(1) André: Hi David, how are you? Did you have a positive start to the new year? Do you have “good resolutions“ for 2024?
David: Hi! I am doing fine here in north Sweden, even though we’ve been having about -35 degrees Celsius for about a week now. But things are starting to warm up again, and I never complain about the cold. I’ve been enjoying some time off from work, spending time with the family and in the studio, as well as playing a couple of shows with Feral. My resolution for this year is the same as last year: create every day, even if it is just small adjustments to a song for 20 minutes in the morning, or recording or writing for hours. You just got to do something every day. You might not strike gold every time, far from it, but you will see results.
(2) André: Your debut album Among Ancient Pillars was released at the end of March 2023? How was the feedback?
David: That’s right! The reception was quite mixed, but overall good. I’m happy to say I seem to have created something that stirs up feelings in people. From what I gather people have either very much enjoyed it or not gotten it at all. And I would pick that every day, rather than make something that people just shrug their shoulders at. In the end, I do it for myself and for my own enjoyment, you just got to learn to take the positives – and realize that most people who criticise and complain are people who have never released an album themselves in their lives.
(3) André: How are things in Mace’n‘Chain at the moment? Are you working hard on new songs?
David: Oh, things are way more active than I had ever expected it to be so soon after the release of the album! Quite soon after Among Ancient Pillars was out I got in touch with Joey Mancaruso (Gravesword), who was interested in playing drums on future recordings. I was somewhat sceptical at first, as I didn’t really know how to make it work since he lives in the States and I live in Sweden, also my need of control is quite immense, to say the least. But Joey proved to be a really great guy and we got along very well, so I decided that it would be worth giving a shot. That was actually the most important aspect of it for me, that we would enjoy working with each other, and so far it has been great! I consider Joey a good friend of mine, and can’t wait to show what he will bring to the table. I already had one or two tracks written when we started talking, but us getting together really fueled the fire for me and got me recording them immediately. The writing and recording has continued since then and most of the recording for the second album has already been done. Just one or two more songs to go before Joey can finish up the drums.
(4) André: Will you continue the style of Among Ancient Pillars? Or can we expect some surprises?
David: It will continue somewhat from where Among Ancient Pillars left off, but overall a broader spectrum will be displayed. The new tracks have more variation to them, both in tempo and key. I started playing around with some different scales, that turned into some interesting stuff and the tempo varies from stuff more akin to epic doom metal to thrashier rhythms. It all fits under the umbrella of Mace’n’Chain, and I am psyched already to show this material off!
(5) André: What was your personal musical highlight in 2023?
David: This was such a great year! I am bound to miss to mention some stuff. But two albums that I think are both very unique and deserving of the praise they have received are Triumpher‘s Storming the Walls and By Fire and Sword‘s Glory. Both have their own twists on traditional genres, and do it so incredibly well. Oh, and the Savage Oath demo tape needs to be mentioned as well! No surprise with the guys involved, I’m sure they’ll nail it with what they’re going to do next. Legendry, Smoulder and Gatekeeper put out great albums as well.
Mace’n’Chain on Bandcamp: Click here.