UNLEASHED

For Johnny Hedlund and UNLEASHED, the war between pagan roots and Christianity has never ended. The Swedish death metal legends have stayed true to those pre-Christian roots for the entire 35 years of their existence. On their latest album “Fire Upon Your Lands”, their 15th overall, they tell the story of that battle as a grand concept than traverses multiple releases.

This band has always been the most consistent of the Swedish death metal bands, with many comparing them to AC/DC in their regular release schedule. This has ensured a very steady fanbase that continues to grow. I talked to Johnny years ago at the time of the “Midvinterblot” album and found him an easy fellow to speak to. That has not changed any in the ensuing years.

So let’s get an updated “war report” from the man himself, one of the originators of Viking death metal!

WORMWOOD CHRONICLES: Hails to you and UNLEASHED, Johnny! Thanks for talking to us. “Fire Upon Your Lands” is the 15th album for you and it’s been 35 years for UNLEASHED. When you started the band, did you think back then that you would make it this far?

JOHNNY HEDLUND: Hail! And thanks for having us!

No, I can’t say I did. I mean, when we started we were just a bunch of good friends who enjoyed going to parties, drinking beer and banging heads together. I guess perhaps things kind of evolved to a more stable thing over time, haha.

WC: “Fire Upon Your Lands” continues the story of Odalheim and the White Christ. Did you imagine this great epic all at once or does each new album kind of “write itself”?

JH: Well, most of the story was outlined from day one (many years ago), but of course things change as we go along. It is always good to be the only one who knows the details. Let’s just say, I have very wide poetic freedom!

WC: The story may be the most ambitious ever told in death metal. Do you know how the story will end? And have you thought about what lies beyond it?

JH: Ahh. Yes, I do. But you got me… I never thought about what lies beyond the actual end. Hmm, perhaps I should think about that. It is also a fact that that is probably a few albums away so it might be too soon. Plus, it may also be the case that the end is the end so to speak. Let’s see…

WC: War and battle is part of every UNLEASHED album, but on the new album, it seems to play a bigger part than ever.  Is there glory to be found in war or is it just a muddy, bloody waste of life?

JH: UNLEASHED has always been about the Viking traditions and values. Life is the eternal battle. And shit will come your way sooner or later. And in many forms. You need to be prepared for it, surrendering is never an option. Just like in the storyline of the new album (and in most of our albums), battle is certainly not only fought with weapons. Not with axes and swords, nor with machine gun. (although that can certainly be the case). For the most part, the battle of life is fought with other means and it can be about just anything... diseases, hardships at school, at work etc. This is what UNLEASHED is all about. Trying to bring some courage to people in times of trouble. To stand up and fight! Be the Warrior and the hero that you can be! And if you can aid someone in need, you are getting damn close to Odin as I see it.

WC: Your Viking heritage has always been a proud past of UNLEASHED. Do you still get hassled by those who try to link you to unsavory elements or has such nonsense subsided?

JH: I guess you can never anticipate exactly how you can be attacked. But you can prepare for it to happen from time to time. I’d say we are pretty well prepared for that. That is actually a good thing with the internet. You can retaliate very fast!

WC: The new album seems a little faster and more aggressive than recent material...a bit more “back to the roots”. Would you agree?

JH: Hard to say, really. Our general aim has been to create a dynamic album with some new stuff in it, yet keeping to the roots. Hopefully people find our songs even more memorable than last time around. But then that is always how we think and of course it is up to others to judge if we succeeded. We try to create the songs so that the overall feeling is that we play fast, mid paced and slow songs on the album. That way it will hopefully get a dynamic outcome.

WC: UNLEASHED keeps to a very specific sound and style. How difficult is it maintaining this style and avoiding falling into a rut?

JH: It is actually what we spoke about in the first days of the band’s history. We are Death Metal. If you want to play something different, that is fine, but not in UNLEASHED. So it is really a pretty easy process creating a new album for the band. We normally agree on most things so it is pretty smooth, all of it.

WC: The Swedish death metal sound you helped to pioneer is still going strong in 2025. Do you follow the newer bands and what names would you say are keeping true to the sound?

JH: I can say I have a number of new bands I can promote. Perhaps I haven’t listened hard enough. I am sure there are plenty out there. However, it really seems like the female side of Death Metal music is having some kind of burst these days. Let’s see if it keeps up the good work.

WC: Have you ever felt the desire to be in any “side project” or other band? I know your guitarist Frederik is involved in multiple projects.

JH: He is, but me personally I just have far too much on my plate for that.

WC: Are you doing anything different as far as your vocal style goes compared to years ago? Have you made any adjustments?

JH: Well , actually I have practiced a little differently when it comes to the vocal melodies created for the album recording. Small adjustments, nothing big but small things to make it a bit more clear yet still keep the harshness of it.

WC: Time stands still for no one. Have you ever thought about the end of UNLEASHED? When will you know you’ve reached the end?

JH: Nah,  I have no idea. I never thought about it. We still enjoy making music and lyrics. We still look forward to the next festival to have some cold ones and meet friends and bang heads together. I think perhaps we have some more good years to go, haha…

WC: What do you do outside of the band as far as other interests or hobbies go?

JH: I am a goalkeeper coach (soccer). I have five goalies including my 15 year old. This would be five days a week all year. Let’s just say I keep busy. It is pretty crazy actually, it started when he was 8. And it is just getting more and more serious. We also go and see soccer on a senior level.

WC: If you could have dinner with any 3 people from history, who would they be?

JH: Now that’s a tough one. But ok, - Aleksandr Solzjenitzyn, Kemal Attaturk, Snorre Sturlasson.

WC: Any tour plans for “Fire Upon Your Lands”? Any plans to visit the States?

JH: For sure we want to play the US more than we do now. What we have booked so far is Metal Threat Festival in Chicago on the 5th of October.

WC: In the history of UNLEASHED, have you ever had a “Spinal Tap” moment where things went crazy that you could share with us?

JH: Haha…yeah sure…we actually played for one (1) guy in Glens Falls, New York many many years ago. A show that I think wasn’t supposed to happen, it was actually at a bar. I still wonder why they booked us in that place.

WC: Any last words to the faithful?

JH: Check our website for updates and possible shows in the US.

Thanks a lot for the interview!

Hail Odin!