Mickael Broberg

Interview with Mickael Broberg 
(Unanimated, Born For Burning,  
The 13th Passenger, Daemonium Regni)

Hail, Mickael! Your legendary band, Unanimated, released a LP last time in 2009. Please tell us the latest infos regarding Unanimated! (actual line-up, new, possible recording, concerts)

- Hail Georgius and to you who´s reading this! 

Well, there has been some ups and downs with Unanimated since the reunion 2007/2008. 

When we decided to get back together after 13 years of silence, we did it with a believe to stay. With the members from when we ended, exept for our lead guitarist Jonas Mellberg. Who´s got fired from the band back in the 90´s. So we started the reunion with Peter Stjärnvind, Johan Bohlin, Richard Cabeza and of course with myself, Micke Broberg (I changed my last name from Jansson to Broberg, Broberg was my father’s last name. He passed away at the age of 57, and to honour him I felt it natural to wear his name). In the 2008 we played our first gig since the 90´s at Stockholm, a few days later at "Party San Festival". With the same line up, exept for our old friend and live session member Erik Wallin (Merciless, Trash Amigos, Harms Way etc.) on the lead guitar. After that short but intense "tour", we went to the studio and recorded " In The Light Of Darkness" in 10 days. There has been a lot of request about gigs and tours, but we seemed to fall back to the 90´s somehow. 

The focus were once again with side projects and other bands, there just didn´t seems to be any time over for Unanimated.

But as old friends we all are, we always seems to find back to each other no matter how long the time passes. Even if years goes by, we are as it was just yesterday.

We did one more gig in 2010, a headline in a underground black metal festival in Speyer, Germany. Since Erik left the band after our gig in Party San, Set Teitan (Dissection etc.) joined us at the guitar. We were asked to play at Maryland Deathfest 2012 but then Peter decided to go seperate ways, and the time was to short to find another drummer and Set had problems to get a visa to enter USA. And we did not want to just take in more live members just for the gig. So we decided not to play that year. But we have now another drummer, Anders Schultz (Unleashed) which will stay with us as far as we know. So now, we are writing songs to our fourth album. Which will be our first priority now. But nothing is for sure, and we have not yet found a suitable label (since Regain falled into the abyss). But we do want to continue our work, we are not close to finished with Unanimated. 

The line-up for today is:

Richard Cabeza - Bass

Johan Bohlin - Guitar

Micke Broberg - Vocals

Set Teitan - Guitar

Anders Schultz - Drums

Back to the past a little bit. When you engaged with metal and which was your first band?

-"Bathory" was naturally an important side of me that opened my eyes wide at that time and still are.  I heard some German thrash metal bands in the mid 80´s, Kreator was among the first thrash bands I heard and I was hooked of course. After that the nowadays classic metal bands and death metal was just around the corner to open my eyes even further. And then of course even black metal. Still listen to old thrash bands though, that will never die. When I was 17, I started a kind of death/thrash metal band called "Twisted Flesh" and we recorded a rehearsal "one song" demo "Twisted Flesh Of Death". Never been released though, for the best I am sure, we sounded like crap. 

One year later I ended up in the same school class as Peter Stjärnvind, and together we formed "Damnation" and I was playing the bass and vocals. In that same time, I learned how to play drums and also formed the thrash metal band "Celestial Pain" back in the early 90´s with my old friend Johan Sandberg (John Blackwar, also guitarist in the bands as "Incursion" and "Unpure"). Later on, Cabeza quit Unanimated and there was not really a question who they wanted on vocals. The rest is history you all know. 

Unanimated as musically as lyrically has a very dark atmosphere. Enlighten us about the lyrical conceptualism, please!

- I think it just comes to us naturally, its nothing we work on or make an effort to do. Even more natural now since our "Light Of Darkness" release, we are darker than ever. Older than ever to, so I think we are more balanced as people, and has found our way. It is nothing rebellious as it could have seemed to be when we were much younger. Nowadays we know our place, our beliefs are clear. Even though I would not call myself a "true" satanist at all, I am more than familiar with evil and that do has a special place within me. 

