Interview and translation by Kelly Silva and Renata Carvalho
Still relatively unknown in Brazil, but highly praised by those who have had the chance to listen to any of their albums, the quintet formed in 2007 by already very talented and still quite young musicians at the time, boasts a career built on excellent studio work – seven in total. The current lineup, composed of Nils Molin (vocals), Georg Härnsten Egg (drums), Jonathan Olsson (bass), Love Magnusson and Mikael Lavér (guitars), also has connections with other exponents and legends of rock and heavy metal, through the parallel work of its musicians with artists such as Dee Snider , Till Lindemann and Amaranthe .
From the hard rock of their first three albums to the melodic heavy metal of their last four, nothing in Dynazty can be defined as exaggerated or simplistic. With catchy melodies, very well-executed guitar solos, competent and creative bass and drums, plus a vocalist with one of the most striking voices of his generation, the band manages to have a sound that is both traditional and modern, without seeming like just a dated copy of 80s artists, nor slipping into a plastic and disposable sound.
In their most recent album, released in April of this year and titled The Dark Delight , produced by the band themselves and mixed by Jacob Hansen ( Avantasia, Katatonia, UDO ), the band incorporates elements ranging from Western to Celtic, including the guttural vocals of Henrik “GG6” Englund (Amaranthe), who acted as a guest musician on two tracks. We spoke with the band about this work, as well as about life in the music industry and the possibility of, at some point in the future, performing shows in South America. Check it out below:
First, tell us a little about your latest album, The Dark Delight . What inspired the album, what was the recording process like, and what was the reception from critics and fans?
Nils Molin : We started writing The Dark Delight in the first quarter of 2019 and wrote between tours throughout the spring, summer, and fall. We finally began recording in November and finished the album before Christmas. The inspiration was, as always, to write the best album possible, with an emphasis on grand production and the dynamics of the songs. The reception has been extremely positive. I couldn't imagine anything better, really. There's something for everyone on this album.
Love Magnusson: Well, it's always difficult to say what inspired an album, a song. We just write songs, and the ones we like, we keep!
Georg Härnsten Egg: I think we took some risks going a bit more pop on some songs, like “Waterfall.” We didn’t know how it would be received, but so far it’s been great. I’m especially impressed with the reception of “Presence of Mind.” It really took off in a way I didn’t expect. The recording process was like this: I recorded the drums at Jacob Hansen’s studio in Denmark, and the other guys recorded in their home studios. For drums, you need a large room and someone with great engineering skills to set up all the microphones, etc. That’s why we preferred to hire a large studio for the drum recordings and do the rest ourselves. The mixing was done by Jacob Hansen. I think it’s a phenomenal sound, very big and yet compact.
We noticed that the album has some electronic influences, reminiscent of the sound of Amaranthe, a band that you, Nils, are also part of. Some parts are more progressive, something like Fates Warning, others more aggressive, reminiscent of Pantera, also something more western, and even Celtic. What were your influences on this album, and what bands or styles do you generally like?
Nils: As always, we have a wide variety of influences. I listen to everything from old-school hard rock and heavy metal to many current bands and artists. At this point, we have a very developed sound and style, so the writing comes naturally without the need for many external influences .
Georg: I really don't know what inspired the composition (laughs). Personally, I'm listening to a lot of older pop/rock at the moment – Level 42, Phil Collins and Sting , for example.
Love: We get inspiration from everywhere. No specific genre or style, etc. I like all kinds of music that impresses me!
It seems to be a common dynamic in the band's lyrics that certain themes reappear from a perspective different from that observed the first time they were addressed. This is noticeable, for example, in "The Black," which seems to be a continuation of the theme initially developed in "The Grey." In this album, the theme of "choices" appears in two different moments and forms: in "Presence of Mind," the lyrics say that "we have the choice to rise and to learn," while in "Paradise of the Architect," the lyrics ponder "how we view the illusion of choice." Is this intentional, making the album almost thematic, or is it something that occurs unconsciously during the creative process?
Nils: Yes, “The Black” is a continuation of “The Grey” from the album Firesign . In general, I like to maintain these invisible connections running through an album. I think it’s my style of writing lyrics. The overall theme of the album The Dark Delight is basically various forms of temptation, which is a theme that also extends throughout the album.
As a lyricist, do you ever reuse lyrics written for previous albums when writing a new one? If so, do you keep them exactly as they are, or do you end up changing something?
Nils: Sometimes I revisit lyrical themes from old or unfinished songs. If there's something I like, I can continue developing it. The same goes for compositions in general.
What has been the most challenging moment for you as instrumentalists, singer, or lyricist throughout the band's discography? That moment when you thought, "Okay, that was hard work, but developing this skill makes me feel more competent today than I was before," or something like that.
Love: Well, it's always like that. You evolve every time you write, practice, etc. Therefore, it's impossible to mention a specific point.
