Bjorn: Well, there was this huge movement going on in Sweden with bands like Entombed and Dismember in the beginning of the '90s that kind of took over...the more extreme music. But it was still kind of melodic at times. And many of those bands, like InFlames and At The Gates, started out really early and they had a lot of melodies and even added folk music sometimes. That sound kind of developed into more of a traditional heavy metal sound, but still something unique blended in with this kind of death metal sound. Swedish bands have always been about development and have always been very objective about music and also not being afraid of listening to other types of music...it doesn't have to be "metal" all the time. And I think that's why we kind of have that unique sound. And we also have great music schools as well.
SW: I understand the Swedish government pays for music schools and gives out loans and grants to rock/metal musicians. I grew up in LA and I remember in the early '90s at MI (Musicians Institute in Hollywood) at least half of the students came over from Sweden and the Swedish government gave them student loans to pay for the school as well as their entire living expense for the whole year.
Bjorn: Yes, Sweden is very unique, in fact, we even get paid to rehearse.
SW: A good friend of mine, Jan Granwick, works for the musicians union in Sweden and he tells me that they cater to the musicians as if it is a profession like being a doctor or an attorney.
Bjorn: Yes, I know Jan. It's true, it's a very good climate in Sweden as far as being a musician. We even had the cultural minister of Sweden fly down to our hometown to talk to us. I mean...in what other country can that happen?
