Since their inception in 2012, Sweden’s Abandoned By Bears have been diligently fine tuning and honing in on the sound they have been striving for. Their blend of “easycore”, or pop-punk music mixed with metalcore/hardcore-like breakdowns and screams, has been progressively improving over the stretch of their career. Enter 2018 and the band is set to unleash their newest album “Headstorm” upon the world on August 24th via Victory Records. Filled with hooks aplenty, crushing breakdowns, and genuinely great musicianship, the album is sure to please fans, both old and new. I recently had the chance to chat with the band about the writing process, inspirations, and more. Be sure to support the guys by giving them a like on Facebook and purchasing “Headstorm” on your choice format here!
What was the writing process like for the album? Did you go into the writing process with a certain mindset? For example, did you go into it with the “I want to write the best songs ever” mindset, or did everything just come naturally to you guys?
Just to develop our craft and make something that is interesting and fun for us. I feel like as long as you enjoy making/listen to your own music, you’ve nailed it. And that is how we’ve done it all the time.
Originally, what made you all want to form a band together? What made you decide on playing easycore?
Both Fredric Andersson (vocals) and I founded the idea of the band (long before we even had a name). We both played in separate pop-punk/easycore bands in Sweden. Obviously we supported each others bands, and when those bands ended it was very natural for us to just start working together. This reminds me that before we got serious and both of us still had our previous bands, we made a couple of songs under the name “Gustav and the Breakdowns” (the name was Fredric’s idea, I’m not that self-centered, haha). I would love to find those songs and see what they sound like now almost 7-8 years later.
How difficult is it to write lyrics in English when that is not your native language?
Sometimes our accents or weird choice of words might slip through, but in general we are so use to that at this point. We’ve had English in school since third grade and all the American movies and music have been a part of our childhood for so long that it feels almost easier than Swedish. Writing music in Swedish and making it sound cool is a hard task, I tell you.
What kind of lyrics or themes are on the new album?
There’s a lot of reflecting over how you can/did handle certain situations in life. Like the music itself it’s like a release of some sort, so a lot of feelings are involved in the writing.
Who would you say your biggest influences are musically?
It changes constantly. Everything from an artist as a whole to just one song in particular. Same thing with genres, sometimes we take inspiration from things you could never think of!
What were some of your most listened to albums while writing and recording the record?
I myself listened a lot to an album by the British band Don Broco, rediscovering my love for the Texas based post-rock band named This Will Destroy You and everything in between.
Who did you work with as a producer? What kind of experience did you have with them?
On previous albums we’ve done everything ourselves. This time around we did all the producing and after that we took it to our friend Buster (Odeholm) who mixed and mastered it as well as gave his two cents about some of the drum tracking.
What kind of experience are you having with Victory Records? They seem to be wanting to promote you guys and support you, which is always a very good sign.
They’ve helped us realize one of our childhood dreams which is visiting America to tour, that alone says it all.
If you could tour with any 3 bands, past or present, who would you tour with?
Whenever I get this question I always change my mind since the last time. I’m just gonna say a couple I would love to see in general!
Rage Against The Machine
The 1975
Saosin
What’s your fondest tour memory?
All the interactions with the people coming out to the shows or from other bands we’ve played with. Some of them I would consider good friends at this point. It’s too bad we don’t get to see them that much.
Anything you’d like to tell your fans that are anxiously awaiting the release?
Thanks for being there for us, it means the world to us. We love you all!
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