HAMMERFALL Frontman Discusses Songwriting Process For 'Threshold'

Norway's Metal Express Radio recently conducted an interview with HAMMERFALL frontman Joacim Cans. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow:

Metal Express Radio: The new album followed "Chapter V" really quickly. Not even a year passed since its release...

Joacim Cans: There was such a big break between "Crimson Thunder" and "Chapter V". It was almost three years. We felt that we had so many great ideas after we released "Chapter V". We wanted to go on tour and then start writing as soon as possible. We felt we had really strong songs for the new album, and we felt like we're also not following the original recipe when it comes to releasing an album in every second year. This was more like going back to when we released "Glory to the Brave" and "Legacy of Kings" followed it a year after.

Metal Express Radio: Do you consider yourself quick writers?

Joacim Cans: Not really. I mean we don't write anything on tour. I guess Oscar comes up with some ideas while we're on tour, but that's not recorded. Usually it takes about six months for us to write an album and, of course, you always get really stressed out the closer you get to the start of the recording, and I think it was the same way this time around. I got the last song from Oscar to do vocals on a week before it was time to enter the studio, so you get kind of stressed out. But, somehow I think we all work much better under pressure. If you have too much time, you always postpone things ... "Okay, I'll do this tomorrow. Today I'll go to see a movie" and all those types of diversions. But when you sit there and you have limited time, it's so much easier to focus and do what you're supposed to do.

Metal Express Radio: Speaking of reviews, how do you deal with criticism about the band?

Joacim Cans: In case of constructive criticism, if people criticize things that could be better, it's fine with me. But, if it's only based on personal judgement, maybe they don't like the genre at all or are just saying "you should go this and that direction" ... How can you tell someone else what to do? This is our music, our way to express ourselves. So, if I read a really bad review, I see if it really makes any sense or if it's just bullshit. If it makes sense, you might think about it, but on the other hand, we play the music we wanna play and we are really proud of what we're doing.

Metal Express Radio: Could you recall the best and the worst review you ever received?

Joacim Cans: The most memorable was from the first album. It was one of the biggest morning papers and they gave us 4 out of 5. They said something about our influences from GAMMA RAY and HELLOWEEN, and then they said, "It's just a matter of time until both HELLOWEEN and GAMMA RAY will support HAMMERFALL." I was so proud of this, because it was our first album and we didn't even know what is going on in the real world. But, the worst one is probably the funniest one and I think it was Kerrang! from the U.K. It was just a one sentence review of "Legacy of Kings" saying, "This sucks badly." It's very memorable and it's also very funny.

Read the entire interview at www.metalexpressradio.com.