1. To kick things off: Tell our audience a bit about the origin story of your Band.
Benjamin and I (Oskar) went to the same music high school. During breaks, we would often head to the rehearsal rooms and play Rainbow, Metallica, and Megadeth songs just for fun. One day, our former singer, Linus, walked into the room, and we started jamming together. Almost immediately, we felt that there was a chemistry between us, so we decided to apply for an open stage at the school. That was where the embryo of Bloodstain was created. After the open stage, we took a fairly long break from playing during the spring. However, all of us kept thinking about getting back together, so after the summer, we decided to start playing again. I already had my sights set on a local music competition. I had seen who won the year before and thought to myself, There’s no way we’re not winning this. So we entered the competition, made it all the way to the finals, and ended up coming second… which bothered me a lot at the time. Looking back, though, it seems like things turned out pretty well for us after all.
2. Tell us about your new project?
We’re now counting down to the release of our debut full length album on September 25th. We’ve been working on this record for quite some time, so we’re incredibly excited to finally release it and let everyone hear what we’ve been working on. This album also represents a broader side of our musical direction. While our first EP, I Am Death, leaned more heavily into thrash, this record expands that sound into something wider, into Metal as a whole. It’s heavier, more diverse, and gives us more room to explore different sides of our sound.
3. If you had to describe the sound of your Band to someone who hasn’t heard you yet: What would you say?
I would say Bloodstain is a metal band that blends heaviness, groove, and strong hooks and choruses. Since metal is at the core of what we do, our music will always have a certain heaviness to it. At the same time, everyone in the band comes from a different musical background, which brings inspiration from places you might not expect. I think that’s where the groove, hooks, and melodies come from.
4. How has the songwriting evolved with the band over the years? What does that process look like for you lately?
The process has pretty much looked the same throughout. A song often starts with a riff, usually on guitar, but sometimes on bass as well, and then we just start building from there. We sit together and try out different things until we feel like we have something that works. Once most of the instrumental parts are in place, Benjamin takes the “shell” home and adds melodies and lyrics to it. Every song is different when it comes to how long it takes to finish. Some songs just click right away, while others take a lot of trial and error before everything falls into place. But in the end, it almost always turns out good.
5. Outside of metal, what books, Video Games, movies, or life events leave a mark on your music?
I know Benjamin draws inspiration from all of the things mentioned above when writing lyrics. In fact, many of the lyrics on the upcoming record are inspired by books and different movies. I think that’s where those kinds of influences leave their mark on our music. I don’t think that stuff really affects the instrumental side of things, though.
6. What are some of the recurring themes or messages you find yourself exploring in your lyrics?
I wouldn’t say we have any recurring themes, but as I mentioned earlier, many of the lyrics are inspired by fictional stories and sometimes real life events. At the same time, the lyrics are always written to fit the mood and feel of the song.
7. What is one song you’ve written that you feel captures the absolute core identity of the band?
We all feel that our second single this year, Something Sinister, really captures what Bloodstain is all about. It has all the elements that define our sound. As I mentioned earlier: it’s heavy, groovy, and packed with strong hooks and choruses. It’s all in there.
8. Do you find your energy translates better in an intimate club style venue or a massive festival setting?
Playing at small venues and on big festival stages are two completely different things, I would say. You have to adjust to the stage you’re playing on, but with that said, we always try to give the audience a great show, no matter where we are. Putting on a show that leaves a mark on people is just as important to us as writing good songs. We practice our live performance a lot as well because we never want to come across as boring on stage.
9. Which Artists or Band inspired you to be in a Band?
We were all raised on music from a young age, and I think we all have bands or artists who inspired us to start playing in a band. You listen to the music, watch live videos, and imagine yourself up there on those big stages.
10. If you could sit down and collaborate with any Artist or Band right now, who would be at the top of your list and Why?
I think it’s a hard question since we are a band. Of course, it would be awesome to collaborate with a big artist, but I think that would be more fun to do at a live show or something rather than actually having them on one of our songs.
11. What’s the current Pulse of the Metal Scene from your perspective?
I think the metal scene is really thriving right now! There are so many new bands starting out and getting their music out there, and it’s exciting to see a new generation coming up as many of the older bands that inspired us are getting older and eventually stepping away. Someone has to keep the scene alive, and clearly, there are still plenty of people who want it.
12. Are there any endorsements or gear brands you’re currently working with that you’d like to shout out?
Tobias, our other guitarist, and I are Ibanez artists. Jonathan, our bass player, is an EBS artist, and we’re also endorsed by Jim Dunlop and ENKI. I also have an endorsement deal with Marshall Amplification. It’s really exciting to see that the industry is taking an interest in what we do!
13. What does your tour calendar look like? Any big shows or festivals we should be made aware of?
We have a couple of shows left this summer and fall. We’re playing a festival just north of Stockholm called Månegarm Open Air, as well as Heavy Night in Norway and Åland. It’ll be especially fun to play in Norway and Åland since we’ve never played there before. The show we’re most excited about, though, is our album release show on September 25th in Stockholm. We’ve partnered with Sweden’s biggest rock radio station, Bandit Rock, for the very first edition of something called Bandit Metal Night.
14. What is your very first Metal album you ever bought ?
Most of my records are from my father’s collection, so I honestly can’t remember which album was the first one I bought with my own money.
15. What was the very first metal concert you ever went to?
The first metal show I went to was Metallica when I was 13. That was also when I really started getting into metal. I was, and still am, a blues rock fan, and my first rock show was ZZ Top at an amusement park called Gröna Lund in Stockholm when I was eight years old. I had to stand on a trash can just to see anything! I actually thought about that show when Frank Beard died a couple of days ago, and it made me realize just how much those three hombres have inspired me ever since. Things like that really mean a lot!
16. What is your LinkTree or Online Link ?
