1. Hello please introduce yourselves to the readers?
I am Linnea Landstedt, singer and guitarist in the thrash metal band Tyranex. We are from Sweden and I was involved in starting the band already in 2005 and am the only member left since then.
2. When did you first discover speed and thrash metal music and who were the first bands and artists that you listened to? Who are some of the current bands that have caught your attention?
It was in my teenage years that I started listening to heavy metal and it didn't take very long until I found the thrash metal genre. It was mostly Megadeth and Kreator that I listened to, but I got hooked on the European thrash rather than the American and that influenced my early attempts to write heavier songs. A newer band that I noticed a few years ago is Phrenetix who I think are worth mentioning.
3. What is it about these genres that you enjoy so much? Besides speed and thrash metal do you listen to any other metal genres? If yes what are some of your favourite genres and bands?
I like the intensity and sense of youthful anger in thrash. It is energetically exhausting to listen to and to play. It requires precision and stamina and it's damn fun to play thrash metal on guitar. I've always liked playing riffs instead of chords and challenging myself to sing to the riffs. But it doesn't have to be complicated all the way through. It is important that the songs also have good melodies, whether it is in vocals or guitar/bass.
I love Iron Maiden, they remain the greatest for me. I am very influenced by heavy metal when I write songs. Early Tyranex was meant to be a mix of Angel Witch and Sentinel Beast but we quickly moved on to writing harder songs.
4. Tyranex was started in 2005, what gave you all the idea to start this band? How did you choose Tyranex as the name of the band?
Yes, we started Tyranex late that year. Then it was me and a girl named Paloma who started the band. It was she who suggested the name of the band. At that time I was in another band but we played more rock than metal. I had always wanted to play harder music and was looking for others who wanted to do the same, so Tyranex was born. The first line-up did not last long. Paloma was the singer in the beginning but she left the band only after one year and then I started singing instead.
5. What is the current line-up of the band? Who would you say are the bands biggest influences and have they remained the same over the years? For the readers unfamilar with Tyranex's music, how would you best describe it?
I play the guitar and sing, then we have Will Tomao who also plays the guitar. Martin Petersson on bass and Pontus Pettersson-Gull on drums.
We play thrash with elements of speed metal and heavy metal. It goes fast and sounds aggressive. In the beginning we were definitely more influenced by old heavy metal and the first songs were not as hard as the songs we have now. I don't think our influences have changed that much anyway since the beginning but the more songs we have written the more distinct our sound has become. I can't say that the songs on the new album have been inspired by any specific other band or genre. I have mostly sat with the guitar and tried to write good riffs and build a song from there.
6. “Reasons For The Slaughter” is the band’s newest full-length release. How long did it take to the band to write the music for the new release? How long would you say it usually takes to complete one song?
We wrote most of the songs during the summer of 2022 and worked on them in the rehearsal room during the autumn. In the winter of 2023 we started recording the album. However, some of the songs are much older. We had started writing some songs already in 2017 when we had recorded our third album. They sound a bit different now in the end, but the draft of those songs was already there. So some songs have taken several years to complete but most of the new songs are written in a few hours spread over several days. If you have something good going on, it is usually not so difficult to get on with the song.
7. Where does the band draw inspiration for the lyrics? What are some subjects written about on the new release? Which usually comes first, the music or the lyrics?
Music always comes first. During the process I sometimes think about how to organise the song, melody and rhythm. Sometimes I write lyrics long after the music and arrangements are finalised. It depends on how much inspiration I have. The songs have to be aggressive and the vocals have to be aggressive as well. I take inspiration for lyrics from different places, it can be anything from horror films to real events or something I come up with myself that fits in. Reasons for the Slaughter is not a concept album so the lyrics have no connection to each other.
8. Has Tyranex had the chance to play very many live shows over the years? What have been some of the bands most memorable shows? Who are some of your favourite bands to share the stage with?
Yes, we have been playing live since 2006. We have played everything from small local clubs to big festivals around Europe. For a while we went to Finland often and played and before the pandemic we drove down to Germany several weekends in a row to play at local metal clubs. I clearly remember some of the first really big gigs we did at festivals with a big stage. It was a challenge to fill the stage floor which was open and big compared to smaller clubs where you are crowded together on stage. Jalometalli in Finland was such a gig and Metal Assault in Germany. Also the first gigs outside Swedenhave been special. First you tour in your home country and play for family and friends. Then when you build up a small fanbase and get to go to new places and know that people have listened to your music, it's an incredible feeling. We've shared the stage with a lot of great bands, like FKÜ and Armory, who are our close friends.
9. Are there any tours or shows planned in support of “Reasons For The Slaughter”? If yes, where will the band be playing?
Yes, we are working on it. However, there are many good bands releasing records this year that also want to play. Thrash in Sweden has grown bigger in recent years and I think that's great for the future. But it also means that there will be more competition for the gigs. We hope that we can come to new places and countries and play now that we are releasing a new disc. Keep an eye on our social media for upcoming gigs.
10. Besides the “Reasons For The Slaughter” release are the band’s previous releases still available for the readers to purchase? Besides physical releases does the band have any other merchandise currently available? If yes, what is available and where can the readers purchase it?
Yes we sell our own merch and the previous records on our bandcamp. https://tyranex.bandcamp.com/
11. What does Underground Metal mean to you?
It is a living movement of its own that is so important. Rarely does anyone make money from it, band members, promoters, fanzines and others who help keep it alive. People do it because they love it and want to contribute to the scene in some way. I wish even more people would get involved and make the underground scene grow even more. I am so grateful for all the enthusiastic people we have met over the years, who have listened to our music and helped us with everything from gigs to spreading our music.
12. Tyranex comes out of Sweden's speed and thrash metal scene what is your opinion of Sweden's Metal scene over the years?
When we started the band there were many young thrash bands in Sweden, we had our own little community where everyone knew everyone and shared demos between each other. After a few years there weren't so many bands left but now it's starting to open up for thrash again. There are new bands with young guys doing a great job like Atonement, Sarcator and Eternal Evil. However, I long to see more women playing thrash. It would be incredibly fun.
13. Who are your all-time favourite bands coming out of Sweden? Are there any new bands that you could recommend to the readers?
Difficult question, we have many great bands from Sweden that are already considered legendary. Most of them are already well known. I would rather recommend people to keep their eyes open for the relatively new thrash bands I already mentioned.
14. When dp you need to take a break from working on new music and band business, what do you enjoy doing in your free time?
Right now I love going to the forest and spending time in nature. Swedish nature is amazingly beautiful and accessible. If you ever come to Sweden, get out to the forest.
15. Thank you for taking the time to fill this interview out do you have any final comments for the reader's?
Thank you and thank you for reading this. We are not braggarts but I really think the latest album we made is really good and I hope you take the time to listen to it. Stay metal! Tyranex https://tyranex.bandcamp.com/ https://www.facebook.com/tyranexofficial/ https://www.instagram.com/tyranexofficial/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFCRkWaK26kckbqv_6ZYrwQ