The Man With The Golden Riffs - An Interview with Thomas Andersson from KAMCHATKA

Kamchatka have been playing their blend of Hard Rock/Blues Rock/Stoner Rock vibes for 14 years now. Since then they've released a string of acclaimed albums with their latest album and 6th overall – Long Road Made Of Gold – being their most diverse and hard rocking yet.

Last year the band released their acclaimed 5th album – The Search Goes On – which we rate very highly here at Sludgelord HQ. I interviewed Thomas from the band back in May 2014 and I've been given the honour once again to interview Thomas (Lead Vox/Guitars) and see how are things with Kamchatka.

So let’s get started.

1 - Hi Thomas. Good catching up with you again. How are things with you today. Thanks for doing this.

-Thomas: Hi Steve and Sludgelord ! All good here and Kamchatka is feeling stronger than ever.

2 – Before we start talking about your new album – Long Road Made Of Gold. Can we talk about the last 18 months or so for Kamchatka as your last album maybe of been your most successful to date. As it won a ton of great reviews and got you noticed with a few more people. Did it surprise you the response to your last album.

-Thomas: Well we knew that we had made a good album with “The Search Goes On” but we didn’t expect the great words from around the world and of course we are very grateful for the warm welcome that it received.

3 – What have been the highlights over the last 18 months or so.

-Thomas: There are many but we have had a really good time touring and growing together, also recording and releasing “Long Road Made Of Gold” and meeting new audience !

4 – Looking back on the last album – Would you change anything about it. Or are you happy with the way it is.

-Thomas: We are happy with it just the way it is.

5 – Now we have to talk about your new album. Wow – what an album that is. Even better than your last record. What can people expect from the new album.

-Thomas: Well I guess that “Long Road Made Of Gold” continues where “The Search Goes On” ended, fuelled with a bit more heavy tunes but still with the same vibe and energy.

6 – I'm surprised you've came out with a new album so soon after your last record. Only 15 months since The Search Goes On was released. Did you plan on taking a break after touring commitments for promoting the last album were completed.

-Thomas: No we never planned anything really we just kept writing music, touring and recording in between tours and all of a sudden a new album was born. Breaks are boring

7 – How soon did you plan on recording – Long Road Made Of Gold – during last year. And was it an easy album to write and record for.

-Thomas: We just decided to record when we had enough music to record and it was really easy to write and record “Long Road Made Of Gold” because we were so inspired from all the positive energy we got from touring and from all the wonderful reviews of “The Search goes On”.

8 – Did you do anything differently when recording this album compared to the last album.

-Thomas: Yes, on the previous album, Per Wiberg was the executive producer and on this new album he was a full time member as bass player and 2nd vocalist and that changed the way we worked together, forming the songs to final versions, maybe a little bit more team effort.

9 – What I dig most about the album is while the Kamchatka sound is still familiar on the album. You've still managed to make it sound so different and exciting as well. Was that your plan to try something different. It features some of your heaviest material to date.

-Thomas: Yes, we decided early on that we wanted the new album to sound different to “The Search Goes On”, not that we don’t like the way that album sounds - it’s more that we always want to push the band in new directions both with the music and the way it sounds like on an album and that is the reason why we wanted Russ Russell to do the mix and master, to evolve and extend the sound of the band.

10 – What influenced you when recording this album. It seems Kamchatka are a lot more angrier which I loved. Or am I looking way too much into the music.

-Thomas: When Per joined, we moved closer rock music than before cause he is all about rock and that is what I like with Kamchatka, that we can tune in to the different elements of different genres yet still sound like ourselves. Angrier? I don’t know. Maybe frustrated sometimes, it’s a tough business ;)

11 – You've performed a lot more gigs over the last 12 months or so. Have you noticed your live shows becoming more popular as I have a few friends who seen you guys last year in concert and they never heard of you guys. But you won them over in the end.

-Thomas: Yes, we have toured more lately and that has always been our main goal, to be on the road. I guess that the more you are out there, the more people notice you and in the end new ears attend the concerts, also I think we are a better live act these days than before.

12 – So why did you call the new album – Long Road Made Of Gold. Does it have a specific meaning to you individually or as a band.

-Thomas: “Long Road Made Of Gold” is the “Long Road” as a travelling musician and the music is the “Gold”.

13 – Will you be doing a major tour for the album. If so which parts of the world will you be visiting.

-Thomas: We will start with festivals such as Freak Valley Festival (Germany), Atomic Rooster Summer Jam (Sweden), Zwarte Cross, Lichtenvoorde (Netherlands), City Rock, Leeuwarden (Netherlands), Culemborg Blues, Culemborg, (Netherlands). Then we will tour in different ways through September, October, November, December - plans are being made as we speak.

