Het was niet zonder vreugde dat ik voor ditzelfde nummer van LoM de nieuwe plaat mocht recenseren van metalen alleskunners In Vain. Op deze nieuwe plaat laten ze ons zelfs nog meer horen dat metal geenszins de enige inspiratie is in het creeëren van hun muziek. De hoofdcomponist van de band, gitarist/vocalist Johnar Haaland, geeft ons in dit interview een interessante kijk in de keuken van zijn creatiemethoden, samen met andere antwoorden die je nog meer zullen kunnen laten waarderen waar deze eerlijke en nuchtere band mee bezig is. En als je toevallig enkele bands voor hen kent om mee te touren, aarzel niet om de band dan wat aanbevelingen te sturen, zodat we in staat zullen zijn om ze hier in de buurt ergens het podium op te zien klimmen!
Welcome back In Vain! I've been waiting anxiously to discover what your next step would be after 'The Latter Rain'. Could you tell our readers what happened from then on, and why we may be very glad that the new record 'Mantra' got here at last? Hi! Both of our records have been quite delayed. It is not us that are lazy. E.g. 'The Latter Rain' was recorded during the summer of 2006, but a lot of complications with the recording process and cover artwork delayed the album. This time around we had a lot of trouble with the recordings again, but also Indie Recordings reorganized their label and that delayed the album for almost a year. We are very happy to finally have the new record out!
The new record shows that there are some trademark features that make In Vain very recognizable. Could you tell something about the way you compose the songs, from heavy grandeur and speedy riffing to melancholic atmospheres? Hmm.. I do write songs in a specific way. I don’t sit with the guitar, jam, try to come up with riffs, etc... well, I do it a little, but I would say ten percent of our music is written that way. Instead, I sit and try to "think music" in my mind. Usually I have something to start with and I go on from there and try to hear what would be a natural progression, etc: from what riff to another. Sometimes I have to grab my guitar to figure out exactly what I hear in my mind. Sometimes I also have a specific idea for what kind of song I want to write, based on one riff, lyrics, etc. When I write the songs I always get ideas for all the instruments. Everything from vocals, rhythms, drum patterns, you name it. However, I do not decide what people should play but I give suggestions and usually the other members follow that. That we have a lot of different elements in our music is not because I try to include as many different things as possible...it is just a consequence of me listening to a lot of different stuff. So one song can turn out doom, another thrash, etc. A lot of people like this diversity of In Vain, but those who don’t like us usually say it is because we have too much packed into our songs.
After 'Their Spirits Ride With The Wind', in 'Wyakin' we find again a song centered around the Native Americans. Is there perhaps a particular interest in those cultures within the group? And from where did you get those great authentic vocals? It is only me who has an interest in the Native Americans and I have read a lot of books about this. I got in touch with a Norwegian shaman and he sent us instruments, drums, etc. In addition, he got me in touch with Gil Silverbird and he spent a couple of days in our town. He is an Apache Indian from the States. It was very cool to have him on the record.
The songs 'Ain't No Lovin' and 'On The Banks Of Mississippi' (great emotive guitar tones at the solo spot!) seem to relate to another bluesy feel for something from overseas. Have you perhaps been living there, or do you simply long for some times long past? I have never lived there. The simple riff on 'Ain't No Lovin' is really old. I just picked it up again and thought it could be a cool little passage to connect two songs. I just thought 'On The Banks Of Mississippi' was a cool song title and I built the lyrics around that theme. But yes, I like the blues and a lot of the feelings in our music comes from the blues.
The guitar riffs on your new record seem different this time: the sound is more vintage and the structures seem more old-school…have you perhaps been listening to some older records the past years? Or am I completely wrong? It is a bit difficult for me to understand what you mean with vintage guitar riffs. But maybe you mean that they are less complex? For sure, many of them are super simple. I have not been listening to more older records. I do not know why the songs turn out as they do, but I don’t listen to a lot of extreme metal anymore so that is probably why you find less fast parts on the new songs. About the sound: I think it is way better than on 'The Latter Rain'. I think the sound on 'The Latter Rain' is rather shitty and I’m almost surprised it got those fantastic reviews, when taking the production into consideration.
The drumming is really great and recognizable; so are the vocals: the harmony chants are really powerful (they remind me of the chanting ways of the Swedish Isole). Can we expect to see come touring around the Netherlands to promote this recording victory and show the great skills of the band around here? We are for sure going on a European Tour, the problem is just that we need to find a suitable headlining band to go with. A package of three or four bands with us somewhere in the middle would be cool. For sure, I am sure that we could pack a good crowd in some places, but we are still not a band that is big enough. So it will be better for us to support a bigger band. We would like to go on a tour in March/April. Do you know about any bands...? :) There has also been some talk about a mini tour in September, but nothing is certain about that yet.
This was all I would like to question you now, thanks for taking the time to answer. I wish you all the best and hope to see you come around here and play that *funky* music! If you would like to add anything to the interview, feel free to do so below. Thanks a lot man! And thanks for the support. We would love to come and play in the Netherlands. We really like that country!
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