Deranged has established themselves as one of the best Death Metal bands on this planet. We have received a promo tape of their new album "III" and the it blew us away. It is a brilliant piece of Death Metal. We contacted Johan Axelsson for an update on Deranged latest activities.


1. When and where was Deranged started ? By whom ??

Deranged have been around since 1991and the line up at that time was Rikard(drums) Johan(guitar) Mikael(guitar) Per(vocals) Jean-Paul(bass) and quickly after the formation of the band we diced us to record our first and only demo tape, the 4 song "...the confession of a necrophile" at that time we was rehearsing in a bad local out side Malmo in the south of Sweden.

2. Who are currently involved in Deranged ?

We have made some member changes in Deranged during the years we have been around because of personal differences and stuff like that you know.. In the end of last year we kicked Dan ( bass) out and our singer Johan Anderberg took over the bass so now days Deranged have become a trio with Rikard Wermèn(drums) Johan Axelsson(guitar) Johan Anderberg(vocals, bass).

3. Please tell us more about your demo tape "….The Confession Of A Necrophile" from 1992.

Soon after the formation of Deranged we was recorded our first and only demo "...the confession of a necrophile" that includes 4 songs and that was almost every thing we had at that time. Well we knew we had to record that demo to start spreading our name in the underground scene as I think we did because we actually sold quite much of that demo.

4. Please tell us more about your '7 "…..The Confessions Continues" from 1993.

Soon after the demo was out a Japanese label Obliteration rec. gave us a deal for a 7" single, that should include the whole demo but we decided that we just want to release 3 of the songs from the demo and that we should re-record those songs for the line up has changed during that time. So the line up was Rikard (drums) Johan (Guitar)Jean-Paul (bass) Per (Vocals) at that time..

5.....and the '7 "Upon The Medical Slab" from 1994.

During the ´93 we should record a couple of singles that never have been released instead of that Repulse rec. released those songs as our first mini CD " Architects of perversions". Exactly one year after the first single was released, a German label M.M.I rec. released our second 2 songs 7" single called "Upon the medical slab". We should have done a 7" single for that label a cupola of month before as well, but it never end up because when M.M.I rec. ordered our first 7" single "the confessions continue" the customs in Germany have take one of the package of our single, they also wisit that guy that runs M.M.I rec. and confiscate all our singles that have been sent to them at that time, just because of the lyrics and shit like that. It was also meant that we should have done a gig in that area of Germany but we had to cancel that gig because of that single thing.

6. Why did you sign on Repulse Records ?

We get a deal for our mini CD " Architects of perversions " from Drowned Prod. former Repulse rec.. that was our first contact with Repulse rec. well they released "Architects of perversions" in ´93 or something like that. I think they handle that mini pretty good would I say. After some years we came in contact with them again this time they send us a deal for full length CD, and at that time we had just recorded a mimi CD for the German label Invasion rec. You see they never released that mini CD because one week before we should enter the studio he told us that we should record a full length CD and that was impossible in that short time, to re book the studio and write at least 5 more songs and so on. So we was looking for a label that could released that Mini CD as well and Repulse showed there interest even in that release so that's why... There is a bonus CD on the first 2000 copies of Rated-X and a MCD called Sculpture Of The Dead.

7. Please tell us more about the "Architects Of Perversion" MCD, the "Sculpture Of The Dead" MCD and the "Rated X" CD.

Well, the "Architects..." mini CD was our first MCD and what I know is that it sold quite much actually. I also know that it helped us allot to spread our name in the underground scene, so we hooked up for even two more releases with Repulse rec. the two other was at first our full length CD "Rated-X and as a bonus CD at the first 2000 copies they include our second MCD "Sculpture of the dead". Later on, that one was even released by it's own some year after those 2000 copies was sold out. We wasn't on Repulse rec. anymore at that time so we didn't like the idea because it should only be that bonus record and nothing more. >From the beginning the bonus MCD should be a 3" CD, but I don't know what happen with that you know. "Rated-X" is our first full length CD I would never thought that Rated-X would receive such an great response as it did. Once again we had problem with our lyrics, this time on the Rated-X album, no one would press the CD because of the lyrics and the pictures in the booklet and so on, so everything delayed, finally they find a company that did press it but everything delayed once a cupola of month you know. By the way we also shoot our first video clip with the song "Killing Spree" from Rated-X, that was aired numerous of times on MTV / In to the pit , Viva TV , Z-TV, Atomic ... I've been told that MTV and allot of other TV stations around world sill showing it. Notice that we paid the video and everything our self and it was we and not Repulse that made it possible for MTV and the other stations to get it and show it.