14 – Well Thomas, thanks for doing this. Before you go. Do you have anything to say to your fans.

-Thomas: Yes, I would like to salute all of you rockers out there and thank you for tuning in to Kamchatka, without you guys there would be no Kamchatka !!!!!!!!

Well Thomas, all the best with the new album. It's a killer record. Thanks. Steve.

-Thomas: Thank you Steve ! My pleasure

I want to thank Thomas for taking out the time to to talk to us at Sludgelord HQ. Thanks to Brian at Fresno Media for arranging this interview

Long Road Made Of Gold is available to buy on CD/Vinyl now through Despotz Records.

For More Information

Official | Facebook

KAMCHATKA - Long Road Made Of Gold (Album Review)

Kamchatka

Long Road Made Of Gold

Despotz Records

22 May 2015

The songs:

1. Take Me Back Home

2. Get Your Game On

3. Made Of Gold

4. Human Dynamo

5. Rain

6. Who's To Blame

7. Mirror

8. Slowly Drifting Away

9. Long Road

10. To You

The band:

Thomas "Juneor" Andersson - vocals, guitars

Tobias Strandvik - drums

Per Wiberg - bass guitar, keyboards, vocals

Review:

I first came in touch with Kamchatka when they opened up for Clutch at Sticky Fingers in Gothenburg, Sweden, back in 2007. They blew everyone away that night, yours truly included, and I've followed them ever since. I mean, how could I not. Mixing 60's rock'n'roll with 70's heavy rock and blues amongst other styles, the band is a cut above the rest. After all, very few bands can translate their live sound to studio albums but my fellow Swedes does this with such ease.

The new album 'Long Road Made Of Gold' follows hot on the heels of 2014's ground breaker 'The Search Goes On', and is a perfect and natural extension/progression of that recording. Even more so, as Per Wiberg, who joined Kamchatka on bass guitar prior to last year's release, fits in so well. It's discernable on 'The Search Goes On' but now he has been even more involved and this "new" collaboration works wonder.

A frantic but wonderful banjo solo kickstarts opener 'Take Me Back Home' and right from the start, the band shows why they are so damned good. A mid-paced bluesy progressive track, it leaves me with a shit-eating grin on my face. Tobias Strandvik is one hell of a drummer and the stuff he pulls off right away, leaves that smile of mine even bigger. And that thumping, deep sound of Per Wiberg's bass knocks the breath out of me. What is there to say about frontman Thomas "Juneor"Andersson? A guitar wizard indeed and one hell of a singer! He reminds me so much of a young bluesy Glenn Hughes and I love it!

Next up is one of my favourite tracks, 'Get Your Game On' and you better put on your dance shoes for it. I keep bopping and hopping around like a madman on the loose, playing air guitar to THOSE riffs. Man, Juneor is on fire, just listen to the guitar solo. Groove, groove and more is the deal on 'Made Of Gold'. Tobias is playing a shuffle with Per backing him up elegantly. All of a sudden they switch into proper blues mode as Juneor tears it up on the axe. Brilliant, you hear! Those riffs people, those riffs! 'Human Dynamo' is filled with them turning the song into a stomper of a rocker. Kamchatka explodes right from the get-go and they tear it up...well that is an understatement, but you get my drift and yes, this is another of my favourites. Slowing things down with the beautiful 'Rain', the feel of Glenn Hughes can't be stronger and I love it.

'Who's To Blame' is pounding me into the ground without mercy. It's a kind of dark heavy stomper where the band pulls out all the stops to shatter my bones to dust. Starting off slowish, it builds up and builds up until I'm beaten to a bloody pulp...amazing y'all! Back to the groove and wearing dance shoes, 'Mirror' has got me bouncing off the walls since I really can't dance but who cares. Fan-fucking-tastic people, this is how it should be, damn it! Oh yeah, this is heavy blues at it's very best...I'm talking about 'Slowly Drifting Away'. It's trippy, heavy and progressive all rolled into one and marinated for days in a kettle of acid-tinged early 70's blues.

Kamchatka are not cutting any corners, instead they open floodgates and let their beauty wash over me. An eerie slide guitar straight from the heart of the delta blues, starts off 'Long Road' before Juneor starts to sing. A soft bass line and percussions backs him up throughout with the pace picking up slightly during the solo. 'To You' ends the album and is the "odd" one out being more modern in it's appearance. It has the band's trademark sound as it's foundation but is more of a present day rocker. Despite the off-kilter presentation, it is a very good song and fits in perfectly well with the rest of the songs.

