Answered Nicklas, thank you!
Translated by Duzl, thank you!
Questions prepared Jakub Asphyx.
Recenze/review - RUNEMAGICK - Into Desolate Realms (2019):
Ave RUNEMAGICK! Cheers to Sweden. I hope you are doing well. I admit that I really admired your previous band DESIDERIUS in my youth. The demos on the cassettes from the nineties are still in the special place in my collection. I guess it was already discussed somewhere, but memory is no longer good for me, why DESIDERIUS changed name and transformed into RUNEMAGICK? If I'm not mistaken, RUNEMAGIC was the previous name, right? Please remind this to our readers.
Nicklas: Under the name Desiderius, nothing was officially released but we did some rehearsal recordings and maybe one 4-tracker recording that were copied on tape and sent out to a few persons during the tape trading era. Soon we changed our name to Runemagic, without K and released the first official studio demo in 1992. The “K” in Runemagick was added in 1997 if I remember correctly.
A lot of bands have a better and worse period in their creation, but you may have never stood by the downright trouble album. Still, even this year, it's a classic, pressurized death doom, played with enthusiasm and energy. As if the only difference from the past was that you got old. What is your explanation? Do you still approach to creative process with the same enthusiasm? Do you compose the same way? Could you say that technology has changed around and RUNEMAGICK are still the "old good dogs"?
Nicklas: If I do not have the right inspiration and motivation in my creativity then it is no idea to try to write music. Then such things go in waves too. But as it has been in recent years, creativity is flowing and I think or at least hope that I am a little better at writing and arranging music as well. I write a lot of music in my head to later record simple demos (if I remember the ideas, can’t wait to long). For example, if I'm out in the woods on a walk or driving a car. Then we usually work together around the arrangements when it's time to record.
This year you released great album "Into Desolate Realms" at German High Roller Records. Please tell us how it originated? In what studio did you record? The sound is really cool and chilling.
Nicklas: We got in touch with High Roller in 2018 and have heard a lot good about them from friends and who have collaborations with them.
The drums were recorded in Sonic Train Studios with Andy La Rocque as a technician and drum sound producer. Daniel (drums) and I were there for a weekend and rehearsed, arranged and recorded all the drums. Then we continued to record the rest of the instruments and vocals in our home studios and rehearsal room. Everything is mixed and mastered by our friend Johan Bäckman in his Raven Noise Studio.
I look at the cover made by Paolo Girardi. I like his painting a lot. I see a burning volcano ahead of me, perhaps the beginning of an apocalypse. But this is just my impression and imagination, please tell us how the cover is related to music and what does it mean?
Nicklas: A magnificent painting by Paolo! We made a simple sketch for Paolo, which he later channeled through the movement of his magic brushes.
And a good interpretation by you. And it's actually OK to interpret what you want in both cover art and music. There are several references to songs in the artwork. But of course apocalypse and doom are in focus.
Who is the author of the texts and what do they discuss? Where do you get inspiration for themes? In the lyrics you deal with darkness, death, the work of Lovercraft. Why these topics? Do you want to tell something, to give a message?
Nicklas: I wrote all the lyrics. There are no clear references to Lovecraft so directly. But otherwise, there is much to do with the doom, forgotten and ancient civilizations, lost wisdom, parallel astral dimensions and ancient cosmology. The inspiration is partly from books but also my own metaphorical interpretations of various things.
You are from Sweden, the promised land of metal. Perhaps every day I read something about new or old band that released the album there. But sometimes and somewhere it had to start. Who were icons for RUNEMAGICK? And how do you remember the nineties?
Nicklas: Some Swedish bands that were my “idols” in the late 80's and into the 90's are of course Bathory and Candlemass but also underground bands like Grotesque, Nihilist/Entombed, Grave and so on...
You play music as old as death doom metal itself. How do you perceive new directions in the death metal? I mean mixing with death core or technical death metal? Do you have any favourite bands in “modern metal”?
Nicklas: I don't really know what is included in the term "modern metal". But of course I listen to newer bands as well. One of my favorite bands in recent years is Blood Incantation, their upcoming album is great! They have their own thing so to speak, although there are influences from other bands like Morbid Angel and maybe Death. Total support!!
What about RUNEMAGICK and concerts? Do you play a lot? Are you going on tour or you are choosing only bigger festivals? And what about touring over Europe? What are RUNEMAGICK preparing in the upcoming months?
Nicklas: No we don't play much live. Mainly because we have much else to do with other bands/projects, family etc. And our drummer Daniel lives on the other side of Sweden which means we can't rehearse that often. But we have a smaller number of festivals in Europe booked during 2020.
Right now the focus is on the new album. We also released a split vinyl recently with the American band Chthonic Deity on Parasitic Records, check it out!! During the year we also worked some on re-releases of previous albums on vinyl and CD. Some are already released but more will come.
Then we get to see what happens, we have no plans for new material right now but you never know...
I'm sure you still have some dreams and goals which you want to achieve as a band, can you tell us more about it? You are death / doom veterans, you recorded great albums and we can still hear the enthusiasm from your music. Do you miss anything else?
Nicklas: Not what I'm thinking about right now, more than I hope we will record at least one more album and I wish I would be a real epic death doom adventure.
One question directed a little into philosophy. What does death / doom metal mean to you? I don't mean playing technique, but rather what it means to you, to your personality, how do you perceive it?
Nicklas: Atmosphere, emotion and a musical journey beyond the daily noise of this dying world.
Thank you very much for the interview. I wish RUNEMAGICK all the best, lots of sold media, full concerts and inspiration for the future. I firmly believe my dream will come true and I'll see you live sometime. Good luck in your personal lives.
Nicklas: Big thanks for your interest in interviewing us!
Recenze/review - RUNEMAGICK - Into Desolate Realms (2019):
http://deadly-storm.blogspot.com/2019/10/recenzereview-runemagick-into-desolate.html 
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