On the latest The Pete Flesh Deathtrip album, „Mortui Vivos Docent”, you have been as a special guest in vocals. How many tracks did You shared with Pete? (I’ve just heard "Fallen Bliss” and I must to say it is an awesome song)

- Yeah, I think the whole album is really great. He has captured more than just a good album, it has many different styles and depths, and I can’t see how anyone can’t love this album. It grows stronger the more you listen to it. I was asked by Pete to sing just one track "Fallen Bliss", but he found my vocals very suiting and asked me to sing some more. I had very free hands to do the vocals my own way, and I also wrote the lyrics on those I sang. After "Fallen Bliss" I did "The Eternal Dawn", and "Suicide End" we sang together, which brings a special depth to it all with both of our different styles in vocals.

"Ravens Reborn", did not wrote the lyrics on that one. "Bleed", a different song on the album. A heavy piece with a vocals I did in the moment of recording, felt natural to do it that way. And I did some lines at "God Of The Crawling Whore" and the dark talking voice. Working with Pete was very simple and I enjoyed working with him and Peter Bjärgö in the studio, he let me do what I do best with no strings attached and I think the outcome was great working that way.  I don’t know if we will ever work again, but it was great and fun doing it. 

You have an amazing band, called "Born for Burning". Tell the readers all the important things about this horde!

- Yes, "Born For Burning" is a solo project of mine. A project I’ve been thinking about to do since the early 90´s. It is very much inspired by the almighty "Bathory", and it is kind of a tribute to him and his work. Which I have lived by so many years. I recorded three songs, which will be released as a 7" Ep at "Hammerheart Records" in January 2014. This project may turn out as a live band as well, depending how the interest of live shows it will give. More songs are in the making, and we´ll see how things go. Or maybe I will stop at this 7" and lay to rest at it is, somethings it is for the best to quit it if you don’t know if you will do better. Because this project is to honour Quorthon, I would not release anything half done if you know what I mean..

Would you be so kind to give us some information about your another band, The 13th Passenger? 

- "The 13th Passenger" are close to me, this it what makes me really burn. Also a "solo project" for the time being, but this I have plans for to expand with more members.

Not sure yet, if I want just live members or more than that. This is not any extreme metal band, more like occult stoner metal Black Sabbath kind of, perhaps. I am going to let the listener decide that one. 

It started back in 2004, and was more likely Black Sabbath. I recorded one demo "The Arrival", but never did release it. Because I was not completely satisfied with the performance both musically and vocally. I am releasing a 7" EP in the mid September 2013, with two songs. In the near future there will be more serious recordings and a full- length album, with a label I can not reveal just yet.

I think my influence to "The 13th Passenger" mostly comes from a band I played drums in at that time called "Harms Way" (with Erik Wallin, Fredda Lindgren and Dimman. We released a single with 3 songs). Terra Firma and Black Sabbath with "The Devils Blood" has influenced me a lot too.

Did you ever played with your bands in Eastern-European region and what do you think about Hungarian and Ukrainian scene? (I hope we will see you live there soon)

- We never did play in that regions sadly, I think that would have been awesome. And I believe the audience is something extra, and would like to experience that. Still, it is not too late and absolutely not impossible for us to come over there and bring you the Firestorm! With Unanimated I can’t say for sure where the future will take us, first of all we will record our fourth album and after that the gates are open..There are something special with Eastern-European metal bands, something mysterious and darker way over it that I cant explain. Like the legendary "Master´s Hammer".

I think the Hungary and Ukrainian scene is as good as any, many great bands and musicians from those regions, I actually googled and found so many great bands. The future looks good for Ukrainian scene, many "young" bands are coming forth. 

What Swedish bands do you recommend us and what do you think about the Swedish scene nowadays?

- I think the Swedish scene has always been great, even nowadays. But maybe some bands do sound to much alike and need to find something of their own. I believe the scene not to be as "magical" as it used to or maybe I have grown older and things have changed in ways I am not familiar with. I am not so "into" the scene at all but I think the industry has always a negative impact at the scene as we know it.

The commercial and money-making labels are in fact destroying the true music, and at the same time they are needed to get the scene what it wants. It is complicated, even to explain. (Or I am just full of shit and have no idea what I am talking about, haha).

But I do, if I could be a selfish bastard for a moment, recommend my own bands "The 13th Passenger" and "Born For Burning". Even if I would not play it, I would listen to it.

