Interview with Martin Missy
and Carl-Gustav Karlsson (Protector)
Questions compiled by Georgius, Paco (Spain)
and Joanna (Poland/Germany)
Hail Martin and Carl-Gustav! We would like to congratulate you both with the release of 8th Protector LP, "Excessive Outburst of Depravity" (It’s just brilliant one, I’ve marked 10 in my Hungarian review on Kronos Mortus -G/). How went the whole process of composing it?
C-G: Thank you! We are really amazed over the reaction of the album and very thankful that everyone likes it so much. The process of the composing is that Mathias a Mike and Martin have had some ideas and riffs Both Martin and Mathias have written lyrics also, then we have tried all ideas and song arrangements in our rehearsal space. You can say that we rehearse and create at the same time.
Martin, official release of "Excessive Outburst of Depravity" has happened 1st of July (the birthday of Michael Hasse (R.I.P.) and my humble person as well -G/). What are your favourite albums and tracks by heritage of Michael Hasse?
- The first demo from 1986 is a great recording. It made me a fan of the band right away. Also, the whole Shedding of Skin album, which Michael and Olly recorded together, is great.
Martin, you always write some historical lyrics. Where do you get inspiration from? Have you any favorite historical eras? Which historical books are you preferring most?
- I get inspiration from movies, books, tv documentaries and the internet. I have no favourite historical eras; I'm interested in history overall. I'm especially interested in novels that have a historical background like "Im Westen nichts neues" and "Tuntematon Sotilas".
Who were the guest musicians on your new album?
MM: We had some background singers from other bands on this album. Ollie sings in Phidion, a band I was singing in 2003-2012. Ludde plays Bass and sings in Talion, another one of my old bands here in Stockholm. Shayan has played Bass and been singing in a band called Obscyria. Today he is a member of the Stockholm based band Putrid Vision.
How were your live shows this year? Your experiences?
C-G: I think all of the shows Stormchrusher festival and Gothoom open air and Chronical Moshers where very special this year, sins we have been looked down for two years. it was fantastic to play live again. The audience and our fans were awesome to meet again :)
MM: All five gigs we played this year were great. I am really happy that we finally were able to play these shows, that were all originally planned for 2020.
Are you planning to play next year in Spain? Where will be your next shows in 2023?
MM:
- Spain is unfortunately too far away from Sweden, and because I don't fly, it will be very difficult for us to play in Espana. Our shows next year will be in Stockholm / Sweden in June, two shows in Germany in September and two shows in Poland in November.
On the 21st of September Protector’s still awesome EP “Misanthropy” had its 35th anniversary. How do you remember the recording, Martin? Carl-Gustav, what is/are your favourite tracks of Misanthropy?
C-G:
My favorite tracks are Misanthropy and Agoraphobia, but I love the whole EP.
MM:
- It was awesome, but also very nervous to be in the studio for the first time. In the beginning I couldn't get the voice quite right, but after a lot of screaming and shouting it all went well.
Martin we are so thankful for your kind dedication on the cover of the “Apocalyptic Chronicles” written by you, excellent book! Share please some thoughts about the Apocalyptic Chronicles.
- It was a lot of work to put all the information together, but it was also a lot of fun. It was great to see how much the band had done and achieved through the years. I'm very grateful to all bandmembers who helped me put together the information from the period in the history of Protector when I wasn't a member of the band.
Carl-Gustav, I saw a photo, you posted about your first tour with Grief Of Emerald accompanied by Bestial Mockery, Obtest, Skyforger and last but not least Hungarian Sear Bliss. Would you be so kind tell us about that tour more?
- It was my first experience of being able to play outside of Sweden. I probably had too high hopes. I was very inexperienced and really didn't know very much.
The following dates were:
Oct 18, 2002, Germany Hagalaz Club. SAT - Oct 19, 2002 , Germany Festung. Oct 20, 2002 Arnhem, Holland Goudvishal .Oct 22, 2002 Ljublana, Slovenia Metelkova Oct 28, 2002 Finland Helsinki Factory
Unfortunately, the tour was not very well organized. We had a small bus where only 3 of the bands were allowed to come along, so poor Sear Bliss had to go in their own car. There was no toilet and our equipment went in a trailer. No sleeping places were booked on the road and the drivers were not too happy. When the organizer tried to fool us and them. And went to hostels where it always was some misunderstanding.
There was a lot of partying on the bus and in the evenings after the gig. there was a lot going on all around. very fun but also very hard. Everyone on the bus was hiding in need of a pee, so we had to pee in bottles on the bus after the route was so badly planned. It was both funny and terrible when all the bottles went around in the bus, maybe Sear Bliss had a good time in their car anyway. A few times on the road I woke up in a panic and thought I was driving. and looked for the steering wheel. I had a period right then that gave everything. I was sober the whole tour, but in Finland I freaked out- The tour broke me after building up and down my own drum kit every night, no sleep. No compensation at all, my cymbals and drumheads where totally broken. So, Grief Of Emerald cancelled that gig and I really did party that night. I have a faint hunch that we played the gig anyway, but I'm not sure.
Nevertheless, this is one of the funniest things I've done and now in retrospect it was great fun even how miserable it was. We did a really good gigs and so did the other bands as well. Word spreader and there were more and more people at each gig.
Martin, which interesting places, local food and drink are your recommendations from Wolfsburg? And from Sweden?
Carl-Gustav, what would you suggest to visit in Strömstad? Are there some local drinks?
C-G:
- We have an area in Strömstad called Blomsholm that is one of Bohuslän's finest cultural heritage landscapes, with lots of remains from the Stone Age until medieval times. Blomsholm has ancient remains of national interest. For this reason, it may be the most exciting pre-historic site in Bohuslän. Strömstad is very close to the Norwegian border, so this is where you should really drive by first if you want to visit Norway.
MM:
- When I was living in Wolfsburg (until 1995) there wasn't really so much to see in the city. It was a typical working-class town where half of the inhabitants worked at the VW factory. Today we have the Autostadt, which is interesting to visit, especially if you like cars. We have the Phaeno and the Badeland, which is great for Families. And of course, you should also go and see a match of Wolfsburgs soccer teams when you are in town. The men’s team play in the Volkswagen Arena, and the ladies in the AOK Arena. And the castle from the 13th century, which gave the city its name, is also nice.
There actually exists no special food or dish in Wolfsburg. Probably because the city is so young (founded in 1938). But of course, sausages and potatoes always work out fine. 🙂
In Sweden there are a lot of beautiful places. My favourites are Småland and Stockholm.
Danke Schön Martin, Tack så mycket Carl-Gustav for the interview, we wish you both all the best with Protector and in your private life. Hope to see you live very soon! Send your messages to the readers please.
C-G:Thank you so much for the support. If you have missed listen to our new album Excessive Outburst of Depravity you will find it on all digital platforms. Stay Metal.
MM: Thank you for doing this Interview with us! A big Thank you to all our fans for supporting the band over the years! Stay Metal everyone! 🤘
