MAY 2007 - As our faithful readers are aware, we here at Peacedogman don't give out perfect scores like they're going out of style. So when "Repulsion" from modern-day doom metal deities WORLD BELOW was named April's Pick of the Month, we just had to catch up with them and pick their brains for a few. Guitarist Jonas Kjellgren (having just finished a US tour with his main outfit SCAR SYMMETRY) and vocalist/bassist Mike Danielsson were gracious enough to give us some of their time to discuss their phenomenal doom project, their latest masterwork, and why it almost didn't materialize.

Russ Cardona: Let's go way, way back to the very beginning of WORLD BELOW. Tell us about the first time you heard BLACK SABBATH.

Jonas Kjellgren: Well I guess it was in '87; a friend of mine played it for me. And goddamn it was the heaviest music I ever heard. I could not believe it was 1970 cause it sounded so good and fresh (still does to my ears). Then I started to check out all their albums and realized they were all really cool. Mikael Danielsson: Must have been '78 or something. It blew my head away!

RC: How did the WORLD BELOW project come together?

JK: I recorded a 3-song demo as a solo project in early '99. That project was called BEYOND THE SUN. I did nothing with that demo but Mike told me he liked the songs very much. Then in 2002 we decided to form WORLD BELOW and used one song from the demo on the first album "Sacrifices to the Moon", then one demo song on "Maelstrom" and one on "Repulsion". So those demo tracks were not recorded in vain. Of course we re-arranged them a bit, but the songs are quite intact. Actually, I had a terrible nightmare in 2001 and wrote down everything I dreamt and used those notes to make all the lyrics for the first album. The first album is some kind of a concept album dealing with an ancient black-cult with evil twisted rites killing women and children etc. Total madness, ha-ha...

RC: One of the things that impressed me most about your music when I first heard it was the reverence paid to pretty much every doom metal sub-subgenre out there: from SABBATH to the CANDLEMASS-style epic doom to doomdeath to everywhere in between. Is this done on purpose or does this just happen naturally?

JK: It's not on purpose; we just try to make as heavy and diverse music as possible without losing the concept behind the band which is total heaviness, doom and death. In three words: END OF MANKIND (our destiny).

RC: Given the sort of twists and turns your songs have, it sounds like you have an excellent sense of music theory. What sort of formal training have you had?

JK: I went to some kind of Swedish music-college learning all kinds of music theory, playing jazz and other lower forms of music, ha-ha. Learning how to write sheet music for symphonic orchestras and shit like that. But when writing WB songs I don't have to think; you feel it when you're dead on.

RC: Is it difficult making the transition from doom metal to death metal and back again?

JK: No, not at all… I don't think about it like that. I just write songs with a good movie in mind. You know, it has to have build-ups and slowdowns; it's really all about creating different moods. Feeling is a keyword in our music, you should feel something when you listen to our music (hopefully you don't puke!).

RC: Obviously this is a side project and not a full-time touring band, but a few years ago you managed to find time for a few live shows (two in Germany, one in Sweden, and two more in Finland). What kind of response did you get from those shows, and is it ever going to be possible for WORLD BELOW to play live ever again?

JK: Two words: PURE MAGIC!!! Those shows were incredible, I want to go back in time and live through them one more time. The songs truly came alive and it felt amazing being on that stage… it was so heavy it was ridiculous! We will do it again I'm sure… don't know when but it will happen.

Mike Danielsson: I can only agree! I couldn't really believe that it was us who stood there and played this ultra heavy music. Some songs were a little bit slower than usual. Should be cool to experience it again!

RC: As we understand, WORLD BELOW was almost ended after "Maelstrom" due to, as you've put it, "lack of interest". Whom specifically were you referring to? What changed your mind?

JK: We were supposed to go on a European tour, but a few weeks before the tour Per Nilsson (second guitarist on "Maelstrom") quit the band because he didn't want to leave his home or whatever. One week before the tour, Mike told me he would quit the band because he had a new job and didn't want to tell the boss "Hi, I'm new here and the first thing I have to do is to take one month off." I felt abandoned as fuck, it was only me and Ronnie (Bergenståhl, drummer) left. It was impossible for just me and Ronnie to do the tour. A few months later Mike had quit his new job because it sucked. I went over to his house and asked him if he wanted to make killer doom together again. And that was all he ever wanted.

MD: I'm sorry that the tour didn't happen! Guess I had some stage fright and I had that new job, and the job sucked!

JK: Per never joined the band again because he felt that doom wasn't really his style of music. All respect to him… he and I still play together in SCAR SYMMETRY so there are no hard feelings at all. Instead, he did all the guitars on the new KAIPA album. KAIPA is an old 70s prog-band. Their first album was released in 1972 I think, so it's quite "true" 70s prog so to speak.

RC: While we're on the subject of "Repulsion", what is the meaning behind the creepy album art?