8. Why did you leave Repulse Records and join Regain Records ???

I must say that our deal with Repulse was only for one record and we have been offered a much better deal from Regain rec. than the one Repulse rec. offered us, and beside that it was some big disagreement's at the end of our co-operation, The whole thing start with that one of the guy of Wrong Again rec. was shown a big interest in Deranged and just before we make a deal whit them they split up in two labels, so we had to decide witch one of the label to choose, and we choose Regain rec. everything should bee the same as Wrong Again when it comes to distribution and so on. But our choice was totally wrong again ha.ha... I know now that the other part/label is allot better you can at least find their releases and shit like that you know..

9. Please tell us more about the "High On Blood" CD from 1997.

So you know that we have released a CD with that name ha,ha?? Yeah !! you see our second full length CD "High on Blood" was released `97 and the line up was at that time Rikard (drums), Johan ( guitar) Dan (bass) Fredrik (vocals). We signed up with Regain rec. in the start everything worked out pretty good we made a new video clip for the song (Eroti) kill short time after the "High on Blood" was released every thing fucked up I don't really know what happened, the distribution was really bad I also know that there is allot of distributors if not all that have tried to get the "High On Blood" but with no result. There was no promotion at all for that release so I'm really shocked that it have sold that much that it actually have.

10. As far as I understand; the co-operation with Deranged and your fellow countrymen in Regain Records did not work out. What happened ?

The problem is that it didn't happened anything and, lot of things haven't really been followed up and so you know, that was the start of the disagreements, as I said before there is allot of distributors that have tried to get the "High on Blood" without result, some of the distributors have even contact us fore some copies because they on Regain rec. didn't answer the fax with orders and shit like that. I know by my self that they are very hard to get in touch with for an example, we was on a 4 weeks tour last year with Dying Fetus and Defaced Creation and we should try to get CD's fore the tour, I think that we tried to get them in over a month or something like that, we finally get in touch with them and the CD's, but we had to called them every day to get them you know, I don't think that is a serious way to run a label, do you?? (definitely not -ed)

11. Why did you join Listenable Records ?

You see, all those disagreements with Regain rec. have to end in some way so we start to look for another label and there was allot of labels that was showing their interest for Deranged but Listenable rec. offered us the best deal at the time so the choice was quite simple. I also think that Listenable rec. is a good label with good promotion and distribution and all that kind of stuff. What I also know is that they set up tours for the bands that are signed for them and stuff like that you know. The touring is best way to spread your name, it therefore you start playing in a band. So if there is someone out there that will set up any tours for us pleas contact us !!!

12. Your new album "III" are to be released later this summer. Please tell us more about this album. For example the recording, the writing process and the featured tracks.

Yeah! our new 13 songs CD "III" will actually bee out in October if every things went out as planed you know. Just to mention some of the songs that will bee featured on this disc: "Ripped Raped Randomized", " Consume Excrete Dwell", "Trill Kill", "Compulsive Urge To Kill" and so on.. We was recording this one in the Berno Studio as well, I think that Berno Studio is the best studio in Sweden when it comes to brutal death metal, the recording went out really good and fast actually we was finish after 11 days with mix and every thing.
And about writing the songs for the new album. you know I've always writing all song together with Rikard I just show him a riff and if it's good we keep it and shit like that.
Then we arrange it together as well. When it comes to lyrics, Rikard writes 98% of all of lyrics no days, the other 2% of the lyrics on the new CD are made buy our new vocalist and bass player Johan Anderberg.