Their previous album, 'The Search Goes On' has been a big favourite of mine since it's release, so I was curious to see if Kamchatka could emulate and move on further with 'Long Road Made Of Gold'. And yes, hell yes, they can and then some. Like I said in the beginning, it's the perfect and natural continuation of it's predecessor. And I love it when great bands keeps evolving without any seemingly difficulties. They just write and record new stuff and won't rehash old ideas. Kamchatka is a forerunner with that putting them in the top ranks of fantastic bands.

Words by Håkan Nyman

Thanks to Brian at Fresno Media for the promo. Long Road Made Of Gold is available to buy on CD/Vinyl now through Despotz Records.

For More Information

Official | Facebook

Interview with Thomas Andersson from KAMCHATKA

Today's guest is part of one of Sweden's best known Hard Rock/Blues Rock/Stoner Rock Power Trio's – KAMCHATKA – who have been playing a hell of a racket since 2001.

Over the course of their 13 year career they have released 5 acclaimed albums with the latest being their newest album – The Search Goes On.

Sludgelord resident Swedish Team Member – Hakan – recently reviewed about this album and raved on about it saying: “I'm getting so many flashbacks listening to 'The Search Goes On' because this is the stuff I grew up on but with a modern twist, and I mean that in the best possible way. Having been raised on Thin Lizzy, UFO, Deep Purple, Ten Years After as well as blues aficionados like Lightnin' Hopkins, Kamchatka comes across like a breath of fresh air.

If I close my eyes I'm transported back to my childhood room where countless hours were spent listening and dissecting the albums I loved growing up. Most of which I still love. So to discover a band like Kamchatka who takes the old with the new, blends them together and like a alchemist make gold, is a revelation. More of this please...it's fantastic!”

It's my honour to be talking to Thomas Andersson. Lead vox and guitarist of KAMCHATKA.

Q1 – Hi Thomas. Thanks for doing this. How are things with you today.

Thomas - Hi Steve, things are great over here, just finished a 5 days rehearsal with the band before heading to Germany for some festival dates.

Q2 – Can you tell our readers a brief history on how the band started and where it is today.

Thomas – Ok, here we go ;) We started in 2000 by doing a Jimi Hendrix tribute show to celebrate the legendary Jimi in our home town Varberg/Sweden, then in 2001 we did that show on the same date again September 18 (Jimi’s tragic day of passing away). The first show was with a bass player named Lars Glendell and the second show with bass player Roger Öjersson who became a member of what would become Kamchatka. After that second Hendrix tribute show, myself, Toby and Roger decided to go all in with our own music and after playing lots of shows in Sweden 2001- 2005, we released our debut album "Kamchatka" on Grooveyard Records (New York) and by then the game was full on and we started to get noticed in the blues rock circuit.

In 2007, we released "Kamchatka vol 2", also on Grooveyard, did more and more shows and we got to play 3 concerts in Sweden supporting Clutch from US, also we got great reviews of the 2nd album and then in 2008, we where invited by Clutch to support them on 23 shows in US, that tour was a blast, we got many great live reviews and sold 700 albums (Thank you CLUTCH !!). 2009 and time for a new album, this time "Kamchatka vol 3" on Swedish label, Superpuma Records.

As we moved along we did more and more shows, great reviews where ever we went and the 3rd album got noticed in Rolling Stone and if I remember right we made it to #53 in a poll at the magazine for best cover version of "Whipping Post” by Allman Brothers (Sean Paul Gaster from Clutch on 2nd drums on our studio version).We did a long European tour with Clutch and Kylesa plus started to get more and more headline shows outside Sweden as well :).

Moving forward to 2011 and our 4th album "Bury Your Roots" released on GMR Records in Sweden. This 4th album became a door opener towards a more wider press and audience we toured more with Clutch and by 2012 we played bigger festivals in Europe (Download UK,Burg Herzberg DE and many smaller festivals in Netherlands Germany and more), and started working with Jazzhaus booking in Germany.

By this time Roger wanted out of the band to pursue his own career as the fine guitar player he is, so we worked with different bass players during 2012 until we landed smoothly with our present bass player and full-time member Per Wiberg (ex Opeth, Spiritual Beggars, Candlemass and more) which leads us to 2014 and our 5th album "The Search Goes On" released on Despotz Records in Sweden. Here we are now, full with self confidence, good friends and we are looking forward to what the future has to offer for the band. I would like to thank everyone who have supported us and believed in us over the years and i hope that you will continue to do so :)

Q3 – How would you describe your sound as you pack a lot of different noises into the mix.