There are numbers of metal bands I could recommend, but I think you´ve heard them all and you would feel just bored to read them. But I could give you some bands anyway, I saw a couple of months ago a band called "Serpent Omega". I was drunk at the time, but it had an impact on me and I was surprised by the live performance. 

"Atlantic Tide" is another stoner band I enjoy much, it is the same music-writer (Fredda Lindgren) behind "Terra Firma" and "Harms Way". He inspires me so much.

I must also give a word for "Witchcraft", a great 70´s inspired band. 

Many people might high their eyebrows and think "thats not metal", and no, it is not metal. But you have to go beyond that, its not all about metal. True evil has no genre or style. (Or I am just full of shit again). 

Apart from the music, do you have any interesting hobbies? 

- Interesting hobbies? No, not very interesting hobbies really. 

I like to do various of things like writing poems in the woods in front of a fire slowly burning, just kidding, haha. No, I don’t have much time to do anything else. Except for my family and my kids it’s all about the music for me..

I try to teach my children the true evil, and the hard way in life and death. That death is a natural part to life, nothing to be afraid of. But to respect and embrace when the time comes, for the fear has no meaning to the unavoidable. But they are still very young so when the time is right I will give them my wisdom. (Yeah, I am full of it). 

Recommend us please some Swedish foods, drinks, especially from your region!

- Absolutely, we have the Swedish meatballs, worldwide known. A classic, but tasty and I just could not get tired of them.

We do, specially at summertime, barbeque a lot.. I mean a lot! We fucking barbeque everything, but we like it. Meat with potatoes and brown sauce, is always served in the Swedish homes. Meatloaf with bacon, and all kinds of wieners are on our tables.

Pasta, like potatoes, is always a popular dish. 

We drink milk a lot, always milk. I like milk, I used to enjoy beer and every alcoholic beverage. But I have slowed down these days. Age thing again, I guess. 

I am from Stockholm but I moved up north where I live nowadays, up here they enjoy something called "Surströmming". It is rotten fish in a can. Repulsive, but they like their rotten fish in a can. You should try it, for the evil sake. I don’t think I can say more about food than that. 

What are Your favourite all time LP-s?

- I am just putting them down here without any ranking or alphabetic order, this is my short list of those which are meant most to me personally. Both metal and non metal.

-Bathory "The Return".

-Bathory "Under The Sign Of The Black Mark".

-Death "Scream Bloody Gore".

-Kreator "Endless Pain".

-Kreator "Extreme Aggression".

-Metallica "Kill Ém All".

-Metallica "Ride The Lightning"

-Slayer "Hell Awaits".

-Slayer "Reign In Blood".

-Slayer "South Of Heaven".

-Iron Maiden "The Number Of The Beast".

-Iron Maiden "Seven Son Of A Seven Son".

-Black Sabbath "Black Sabbath".

-Black Sabbath "Paranoid".

-Black Sabbath "Sabbath Bloody Sabbath".

-Morbid Angel "Altars Of Madness".

-Pink Floyd "Dark Side Of The Moon".

 (I could go on forever, and I know some bands and albums I´ve forgotten. But I could not steal any more of your space here).

 Tack så mycket, Mickael! Send to readers, please some thoughts in the end… 

 - Thank you! I have enjoyed this interview very much, even though I am full of shit! Haha. Hope to see you soon on tour, if not with Unanimated, hopefully with one of my other shit. A special thanks to our fans, you know that we are nothing without your burning flame. Hails to you! Watch out for our forth album! And of course my own solo releases.


Links about Mickael's bands:

facebook.com/pages/Unanimated-Official/156195984418900

facebook.com/pages/The-13th-Passenger-Official/215311388561078

facebook.com/pages/Born-For-Burning/514557828578447

(Interview with Mickael has done by Georgius and Sorin Necrotrooper) 

Update:  Daemonium Regni was formed in the Winter of 2015. It is an unsigned Black Death Metal project, and is made in a Dark and Cold way..

Facebook page: facebook.com/Daemonium-Regni-752006401594952/ 

YouTube: 
Daemonium Regni - Daemonium : 
youtube.com/watch?v=BU83YdRwFvs 

Daemonium Regni - Mortuus Est: 
youtube.com/watch?v=i992xVucDHY 

Daemonium Regni - Spiritus Inflammo: 
youtube.com/watch?v=fpKT9s3ZqfY