Lelahel Metal: Interview Vilt

VILT's debut EP, "...To Mourn The Death Of A Stranger," marks a significant milestone for the band. In this interview, they share their inspirations, experiences, and future plans.

1. Congratulations on the release of your debut EP “...To Mourn The Death Of A Stranger”! Can you share the inspiration behind the title and the themes explored in this EP?

Thank you. It has shown itself to be a milestone for us that we didn't really contemplate beforehand. The name is supposed to be a sort of reminder to listen to your fellow humans on this earth. you never know what someone has gone through. It's also a warning that we have strayed too far from each other in modern times.

2. Your sound has been described as a blend of classic Scandinavian melodic death metal with a modern flair. How do you balance these influences in your music?

We have always liked to blend different influences in our music. We all (in the band) come from very different sub-genres in the metal community, and we have always looked at that as a good thing. Instead of making something stale and uninspired we love to mix everything together. So I think it comes pretty naturally to us.

3. Being invited by Anders Fridén to join In Flames on stage at "Dalhalla Brinner" in 2023 must have been a huge honor. Can you tell us more about that experience and how it influenced you as a band?

Wow. Anders and everyone involved with In Flames were just amazing. Not only did we make great contacts, we made lifelong friends! it´s actually one of Anders' friends Marcus Körling that made the cover art for the EP as well as the artwork for the Burden single!

I think I talk for everyone in the band when I say that it was one of the coolest experiences in our lives! In terms of how it influenced us as a band, I think it ignited a spark that made us all become even more determined to work for our goals of making this a fulltime job.

4. Opening for big names like In Flames, Killswitch Engage, and Fit For An Autopsy is no small feat. How did these opportunities come about, and what did you learn from those performances?

There is a Swedish podcast called Rockpodden that had a collaboration with Anders/in flames. They were looking for two unsigned swedish bands to open for them at Dalhalla. you were to send your music to them and after many months we got the message that we were one of the two to open for them. I think we stepped up our game after Dalhalla and we have come a long way since then!

5. Your 2022 release "Adversary" received a lot of praise. How did the success of that release shape the direction of your debut EP?

I honestly don't think that it affected us much musically. We have always done what we like and will continue doing so. However it absolutely made us open our eyes to the possibility that this could be something more than just a hobby.

6. The Scandinavian metal scene has a rich history. How does being from Linköping, Sweden, influence your music and identity as a band?

I think it's the foundation for us even forming a band. Linköping has always had a strong music culture and they have always cared about young people's ability to be able to do music. There were so many people along the way that cheered for us and helped us in any way they could. I really want to shout out Niklas Bränström, without his support in the early days of our musical career, I don't think we would be where we are today!

7. What was the recording process like for “...To Mourn The Death Of A Stranger”? Were there any challenges you faced or memorable moments during the creation of the EP?

I think we faced the same challenges as any young band. To balance our day jobs with the band and how to distribute time for rehearsals and recording. It was also the first bigger project we did with the record company so we had to work in a different way than we had previously done.

I think the most memorable moment was when Gustaf (guitarist) was tasked with writing a short solo for Six Feet Deep. He played it for us in our old rehearsal space, we all jumped out of our seats cause it was so freaking good!

8. You’re signed with GAIN / Fifth Island / Sony Music, which is a significant milestone. How has being with these labels supported your growth and development as artists?

I think it has given us more “respect” in the community. Their name carries a lot more weight than ours alone. They have also helped us reach other contacts and working partners we wouldn't have without them. And in terms of working together I think it has been great! Without their help this EP would have been years away.

9. The metal genre is known for its passionate and dedicated fanbase. How have your fans reacted to the new EP, and how important is their support to you?

Their support is everything! We love our fans and it's cool that so many people recognize us on the street and come up to us for a chat! We all welcome it! Everyone we talk to has a different favorite track, a different take on our music and the meaning behind it.

It's so amazing to hear the listeners respond to the EP! Everyone is screaming for more and I promise you all, it's coming, don't you worry!

10. Can you walk us through the songwriting process for VILT? How do you collaborate and bring your ideas to life?

Most often it is Conrad (guitar) that writes the tracks, sometimes I (Casper,Bass) send him something I'm stuck on and ask him to remodel it. Then he shows the track to the band and we all get to pitch in with different ideas for changes or add ons. Then Oscar (singer) writes the lyrics and makes a few renditions and then he shows those versions to the band. Then we make a final edit and rehearsal starts.

What is important to know is that we have a stockpile of tracks for at least 2 more albums, so this process often spans a long time since we do multiple tracks at once.

11. As a band, what are some of your long-term goals and aspirations? Are there any particular venues or festivals you dream of playing?

Our main goal is to make this our job. A common goal for us is to one day play in our hometown Arena, Saab Arena. It would be something special to be able to play in front of so many people in our hometown. The feeling of “we made it”. Do you get me?