Pic courtesy of: Guillotine "The title and cover refers to a lot of things- our whole economic system, how the rich get richer and greedier, how we go to war under false pretence, how corrupt the system is and politics in general are, how the West exploits underdeveloped countries, and so many other aspects."

HK: Hello Nils, I hope you’re doing well. Let’s get this interview started with the mother of all questions related to Guillotine: What happened to the different members (Well, you had Nocturnal Rites keeping you busy) in the decade between ‘Under the Guillotine’ and this year’s ‘Blood Money’?
Nils "Snake" Eriksson: Well, not much happened – we got older, a bit heavier around the waists, did several albums with Nocturnal Rites, toured pretty much everywhere and had some good old fun.

HK: Apparently, a good amount of work went into this new album, which began early this year. Can you elaborate on the ‘gearing up’ toward ‘Blood Money’? Where did the motivation and inspiration to continue the legacy of Guillotine come from?
Nils "Snake" Eriksson: Well, we never really decided to quit. We always had the intention of making a second album at some point, but we simply never got around to it. Back in early 2000, right around the making of Nocturnal Rites’ “Afterlife,” we actually wrote a bunch of Guillotine songs, started making plans for a new album and…our studio computer broke down and everything was completely lost, so we dropped the thread a bit there. Had we kept that hard drive intact, I am pretty sure there would have been an album earlier, but things happen. However, one of the turning points was right around when we started working on some loose ideas for new Guillotine songs. I actually found a shoebox full of old cassette tapes containing just these ideas and songs that we thought were forever lost. I even found the lyrics! This was a great start. One of the songs from that year 2000 era is in fact “Dying World.” We had even planned on naming the album just that, but then the hard drive crashed, so did our motivation. Good thing we found the tapes, because this song made it on the album and is, in my opinion, one of the stronger ones on it!

HK: How did Guillotine end up locked in the cold embrace of Pulverised Records?
Nils "Snake" Eriksson: We did a two song rerecording that we shopped around to various labels that we thought would be interested. A lot of them were but Pulverised seemed most dedicated and excited, so we went for them. It has been great so far. They are very understanding and patient. We couldn’t ask for better guys to work with, really.

HK: The studio time seems to have paid off. Based on the songs I’ve heard so far, it’s good ole’ Thrash Metal from the school of Kreator and Slayer. You don’t mind the comparisons do you?
Nils "Snake" Eriksson: No, not at all. I do think, however, that this time around the comparisons are just comparisons and hints of influences. Back when we did the first album, we really tried hard to make it sound exactly like the 80’s albums, in production, look, songs, lyrics and everything. It was sort of homage to the greats that we grew up with. This time we dare to think a bit out of the box and I do honestly think the new album sounds very contemporary, both in production and song writing.

HK: You aren’t really concerned that variations of the word ‘Die’ are all over the songs, are you?
Nils "Snake" Eriksson: No, not when they are used with taste and when the word has bearing in the lyrics. I don’t think there is a single ‘die’ that doesn’t have a meaning or substance. We don’t belt out ‘die’ just for the sake of it. We might have done that back in 1996, but now we are older and wiser, hahaha…

HK: What was going on inside your head (or the band’s) during the song writing for this new album?
Nils "Snake" Eriksson: We just had a good time. We had nothing at all to prove and I believe we just did songs that we felt were good and full of energy. We spent many late nights in the studio hammering these songs out. Fredrik (guitarist, vocalist) is a riff engine, so thank God for that. As far as lyrics, I guess they just go hand in hand with the songs and the modern world we live and breathe in, so naturally they are pretty pissed off at times.

HK: Are you really pissed at all the global figures who grace the album’s cover or does it merely lend a topical theme to the record?
Nils "Snake" Eriksson: Not personally, no, but I can’t say that I like what has been going on the last few years on the political arena. No sane person could say they think we live in a sane world. The title and cover refers to a lot of things- our whole economic system, how the rich get richer and greedier, how we go to war under false pretence, how corrupt the system is and politics in general are, how the West exploits underdeveloped countries, and so many other aspects.

	Pic courtesy of: Guillotine "Back when we did the first album, we really tried hard to make it sound exactly like the 80’s albums, in production, look, songs, lyrics and everything. It was sort of homage to the greats that we grew up with."

