had that single kind of sound. So when we decided to make a video for one of the songs it felt natural to pick that one. Since we released one video so far from this new album I think we can say it´s our first single, yes.
1. Hello Adam thank you for your time. So tell me how everything is going with Ambush? I'm guessing you guys are pretty excited to drop the new album?
Adam Hagelin: Hi Nathan! Thanks for having me. Everything´s going great at the moment, a lot of hard work but this is what we all want to do so we´re just doing it with a smile on our face. Yeah! the 30th of October is the day that our new album ”Desecrator” will be released, looking forward to that so bad. Both me and the boys have been hearing the songs for quite some time now so we´re desperate to get it out there! I think our fans will be blown away actually...
2. Could you tell me about the writing process for this new album? Also, where was the album recorded and how long did it take to get to the finish product?
AH: In Ambush we all write, it could be Oskar that comes with a new lyric that sounds interesting and we´re start to work around that, or Olof can come up with this new riff and we start to do something with it. Sometimes we just start to jam in our rehearsal and make something from there. The guitars and bass where recorded in our friend Linus (ex The Scams) house and the Drums in Pama Studios. Oskar recorded the vocals by himself in his own studio. I think it was a pretty smooth ride I think, when the guitars and bass where about to get recorded we just locked our self in with Linus and we started to drink beer and record. I can tell you it was an hell of a party! The truth is that we haven’t received the physical copies of the album yet, so although it was a smooth ride it clearly has taken along time!
3. I bet it's hard to pick just a few but what are your favorite songs off the new album?
AH: It's always hard because you put so much love and effort into every single song, but if I have to choose one it has to be The Seventh Seal. It´s by far the most complex song we have ever written, with both slow parts, mid-tempo and we finish it of in a speed metal kind of way that will rock your brain out! that´s a promise.
4. What made you guys choose the song Possessed by Evil to be are first teaser from Desecrator? Is this technically the first "single" off the album?
AH: Hmm.... that's a good question. Possessed by evil was one of the first songs I wrote after our debut album and when I played the song for the guys the first time we all thought that it had that single kind of sound. So when we decided to make a video for one of the songs it felt natural to pick that one. Since we released one video so far from this new album I think we can say it´s our first single, yes.
5. Who did the artwork for the new album? I think it looks pretty kick ass!
AH: Thank´s man! I agree. With both this artwork and and our first one that you can see on our Firestorm album, it was me that had pretty clear vision of how I wanted it to be. So I started to draw sketches and then contacted Alexander von Wieding. He transformed my sketches into this absolutely rare and evil-looking artwork. We´ll sure work with him again.
6. Let's talk about your demo and the formation of the band. How did you guys all meet and how did the band start?
AH: Long .story short, we all knew each other before and we played in different bands back then. We were at this party at Olofs place as always, we where drunk and then we decided to to this, with our hearts in it. We all shared that one interest -> Heavy Metal. Why not start a band with your best friends and write songs that will make the world a shittier place for your granny so to speak, haha.
7. So your last album Firestorm got a very good response. What are some of your favorite tracks on it? Also, how was the touring for the record? Do you expect to do some touring following up this new album?
AH: Yeah both the fans and critics all over the world loved Firestorm and now they seem to love Desecrator even MORE (if that´s possible) We´re thankful for that. Favorite song from our debut I think is Heading East. Fast, Raw and solid melodies. Great guitar-parts as well, it have everything a great metalsong should have I think. The touring was great, Firestorm helped us to come out and play all over Europe and now with our new album we already know that we will tour a lot! Next month we´ll go to Switzerland, Austria and Germany, and in March we hit the heavy metal highway together with great band Hitten for a longer tour. Looking forward to it.
8. Any funny or crazy thing you have seen someone do at a concert?
AH: Once in Germany I think I saw a couple fuck during our show haha, that was wonderful to see. I started to do the same "fuck-move” as he did haha, but its hard playing guitar with a hard on so I had to look away.
