LION'S SHARE

LION’S SHARE are back after a lengthy hiatus.  Last year, I had the pleasure of catching up with Nils Patrik Johansson when he was promoting his solo album and this year I was lucky enough to snag an interview with the founder and guitarist Lars Chriss.  For those of you who don’t remember, LION’S SHARE came out of Sweden in the late 80s and made quite a name for themselves in the 90s with great albums like their self-titled debut and “Fall from Grace”.  The 2000s saw them release a trio of records with “Emotional Coma” being the highpoint.  Lucky for us, Lars Chriss has brought the band back with a new disk titled “Inferno” and some touring.  I was able to catch up with him and get the lowdown on a number of topics starting with the long absence, writing process, touring, and a host of other items.  But enough from me, we’ll let Mr Chriss do the talking.

WORMWOOD CHRONICLES:  It has been seventeen years since your last full length record.  What caused such a long time in between releases?

LARS CHRISS:  Seventeen years sounds dramatic when you say it like that, but it was never a conscious decision to disappear for that long. A lot of different factors played into it.

The music industry went through a complete transformation during those years. Physical sales collapsed, streaming took over, and the focus shifted toward single tracks rather than full albums. In that climate, it didn’t feel meaningful to rush out an album just to follow an outdated model. We chose to wait until it felt right — both creatively and strategically.

On a personal level, I was heavily involved in producing and mixing for other artists, which demands total focus. But LION’S SHARE was never inactive. We kept writing consistently, even if it wasn’t in a traditional album cycle mindset. The songs were building up quietly in the background.

Around 2017 or so, we realized we had more than enough strong material to shape into something substantial. The plan was actually to release the album in 2020, with live shows lined up — but then the pandemic hit and shut everything down. Like everyone else, we had to put things on pause.

In hindsight, the long gap allowed the material to mature properly. Nothing was rushed, and when the time finally came, we were fully ready.

WC:  The new record marks a noticeable shift leaning into a more aggressive sound. How did that evolution come about?

LC:  It honestly wasn’t a calculated decision to become heavier. If anything, I see it as a natural continuation of where we left off on “Dark Hours”. I’ve always written riffs straight from the heart, and my influences haven’t really changed over the years.

There will always be that Tony Iommi-inspired, doom-laden weight in some of the riffs, combined with more up-tempo and aggressive elements inspired by bands like JUDAS PRIEST, SAXON, ACCEPT, DIO and MEGADETH. That blend has always been part of our DNA.

The biggest difference this time is that I mixed the album myself. On previous records, even though I produced them, we brought in outside mixers like Jens Bogren or Ronny Lahti to handle the final mix. For this album, we had complete control from start to finish. I could shape the sound exactly the way I hear it in my head when the songs are written.

We also weren’t working against studio budgets or time limits, which allowed us to really fine-tune every detail. So maybe that freedom made the album come across as more direct and aggressive.

And I have to say, it’s interesting you mention it — several people have pointed out the same thing in other interviews.

WC:  What is the process that you go through when writing songs?

LC:  We’re very much a riff-driven band, so almost every song starts with guitar ideas. I record and store riffs in different folders, sometimes for years, until the right combinations begin to form and a song starts taking shape.

Once I’m happy with the instrumental structure, our singer Nils Patrik Johansson comes to my studio and we focus entirely on vocal melodies. We sit down and work very intensively, throwing ideas back and forth, refining lines, adjusting phrasing — sometimes completely reworking sections — until we both feel it clicks. Since we live about three hours away by car, our writing sessions tend to be very concentrated. I usually have six or seven songs prepared, and we try to get through as much as possible while we’re together.

After a few weeks, I revisit the recordings with fresh ears. By then I’ve forgotten what we did, which is actually a big advantage. It allows me to listen more like an outsider and objectively decide what works, what needs improvement, and what should be scrapped.

When a song feels fully developed, I send it to Patrik and he writes the lyrics. We don’t really follow strict rules when it comes to themes — the only guideline is that we avoid politics and religion. Other than that, as long as the lyrics fit the mood and atmosphere of the music, anything goes.

WC:  If you had to choose one track off of “Inferno” as your favorite, which one would it be and why?

LC:  That’s an almost impossible question for me to answer. I’m so deeply involved in every aspect of the songs — from the first riff to the final mix — that it’s very hard to single one out.

“Inferno” was really built as a complete album experience, meant to be played from start to finish. We had a surprisingly large selection of equally strong material, so the final track list wasn’t about picking “the best” songs. It came down to tempo, key, dynamics, and the overall flow — how the songs interact with each other and create a journey.

