NILS PATRIK JOHANSSON

Nils Patrik Johansson is most known as vocalist and frontman for ASTRAL DOORS but you might not know that he’s also a part of LION’S SHARE, WUTHERING HEIGHTS, RIFFORIA, as well as being an accomplished solo artist.  Having been a staple in the metal scene for all of the 2000s, he has amassed around twenty releases that I know of and countless live performances.  Hi latest offering “War and Peace” gives us metalheads some history lessons along with heaping dose of heavy metal.  While the material is rooted in traditional metal, Johansson explores other elements from the metal world to create something uniquely his own while still satisfying his faithful fans with what they’ve come to expect from him.  Nils Patrik Johansson was nice enough to let me pick his brain on aspects of the new record, writing process, and touring (among other things).  Enough of my ramblings, let’s get things going!

WORMWOOD CHRONICLES: Congrats on releasing your new solo album "War and Peace". It has been five years since “The Great Conspiracy”. Why release a new solo record now?

NILS PATRIK JOHANSSON: Thanks. Well, I have been working on the songs for a couple of years and I just felt that the time was right to unleash the beast.  You know, the Covid situation changed everything for us all, it can perhaps explain the gap between the releases. To be quite honest I don't think the music business will ever be the same, Corona destroyed so much.

WC: I love the historical aspect of the songs. With so many topics and people to choose from, how did you go about picking those events and people?

NPJ: I pretty much write about what's in my mind at the moment, I have no agenda. I am a history nerd and I feel that it is much more interesting to reflect the real world in my lyrics instead of writing about fairytales.

WC: You mentioned that you are happy to finally get the song “Gustav Vasa” out there. What was the delay in getting that track on a record?

NPJ: Well, it was in the middle of the Covid outbreak when I was actually visiting Gustav Vasa’s grave at the mighty church of Uppsala. I took a picture and posted it on social media. All of a sudden my followers asked for a concept album about Gustav Vasa. I answered: No, but I can write ONE song about him. So that's the story.

WC: What is the writing process for your solo material as opposed to ASTRAL DOORS?

NPJ: In ASTRAL DOORS my role on the latest albums was to write lyrics and melodies. On my solo stuff I write everything from riffs to lyrics and melodies. I also have a great deal of help from my producer and guitar player Lars Chriss from LION’S SHARE with the arrangements of the songs.

WC: The new record is the shortest of your solo releases. Were there any songs that didn’t make the release? And will they appear elsewhere?

NPJ: This time around I really wanted to make an album suited for vinyl. 20 minutes on one side and 20 on the other. In my book, that's how it should be.  Another interesting fact is that the streaming generation doesn't wanna listen to 70 minute long albums, they are very impatient. So 40 minutes of music is perfect. I wrote only these 8 songs. No leftovers.

WC: What was the defining moment where you decided to become a musician?

NPJ: I can't remember. Music has always been a big part of my life and I have lived in that world since I was a kid. To be quite honest I don't consider myself as a musician.  I'm just a fan of music doing my best to deliver something good to my friends and followers.

WC: I hear lots of different influences in your music. Who are your main influences?

NPJ: Oh, I have so many influences. IRON MAIDEN opened the door to heavy metal for me. Bands like ACCEPT, JUDAS PRIEST and BLACK SABBATH are also big heroes for me. I am 100% old school heavy metal. However I like to put some progressive stuff into my songs now and then. I really love a band like SYMPHONY X.

WC: Are there any bands or artists that you like that would surprise your fans? Any guilty pleasures?

NPJ: Good music is always good music, no matter what genre it is. I can enjoy everything from pop to country and even jazz.

WC: Do you plan to tour with your solo band?

NPJ: Not at the moment, but if the right offer comes up I would be ready to hit the stage. However, I feel that the next live gigs will come in connection with the release of the upcoming LION'S SHARE album early next year. It is the first LION'S SHARE album since 2009.so it will be celebrated with a lot of live gigs.

WC: If you could pick any musicians - dead or alive - to form a band, who would they be and why?

NPJ: Tough one. How about Tony Iommi on guitar, Geezer Butler on bass, Cozy Powell on drums and Jon Lord on keyboards. Ronnie James Dio on vocals and me on tambourine, hahaha.

WC: Switching over to ASTRAL DOORS. You released a great record last year "The End of It All". What are the next steps for the band?

NPJ: Thank you. Well the next step for me regarding ASTRAL DOORS is to lay low. We have done this for over 20 years now and we really need a break.  My focus now is on my solo stuff and on LION'S SHARE.

WC:  ASTRAL DOORS has a more traditional metal sound where your solo material brings in other elements like power metal and even a bit of prog metal. Is there a concerted effort to make your solo material sound different from ASTRAL DOORS?

NPJ: Not really. I write music I love. On the last couple of ASTRAL DOORS albums I only wrote lyrics and vocal melodies, not riffs. On my solo stuff I write everything.

WC: What was the last album that you purchased?

NPJ: Oh, that was long ago. I think it was BLACK SABBATH's "13".

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

NPJ: It was actually SLAYER at BANG YOUR HEAD festival. A fantastic night and I managed to get a couple of signed drum sticks from Dave Lombardo to give to my son Frerik. Great memory.

WC:  Do you have any Spinal Tap moments in your career?

NPJ: Hundreds, hahaha. Most of them are not for the public though. One fun thing though was when we were touring with GRAVE DIGGER. We traveled in a night liner together with the crew. We got instructions on the first day that doing number two in the toilet on the bus was strictly forbidden. However, our keyboard player Jocke Roberg is a guy that needs to take a dump the first thing he does every morning. After the first night on the bus he woke up and we hadn't arrived at the venue. Jocke panicked and pooped in a wastebasket, hahaha.

WC: Any last word for your fans?

NPJ: Metal fans are the best fans in the world, and I'm in this business for the love of metal and for the dedicated metal heads. Together we are stronger than steel!

NILS PATRIK JOHANSSON