13. Looking back on your impressive back- catalogue; how would you compare all your releases with your new album "III" ?

You see I think that you can hear differences in all our releases. I can say that the new CD is far more intense, tighter, brutal, sicker... than any of previous stuff that Deranged have released in my opinion, something fore all gore / death freaks. Keep your eyes open and be sure to check it out. We have always more or less been playing the same type of death metal so no trends and so on could change the way we are playing this is the shit we like to do it jut comes natural fore us.

14. Is it just my whisky infested brain or has actually "III" a lot more groovy riffs and songs than the previous Deranged releases ?

Thanks allot!! Yeah I actually think that there is allot more groovy riffs my self on the new disc if you compare it to the previous stuff. I also think that the whole production is the heaviest and the most extreme work we ever have done. Our new singer / bass player is also doing a real killer work on the new CD!! So check it out!!

15. Deranged (and Vomitory) is very different from the rest of the Swedish Death Metal scene when it comes to sound and lyrics. What is your view on the Swedish Death Metal sound ?

I must say that I think it has to do with all that kind of black metal/ melodic/atmospheric stuff going on especially here in Sweden in fact I think it sucks!! But I have notice that we have some new acts from Sweden who are playing more brutal death metal. So I guess that the trend whit all that black metal/ melodic/ atmospheric stuff are on it's way out. I have also notice that when we are playing around Europe you will see allot more people showing up for the shows now days than for just one year so it's a good Sign isn't it? (yes, indeed -ed).

16. Deranged are one of the bands that has been credited with the rebirth of the Death Metal scene again after some miserable years when Black Metal dominated everything. What is your view on today's European Death Metal scene ?

I know what you mean!! But I must say that there have always been a true crowd for brutal death metal that never wimped out when the trend with all that black metal / melodic / atmospheric stuff start in the middle of 90'th. I can't understand why all those melodic / atmospheric bands call them selves for death metal, you see when I heard Terrorizer, Napalm Death, Carcass in the late 80´'th and in the beginning of 90'th everything should be as brutal extreme and sick as possible , you know.
I will say that the death metal scene in Europe is allot better than before and I think that it will become more and more brutal death metal around Europe from now on.

17. Although we will cover Murder Corporation in dept with an own interview later this year; please tell us more about this band and the difference between Deranged and Murder Corporation.

I must say that what we are doing with Murder Corporation is quite far away from what we do with Deranged it's more old school death metal without grind and so on. the lyrics / arrangements are far from that we are doing with Deranged they are still brutal but in a another way, as a bonus everyone in the bad wear black skimasks during the live performance and in photo sessions to keep it as far away from Deranged as possible you know. You have to bye a CD or see us live to understand what I mean.

18. Except from Murder Corporation; are any members of Deranged involved in other bands/projects ???

You see when we start Murder Corporation 3/4 of Deranged was also involved in Murder Corporation It was Rikard(drums), Johan(guitar), Dan (Bass), Jens (vocals).
Then Jens quit, and our new vocalist is Johan Anderberg, so when we kicked out Dan (bass) in Deranged we also kicked him out of Murder Corporation and Johan Anderberg took his place even in Murder Corporation so now days it's the same members in Deranged as in Murder Corporation.

19. To wrap the whole thing up; what is your plans for the rest of 1999 and next year ??

The rest of this year we will tour as much as we can fore the new CD so we working and trying to set up one tour in September, October and November and we will se what's happened after that. and about next year of course we will try to tour as much as possible even though, and we will write new material for our coming CD, we already have six new songs, so I hope that we can release that in the end of next year.
20. Anything you want to add to this interview ?

Keep on shocking and stay Deranged!!!!
I would like to thank you for doing the interview with us, your support is really appreciated! Write us and take care!! and be sure to check out our new CD "lll" !!


Deranged

John Axlesson
Lingongatan 36
234 43 LOMMA
SWEDEN
E-mail: johanderanged@gamma.telenordia.se