Count Raven Interview

10 long years after they last brought their own brand of Doom to the world, the mighty Count Raven are back. Metal Chaos spoke with front- man Dan Fondelius.


I suppose the question on everyone’s lips is - how does it feel to be back?
It feel's very good actually. We never thought that so many people were interested after all this time to see us back again. We have been away for 10 years, and the thing has grown during that time. This happens to many bands, if you look back.
So how did the reunion come about?
There's a funny story around that. Wilbur (the bass-player) has his own band called Semlah. He was out to promote for this band when he came across this Australian guy who had a record company. Wilbur asked him if he liked the Semlah-stuff, but he said no! I like Count Raven. Get that act together and we have a deal. Poor little Wilbur was ashamed and angry. Life is unfair Wilbur cried. What have I done to deserve this. Later that night as Wilbur tossed and turned in his bed, the good fairy came to him and said. Don't feel this way. Stand up and face a bright new day, full of new adventures....And so he called us up and everyone lived happily ever after haha. This is a true story.
What are the immediate plans for Count Raven in 2005?
Things are happening fast right now. It seems that we are going on some European festivals this spring and summer. Wacken open air is one of them. Right now we are working with cyclone empire on re-releasing all the old albums world wide, with bonus materials, live stuff etc. Also ICS are interested to help us out for tours with bigger bands. We are also working on a new album.
Word has it that Count Raven have signed with Cyclone Empire? How did the deal with Cyclone come about?
`Well Martin from Cyclone heard of Mark (the Australian guy) of our reunion ideas, and dropped us a mail that he was interested in working with us. And now it has happened.`
With Cyclone Empire securing the rights to the Count Raven back catalogue, it must be exciting prospect, to bring the band to a whole new audience?
Oh yes it is. We are really looking forward to everything that comes out of this.
With a new record deal under you belts, writing for the new album must be well under way. How is the writing process going?
It is going fine, thank you. We are in half-time so to speak, right now and all are into it. The songs seems to fall in natural in the "raven category". We had the idea that it were going to be released this year, but because of all the interest around us it seems a little bit unlikely. But I don't know really. We have to wait and see.
Is the song writing process a collaborative or individual process for Count Raven?
Both ways I think. Some stuff are done together in the rehearsal room, but the most stuff I work out back home, simply because I don't have to go to a day job every day like the others.
As Count Raven are now one of the senior statesmen of the “Doom metal” scene do you feel, any pressure when it comes to writing the new album?
Not when it comes to the music I think. The lyrics though, had worried me earlier. But seemed like an unnecessary fear, cos I think I got back into it, once I really sat down with it.
Any ideas of album / song title’s, or where you’ll record the new album?
No idea of a title yet. It is usually Renfield that comes up with those ideas. He is good with that. When he comes up with something, he always has this very long story around it, to motivate it. It is fun to hear him lay it all out. I guess that we will record it here in Stockholm.
After the cancellation of the Mirror of Deception tour, are there any plans for Count Raven to hit the road in Europe in support of the new album?
`That is in the future right now, but yes off course we will play in Europe. And everywhere else as well we hope. We will have help from ICS, to organize gigs and tours. This was the sad thing back in the old days. It wasn't much of that then, so we really want to change that.`
	Having been away for the past couple of years, is there a feeling that you guys have to make up for lost time?
	Yes indeed. We were so screwed (pardon the expression) up back then by that record company in every possible way really. We felt that our efforts was for nothing. So releasing our old albums again is unbelievable. Finally both our fans and us get some justice.
	Given it’s over 14 years since the release of “Storms Warning”, how has the ideology of the band changed in that time?
	Well, since that time the world has gone from bad to worse, so...I guess that we are 3 very angry guys that want to change things.
	Has the reunion spelt the end for Doomsday Government, or is this still an active project?
	No they still exists. Semlah and Doomsday are planning on a package thing in the future.
The “Doom” genre has gone through various periods of popularity over recent years, what is your take on the scene as a whole at present and the current crop of “Doom” merchants?
Well I think each period have had their "thing" and their own expression. I think the whole genre is very exiting for many reasons, one of them is the mixture of styles. I think it is finally here to stay.
Is there a final message to the fans?
Count raven would like to thank Julian [Metal Chaos] for the questions and YOU for taking the time reading this. In doing so, we are communicating with each other. What else is there to do? Doom, Gloom and Understanding. The Painkiller is near.

All photographs and images used with kind permission of Count Raven.