INTERVIEW WITH MAGNUS ROSEN

You did have a tour in Amerika, how was the tour?
One month we started the tour around the United States and Canada like Toronto and Quebec. Then we played like New York, LA, San Francisco, Chicago and many other places. The public, of course, were all very good. But it was not so many people we expected, so like we had 800 people and it was oke, in other places we got less people and good public but to little I think. It needs to be 800 people. If it's less the tour will loose and we need to pay for playing.


Who came with the idea to go playing together with Stratovarius?
Four years ago Anders Johanson had an idea about putting Stratovarius and Hammerfall together, because Stratovarius they were very big in a few countries, that we are smaller. We are bigger in other countries that they are smaller. So we thought it was a good combination. And now it's like four years later, from the idea. So now we will see how it will go. So after the whole tour we sit down to see was it a good idea or bad idea. But Stratovarius is a really good band and really nice people, so it's a pleasure to tour with them. So, so far is very good.


About the cd, when I hear the last song 'Knights of the 21st century' was it the first time there was a surprise in the song after a long silence?
Yes, in Hammerfall cd's it's the first time. Many people have done it before, but Hammerfall never as far as I know.


I hear in all the lyrics, and not only on this CD the words: 'Hammer' and 'Steel'.
The whole thing is like a fantasy story but about keep together and fight for what you believe in and making the dreams come true. It had no political meaning or something like that. In this kind of music it's a lot about the steel and blablabla.


Was the recording progress different with this cd then the other cd's?
Not really. With this recording it was almost the same as 'Crimson Thunder'. This time we recorded in Denmark, but before we recorded in Holland, Germany and Gran Canaria Crimson Thunder. But we now only recorded in Denmark.


In which studio?
Lundgard Studio in South of Denmark. It was a really nice place and this time we first recorded all the drums and we did it really fast. I recorded the bass and I stayed in the studio only a few days. So the drums and the bass was recorded in a very short time. Then they recorded one song at the time so it will be all the guitars and vocals they go on to the next song. But many times people record first all the drums, then all the bass, all the guitars and then all the songs. But now they take one song at the time. All so Joacim can save his voice. So he not have to sing every day.


That's better?
In this case it's better.


Who design the cd-covers, and why do you choose every time for Hector instead of pictures of the band or so?
All the covers are decided by Oscar or Joacim. We don't talk about that. If Anders would like to have that pictures or me it's two guys they decide. And then after they made an idea they send it away, this time in the United States. Before it was ( maker of cd cover) I believe who made the first drawings for the cd's and I think both are really good. But they are different and so from Crimson Thunder we got this new guy. You can see and think by yourself what you like. So everything is a matter of personal taste.


If you are on stage how do you feel about all the photographers in the photo pit?
I feel very good about that. Because it's a good feeling to see people are interested so me and Anders talked about that before and we think that they could be there the whole show. Maybe sometimes it's possible to get good pictures right away but maybe sometimes it takes the whole show to get good pictures. And it's not disturbing at all. It's always a pleasure to see people are interested.


Do you check fan sites?
Actually me and Anders both we get in quite often to the Hammerfall page to answer questions or give some news or things. We think it is good for the fans to see we care a little bit about them.


Hammerfall is started in 1996?
Yes. Before it was a project. Oscar and some other guys in Goteborg played eighties rock heavy metal and I think it was '96, Joacim joined this project and the band started. They didn't do shows, and nobody knows about them. And then they played some kind of rock game. They picked one band, and say: you are the winner. The project Hammerfall was in that game, but they didn't win. But one girlfriend filmed everything and send it to a record company. Hammerfall got luck to get a record deal. Because it's hard these days to get a record deal, a good record deal anyway.
And then they needed a real band, because all these guys in the project played in other bands. Then they decided we needed a real line-up. So, six months after Joacim joined the band Stefan and me joined the band. So this line-up was almost from the beginning. Anders joined us later.


Did you had a regular job at that time?
We all did of course different things. Joacim was working in a record store, sold cd's, Stefan drove the taxi. And Anders had a recording company, so but after a few years, it started our regular job. We didn't need to work at the record store or something like that.


How do you write a song?
In this band all songs are written by Joacim and Oscar. In some bands everybody is involved, but in this band it's only Joacim and Oscar, so I have time to concentrate on the bass playing. Oscar makes the music and he gives the music to Joacim and he writes the lyrics. And then they show us the written songs.


Do your use other bass guitars in the studio then on stage?
I have maybe eight basses and most of the time I use only two kind of basses in the studio.
One five strings and one four strings.


Who came with the idea to ask Jens to play on Crimson Thunder?
First of all we played this... song, it was Anders his idea After a Swedish discussion between Anders and Magnus the answer is: we don't remember. But anyway it was fun! :)


Do you want to say something to our readers?
Never stop to rock! Because as long as you like this kind of music it's also possible for us to still going. We are very thankful for all the people who coming and listen to us.


Do you have also any advice for people who started to play bass or guitar?
Everbody has different ideas but my idea to do what you think is fun. So in the beginning it's important I think to play the music you really love. And the songs you really enjoy playing. Because if you not enjoy you will loose interest in playing or enjoy what your doing.


Magnus, thanks for the interview.


Interview by Silvana