UN: After releasing quite a few albums on Century Media, the latest album is being released on Candlelight. How did the deal with Candlelight come about? How many albums is the deal for out of curiosity?

Lars: I just sent them a couple of links to new demo songs. They liked it, and we started to work out an agreementvery easy The deal is for one album and they got 2 options

UN: Testify For My Victims is undoubtedly the most diverse album yet from the band. Was it a conscious decision to try and explore new ideas, or did it just came naturally?

Jens: I think it sort a just happened that way. When we first started our pre-pre-productions many of the songs had the same raw feel as the earlier CF material, at first there wasnt that much melodies in the guitars nor the vocals but after being interrupted by all sort of things like touring, break-ups, marriages well, life in short and having to start over again we decided to treat every song as unique and take the time to experiment with everything in a way that CF never had the time to do before and with no deadline set we had a lot of time to experiment.

Lars: Yes, and this was the first time we didnt have a studio that was costing money every minute, which gave us the opportunity to try out stuff without worrying. This is the way I would like to have worked with CF earlier but for different reasons were not possible like recording all the extra guitars or vocal harmonies I want without anyone looking at the watch

UN: Testify For My Victims is an awesome album name. Could you possibly go into a bit more detail into what the meaning behind the album name is?

Jens: The title came up when we were laying down the vocals for the song with the same name, we werent planning on having a title song but we all liked the strange vibe of that sentence so we decided to name the album the same, I get the feeling that its about someone whos done something horrifying sending this message to the world that he wants/needs to be stopped and urges someone to bear witness for his victims but thats just my interpretation, the title invites all sorts of interpretations.

UN: How long did the songwriting process for the album take? Did you have everything set in stone prior to entering the studio or did you still play around with ideas in the studio?

Lars: Song writing for this album started already in 2004 I guess, we started to make demos in 2005 and beginning of 2006 we made demos of all songs. Then we started the actual album recording in October 2006 and worked on it until Feb 2007 when we mixed it in former singer Jonas Black Lounge Studio. Nothing was in stone we changed stuff completely, some in the last minute

Jens: We did play around a lot when it came time for me to lay down the vocals, mostly due to the fact that I had no fucking idea of what to do most of the times, but some of the times I could have a chorus or a verse that I thought would fit and wed record that then wed all sit down (I.e. they sat and I was parked in front of the microphone) and Id just wing it til someone or the majority liked an idea good enough for me to work on it other times I got presented with a new song with the vocals already laid down by Petri, that both helped and made my work harder easier because I only had to figure out the words and use his template but harder since that guys voice is INSANE! And almost impossible to emulate

UN: I think that the album draws a perfect balance between technical ability and memorable songwriting. It is hard to find a good balance? Obviously the guitar solos are a big part of the bands sound and they never take away from the songs and always seem to fit perfectly.

Lars: Nah, its just the way it comes out now days I guess

Jens: True, Petri has made it from being a good guitarist to an awesome craftsman during the last couple of years and his solos are like songs within the songs If the term would still be in use hed be called a guitar hero but I guess thats not PC nowadays nevertheless I honestly think hes that good, he scares me man!

UN: This album is the first with the new vocalist. It seems like he is very comfortable on this album and really puts in a killer and diverse vocal performance. Do you guys feel this is a stronger album vocally then Are You Dead Yet? Dont get me wrong though, the vocals were indeed good on that album as well, they just seem better with this album.

Jens: Thanks many man! And yes I was very comfy when we started to work on the album but then again I had more than two years in the band and a shitload of live shows under my belt so when the recording started, my only concern was with how I could leave my mark on things without alienating the older fans

Lars: Yes, absolutely! With Jens in the band we have got the possibility to work with the vocals and lyrics in a way we never did on the previous recordings. We have demoed all songs with vocals before the actual album recording and that is something we never did with Jonas in the band. Before we just sent him the backgrounds and he finished it off by himself. That was the way he wanted to work and we had to respect that but it left many ideas untried I feel and we couldnt influence or experiment as much as I wanted. I love Jonas vocals but I would have liked to work with Jonas in the same way I do with Jens cause I know the previous albums could have been so much better. But well thats history now I guess anyway now weve tried and tried and changed stuff over and over in to the last minute. Working with Jens is great, cause hes a machine in the studio that never gives in and I really feel I can get my ideas out through him.

UN: There was actually a few year gap in between the last two albums. Was this the amount of time you guys wanted to take in between albums or did it end up being a bit longer then expected? Im curios to ask because right now it seems like bands almost rush albums far too much. It seems like they only write and record new music to have a new product to sell while out on tour and it doesnt seem like many bands put as much time and thought into the music as they should. I guess thats why so many bands sound identical right now.

Jens: True, many bands have to release anything in order to survive and many of them arent what Id even call bands, you said product and that what I think most of them are, products with the right look and sound, mass-produced fucking clones for a generation who lack the will to care about being force-fed with the crap that the media hype serves them.

