Graveyard is a Swedish band that emerged in 2006 in the city of Gothenburg, and its current lineup includes Joakim Nilsson , Jonatan Ramm , Truls Mörck , and Oskar Bergenheim .
The band blends classic hard rock with blues and psychedelic rock. They also showcase memorable riffs, intense vocals, and a vintage atmosphere.
Throughout their career, the band released their self-titled debut album in 2007, which cemented their reputation. Then, in 2011, with the album Hisingen Blues , they topped the Swedish charts and solidified the group's place in contemporary rock. Subsequently, in 2016, the band went on hiatus, but returned in 2017 with Oskar Bergenheim on drums.
Finally, in 2018, Graveyard released the album Peace and, in 2023, the album simply titled 6 , which reflects a more introspective and somber atmosphere.
Graveyard in Brazil
The band is coming to Brazil for three shows: Rio de Janeiro on March 14th, São Paulo on March 15th, and finally Belo Horizonte on March 16th, 2025. Tickets are available on the Xaninho Discos website.
Furthermore, taking advantage of the Swedish band's second visit to the country, Wikimetal spoke with the band's bassist, Truls Mörck, about inspirations, memorable stories, the post-pandemic period, and also about the shows in Brazil. The friendly bassist also humorously recounted some unusual situations from his career in Graveyard.
Check out the full interview:
Wikimetal: Graveyard has been active for almost two decades. How would you assess the band's trajectory since its formation in 2006?
Truls Mörck: I once read an interview with Graveyard, from a time when I wasn't yet in the band, and the interviewer asked if there was a song that defined the group. I think it was the former drummer who answered "River Deep – Mountain High". At the time, I thought that made a lot of sense — and I still think it does.
It's been a journey full of ups and downs, but it's incredible to think back to all this time and realize that we're still here, doing what we love. I'm very proud of that.
The band's influences
WM: What motivated you to create Graveyard? How did the idea of mixing hard rock, blues, and folk music come about?
TM: Well, I think we were lucky to be in Gothenburg, Sweden, a relatively small city, where early on we found people who liked the same style of music.
It was that sound from the late 60s and early 70s, rock and roll. We were always playing together, forming and jumping from one band to another. A very important album in the formation of Graveyard was Then Play On , by Fleetwood Mac .
Of course, we were also heavily influenced by bigger bands like Black Sabbath , Led Zeppelin , and Pentagram . But something that really connected us was Fleetwood Mac and that kind of psychedelic blues they played. The guitar tone has always been fundamental for us. We don't use that much distortion, but we manage to explore the sound quite a bit.
The pandemic and the lockdown
WM: Regarding the new album, simply titled 6 , we perceive a more introspective sound, with more blues influence. What inspired this change? Was it something related to lifestyle?
TM: Well… not exactly. Actually, the previous album was followed by a very intense tour, almost two years non-stop. Our last show on that tour was in the United States, with Opeth , in early 2020. We finished the tour in early March. Until then, we were constantly on the move. We went back home and, a few days later, the lockdown came.
Our entire schedule was suddenly canceled, and we found ourselves with nothing to do. It was a drastic change, from a life of travel and shows to total silence, isolated in the countryside. This led us to reflect a lot. Many feelings and thoughts that had been kept hidden came to the surface. When you're always on the move, you don't have time to think about many things, but in silence, everything appears.
So, it makes sense to say that the album is more introspective, because that's precisely what we did: look inward.
But we were lucky. In Sweden, where we live, the pandemic didn't affect us as drastically as in other places, especially since we live in a sparsely populated area.
Even so, this forced silence ended up influencing the album, and I think you can tell that in the final result.
WM: The post-pandemic period was very difficult. What was the process of composing and recording like in that context of so many restrictions and precautions?
TM: We were quite lucky because we weren't personally affected too much. But there was all that uncertainty; we didn't know when touring would resume. Would it make sense to continue? Would we ever play live again?
Another thing that hindered things was the constant cancellations at the studio. Someone would sneeze or get a little sick, and that was it! "Everyone home, session canceled." Sometimes it was because a child was sick, or someone in the family. So, the process was quite long.
Live performances
WM: And what about live shows? Graveyard is known for its intense performances. How do you prepare the setlist for each show or festival?
TM: It depends a lot on how much time we have on stage. If it's a festival, sometimes we only have 50 minutes, so we do a more direct set. If it's one of our own shows, 70 or 90 minutes, we can build a different journey for the audience.
Generally, we start with a lot of energy and then slow down at some point to create a more introspective atmosphere. Then, towards the end, we pick up the pace again to finish strong. I like to think that shows have to have that dynamic.
When we're on tour, the setlist can change from day to day, either to see what works best or just for fun. Some songs are sure bets and we never stop playing them, but overall, it varies.
