An upcoming album release is always a time of uncertainty. What emotions are dominant for you right now: relief that the material is finished, or perhaps anxiety about how the fans will receive it?

Well, it is mainly excitement. We know we have done our best and we love the album. Of course, there would be nice if everyone also would like it. The first song has already been released and so far, the comments have been great which is a big positive and maybe a bit of a clue to how the rest of the album will be received. 

In the music industry, people sometimes speak of "sophomore slump" or the pressure surrounding a follow-up album. Did you feel pressured to surpass your previous achievements, or did you completely shut out external expectations while creating the new material?


No one wants to do an album that is less good than the previous of course but we don´t feel that pressured about it. We always start on a blank paper and create the albums from there. Our aim has always been to make another Sorcery album. You need to hear it and recognize the band without us repeating us and making the same album twice. I think we have developed through the years but still kept the Sorcery vibe from the past.


"The Immaculate Sin" — the title of your new album — is set for release this October. Which producers or sound engineers did you work with on this material, and how did they influence the final sound and clarity of the new tracks?


We went into Overlook with William Blackmon on the controls for the recording of the drums. We then recorded all the other stuff at Whiskey Burn Studio by ourselves. When all the recordings were done, we brought it back to William and he mixed and mastered the album. It was the first time we used him and the result was better than we ever could have had imagined. 


The cover art and title of the upcoming album are the first things fans will encounter. How deeply are these elements rooted in your lyrics? Does the album's visual aspect tell the same story as the music?


This cover as well at the one on the previous album includes some landmarks from our hometown distorted into something from a horror movie. The kind of music we play is also in the darker vein and the cover and the title capture that. When you see that cover and hear that title you will immediately understand that none of the songs on this album will be about puppy love or bubblegum melodies. 


If you had to pick one quote or line from the upcoming album that perfectly captures its message, what would it be?


Oh, that is a hard one… I guess the words that are screamed in the intro of the song Terminate would sum it up pretty well: "Let´s fucking go!"


And if you had to choose one track from the new album to win over someone who has never heard of Sorcery before, which one would you pick first?


Another hard question. It´s difficult to rate your darlings. But if I had to choose one it might be the last song, Die in retribution. It got everything and you somehow feel runover when it stops. Ask me tomorrow and it might be another…



Since your comeback in 2009, you’ve released three studio albums. "The Immaculate Sin" will be special, as it marks the band's 40th anniversary. It’s a great opportunity to take stock. Forty years have passed—how do you assess your journey so far? Did things turn out the way you originally envisioned, or could—and should—they have gone much better?


First of all, no one could have expected that we would sit here 40 years after we founded the band. We all had dreams and hopes in the beginning but reality took us another way. There were times when we got pretty fed up with the band and the constant line-up changes and we had a very long break. Since we got together again there also have been ups and downs but now, we are in a very happy spot. We are all very good friends and enjoy every minute of what we are doing. We have been much better on taking care of the band than we did before and it really have paid off.


Since I’ve brought up the topic of your age, I’m curious: do you follow the young music scene? Which recently debuted band has made the biggest impression on you?


I don´t really listen to much new music but there have actually been a upswing for the death metal scene here in Sweden. A lot of young kids have started band and they play lost of places, making demos and stuff. Keeps the scene healthy.


As we’ve mentioned, Sorcery’s career spans quite a history. So, imagine you could play a concert for an audience made up entirely of historical or literary figures. Who would have to be sitting in the front row for you to feel truly proud?


Well, I am pretty much into history and especially ancient roman stuff. Would be interesting to play in front of the senate and the emperor and see how long they would stand until they throw us into the mines.


What is your most irrational fear or superstition regarding studio work—something that might seem like a joke but that you take deadly seriously?


I don´t think we have any of those irrational fears. We are more scared that something would break, like a hard-drive, or something so that all out work is destroyed. 


And finally, let’s end on a lighter note. If Sorcery could launch its own brand of product completely unrelated to music, what would it be, and what would the slogan be?


Maybe some kind of beer or something. I know everybody else is doing it so it might not be the most entertaining answer. Maybe under the moniker "Bloodchilling Ales"?