Ok Jake, let's get the boring stuff out of the way first :) Can you make a brief history of the band's beginning? What bands were you in before you formed Nostradameus?

It all started at Wacken Open Air ī98. It was me and Freddy who sat there and enjoyed ourselves in this great atmosphere. We thought that we were going to put a band together just to play for fun in two local rock-competitions. We were going to play one own song ("Master Of The Night") and two Gamma Ray songs. On the second competition there was this guy who sat in the jury who loved us. He asked if we had a demo-tape, if not, we could record one for cheap money in his studio. This guy was Magnus Lundbäck, who has recorded both our records so far. Itīs because of him that we're alive :) Freddy has played in a swedish punk act which is called Sten & Stalin. I played together with Gustav Nahlin and Erik Söderman in a death metal band called VAPID. Me and Freddy met in a metalband called WIZ. After the first record Erik had to do military service, so we had to get another guitarist. And also Gustav didnīt like the music so much (heīs more into jazz) so he also parted ways with the band. We found the drummer Jessie Lindskog and the guitarist Michael Åberg. Through Jessie we found Thomas Antonsson, the bass player. Freddy felt that he should concentrate more on the vocals. After "The Prophet Of Evil" album the drummer Jessie left due to personal reasons. Then we found Esko Salow. Thomas and Esko plays together in a band called PHATOS. So this leaves us with the present line-up: Freddy Persson - Vocals, Jake Fredén - Guitar, Michael Åberg - Guitar, Thomas Antonsson - Bass & Esko Salow - Drums.

How can you describe "The Prophet Of Evil"? How has the music progressed since the first CD "Words Of Nostradameus", really appreciated by metal fans?

I think that it has got a more mature sound and songwriting. Itīs also a little bit heavier than "Words Of Nostradameus". Also the choirs are better this time. We put quite much effort on the guitar playing as well. Also one cool thing was that Freddy's vocals are a little bit rawer this time, not so very much but still.

Tell us a little something about the recordings. How did everything go? Any complications on the way? How was it the work with "sound wizard" Mikko Karmila?

It went quite well this time. Everyone who has recorded something knows that some technichal problems along the way is to count on but it went well. To work with Mikko Karmila is like a dream. Heīs so fucking proffessional. We are very satisfied with him and hopefully we will go there next time also.

You have done a cover version of "Scream Of Anger" from Europe as bonus track for the new album. Why did you choose this song and what do you think of it compared to the original? And, by the way, how important do you think it's for a young fan of metal to explore the older bands, and why?

Well, it's mainly because of Freddy's interest in Europe. He has always wanted to hear this one with better sound, better arrangements and a faster tempo. So we did it! I think that we've succeded with these goals for it. I don't know how important it is for younger fans to dig into the old stuff. But I know that I myself like the old things very much, they are the fucking foundation. Without it, the bands of today wouldn't be where they are. The old stuff is so original compared to the newer... My absolute favorite band is Judas Priest.

Please, can you tell me a few comments about each track off "The Prophet Of Evil"? What's the basic idea behind the concept?

Ohhh, okey here it goes... The whole idea of the album is that it's a concept album. Not in the sense like our first record, where every song dealt with quite the same theme, but if you read all the lyrics in row you get a whole story, just like King Diamond. If you want to know what it is about youīll have to buy the album :) I could probably fill so much space with the song comments so you would fell asleep quite soon :) But Iīll take it easy :) "Hymn To These Lands" The first song on the record, a little kind of "glory" song. One of my personal favourites. One of the fastest on the record. "Evil Prophecies" The song thatīs dealing about the evil "prophet" Hister and his EVIL PROPHECIES :) "Murder A great track for live performance. Probably the most evil and slow piece that we have made. A real Killer :) "Requiem" A real soulful ballad with real grand piano. I remember me, Michael and Freddy recording the vocals in the middle of the night just to get the right feeling. "In Prison" The one where the young prince is thrown to jail unrightfully for the murder of his father the king. A little more experimental side of Nostradameus. "The Escape" A cool song in good tempo. One of my solos were actually played with a 9V battery :) Also one of the cooler ones in my opinion. "The Powerīs In Your Hand" Probably the most representative song on the album. Great heavy metal song with a lot of trademarks of Nostradameus but also a lot of plain heavy metal. One of the coolest solos Iīve written too. "Gathering Resistance" A real cool "fighter" song. Good melodies. Itīs time to kick the evil Prophetīs butt :) "The Final Battle" Our greatest song ever!! It contains so much emotions and such variety. Iīve always dreamed of doing a long epic song. Thanx to Jessieīs songwriting, me and Freddy put together the greatest song we ever written. It has got nice melodies, epic parts, fast parts, mighty parts. Listen to it and youīll understand!!!!!

