Interview to Anders Schultz of Unleashed

Hails Anders is a nice pleasure interview you, the band will release in April 24th the new album entitled: "Dawn of the Nine" why this title for this album? and exactly this album have 10 tracks, so what is the concept behind for this album? 
Hails! The pleasure is mine! Yes indeed we will! The concept of the album starts exactly where the previous album, Odalheim, ended. And moves forward from there. It is the "Dawn Of The Nine", which in itself is the nine traits a warrior will need in the future to survive, in short.

You know, I like the art for this album, but what means the "rune" wroten in fire over the stone in the cover of this album? and who give the idea for the cover of this album? 
The artwork came out great we think and totally symbolizes the battle where the album starts. It was our idea which we worked together with the artist to make it into what it is. The symbol is one that Johnny had come up with as part of the concept. It combines the runes for "strenght" and "a new day/dawn" and it goes in all different directions as you will need this in all directions in life.

I was forgetting ask you, how was the recording sessions for this album? and how was for you return to studios to record with Unleashed after 3 years? 
They went very well and also turned out very well. If you would compare this to the last album i think we have achieved what we set out to do, which is to up it on every level. It was great to get back in the studio actually. Personally i think it can be a bit stressful sometimes but this time the flow was great and for me at least one of the best recordings ever.

What equipment do you used to play and record this new album? and do you think the equipment a band use to play and record a new album helps in the sound and feeling to play the songs? 
Well as for my equipment i used pretty much the same as for the last few albums. Except for maybe some cymbals that have been changed out. Ive never been much one to get a certain drum or cymbal for a certain sound. Its a bit more rock n roll approach (laughs)...just hit the shit hard and it will be good!  

Unleashed is a band always talk about the vikings and their mithologies and is credited like the first death metal band in the world in write songs about the vikings, but like you know exist a religion called: Ásatrú, and some members of the band wears a Mjolnir necklace, so my question is are some members of Unleashed involved in this religion? and what is your opinnion about Asatru religion? 
I would say no. But naturally we draw inspiration not only from our forefathers tales of old and wisdom of the past but of course Asatru have our respect. However, it is all about how you define things. Our mission is the Viking traditions and values and that is where we put our efforts. I wouldn’t label that as a religion. More a way of life. Traditions and a set of values to live by in the battle of life.

Anders what is your favorite story in viking mithology? or what viking mith or viking god do you feel identified? 
Every Viking ”god” is a symbol of something to us, rather than a classical ”god” type charachter. For example, Thor….whom I like to identify my efforts in life with. Is the personal embodiment of a symbol for strength, Courage and fighting spirit. (among others). In other words; some of the skills you really need to be a warrior in the eternal battle of life….and in this filthy world we live in. So by proclaiming Hail Thor! Or By Thor I will accomplish this or that…..I have to myself, and perhaps others…enhanced the action I am about to undertake.

In the past album: "Odalheim", Unleashed plays a song called: "Rise Of The Maya Warriors", and some parts of this songs have lyrics in spanish (my mother language), so why Unleashed was interested in performed a song about the Mayas and specially sing in spanish? 
First of all we need to thank our good friend Roberto in Infinitum Obscure for the lesson in Spanish on that one. The song “rise of the Maya warriors” is a small part (or chapter) of the book “Odalheim” Johnny has been working on for many years now. The entire album Odalheim is a storyline and about the Midgard Warriors adventures and ordeals in a future world. (that we call Odalheim). Now, at a certain time and place in this story, they travel across the open sea to join with the Hammer Battalions in Vinland (nowdays NorthAmerica) and the quest continues to their friends and allies in Central America…the warriors there already had an uprising against White Christ…so our efforts easily combined and our armies banded together against the oppression.

Viking Metal in this days is very popular many bands appeared, but what is your oppinion about the grow up of viking metal in this last years? 
Well it has indeed grown i guess. To me i think it nowadays holds its own as a genre within metal. Of course some is better some is worse, but its interesting now that in this genre, differents styles are under one roof so to speak. Either way, we do it our way. But since we were very early to do so, and one of the first to actaully do it it's of course honoring to be inspirational to others perhaps.

Is the band thinking in tour to promote the new album? and since 1995 the line up of the band is stable so what is the secret have Unleashed to keep a solid line up? 
Yeah we will see after the album comes out. First i guess is to focus on summer festivals and such. But hopefullly we will find some touring options after the summer. As for the line up, i thinkj it's mostly since we all have a mutual goal which we strive towards. There are not much dissagreaments about what we want to accomplish. As well as we get along quite well...mostly (laughs)...

To end with this interview do you have a mesasage to Unleashed fans and Arsenal Del Metalero readers?
Thanks for the interview! Hope to see everyone on tour sometime, check out "damw of the Nine" and join the Battalion! Hail Oden!

To know more about Unleashed:
https://www.facebook.com/unleashed