AT THE GATES Guitarist Hopes To Release DVD Of Reunion

Metalzone.gr recently conducted an interview with AT THE GATES/THE HAUNTED guitarist Anders Björler. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow:

Metalzone.gr: Let's start with the reunion shows. Will you be the headliners at Wacken Open Air? I have already booked tickets… hehe! Is there a plan for a European tour or something?

Anders: No, we won't headline, and the festival running order is not yet put together until late next year. You have to wait and see. In Europe we will mainly
play festival shows, but there might be some club shows in some countries. We haven't decided yet. More info will come soon...

Metalzone.gr: Is there any intention of releasing a DVD including those shows?

Anders: We want to release a DVD, but no plans are made yet. It would be a good ending to the reunion and also a good chance for people who can't see us next summer to at least watch something interesting on DVD.

Metalzone.gr: Many people could believe that because of the reunion, you will release a new album as well. What about it? Are there any intentions of releasing the "Slaughter Of The Soul" No. 2?

Anders: No, we will not record another album.

Metalzone.gr: As it is known, your relationships with Tomas Lindberg [vocals] were not so good. Some years ago I had a conversation with that guy and when I told him about an AT THE GATES reunion he didn't say a word. It seems to me that he became angry with my question. Now we are in front of a reunion, so as it is logical, your relationships might be very good. I will ask you straight the question that haunts the mind of every fan of the extreme sound. Are you good friends or you think that an AT THE GATES reunion could be a good opportunity to earn more money?

Anders: We are good friends today, and the reunion is just about that. Doing something final. Where we left off. Like a closing couple of shows. If I would have played music for the sake of money, I would start a pop band or write songs for BRITNEY SPEARS. This is about "death metal." We still love what we do (we have played and toured with our other bands since 1996 constantly) and that's what cares. We are poor musicians, and a couple of festivals won't change it. The real sell out would have been to do a new world tour and a new album. We don't want to, so we don't do it.

Metalzone.gr: It is a kind of "trend" nowdays to have many reunions from dissolved bands. Take a look at CARCASS, IMMORTAL, CYNIC, CELTIC FROST, CANDLEMASS, ATHEIST etc etc etc. The time for an AT THE GATES reunion is here. Don't you think that this is something usual for this era? I mean I am very happy for this reunion because I am a great fan of the band as I told you but someone else may say "OK, this is another reunion, so what?" What is your opinion?

Anders: Yes, but for most of the bands it's for the same reason. Getting back on a personal level as friends. And also a sense of nostalgia. I respect what people have to say. A reunion doesn't have to be good in itself, but I am confident that we will give people a good show. We have a lot of good songs to pull it off. I like all of the above mentioned bands and I think it's cool that reunited. If you don't approve as a fan, you will always have the old albums.

Read the entire interview at Metalzone.gr.

Watch AT THE GATES' video for the song "Blinded by Fear" (taken from the "Slaughter of the Soul" album):