WM: Speaking of social media, do you guys enjoy interacting with your fans?
TM: I manage Instagram , so I'm always there, posting and replying. In the past, we weren't as active, but nowadays I find it more fun. I enjoy talking to the people who send us messages.
Artificial Intelligence and art in music
WM: The music video for “Breathe In Breathe Out” is incredible! You can tell that you guys place a lot of importance on aesthetics, both in your videos and album covers. Who created the artwork for the new album? And what's your opinion on bands that use Artificial Intelligence for their creations?
TM: For me, visual art is very important. I'm the kind of person who buys a record for the cover. As for AI… I find it complicated. Personally, I don't like it. I think we need to support real artists. If they aren't paid for their work, they won't be able to continue creating.
Sure, some AI-generated creations are interesting, but overall, I don't like them. For me, it becomes a problem when it's used solely to save money, without any human creative process behind it. I much prefer hiring real illustrators and designers. It's a way to keep things running: we pay for their work, and they continue producing cool art.
Regarding who did our most recent cover, it was a Swede named Castor Castore . He started by making a music video for the song “Please Don't,” and we liked it so much that we asked him to do the album cover as well. We've worked with different artists over the years, such as the Swedish artist Ulf Lundin , who did the cover for the 2018 album Peace . And also, more recently, an artist named Max, who does aerial filming and worked on our latest music videos, including the single “Breathe In Breathe Out” from our last album, 6 .
Idols and relaxation
WM: Graveyard's music combines elements of the past with a contemporary touch. If you could invite any blues or rock legend for a jam session, who would it be? And what song would you play together?
TM: For me, one of the most incredible musicians is Mitch Mitchell , from the Jimi Hendrix Experience . Another name would be Peter Green , from Fleetwood Mac, who I think fits our band perfectly.
If I had to choose one song, it would be "The Green Manalishi," by Peter Green with Fleetwood Mac. For me, it perfectly summarizes what we're looking for in terms of sound.
WM: After so many years on the road, what was the most surreal or unexpected moment you experienced?
TM: We have many stories, but one that came to mind was the tour with Opeth in the United States. We played in iconic, yet small, venues full of history. The Apollo Theater in New York was surreal, but the craziest one was the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville.
It's known as "the mother church of country music," where the Grand Ole Opry began. It's beautiful, full of tradition. I think if a hard rock band from Gothenburg managed to play there, where Hank Williams performed… it was something I never really imagined.
Shows in Brazil
WM: You're coming back to Brazil in March 2025. What can fans expect from these shows?
TM: You can expect all the classics you know. We try to take the sound a little further than what you hear on the album, keeping the essence, but with more intensity live.
We react a lot to the energy of the audience, so don't be shy! If you want to hear something specific, let us know on Instagram or shout it out at the show—who knows, we might play it.
We're in an excellent phase as a band, we just finished an incredible tour in November. We're very excited to get back on stage. And, to be quite honest, we're dying to escape the cold! It's freezing here in Sweden, so we're happy to go somewhere warmer.
WM: The last time you came to Brazil, in 2019, was there any memory that particularly stood out from the band's time here?
TM: Absolutely! I remember some fans creating their own band merchandise, like black bandanas with the name Graveyard in gold. I thought that was awesome!
But the craziest story happened at our last show in Rio de Janeiro. The performance coincided with the final episode of Game of Thrones , which aired at the same time as the show. So, the venue decided to put up a giant screen in front of the stage, and everyone watched the episode right there.
After it finished, they started taking down the screen, and we finally went up to play. It was very unusual, but it ended up being incredible. A very strong memory of when we were there.
WM: Regarding the Latin American tour, you'll also be playing with the Canadian band Danko Jones. How did this partnership come about? And what do you think of their music?
TM: We've played together at a few festivals, but the idea for this tour came from our agent. We received an email suggesting "Graveyard and Danko Jones in Latin America, are you in?" and we thought it was great.
I think our bands complement each other. We're different, but there's a musical connection. They've been active longer than us, and I really respect that. I remember listening to their first albums when I was younger. So, we're very excited.
WM: To conclude, is there any message you would like to leave for your Brazilian fans?
TM: I want to say that we are very grateful for the affection we receive in Brazil and Latin America. It's incredible to know that we can travel so far and meet fans who are passionate about our music.
We are excited to come back and play for you again. We are in a great moment as a band, full of energy, and I guarantee that the shows will be incredible. You won't regret it!
WM: Thank you so much for the interview!
TM: Thank you very much!
Check out the official music video for the song “Twice”, released in 2023, on Nuclear Blast Records' YouTube channel
READ ALSO: Graveyard returns to Brazil in March 2025
