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By: John McLaughlin
Tribulation’s transformation from old-school Swedish death revivalists to psychedelic prog-death adventurers was a major shock to many of the band’s old fans, but for better or for worse, it has turned the band into one of the more interesting names to watch in heavy metal. The Children of the Night, the band’s newest album and first on Century Media Records, strays even further from the band’s death metal beginnings into more psychedelic and atmospheric territory. The band discusses the change and the inspirations behind it below.
(((o))): You changed your sound considerably between The Horror and The Formulas of Death. How do you feel the band has evolved between The Formulas of Death and The Children of the Night?
Tribulation: We’ve taken yet another step to that which is truly Tribulation cleansed of anything external. I don’t think we’ll ever really reach that goal and I do think that external influences will always be good, but we’ve really made a considerable leap into our own sound. We really tried to look for inspiration within the band, within each other and within the music we’ve done before in order to take this in our own way. In the end it’s all very natural. It may sound like a plan when I describe it here, but it isn’t really.
(((o))): You’ve stated that The Children of the Night is “more back-to-basics” and “more streamlined.” Was this a result of conscious effort, or did it occur naturally in the songwriting process?
Tribulation: It occurred naturally, yes. We all eventually knew what it would end up like this and in retrospect it isn’t a grand mystery but my initial vision was something else, something even more psychedelic that Formulas. I’m glad it turned out the way it did though, it’s very much us. It became a new challenge for us to write the songs in this way since the songs on Formulas are quite unorthodox in their structure. Some of the songs on Children are like that as well, but overall they are more pop/rock in their structure. We even have some choruses on this one, hehe!
(((o))): There’s the extreme metal side of Tribulation, and the softer, psychedelic/proggier side of Tribulation. What is it about each that appeals to you, both on their own and when combined?
Tribulation: We’ve always listened to both kinds and I think that’s why things have ended up the way they have. I personally look for a certain feeling or atmosphere in the music I listen to rather than a certain genre. I used to call it the music of death, it encompasses a lot! Usually when people try to combine something it doesn’t really end up that well I think, but we never thought about combining or mixing anything, we just made music and it just so happened that you may call it a combination. I think that’s why it works, because it isn’t really intentional in that sense.
(((o))): You’ve gone through multiple labels in your time as a band, working with Blood Harvest and Pulverised Records on your early material, then Invictus for The Formulas of Death, and finally Century Media today. What have your experiences been like with each? Is there a noticeable difference in how the bigger labels work with their bands?
Tribulation: Each label have been good in their own way really, I‘ve got nothing to complain about really. But there is a big difference to us now that we’re with Century Media. A full staff can of course do a lot more than a single or a couple of people can, I think everyone can see the result of our mutual work now. The new album sold more in the first week in the US than Formulas have to date.
(((o))): How fortunate do you feel to have found yourself on some bigger US tours fairly early in your career? Touring stateside is often difficult even for bigger overseas bands, but between Behemoth this year and Watain previously, you guys seem to be doing pretty well.
Tribulation: Very fortunate but not surprised. We’ve seen it coming, we’ve felt it. It was an honor playing all those great venues now in the US. To be able to play The Fillmore in San Francisco was just amazing. We’ll be grateful forever for the opportunities we’ve been given and to those that will come.
(((o))): Have you noticed any differences between your shows in the US versus closer to home?
Tribulation: There is a very noticeable difference to Sweden at least. It’s easier to get the crowd going in the US, and that of course helps us on stage. It’s an exchange of energy that is sometimes lacking in Sweden. People are more reserved I think. But Germany is usually very good, it all depends on where you are I guess and if you’ve been there before. We’re looking forward to coming back!
(((o))): Name someone or something, musical or otherwise, that has influenced Tribulation that your fans might not expect.
Tribulation: The music to various NES and SNES games! It’s very heavy metal at times.
