Meeting Tomas Lindberg and the Björler Brothers (At The Gates)
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Friday Q&A will return next week. In its place, Richard recounts unexpectedly chatting with his heroes at Maryland Deathfest. If you have a similar story about meeting an idol that either humanized the person or deepened your respect for them, feel free to share it below. Also, don’t forget to read Scab Casserole’s Tomas Lindberg interview for more from Tompa. Have a great weekend.
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The highlight of my 2014 MDF experience, other than At the Gates‘ actual set, was meeting the Björler brothers and Tomas Lindberg. Our own Joseph Schafer, also of No Clean Singing, had an interview with Anders Björler. Anders, dressed in a Dickies style workman’s shirt, offered a handshake and a nod to acknowledge me complimenting his performance the night before. We both sat down with Anders, my only role to try and listen, as he spoke very quietly. A few feet away, Scab Casserole was interviewing Tomas. Jonas Björler was present, clearly busy on his phone, but offered an unprompted handshake and quiet acceptance of me complimenting him as well.
When Scab’s interview ended, Lindberg was sitting with no phone and no one around, so I went over and started talking to him. I spoke to him as a fan — I don’t interview — but it accidentally turned into an interview of sorts. He was emphatic that we watch Dark Angel, who don’t play often and who are apparently excellent. When I confused Death Angel and Dark Angel by asking if they played songs from Act III during a recent San Francisco show, he waved off my embarrassment and said, “It’s OK, that’s easy to do.” No judgment, no sarcasm, he was just happy to share his own fandom.
Tomas has a cool sense of humor, apologizing for all the bands that have shoddily Xeroxed Slaughter of the Soul. (Again, I was speaking as a fan.) He likes Maryland weather; I was miserable already, and I’m a native.
Since he noted his age a few times with a touch of humor, I was comfortable asking whether he draws on the same sources of inspiration and emotion when writing lyrics as he did as a younger man. It turns out that he finds lyrics easier to write now. He’s read more books, experienced more of life, met a greater number of people. Because of this, things flow easier and more naturally. Less writer’s block, is the impression I got.
The Björlers ultimately came off as taciturn, almost dour; the stereotype of Scandinavian reserve and calmness. Then again, I barely spoke to them, so the small sample size caveat is in effect. Maybe it was due to jet-lag, I really don’t know. Nevertheless, they seemed like ordinary guys that, on the street, could be anyone from any band. Slap on some corpsepaint and costumes, they could’ve been Taake’s guitarists. In work shirts, they could’ve been Volvo road tractor mechanics. With their firm handshakes and reserve, I could see them in China, Armani clad, negotiating for a lower labor rate on Ericsson-LG televisions and modems.
When Tompa, by contrast, mentioned life experiences, I think there are scars, but the kind that toughen without locking up limbs. He seems happy with his time on Earth. His lyrics and performances might be exorcisms. That’s why, I suspect, if you shaved the beard, you’d find quite a set of laugh lines.
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