JK: It's just meant to make you feel bad in a repulsive ugly way I guess… ha-ha…

RC: Mike, one thing I've noticed on "Repulsion" is that your vocals have quite a bit more prominence and impact than on "Maelstrom". You have a voice tailor made for doom - how come we haven't seen you step out like this before?

MD: On the two first records I had a cold so the voice wasn't good at all. I tried to sing out a little more on "Repulsion" and with a little more feeling into it. I'm originally a bass player and sang some backing vocals, and Jonas heard me sing lead on an old demo tape with TURABUS. He had the courage to let me sing in WB, and it's a blast! Thank you Jonas!

RC: Who are your vocal influences (besides Ozzy, of course)?

MD: Peter Hammill of VAN DER GRAAF GENERATOR has a tremendous voice, and he has been an inspiration for many years. There are so many good singers... guess Geddy Lee had an interesting voice in the beginning.

RC: When are lyrics most likely to be written in relation to the music - before, during or after?

MD: I always try to have some lyrics done before the music is ready. But on the "Repulsion" album I had to write some more stuff in the studio. I've always hard to come up with some interesting stuff on demand. I try to get into mood before writing any material and I find it's easier to write when I'm down. Gets a little doomier then, I guess!

RC: The songs on "Repulsion" have lyrics that tell vivid stories, such as "Gilgamesh" and "The Old Ones". Has there been a conscious effort on your part to distance yourselves from the sort of romantic, depressive lyrics that doom metal seems to be known for?

JK: Hell no. It's just that Mike wrote all the lyrics on this album and he is a big "thinker". I don't think those lyrics were meant for a WB album… he just writes crazy shit all the time just because he likes to do that.

MD: I wanted to write in a somewhat different style, not so much "doomy" lyrics. But there is "doomy" feeling left I hope! I always love lyrics that tell a story so I try to write that.

RC: On that subject, I gotta ask about the nearly 20 minute "Monument" - it's possibly your most bold and experimental song to date (and possibly the first time a mouth harp has been used in doom metal!). How did that song come together?

JK: We wanted to have a really long and diverse song like "Victim of Changes" by JUDAS PRIEST, that's it. So consider it our "Victim of Changes", ha-ha. The mouth harp is totally Mike's idea. He has brought that fucker to every recording we've made. And finally we found a fitting song for the mouth harp! On the first album we used mandolin and contrabass and other sick instruments. On "Repulsion" we only used mouth harp and 70s analog synth to spice things up. Of course we used analog tape-echo as always for that sci-fi helicopter spooky effect...

RC: What are your thoughts on the current doom metal scene? Do you feel it's an underrated genre?

JK: Totally underrated, but I feel that doom is destined to stay underground and that is a good thing. It's a genre for obscure old men (and women) mostly, but lately lots of youngsters are getting into that good old doom and that's a good thing. Hopefully some of them will form some killer doom bands. I hope doom will be around forever. When I am 70 years old I hope I can go to the record store and buy a really heavy album just to chill out to.

MD: Yes, really underrated! But more and more doom bands rise from the shadows. I agree that Doom shall always come from the underground. There it grows healthy (or sick), and not be the next hype or something. There will always be people who like good music.

RC: Being involved in both doom and death metal (and doing both with outstanding authenticity), your musical tastes must be pretty broad. What have you guys been listening to lately?

JK: All kinds of music really, from DEVILDOLL to SCORPIONS to KING DIAMOND to SLAYER to NILE. All metal I guess you can say. I don't find any other kind of music as interesting. Classical music sucks donkey ass. Pop music is crap. THE BEATLES are good… all pop that came after THE BEATLES sucks. Some heavy blues can be good though... MD: 60s and 70s psych/heavy/prog rock…as always! And some metal of course. I like the most music [out of any member of the band]. But the crap on the radio is pure shit! Music made to sell!

RC: This is slightly off topic, but inquiring minds want to know: what do you guys think of SOLITUDE AETURNUS' Robert Lowe joining CANDLEMASS? Have there been any negative vibes in your home country because he's not Swedish?

JK: No, not at all. They made a good choice of singer. The new CANDLEMASS album is going to kick us straight down to hell I hope!

RC: How do you spend the very little free time you have?

MD: Listening to vinyl records, drinking beer, playing games on the computer…

JK: Listening to metal, drinking beer… what more can one ask for?

RC: What's next for you guys? Anything you'd like to plug while you have the undivided attention of our readers?

JK: We will record a new album in late 2007! That album is going to be superior to anything we done so far, I can feel it.

MD: Yep! Maybe I should begin to write some new lyrics then… ha-ha! And I want to thank all the fans out there who gave us a chance to lend them their ears!

RC: Looking forward to it! Thanks for the interview… doom or be doomed!

MD: Thanks for the review! Doom on!

WORLD BELOW is Jonas Kjellgren (guitar, vocals), Mike Danielsson (vocals, bass) and Ronnie Bergenståhl (drums). Their newest album, "Repulsion" is available through PsycheDOOMelic Records. Visit their official MySpace page at www.myspace.com/worldbelowavesta.

- Cardona

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