Georg: Definitely Renatus . I developed a completely new drumming technique for this album, where I play the bass drum with a pedal while playing a floor tom with my left hand. It took hundreds of hours of practice. Songs like “Incarnation” and “Starlight” were really difficult to learn.
Nils: I try to approach each new album with the mindset of making them more challenging, both in the vocal department and in the songwriting. Setting a new challenge and becoming the best version of myself. Therefore, every new album is the most difficult in that respect. The Dark Delight is no exception.
You work, or have you worked, in side projects or with other artists such as Pain, Joe Lynn Turner, Tiil Lindemann, De Van, Paralydium, Amaranthe… How did working with each of them contribute to shaping you into the musicians you are today? Was there anything that the experience with them taught you about the music industry or about the profession itself?
Georg: Yes, I work with Joe Lynn Turner and Paralydium, and I've worked with many others over the years. Dynazty is my main focus. You always learn from experience. With Dee Snider I had to learn double bass drumming, for example. Playing in musicals in Sweden taught me to be really precise with timing, to give another example.
Love: I currently also play with Joe Lynn Turner and have toured with Dee Snider and, at one point, filled in for Olof (NE: Mörck, guitarist) in Amaranthe. A new experience is always enriching; you learn as you go!
Nils: Working with other bands or artists, or simply interacting with the music business itself, will always guarantee experiences in one way or another. And playing live can't be a bad thing, ever. Our activities outside of Dynazty have always strengthened us individually, which makes the collective that is Dynazty even stronger.
With over ten years in the business, you've certainly experienced highs and lows. What was the best and worst phase of the band?
Love: It's hard to say. Things have their ups and downs from time to time. Keeping the spirit alive is key! Without it, you might end up doing something else. Business in the music industry isn't an easy journey…
Nils: The worst phase of the band was certainly the early years, in which we had no control over the band, both artistically and musically. The choices for the band were made by external forces. Something that simply didn't work for us and we quickly realized we needed to get out of it. Our best phase, and the most productive, is here and now. With total control and composing our best songs.
Georg: I think the best times have been recent. The shows are sold out, we keep growing. It's an incredible feeling. We've had tough times, yes. But we always have fun. We turn difficult situations into fun, that's our great strength as a group.
You guys show great chemistry both on and off stage, and not all bands manage to maintain that high spirits even after weeks of touring. How do you deal with the routine during that time?
Nils: Having a general passion for playing music, the music we make, and playing in front of fans is enough to keep us going. I've never seen a motivational problem in Dynazty.
Georg: We're really good friends and we have a lot of fun together. We look out for each other if someone is feeling down. I also think we're smart enough to realize how privileged we are. Being able to travel the world and play your own music in front of amazing fans is truly a blessing, not something to be taken for granted.
Love: We love touring, so keeping our spirits up isn't a problem. This is what we're made to do!
What kind of preparation does the band usually have before shows? Do you follow any specific ritual, or do you just try to relax and get in the mood for when you go on stage?
Nils: Basically, I just try to relax and quickly get into the right mood about 30 minutes before the show.
Georg: I like to have peace and quiet and concentrate on my performance. Some of the others get much more excited before shows, everyone has their own preferences. But no specific ritual that I know of.
Love: Beer! Simple as that!
We've seen you guys perform with other bands and do covers of other artists. Have you ever thought about recording a cover song?
Love: Yes. But there are no plans at the moment.
Georg: On Knock You Down [NT: the group's second album], we recorded two covers! We don't have any plans at the moment, but I think about it sometimes, like, "I wonder how this song would sound in a Dynazty arrangement." Maybe in the future!
Nils: We've thought about it many times. Someday, there will be a Dynazty cover album. When? We'll see…
Nils, you were in Brazil with Amaranthe on the Maximalism in 2017. What was the thing you liked most about Brazil?
Nils: Well, I only stayed in São Paulo for 2 days, and unfortunately I got very sick. But the best experience was definitely playing in front of an extremely enthusiastic crowd!
You already have some fans in Latin America despite never having come here, and you've also received good reviews for albums previously released here. Is there a possibility of a tour here in the future?
Everyone: Yes!
Love: I hope we can do it as soon as possible.
Nils: There's definitely a chance for that. When the offer and the time are right, we'll go to Brazil!
Georg: It's about time... We've always wanted to go, but it never happened for one reason or another. We'll go as soon as we can!
Finally, is there any message you would like to leave for Brazilians?
Georg: Thank you for your support, it means a lot! I can't wait to see you all in the audience when we arrive!
Love: Thank you so much for your support! We couldn't do this without you. One of my dreams is to go to Brazil someday, who knows! Thanks again!
Nils: Thank you for all the support, keep listening to our music and especially our new album, The Dark Delight ! See you soon!