Thomas - We have always been curious with what we do and we really like to explore what we can find outside the framework and I guess that reflects on our albums.

Q4 – How did you become involved with music.

Thomas - Well I come from a music family and I did my first "real" show at the age of 9, started to play the guitar at the age of 7.

Q5 – Where did the name KAMCHATKA come from. And why that particular name.

Thomas - Before KAMCHATKA we were called "SHRIMP MONKEY" but our label at the time (2005 Grooveyard Records) didn't like that name ;) So we had some brain storming and came to the idea that if our music was a place on earth what would that place look like, so we came across the Russian peninsula KAMCHATKA with it's crazy nature features, hot and cold, volcanoes, sulfur lakes, vast forests, wild and calm at the same time like our music, so since 2005 we are KAMCHATKA

Q6 – Your new album has been released for a few months now. Have you been surprised by the reviews it has received so far. Got some fantastic reviews already.

Thomas - Correct Steve, the new album "The Search Goes On" has been out for about 3 months. We knew that we had a really good album but we never take anything for granted but of course we are super happy and proud of the fine words and positive development as we speak.

Q7 – Was it a hard or easy album to write and record for.

Thomas - When Roger left the band, I got very weary considering that me and Roger had shared the load writing music on 4 albums but after some time I just said to myself that I have to try my best before throwing in the towel so to speak and as the music evolved in my head during 2013 myself confidence grew and with Per Wiberg as the producer of the album and Toby behind the drums it worked out great and now I know that I can do it :) (together with the boys, of course).

Q8 – Which bands and artists influenced you as musicians. Any particular band or album that stand out.

Thomas - Wow, there are so many sources of inspiration but for me as a blues guitar player, I would say BB King, Albert King, Freddie King, Johnny Winter, Eric Clapton, Derek Trucks, Warren Haynes, Stevie and Jimmie Vaughan, Gregg Allman, Billy Gibbons, Tim Sult, and for the band we listen to a lot of diverse music such as jazz, early funk, metal, hard rock, rap, electronic, reggae, punk, rock'n roll, hardcore metal, etc etc etc ...

Q9 – Love the album cover. Who designed the cover and how much input did you have with overall design.

Thomas - All artwork since day 1 is made by the wonderful Mr. Per Wiberg (bass, backing vocals, artwork). It's 100% his ideas that you see on our covers and merchandise.

Q10 – What is the song-writing process in the band. Is it down to one individual or is it a group collective.

Thomas - Roger and I shared the load of writing the music for our first 4 albums and I wrote all of the material on "The Search Goes On"

Q11 – How big of a help has the Doom/Sludge/Stoner Metal community been in promoting your music.

Thomas - It's been extremely important to us that the word's been spreading through these networks such as Sludgelord for example over the years, we salute you !!

Q12 – You have been doing KAMCHATKA for 13 years now. Did you think it would last this long.

Thomas - I have never thought about considering Kamchatka in those terms. Music has been my life since I was 7 years old and my dream has always been to be part of a band that dared to go over the cliff so to speak both musically and personally and I found that in Kamchatka and we keep getting stronger and stronger as the years go by :) And I can say that we have a lot more to take care of before we die ;)

Q13 – What have been your fondest and happiest memories with the band.

Thomas - In no particular order: the first Kamchatka album, the first big tour with Clutch in the US, Per Wiberg joining the band, "The Search Goes On" album, Download festival and the music we have written over the years.

Q14 – What is your musical set-up when playing live or recording your music. Any hints and tips would you like to give to the budding musicians out there.

Thomas - We are quite basic, the most important thing you need you find in your heart and soul, if you have that you can play on a rock or record on a donkey’s ass.

Q15 – We are massive Vinyl Heads here at Sludgelord. Are you vinyl fans yourselves.

Thomas - Big Time !! And the nerdiest of the vinyl nerds in the Kamchatka camp is Wiberg :)

Q16 – Sweden has such a brilliant reputation for providing so many great bands across different genres. What is your country's great secret and how is the Blues Rock/Stoner Rock scene perceived in Sweden. Do you play a lot of gigs in your own country.

Thomas - We get that question a lot and I don't have a clue but we have a history of many successful bands and that always inspire more and more bands to push their music and careers. The funny thing is that Swedish bands including us, we play much, much more in other countries than our own but we are no more 9 million Swedes over here so I guess that that's the reason, I don't know really

Q17 – What is your verdict on the whole crowd-funding scene. Where bands ask fans to fund their next album. Are you a fan of that platform. Would yourselves ever go down this route.

