Entombed (or right now, after some inner struggles, Entombed AD) and Grave on one tour! It’s hard to think about a better line-up for a death metal tour. We got two absolutely legendary bands, which still record amazing material and show great energy during live performances. When I saw that one of these gigs would hit my hometown, it was clear for me, that I had to be there. So, on 19th October, I went to B90 club in Gdańsk to see how “Back To The Front Tour” would strike.
And I wasn’t disappointed! But let me start from the beginning – B90 is an amazing venue, really big, located in old shipyard warehouse (so we got a perfect atmosphere) and what’s the most important: they got a great acoustic. It was my first time in this place, and I honestly hope that they’ll do gigs like this more often – everything is in a good way and next month there will be Morbid Angel there.
I was a bit surprised that there were supporting band for this tour – there wasn’t any informations on posters or tickets about it. So the first act that played that evening was also a band from Sweden, called Implode. And they were terrible. Mixing melodic death with groove elements and having problems to keep in rhythm it’s not the best recipe for a band, especially one who supports two legends. After two Implode songs, I decide to finish my beer and smoke a cigarette outside. A number of people who had the same idea ensured me, that this was a better option.
Fortunately, 20 minutes after 8 P.M. real hell started – Grave entered the stage. The club quickly went from empty to full, because Implode’s performance successfully had made most of people to go outside, and the band after them was like a magnet to metalheads. Probably most of readers know one thing – Grave NEVER disappoints, they’re a perfect and a brutal death metal machine, which destroys everything to ground-level. But in 2014 they’re as strong as never. Last year I saw them with Marduk and they were amazing. Right now Grave is far beyond any expectations. From the beginning of first song (which was “You’ll never see”- what a perfect way to start) there was one big energy blast. The setlist was constructed mostly on old, classic songs, although there were also some newer positions (including perfectly played “Amongst Marble And The Dead”. Ola’s voice has been as strong and powerful as on the albums. That man is a machine, never gets tired, always keeps everything at the highest level possible. And the tradition must be kept – the last and the most energetic strike was “Into The Grave”. To be honest, Ola’s crew were much better than Entombed AD that night.
And finally it was a time for gig’s headliner – Entombed AD. This band is also in much better form than when I saw them last time (on Metalfest Poland). Petrov’s wild vocals and the setlist showing every episode of band’s history, as well as some new songs (from Entombed AD’s new album “ Back To The Front”). The Swedes are full of aggression and energy – as always, by the way. And of course we could hear all classics – “Left Hand Path”, “Living Dead” or “Wolverine Blues”, but I really enjoyed their newest material live, nice compositions along with that characteristic guitar sound, Petrov’s voice (he’s immune to aging process, believe me!) and the atmosphere of seeing one of the most important bands in metal history gave an amazing feeling. And of course a gig like this couldn’t end without encores!

So we’ve got here one of the best death metal gigs this year in Poland. Everything (well, maybe except support) was perfect. And at last, but not the least, after the show, I’ve met Ronnie Bergerståhl, Grave’s drummer, and asked him a few questions. You may read this interview below:


Hi! Right now, you’re on the tour with Entombed AD, so there are two legendary bands on one tour. How is it going so far?

Very, very well! Much better than we expected. It’s a long one – it was supposed to be thirty eight shows. Thirty eight days,thirty eight gigs. It’s really intense, but there hasn’t been any bad concert during it. And finally, a lot of people come to see the gigs.

And who gave the idea of giving two death metal icons on one tour?

Entombed were supposed to book a tour and they needed another “name” to put along with them. It’s Entombed AD, so it’s actually a new band, which has just released an album which they had to promote. I think it came both from the band and their management to invite us.

About Entombed AD – what do you think about their new album?

I really like, it’s a good one.

Yeah, I agree with you. Coming back to Grave, it’s been already two years since you released “Endless Procession Of Souls”. This album was a debut both for Tobias and Mika, and in the same moment you recorded one of the best materials in Grave’s career. How the guys fit the band and what was their influence on that material?

Most parts of this album come from mine or Tobias’ riffs, so he had a lot of impact  in composing that album. We also recorded EP entitled “Morbid Ascent”, which came out last year, and there was a similar situation. “Endless Procession Of Souls” is mostly me and Tobias.

How about upcoming Grave album?

It’s almost recorded. It’s going to be released in late February.

And do you want to follow the “Endless Procession Of Souls” path or take a bit different direction?

It’s a bit follow-up of this album, but the new one will be, let’s say it, darker. It’s a Grave album, you’ll know it when you’ll hear it.

Speaking about dark music, metal scene in Sweden has always been really powerful. What’s your opinion about extreme bands that weren’t death metal like Morbid or Bathory? Did they put any influence on Grave?

I like them, absolutely. But I won’t say that they put any influence on me. What’s more, I know that Ola always was more into things like old Kreator, Celtic Frost or Sepultura than into Swedish stuff.

On “Morbid Ascent”, you re-recorded “Reality of Life” from “Sexual Mutilation” demo. It’s not the first time that you come back to that material, since you also re-recorded title song from that demo on “Burial Ground”. Why do you come back to this one demo?

Actually I have no idea. That songs are quite easy to re-learn, also for Ola. And we just like that songs. “Reality Of Life” has been recorded during the “Endless Procession Of Souls” session, but we decided to include it on the EP.

Since “As Rapture Comes”, every Grave album ends with big, majestic and epic album-title composition. What caused you to develop that kind of tradition?

Well, I don’t know. It could be weird, to put a song like that in the middle of the album, so it always goes to the end. On the new album there would be also something like that, but it will be even longer and more dark than “Epos”, it’s going to be over nine minutes long.

Oh, it sounds really interesting.

Yeah! I like it.

Since “Dominion VIII”, you’re working with Costine Chiorenau. He’s doing a great job. Is he a full-time Grave graphic designer or are you thinking about trying something new?

He’s also author of a new cover. When we started working with him on “Dominion VIII” we were kinda panicked, because we didn’t have any artwork or layout ideas. Costine has been working with my previous band – Demonical, so I’ve just wrote him an e-mail asking him to come up with something. The first sketch he made for “Dominion VIII” is actually the cover that we decided to use.

Are there any bands from Poland that you really like?

Vader for sure! And of course Behemoth. And there are probably the only bands from Poland, that I know <laugh>. But they are really great and hard-working bands.

Thanks for the interview! Last word goes to you. Is there anything that you want to say to our readers?

I just want to thank for supporting us. It’s always a great pleasure to come to play in Poland. Every time we’re on tour, here we’ve got the best shows.Cheers!

Wojciech Michalak