A Dirty Dozen with NOEL HOFLUND JONSSON from THERMALITY – AUGUST 2024

According to a recent press release: “Thermality was born in 2020 in the heart of Sweden, a stone’s throw from the melodic death metal capital of Gothenburg. With their roots deeply embedded in the rich soil of melodic death metal in the 1990’s and early 2000’s, Thermality has quickly established itself as a torchbearer of the genre. Their unique sound blends the nostalgia of melodic death metal’s golden era with a fresh and innovative approach, creating music that resonates with fans across the globe. With their upcoming album The Final Hours set to be released August 16th, THERMALITY invites metal enthusiasts worldwide to embark on a journey of old-school aggression and modern innovation. Recorded at the esteemed Studio Fredman and expertly mixed and mastered by Fredrik Nordström, this album represents a pinnacle of the band’s creative prowess.” We get guitarist Noel to discuss new music, influences, and more.

1. Tell us a little about your latest release. What might a fan or listener not grab the first or second time they listen through? Are there any hidden nuggets you put in the material or that only diehard fans might find?

So we have some hidden “easter eggs” as you call it her and there all through the album. But we can’t tell you where they are, if you have listened to our earlier material you will probably notice them.

2. What got you into music, and can you tell us about the moment you realized you wanted to be a musician?

I grew up with metal and rock and we had an Xbox with Guitar Hero on it, which led to me wanting to try real guitar. We had a guitar at home, so of course I had to try. I started to take some guitar lessons for about a year, fast forward and now we are here.

3. Building on that, is there a specific song, album, performer, or live show that guided your musical taste?

I have always listened to Metallica, Disturbed, Avenged Sevenfold, Korn and Slipknot so what kind of music I would play and like in the future was no surprise. But the first concert I went to was Metallica in Ullevi 2019, when I sat at the stadium and watched the concert was the moment I decided that I was going to be a guitarist in a band and that was the only thing I could see me doing in the future.

4. If you could call in any one collaborator to do a song with, who would it be, and why?

We have talked about this within the band for fun sometimes and we always come down to Johan Hegg/Amon Amarth, we have some songs ready for them already so we are just waiting for them to hit us up! And why we want to collaborate with them is because we think we could write a killer heavy and melodic metal song together.

5. What is your favorite activity when out of the studio and/or not on tour? What do you like to do to unwind?

I personally have always had some sports in my life like soccer, floorball, MTB, hockey, skiing and skateboarding. But nowadays I am trying to start skating and mountain biking again, but mostly just hanging out with friends and relaxing.

6. How would you describe your music to someone who’d never listened to you before? What is the one comparison a reviewer or fan has made that made you cringe or you disagreed with?

Every member of the band can probably agree with these three words: New, Nostalgic and Amazing. We love the old Gothenburg sound and are trying to keep it alive whilst coming in with new influences and our own touch on it, there are many different influences in our writing-style so we have no way of not making it our own style at the same time. I can’t come to think about one time we have cringed, neither disagreed with feedback or comments.

7. When your band is hanging out together, who cooks, who gets the drinks in, and who is first to crack out the acoustic guitars for a singalong?

Very funny question to answer! It depends on where we are at the moment and if everyone is at the gathering. Hampus, the drummer has a background in restaurants and kitchens which led to him having a liking for food so I would call him the chef of the band. Ludvig, the singer and I most often get the drinks in and like trying new drinks, especially whiskey and beer. Walter the other guitarist almost always finds a way to the acoustic guitar and rip some tunes. And then we have Ture, the bassist, he is just an allround hilarious guy so he hops around and helps with the food or the drinks sometimes and then he might play a song, but most of the time he just goofs around and keeps everyone entertained with jokes or anything he can come up with.

8. When was the last time you were starstruck and who was it?

I have many times where have been starstruck on a concert, but the last time must be when I when to metallica last year (2023) on their 72 seasons tour and they played the track “Fade to Black” which had been a dream since the first time I heard in my earliest days of listening to music. That song is one of my all time favorites amongst some others that will always be a total masterpiece in my eyes.

9. What is the best part of being a musician? If you could no longer be a musician for whatever reason, what would be your dream job?

The best part stands between writing and playing live. When writing music you can be as creative as you want and make exactly what you want. But when you play live and get a crowd in front of you is a feeling you can’t compare to anything, it’s a special kind of adrenaline rush and a special form of energy and happiness seeing people headbanging, jumping and just see people liking what you have accomplished with the people you have been working real hard with. So by writing this I have come to the conclusion that playing live is the best part of being a musician. If I no longer could do that I would really want to become a producer, engineer or something in the studio, but I have always had a liking for vehicles and motorsports so maybe a mechanic or something in that profession would also be an alternative. But that isn’t an option because I will continue playing guitar until I can’t move my fingers anymore!

10. What is one question you have always wanted an interviewer to ask – and what is the answer? Conversely, what question are you tired of answering?

I personally don’t have one particular question I want to be asked and I also don’t have a question I am tired of, I love answering questions either if it’s a more personal question or about the band!

11. Looking back over your career, is there a single moment or situation you feel was a misstep or you would like to have a “do over,” even if it didn’t change your current situation?

I don’t think I have ever had any regret so far, we might have made some wrong / bad decisions, but I think at least I have only learnt from those mistakes and won’t make them again.

12. If you could magically go back in time and be a part of the recording sessions for any one record in history, which would you choose – and what does that record mean to you?

That’s a really tough question to answer. I think I would want to be a part of either Ride the Lightning by Metallica or Sound of a Playground Fading by In Flames because those two records have formed my music taste and writing-style the most. They both are amazing pieces of art and are more than music to me, there is both childhood and feelings / memories in them for me.

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Category: Interviews