Lars: It for sure ended up being longer than expected or planned from the beginning. We wanted to take the time it was necessary to make an album that everybody in the band felt was the best we could possible do at this time. But then of course life fucks with you and time flies like said before personal stuff that gets in the way, studies, new jobs, marriage, separations, new girlfriends, building our own recording place, life in general so to speak then again recording everything our selves with no absolute deadline. A lot of stuff that is sort of out of hand, that you cant really control. But it gave us the chance to get some distance to the material, to trash some, re-write some and then let the material grow before we made changes. It has kinda sucked at some points, but I think it has been good, cause we have had the chance to evaluate the new material at different points along the way.

UN: During the break between albums you guys also built your own studio. Was recording in this environment different then the studios youve recorded in before? I would think it would be a much more relaxed environment.

Lars: Yes, but a bit more primitive I guess not as fancy less equipment and smaller place. All the previous albums were recorded in a studio I used to work in (Studio Underground), that is how I got to know the guys, as a producer and engineer when they recorded their first two albums. So we have always taken care of the recordings ourselves, especially since I joined the band. Its been more that we have rented the place and then worked by ourselves until mix. Weve been producing ourselves and recorded ourselves, the difference now is that it doesnt cost a shit load of money, if you need more time there is no new band starting on Monday, we have been able to do exactly what we want, it has taken a little longer time but no one has interfered with how we want to work or how we want to sound.

In one way yes its more relaxed to have total control about how and when you want to work, but it is also very tough being five mad ego producers trying to get our will through. We have been fighting and arguing and it has sometimes taken unnecessary long time to get to decisions. And when you have your own place, its always a tomorrow even if we had as much time as we ever wanted it still turned out to that crazy round the clock shit the last weeks before mix I hope weve learned some of that and will remember to next time

UN: Carnal Forge was formed in 1998 during what I would probably consider one of the best periods of time for extreme music. Are you surprised by how much things have changed? Obviously bands are still playing similar music, but heavy music in general has become much more acceptable in the last few years especially in North America.

Lars: 1997 to be exact

Jens: Yeah the has been an upswing but Id say that the fact that heavy music has become more acceptable is just a sign that the big bizz finally has figured out that theres big money to be made from it cynical? Yes! but cmon most of the heavy music on radio and TV is still nothing but pop with some distorted guitars Im still waiting to hear stuff like Deicide or Strapping young lad on the radio but I aint gonna hold my breath, media is controlled and we all live under some sort of censorship, heavy music is still not accepted full out, and in my humble opinion it shouldnt be cuz then wed all be mainstream and what good could possibly come out of that?

UN: What do you think of all of the American bands that take influence from the Swedish sound? There definitely are some gems to be found, but there are far too many bands that sound like a third rate clone of Slaughter of the Soul.

Jens: Hahahaa yeah well what to say? I think that the biggest problem with many of the dupes out there is that they never listened to Swedish folk music, so they have no idea where the Swedish/Nordic-sound comes from. They never felt what its like to wake up on a misty field, hungover as fuck after an midsummers party with the faint sound of someone singing Ack vrmeland du skna echoing over a lake now if you ever did, youd know! Still, theres a few that totally got it right

UN: You guys have already shot two videos for the album. Are you guys happy with how theyve turned out? Have you guys made any videos in the past? Im assuming you must have made at least a few for Arent You Dead Yet?

Lars: No this is the first two videos ever made by CF Century Media was too fuckin economical

Jens: Very happy indeed, Ove Lingwall made one hell of a job with the video for Burning Eden and I cant wait to see what he and his crew did with all the stuff he shot for Numb (The Dead)

UN: As far as touring goes, are any plans made for any North American tours to support the new album? Will you guys be playing the summer festivals as well throughout Europe?

Lars: Yes we have a few summer festival shows, we realized to late that we were done with the album so we kinda missed this years festivals. So at the moment we are working on several tour ideas both in Europe and in the US for the fall.

UN: I wanted to ask do you notice a big difference between the venues in Europe and the venues in North America. I read a few of the tour diaries on the website and it sounds like there are some fairly small and uncomfortable clubs in Europe. Thats not to say that there arent any small and dingy clubs in North America either though, because there definitely are a great number of them.

Jens: I havent been to that many clubs in North America so I cant really compare my experiences with the dingy side of Europe to anything, all I can say is that the worst place Ive ever played was behind the urinals of a gay bar in Belgium that shit was weird. Most of the clubs weve played have been up to good standards but that one fuck!

Lars: Hard to say as the only time we have been in the states was with Halford and those places were pretty nice. Im sure well get the chance to experience some of the shitty clubs in the US as well pretty soon haha!

UN: With this album I could definitely see the Carnal Forge name becoming quite a bit more known. Do you guys have any goals or hopes for this album? Personally I think it is the most diverse and hard hitting album you guys have ever released.

Jens: Again thanks! Goals? World domination, riches beyond belief and all your base are belong to us Hopes? That people are blown away by the album and come to see us live

Lars: Thanx, well its kinda out of our hands it feels like. We know that we have The Album, two great videos and we know that we are very hungry to tour or do what ever to make it, we know we are a hard hitting live band, but, but, but it all comes down to support from the label, with the right promotion and getting CFs name out everywhere our chance is as big as of any of the cheesy shit out there making it right now My only hope is that we get the support we surely do deserve.