The Lowdown: Johan Hegg of Amon Amarth

"To go to Japan and China would be really cool since we haven’t had the opportunity to do so yet"

September 30, 2009, 09:57 PM

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Altsounds: You've been together for 16 years now. How do you think metal has changed in that time?
Johan Hegg: Well for one it’s become more “main-stream”, but it’s hard to put the finger on any specific change. I think metal is under constant evolution, and maybe the reason it’s become more “main-stream” isn’t that the music itself has changed dramatically, but rather the attitude towards metal as an music form.

Altsounds: You guys are full time professional musicians now, is that right? How much did that help with writing and recording your new album, “Twilight Of The Thunder God”?
Johan Hegg: That is right. We’ve been full time musicians for almost four years now. I think the new album definitely helped us continue living off music, but it started already with writing our previous album “With Oden On Our Side.” That’s when we all quit our jobs to live off the band full time.

Altsounds: Of course you had your god to help you too right? Is this album your Valhalla then, that Oden has taken you to?
Johan Hegg: Hahaha. Yeah maybe.

Altsounds: I hear you guys are pretty popular with the ladies, and there are more women at your gigs than you usually find a metal concerts. Why do you think that is?
Johan Hegg: I have no idea. It’s not like we’re all that good looking. Maybe it’s because we have a lot of low end vibrations coming out of the PA when we play!

Altsounds: Well the Vikings liked to travel, and discover new lands. How do you guys find touring, and where in particular have you enjoyed visiting?
Johan Hegg: We love touring, although it’s sometimes hard to be away from families and girlfriends, but to count all the places we’ve enjoyed visiting would take way too long, there’s just so many great places to play in the world.

Altsounds: Anywhere new that you would like to conquer?
Johan Hegg: To go to Japan and China would be really cool since we haven’t had the opportunity to do so yet. With any luck we’ll also be able to go to India this fall, but that’s not settled yet.

Altsounds: Who are some of your favourite acts you have toured with? I imagine Slayer must be up there?
Johan Hegg: Slayer of course, but it’s hard to pick any specific favourites among the bands we’ve toured with since we’ve always had a really good time with who ever we went on the road with. To name a few I would say Deicide, Children Of Bodom, Mastodon, Obitiuary, Kreator, Goatwhore, Gwar, Brutal Truth, Marduk, Behemoth and Dimmu Borgir. I could go on.

Altsounds: You guys have had some pretty cool merch in the past, such a bobbleheads and your own comic. Anything special to accompany your new album?
Johan Hegg: The bobbleheads and the Comic book weren’t merch, it was bonus stuff that accompanied the box set of “Twilight Of The Thunder God” and they were never for sale separately. We’ll see what we come up with for the next album, but hopefully we can come up with something interesting.

Altsounds: Do you ever think to yourself, "thank god we changed our name from Scum"? Amon Amarth, especially with it's origin, is so much better.
Johan Hegg: Never. I don’t really see it as a name change as such anyways. It was more like we became another band as we changed members, and also found a new lyrical theme with the Viking history and mythology.

Altsounds: If you could choose one band to play at your wedding, who would it be and why?
Johan Hegg: Corvus Corax, ‘cause my fiancé and I are having a medieval style wedding, but I doubt we could afford it though.

Altsounds: How about your funeral?
Johan Hegg: Well, it wouldn’t be possible to get Bathory to play, but I would like to have the song 'Song To Hall Up High' played at my funeral.

Altsounds: Anything you would like to add or promote then please do so here.
Johan Hegg: Not that I can think of right now, but to all our fans out there; keep an eye out ‘cause you never know when the Vikings will be raiding your shores!

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