I can realize that Nostradameus cares about its lyrics. Many bands leave them in background. Can you tell now something about your lyrical approach?

We try to write quite simple texts without using too difficult words and so on. Whatīs the point of lyrics if noone but englishmen understands them? I think that we managed to write the new recordīs lyrics good to the concept.

The next thing is about the artwork. Can you tell a bit about the cover and how it relates to the music?

Itīs quite symbolic. If you read the lyrics to the album you might think that it takes place in the past but it could be just the same right now, or in the future. We were very satisfied with Pascalīs work. He added one great dimension to the concept. We also wanted colours that were not used quite so much so that it would take attention.

The line-up was changed since the first album and your drummer Jesse has recently left the band... how did you reach the present line-up? Was it difficult to find the right musicians?

See question one. We had quite flow in finding the right musicians. We are very satisfied with the new line-up. It feels great and we all trust each others to the max. We also have very fun together outside the playing. Hopefully we donīt have to do anymore changes in a long time. Freddy and mostly I are quite fed up with rehearsing the old songs over and over just to get the others into the material. But now we are finished with that. It will be really fun to rehearse new material with this line-up.

Musically, which bands do you consider to be your main influences?

We would lie if we donīt name old Helloween and Gamma Ray. But also other groups like: Stratovarius, Judas Priest, Hypocrisy. The new members are influenced by Mekong Delta, Fates Warning, Deep Purple and Yngwie Malmsteen and so on... We are now developing a little bit from all these bands to get somewhat own style. Itīs becoming more and more aggressive/heavy/melodic metal.

And what influences you as a guitarist? What guitarists do you like and do you take influences from?

Great guitarists and influences are: Yngwie Malmsteen, Marty Friedman, Joe Satriani, Glenn Tipton, K. K. Downing, Andy La Roque...

How did you hook up with AFM Records? Are they doing their best for the band with sales, promotion and stuff like that? And what do you think of the other bands on the label?

We sent the demo tape recorded by Magnus Lundbäck to five German labels and AFM was the only one that answered us with a contract. So we took it. In general we are satisfied with AFM. It is a label on the rise. Hopefully we will take advantage of this. I havenīt heard a lot of the new signed acts but I like Steel Attack, Paradox, Edguy and Avantasia.

The Swedish metal scene seems to have exploded with great bands over the last few years. Do you feel belonging to this Swedish Power Metal boom? Do you think HammerFall opened the stream?

I think that we are not feeling ourselves part of it. I donīt know why. Itīs hard to compare your own music with someone else. But of course we came at the same point in time. Of course HammerFall opened the "boom" because they had the right flow and were very lucky to get a label that understood that it was "time" for heavy metal again.

Some Swedish musicians say that it's hard to set up gigs in Sweden. What's your opinion about concert organisation in Sweden?

It fucking sucks, big time. Itīs so bad that you canīt imagine. When Edguy played in Gothenburg (our hometown) the last time there were like 100-200 people there. They should have a lot more of people in a town with 400,000 - 500,000 inhabitants!!!!!!! Hopefully this trend is changing because, the last year it has been quite a lot of concerts and they have been well visited by the fans. It seems to be changing a little bit :)

Recently you played at the Wacken Open Air festival in Germany. How was this experience, have you been well-received?

I think that I can speak for all the members when I say that it was the best experience in our lives to play there live. There were quite a lot of people even if it was 10.00 in the morning. We played at the party stage and there could have been 1000-3000 people there. Itīs very hard to say from stage. I think we made a good gig and the people seemed to enjoy it too.

How would you describe a live Nostradameus perfomance? Which songs are you playing live now?

We donīt have any special stageshow yet. We are planning some minor things but we are going to let the energy and the material speak for itself. I can tell you that we are having loads of fun when we are playing in front of audience and I think that it shows. We played these songs at Wacken: The Vision, The Crownīs Inn, Murder (from "The Prophet Of Evil"), Master Of The Night, Black Fate, The Powerīs In Your Hand (also from "The Prophet...") & One For All, All For One.

Last question, what will be the next Nostradameus activities? Will a tour follow?

We are dealing for some tours but nothing is decided yet. We are also writing new material for an upcoming release.

Thanx for your time, Jake. I wish you the best of luck. If you want to add something...

Thanx for the interview Marina. I think that you have covered the most. I canīt come up with anything right now. Ohh, now I know, both Michael and Thomas has bought new cars, ha ha :) No, I donīt know. All metal fans, take care and buy our new album "The Prophet Of Evil". And also donīt forget to visit our official website at http://www.nostradameus.com. With regards, Jake Fredén.

---