Vomitory's Tobias Discusses Return And All New Album

Swedish death metal band VOMITORY formed way back when in 1989, releasing an array of album's, later on breaking up come 2013. For only to yet reunite once come 2017, reforming that next year in 2018. The band would then go on to celebrate their 30th anniversary in 2019, with yet another hiatus due to the pandemic and would return to touring once more in the summer of 2022. To make an even further announcement of releasing all new material and continuing to this day in 2023, with releasing their first new album in 12 years titled "All Heads Are Gonna Roll" due this summer time for 2023! Drummer Tobias Gustafsson does the talking, whilst hopefully NOT actually vomiting during this discussion about the new album, and everything else since our last and only chat way back in 2013! 

1. Am I your newest and or latest interviewer since your last one you could think of, doing research I think you did some back in 2019 but nothing since?

I've done a few new interviews lately, but before those I think I did the last one in 2019 or so. 

2. It's been 9 years since we last spoke, so what has happened between then and now that you can tell us in a brief summary?

After we disbanded in 2013, me and Erik (Rundqvist bass/vocals) went on and started a new band called Cut Up. We have done two albums so far - "Forensic Nightmares" 2015 and "Wherever They May Rot" 2017, both released by Metal Blade Records. But now that band is put on hold for a while. Old-school Swedish deathsters God Macabre reunited in 2014 and I was asked to join on drums, since their original drummer wasn't active anymore. So I did, and we made a bunch of cool shows over a few years, not least at Maryland Deathfest in 2014. In 2017 I also joined Nifelheim. First only temporary, but I later grew into a permanent member. We recorded a new album in 2019, which unfortunately still hasn't seen the light of day. I quit Nifelheim in December 2022. In 2018 Vomitory reunited to prepare for playing live shows during 2019 to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the band. 

3. You of course reunited for a one-off show in 2017, reforming officially in 2018, why the change of mind after the BIG previous announcement made way back in 2013?

Because when we did that one-off show, it all felt great again. Some years had passed since the band split up, and I think all of us needed that time away from the band and each other. After that show we all were like "we want to do this more!". So Erik got the idea that we should get together again and play live in 2019 to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the band. Or rather to have that as an excuse to get out and play again haha. But it was a great idea, because we did a lot of shows during that year in countries and cities that we never played in before. 2019 was a very successful year for us, making us want more.

4. Out of the eight albums in your discography a few have hit certain milestones, 15, 20, one close to 30 etc. Any plans on performing said releases in full at a show?

We have mentioned it occasionally, but at the moment there are no such plans. But it's a cool thing to do not only for the fans but for ourselves too, so maybe we will do it in the future.

5. You had said 2011's "Opus Morits VIII" was the swansong for Vomitory but it turns out an all new album is expected this summer, spill the details?

Yeah, sometimes it's good to be terribly wrong about some things! Our new album is entitled "All Heads Are Gonna Roll" and will be released on May 26th through Metal Blade Records. It contains 10 songs of skull crushing death metal the Vomitory way. It was recorded in October last year in our rehearsal place on a mobile studio and at Leon Music Studios, Karlstad/Sweden, engineered by Mats Lindström and Rikard Löfgren. Mixed and mastered by Lawrence Mackrory at Rorysound Studios, Uppsala/Sweden. Produced by Vomitory. Album artwork is made by Giannis Nakos at Remedy Art Design. 

6. Does this new album have a concept to it, if so how did the idea come about for it?

No, it doesn't have a lyrical concept.

7. When did you start writing for this album? How was the songwriting process different/similar to previous Vomitory albums?

We began writing for the new album in August 2021. The process this time was different in the way that we were actually finished with all the songs before we started the recording. Lyrics and everything. That has not happened since we did our debut album "Raped in their own Blood" in 1996. Also, me and Erik worked more closely together than we usually do during the writing process. This proved to be a very good way of working, since we are very satisfied with the outcome of it. The process was similar to previous albums in the way that we never jam out a song together, but write by ourselves and present it to the rest of the band when the music for the song is completely finished, arranged and all.

8. Did the band have any definitive goals they were shooting for before the recording process began for this album?

Yes, we wanted to focus on writing stronger choruses in the songs, and I think we pulled it off great. Erik Rundqvist (vocals & bass) did a fantastic job with the vocal arrangements, phrasings and overall vocal performance on the album.

9. What can fans expect from the new Vomitory album?

They can expect good ol' Vomitory but with a new explosive energy. 

10. Why do you think people should check out your new album once released? 

Because it's our first album in 12 years and it's indeed a crushing album.

11. Do you feel any pressure to follow this album up to previous releases?

To be honest, no. We have been doing this for so long so we have the confidence and self-criticism needed to create a killer album. 

12. Tobias had mentioned being in a few side projects, are the other members involved in any?

I think for the first time in the band's history, no member of the band is currently involved in any side projects. Well, Erik and I still have Cut Up, but that band is not active at the moment. During all the years I was always involved in a side project or two, parallel to Vomitory, but not anymore which feels great. Erik was in a project called Kadaverkult some years ago, but I guess that's all. 

13. Would you consider bringing side projects and Vomitory together for a show or tour? Or would that be too much to ask?

Earlier, that would probably have been possible. I did double duty one or two times back in the day with Vomitory and Torture Division. But I think none of us would be up for a tour together with a side project these days. And luckily we don't have any side projects now haha.

14. Did the band end up re-releasing the whole Vomitory catalogue after all?

Yes, our label Metal Blade Records re-released the whole Vomitory catalogue on vinyl recently. That was a great thing for us and the fans, since not all albums were available on vinyl earlier. 

15. Has the band released or thought of releasing a live album or DVD if not a combo of both?

We released a self-produced live-DVD in 2011, filmed at our 20th anniversary show in Karlstad, Sweden in 2009. But we have never thought of releasing a live album, and I don't think we ever will either. Maybe to include live bonus tracks on special album versions or such, but never a whole live album. We're not big fans of those.

16. Is the band on all of the "newer" social media besides your official website which I think need's updating by the way! But where can people find you Facebook, Instagram, TikTok or none of that stuff?

We're on Facebook and Instagram at facebook.com/vomitoryband and instagram.com/vomitoryband. Our website www.vomitory.net is being completely re-done at the moment and will be online when this interview is published.

17. Does the band have plans on coming over to the U.S. for a tour or couple of shows?

We have only one U.S. show booked at the moment, and that's at Maryland Deathfest 2024 in Baltimore, MD. But we will try to get more shows booked in the U.S. We'd love to do a tour there, because we've never done that before. That's on our bucket list.

18. What are your plans for the rest of 2023?

To play a bunch of summer festivals in Europe and to enjoy the fact that we actually have a new album out. In the fall there will be some touring in Europe, a killer tour which is yet to be officially announced, and also a festival show at Mexico Metal Fest in Monterrey.