9. I really enjoyed the video for Natural Born Killers. Who came up with the video plot??
AH: We knew that we wanted a video for NBK. I think it was Ludwig that come up with the idea, that a General should play the natural born killer so I started to work on a script, then contacted director Kiggs. The outcome was great.
10. What are your biggest guitar influences? And what gear do you use?
AH: My favorite guitar-player is Ace Frehley, I stole his name (Adam Ace Hagelin) but I don’t steel hes sound. Brain May from Queen also is one of my favorites but again, i don’t sound like any other guitar player, or I don’t try to at least. My gear is a pair of Gibson Flying V, I plug them in to a Marshall Vintage Modern. POWER THROUGH AND THROUGH
11. Favorite bands if you can name a few?
AH: Queen, The Who, Judas Priest and right now our friends in Enforcer, their new album ”From Beyond” is absolutely brilliant.
Well I just wanted to say thank you Adam for taking your time to do this it means a lot. Where can people purchase the new album? I'm from the U.S so even though it might cost a bit more I totally want to get your new album. And lastly do you have any last words or shout outs?
AH: Thank´s for having me Nathan! Go to hrrecords.de and you can order it there! and you SHOULD order it, because its great.
https://www.facebook.com/Ambushsweden/timeline
AH: Thank´s man! I agree. With both this artwork and and our first one that you can see on our Firestorm album, it was me that had pretty clear vision of how I wanted it to be. So I started to draw sketches and then contacted Alexander von Wieding. He transformed my sketches into this absolutely rare and evil-looking artwork. We´ll sure work with him again.
6. Let's talk about your demo and the formation of the band. How did you guys all meet and how did the band start?
AH: Long .story short, we all knew each other before and we played in different bands back then. We were at this party at Olofs place as always, we where drunk and then we decided to to this, with our hearts in it. We all shared that one interest -> Heavy Metal. Why not start a band with your best friends and write songs that will make the world a shittier place for your granny so to speak, haha.
7. So your last album Firestorm got a very good response. What are some of your favorite tracks on it? Also, how was the touring for the record? Do you expect to do some touring following up this new album?
AH: Yeah both the fans and critics all over the world loved Firestorm and now they seem to love Desecrator even MORE (if that´s possible) We´re thankful for that. Favorite song from our debut I think is Heading East. Fast, Raw and solid melodies. Great guitar-parts as well, it have everything a great metalsong should have I think. The touring was great, Firestorm helped us to come out and play all over Europe and now with our new album we already know that we will tour a lot! Next month we´ll go to Switzerland, Austria and Germany, and in March we hit the heavy metal highway together with great band Hitten for a longer tour. Looking forward to it.
8. Any funny or crazy thing you have seen someone do at a concert?
AH: Once in Germany I think I saw a couple fuck during our show haha, that was wonderful to see. I started to do the same "fuck-move” as he did haha, but its hard playing guitar with a hard on so I had to look away.
9. I really enjoyed the video for Natural Born Killers. Who came up with the video plot??
AH: We knew that we wanted a video for NBK. I think it was Ludwig that come up with the idea, that a General should play the natural born killer so I started to work on a script, then contacted director Kiggs. The outcome was great.
10. What are your biggest guitar influences? And what gear do you use?
AH: My favorite guitar-player is Ace Frehley, I stole his name (Adam Ace Hagelin) but I don’t steel hes sound. Brain May from Queen also is one of my favorites but again, i don’t sound like any other guitar player, or I don’t try to at least. My gear is a pair of Gibson Flying V, I plug them in to a Marshall Vintage Modern. POWER THROUGH AND THROUGH
11. Favorite bands if you can name a few?
AH: Queen, The Who, Judas Priest and right now our friends in Enforcer, their new album ”From Beyond” is absolutely brilliant.
Well I just wanted to say thank you Adam for taking your time to do this it means a lot. Where can people purchase the new album? I'm from the U.S so even though it might cost a bit more I totally want to get your new album. And lastly do you have any last words or shout outs?
AH: Thank´s for having me Nathan! Go to hrrecords.de and you can order it there! and you SHOULD order it, because its great.
https://www.facebook.com/Ambushsweden/timeline