That said, one track that’s especially close to my heart is “Baptized In Blood.” It carries strong influences from two of my all-time favorite albums, “Mob Rules” and “Diary Of A Madman”. Those records shaped me as a guitarist and songwriter, so there’s something very personal about that song. You can probably hear that spirit in both the riffs and the atmosphere.

WC:  On previous albums, you threw in some great cover tunes like “Touch of Evil” and “Sorcerers”.  Were there any cover songs that you were thinking of including on “Inferno”?

LC:  No, actually we didn’t consider including any covers on “Inferno”. We simply had too much original material that we felt strongly about.

That said, we’ve had a lot of fun releasing covers as standalone digital singles over the years. We did a version of “Knock On Wood,” which came with a pretty entertaining video. We also recorded “Killed By Death” as a tribute to Lemmy, where fans could send in selfies that became part of the video. Our good friend Mikkey Dee even contributed a special video intro, which meant a lot to us.

We got to know those guys quite well when we toured for a month opening for MOTÖRHEAD, DIO, and MANOWAR, so that tribute felt very personal.

We’ve also released our take on DAVID BOWIE’s “Life On Mars?” — which was a very different but rewarding challenge for us.

WC:  If you could pick any bands, which bands would make up your dream tour line-up?

LC:  I’ve already had the incredible privilege of sharing the stage with many of my teenage heroes — bands like SAXON, DIO, U.D.O. (with members of ACCEPT), MANOWAR, MOTÖRHEAD, and even KISS. Those experiences meant a lot to me, both personally and professionally.

That said, a tour with JUDAS PRIEST would be absolutely amazing. Musically, I think it would be a perfect fit, and our audience overlaps naturally. It would make a lot of sense stylistically.

Of course, playing with IRON MAIDEN or METALLICA would also be a huge honor. But if I were to build a true “dream classic heavy metal” lineup, I think LION’S SHARE, SAXON, and JUDAS PRIEST would make for a killer tour package.

WC:  What was the last CD purchased?

LC:  I believe the last CDs I bought were the most recent albums by SAXON, JUDAS PRIEST, WITHIN TEMPTATION, and GHOST. I still enjoy owning physical copies — there’s something special about having the artwork and booklet in your hands.

I also tend to pick up back catalogue titles whenever I come across something interesting in second-hand shops.

WC:  What was the last concert you attended as a fan?

LC:  I believe it was IRON MAIDEN on their most recent tour here in Stockholm last summer. It was an incredible show, packed with many of the classic songs I grew up with. Bruce is one of the greatest frontmen in the world — the energy he brings is unbelievable. Running across the entire stage, changing outfits, and delivering those vocals at the same time… it’s seriously impressive.

They played two consecutive nights at an arena that holds around 30,000 people, which really shows that heavy metal is alive and thriving here in Sweden.

I truly hope the genre continues to grow in the United States as well. It would be great to see rock and metal regain a stronger position in the mainstream again.

WC:  Have you had any Spinal Tap moments in your career?

LC:  Not that I can immediately recall, to be honest. I’m sure there have been unexpected situations along the way — that’s just part of being in a band — but nothing that stands out as a true “Spinal Tap” moment.

Most of the chaos in this business tends to happen behind the scenes rather than on stage. Luckily, we’ve managed to avoid anything too catastrophic… at least so far.

WC:  What’s next for LION’S SHARE?

LC:  Right now, we’re incredibly excited to finally release our first album in 17 years and to get back on the road to support it. We’re really looking forward to reconnecting with longtime fans and, hopefully, reaching a whole new audience as well.

We’re extremely proud of the new record, and the reviews we’ve seen so far have confirmed the feeling we had when we finished it. At the moment, there’s a lot of promotional work going on, but as soon as things settle down and we’ve started playing shows regularly, we’ll begin outlining ideas for the next album. Our goal is to have it ready for release in autumn 2027.

We’re also planning to revisit the back catalogue and explore the possibility of reissuing parts of it step by step between new releases.

WC:  Any last words for your fans?

LC:  We’re incredibly grateful for the support we’ve received over the years and for the excitement we’re feeling from both fans and media surrounding the new album. It truly means a lot to us.

We’ve always felt that our style of heavy metal connects naturally with the American audience, and it would be amazing to finally come over and perform these songs live for you. That’s something we genuinely hope will happen.

We’re also very thankful for everyone who follows us, shares our music, and interacts with us on our platforms. When we started the band, the digital world didn’t exist in the way it does today. Now it’s such an important part of spreading music and staying connected, and we don’t take that support for granted.

Hopefully we’ll see you out there soon — and until then, keep the flame alive.

LION'S SHARE