HK: And it was Ed Repka who painted it. How did you get in touch with him? Given his involvement with so many seminal albums, is he a fan of the fans he has worked with?
Nils "Snake" Eriksson: I have no personal relationship to him whatsoever, so I couldn’t say. We simply dropped him a line on his website and he got back to us. He then got in touch with our label and a few months later we had the finished result in our hands (or on the screen, rather). It was great, sort of like a small dream come true. He has made some classic covers and added to that impressive list is now a Guillotine album. Somewhere at the bottom perhaps, but still a really cool thing for the album.

HK: You have been playing a number of select shows in your hometown with the new material. How encouraging was the reaction from your limited audience then?
Nils "Snake" Eriksson: Actually, the world premiere is this very weekend, so at this stage we have no idea.

HK: By the way, what part of Sweden do you call home? Which places in your hometown draws in all the bands and musicians?
Nils "Snake" Eriksson: We are from up north, a place called Umeå. It’s a mid sized university city with about 100,000 plus people living here. It’s quite a young city and there are always shows and stuff going on. Not too many bigger acts make it up here, though. Cool place to grow up anyway. Back when Nocturnal Rites started out, the metal scene was huge. Pretty much every kid had a band and went to and arranged shows. It was really inspiring.

HK: Will there be extensive touring and festival appearances in support of ‘Blood Money’? Have any offers been made already? What has Guillotine have on the table at the moment?
Nils "Snake" Eriksson: There will for sure be shows and tours. Not too much decided yet, but we have some stuff in the pipe that we hope we can make official soon. We will for sure tour as much as we can on this album and not let it go to waste like the last one did. We have every intention of making more records and doing tours and shows. We will not let an album like “Blood Money” go to waste. I think it’s a shame we didn’t build more on the first record, so we have to make up for it now.

HK: Is there any rivalry between the members of Guillotine about who has the biggest record collection? What is your record collection like? Is it alphabetically arranged? Sealed in a bunker? Any interesting super-rare releases?
Nils "Snake" Eriksson: Hahaha! No, not at all. Or if there was, I would certainly not be in it. Back in the day, I used to have a quite substantial amount of albums, but you know, you bring some to parties, someone pours beer on them, sets them on fire, booklets get lost and so on. I have very few left. Fredrik has quite a lot of LP’s, but I wouldn’t call his records a ‘collection,’ even though he has quite a bunch of cool, original albums.

HK: Allow me to digress one moment, but are you in any way worried about the financial crisis that’s spreading across the globe? According to the news Iceland juts went down shit creek.

		Pic courtesy of: Guillotine "Back in early 2000, right around the making of Nocturnal Rites’ “Afterlife,” we actually wrote a bunch of Guillotine songs, started making plans for a new album and…our studio computer broke down and everything was completely lost, so we dropped the thread a bit there."

Nils "Snake" Eriksson: I am not personally worried. Sweden is quite isolated and secure, but we trade with the rest of the world, so there will naturally be effects for us too. However, this just goes to show what happens when the greedy sharks at Wall Street play God with people’s money and banks ride piggy, real estate prices shoot through the roof and it’s virtually free to borrow millions. When the shit hits the fan then, the sharks are all gone, back in the holes, counting their blood soaked bills. I think the financial system is very fragile and I hope there will be legislation to prevent getting to where we are again or even worse. I think this crisis has hit rock bottom, but we have a long way to go before we’re back to something somewhat reliable again.

HK: Having been in music for so long, do you feel that you’ve got the business side of it down pat? That you’re aware of the limitations and opportunities available to artists today? Do you wish you made more blood money out of this (pun intended)?
Nils "Snake" Eriksson: Yes, I do think we know the business. I think most bands and musicians get to know it the hard way, by making mistakes. We’ve done our share and I am happy where we are today.

HK: What is your idea of a perfect day?
Nils "Snake" Eriksson: Saturday, pancakes for breakfast, a steaming pot of coffee, something cool on morning TV. Beer at night with some friends. Pretty classic. I am very low maintenance.

HK: Alright, I guess we’ve run out of time Nils. Thank you so much for entertaining my questions. How soon will you be practicing on your bass again today? And while you’re at it, don’t be embarrassed to holla at all your fans.
Nils "Snake" Eriksson: There will be no more bass today – it’s almost 1 AM and my kid is asleep, so I should leave it at the noise level I am at right now. Tomorrow, though, there will be bass – loud, mean bass from the depths of Umeå!