Thomas - I'm not a fan of that idea really, endorsement deals are one thing for a band but begging' isn't my cup of tea. I get the idea but for me business is business and private is private.

Q18 – If you could choose an album from your band's catalogue. What would it be and why. Or is this too hard of a question to answer.

Thomas - Hard question yes, but I would say our latest because it is such a victory for myself that I manage to go through all my inner conflicts and lacking self confidence since Roger left and come out on the other side together with Per and Toby and "The Search Goes On" album, puh !

Q18 – If you could give any advice to someone wanting to start a band. What would it be.

Thomas - If you feel that you HAVE TO do it, do it and do it hard and never turn back. If you feel that you don't HAVE TO do it, then don't.

Q19 – The last thing before you go, Do you have anything else to say to your fans.

Thomas - Yes ! Hello guys ! We are super glad to have you with us, without you, problem, with you, no problem ;) ROCK ON AND HOPE WE MEET SOONER THAN LATER !

Well Thomas, Thanks to talking to us here at Sludgelord HQ. All the best with the album release.

Thomas - Thank you Sludgelord, rock on !! Best regards, Thomas ‘Juneor’ Andersson and KAMCHATKA

I want to thank Thomas for talking to us here at Sludgelord HQ. And Brian at Fresno Media for arranging this interview.

Check The Band From Links Below

Official

Facebook

Written by Steve Howe

KAMCHATKA - The Search Goes On - Album Review

Kamchatka

The Search Goes On

Despotz Records

19 February 2014

The songs:

1. Somedays

2. Tango Decadence

3. Coast To Coast

4. Son Of The Sea

5. Broken Man

6. Pressure

7. Cross The Distance

8. Thank You For Your Time

9. Dragons

10. The Search Goes On

The band:

Thomas"Juneor"Andersson - vocals and guitar

Tobias Strandvik - drums

Per Wiberg - bass guitar, vocals, keyboards

I first came across these fine Swedish gentlemen by pure coincidence back in 2007. They opened up for Clutch and The Sword on a couple of Swedish gigs and I happened to be present when the tour package hit the club Sticky Fingers in Gothenburg. Everybody, yours truly included, were blown away by Kamchatka's exceptional talent and their knack for creating sweet tones. As fantastic as they were then, I have to sadly admit I lost track of them. A million reasons can be given for that but that's beside the point because Kamchatka are back in my life with a truly amazing new album, 'The Search Must Go On'.

Having lost longtime bassist, singer and songwriter Roger Örjesson since the last album, 'Bury Your Roots' has clearly not affected the band negatively as his replacement, Per Wiberg, fits in perfectly with his deep thunderous bass playing. Wiberg, formerly with Opeth, has assisted the band on previous releases playing keyboards and organs but upon becoming a fulltime member he switched to the four-string axe.

Taking their cue from 60's and 70's heavy blues, stoner rock and psychedelica infused with touch of heavy-ass rock, this power trio mesmerizes me track through track and with each spin new angles presents themselves. To me that's because the guys seem so relaxed and confident in what they are doing and since they have the talent to match, the songs are so organic, free-flowing and absolutely stunning.

The newly formed rhythm section fires on all cylinders giving frontman "Juneor" free reign at the guitar and you can tell how much he loves that. The stuff he pulls off is truly inspiring. Whether it's chugging riffs via groove to wailing guitar solos his excellene shines brightly...add to this his excellent voice and you have a flawless combination! The man sounds like Glenn Hughes in his prime but with a more bluesy feel and he sends chills down my spine when he hits the high notes all while making his guitar cry. Regardless of your musical preferences this is just about as good as it gets folks...that's all I'm saying!

I'm getting so many flashbacks listening to 'The Search Goes On' because this is the stuff I grew up on but with a modern twist, and I mean that in the best possible way. Having been raised on Thin Lizzy, UFO, Deep Purple, Ten Years After as well as blues afficinados like Lightnin' Hopkins, Kamchatka comes across like a breath of fresh air. If I close my eyes I'm transported back to my childhood room where countless hours were spent listening and dissecting the albums I loved growing up. Most of which I still love. So to discover a band like Kamchatka who takes the old with the new, blends them together and like a alchemist make gold, is a revelation. More of this please...it's fantastic!

Håkan Nyman

Thanks to Brian at Fresno Media for sending ourselves a promo of this excellent album to review. The Search Goes On will be avialable to buy from Despotz Records from Feb 19^th 2014.

Check The Band From Links Below

Official

Facebook