Metal will never die, because it evolves all the time.

Wikimetal (Nando Machado): Hi Niclas, this is Nando from Wikimetal, how are you?

Niclas Engelin: Hi. I'm fine, thank you.

W (NM): That's great. So first of all, tell me, how does it feel to be part of a band that is such a big influence on other bands, big bands like Trivium, Killswitch Engage and other successful American bands?

NE: It's really, really good to be part of something that's so important and inspiring to others, of course. It's flattering. But at the same time, it's not something I think about all the time. You know, you do what you know, you do your thing, and people appreciate it so much, I'm more than proud. These bands are great: Trivium and Killswitch Engage, and I'm flattered and honored that they're inspired by us.

W (NM): Nowadays we see many different bands and styles of Metal coming from America, and having a lot of commercial success. Is there a real movement, or camaraderie, between these bands, and how important is this movement to the Metal scene?

NE: I think it's important that the scene is healthy, so you see many different genres within the scene… In Metal in general. And I think it's healthy to see that it's a movement, and inspiring for other bands to pick up their guitars and become real bands. This means that Metal will never die, because it evolves all the time, and it's like a wave, which makes it very interesting, because it's always breaking boundaries.

W (NM): Great. The first time you played with In Flames was in the mid-90s, if I'm not mistaken... Late 90s.

NE: Okay.

W (NM): How do you think this band managed to get started during such a difficult period for Metal in general?

NE: You mean the mid-90s?

W (NM): Yes, the 90s were a difficult time to make Metal, weren't they?

NE: Yes, because of the whole grunge scene and all that. But the cool thing is that we emerged among other bands that were very strong… underground. They were bands that formed in the early 90s, and became a movement, and created a very strong fan base. And from that you can really see that the band was going to get bigger and bigger.

W (NM): That's great. And what do you think is the secret to breaking into the US market as a European metal band?

NE: Touring, touring, and more touring. A good amount of time on the air doesn't hurt, but generally it's just about touring and building a large fan base that you can rely on. I think touring is the key.

Nowadays we are more than just melodic death metal, it's metal and other ingredients mixed together.”

W (NM): Great. We have a classic question on our show that we ask everyone we interview. It's not very fair, but we're going to listen to music soon. Imagine you're listening to your MP3 player, or your cell phone, or your tape player, or a radio station, or whatever, and a song starts playing that makes you completely lose your mind, and you start headbanging wherever you are. What song would that be, a classic, so we can listen to it on our show now?

NE: That would be “Don’t break the Oath” by Mercyful Faith.

W (NM): So, speaking of In Flames again, Niclas, do you think it's possible to label In Flames' sound? What do you think of the term "melodic death metal"? Could this labeling limit an artist's creativity, for example?

NE: Yes, I think so, I think so. Because what is melodic death metal? Nowadays we are more than just melodic death metal, it's metal and other ingredients mixed together. In general, it's just metal, and playing what you really like to play… Isn't that right?

W (NM): Do you often go to Björn and Peter's restaurant in Sweden, 2112?

NE: Yes, very, very good burgers, and very good and varied beer. I recommend it. 2112… Go there now!

W (NM): OK. If you had to choose between Anders beer and the beer from Björn and Peter's restaurant, which would you choose?

NE: Ah… This is a dead end! I don't know. Can't I choose both?

W (NM): You're going to get in trouble for this!

NE: I think so.

W (NM): So now let's listen to one of your bands, In Flames. Could you choose an In Flames song that you're very proud of?

NE: “Pinball Map” is a really good song. I love that song.

W (NM): We have a question from another In Flames fan, named Guilherme Barros: it's clear that the band's sound has changed a lot on the last album, what has changed in terms of songwriting?

NE: I don't think it's changed that much. I think it's more guitar-focused on this album than on any other. You have the slow, haunting songs, you have the cold, hard songs, you have everything on this album. And it's very diverse, it's a very dynamic album, which makes it very interesting to listen to from beginning to end, several times. So I think it's a wonderful album.

We are very active on digital channels because of our love for our fans; we want to know how they are doing and what they are up to.

W (NM): In Flames is very active on Facebook, YouTube, and all digital media. How important is this type of promotion for non-commercial artists, such as metal bands, for example, who don't have the support of radio and TV?

NE: These are wonderful tools because you get closer to the fans, and you can talk to them and see where your fans are. You can talk to them directly, instead of guessing what the fans want to hear, so I think it's perfect. We are very active on these channels because of them, because of our love for our fans, we want to know how they are and what they are doing.

W (NM): You play in a band that basically plays all over the world, like Japan, Australia, the United States, everywhere in Europe, South America too. Do you think there are any difficulties for a band from Sweden to have this global career? Or does the fact that Sweden has a significant metal market make things easier?

NE: I think it's a bit of both, because there are a lot of bands in Sweden that don't achieve these things. But I think we're a bit luckier, like, for example, in the 90s, when the Stockholm scene exploded… You have to be good, there's a high standard… I don't know.

W (NM): So we're almost wrapping up our interview, Niclas. I'd like you to leave one last message for all the Brazilian fans, and can we really expect a new album this year? Are you recording the album now?

NE: No, we're on tour again for another four weeks. We're going to Russia, and after that we're going to play some festivals, then we're going to record sometime in September, I think.

W (NM): Excellent. So we'd like you to know that you can count on Wikimetal anytime to help promote your new album later this year, or next year. I wish you all the best, thank you very much for your time.

NE: Thank you for this interview. Thank you very much, Wikimetal.

W (NM): That's great, Niclas, I hope we can meet here in Brazil soon! As soon as possible!

NE: Yes, that would be very, very good! Take care!

W (NM): Take care, Niclas, thank you very much. Bye!

Listen to the full episode here: