Stefan_Falconer

Lord Pale from the Full Metal Mayhem team swapped tales with Stefan Weinerhall, member of the power metal sensation Falconer. They chewed the fat over the Mithotyn days, perfect vocals and The Old Rover?

Hail to you Stefan, and congratulations on the new Falconer disk. I would like to firstly ask you about your first band Mithotyn, why did they break up and is it the last we will ever see of them?
[Stefan] Yes it is. We broke up after 6 years as a band mainly because I wanted something different. I felt like my material didn't get the right development and result in that band and I also wanted a change to refresh myself.

After Mithotyn disbanded, was it always going to be you and Karsten working together on the next project or did you enlist his help because of the Mithotyn days?
[Stefan] I didn't think of the drummer issue as I did the demo since I didn't know where it would lead really. The demo was appreciated and I thought of making a real band out of it and Karsten offered me his hand. It wasn't really any question about it since he was the drummer I almost always had played with and people told me that my programming on the demo reminded about his playing. So the choice wasn't hard.

When first listening to Falconer I could hear alot of Mithotyn in it, was this intentional, is Falconer just the next evolution of your old band? and was there any old Mithotyn material that got worked into the Falconer project or was it all a completely fresh start?
[Stefan] You could say that Falconer was the next step in my evolution. My intention was not really to change the music except for the melodies that became more vocal-oriented. Of course I felt more free now to make it a bit more H.M or P.M if you want, but I think that comes quite natural as you turn fast melodic deathmetal into clear vocals. I personally think I make the music just as straight from the heart as I did in Mithotyn. No material in Falconer was meant to be in Mithotyn, but some might have been written while we still was a band, but for something new. I didn't want to waste that material on a band that probably wouldn't release anything more.

A couple of songs on Falconer's debut sound very 80s inspired, for example "Hersey in Disguise' and my personal favourite 'Substitutional World'? if yes than which bands from the time have any influence on the bands sound, concept or otherwise?
[Stefan] I haven't intentionally taken any specific influence from any band, it's just a mix of what I like I guess. I would think that bands like Iron Maiden, Dio, Motley Crue, Kiss and some Swedish melodic punkrock, "sing-a-long punk" you could call it in English etc might have a slice or two to do with what I make these days although the boiling musical kettle always gets more ingredients.

Where did you find Mathias? He has such a powerful and perfect voice for Falconer's style. Was he involved in any other bands/projects prior to Falconer?
[Stefan] I found Mathias thanks to that his father have the music store here in town. It was him I asked about the vocalists in our town and he mentioned his own son. Since his background was so full of promising stuff as music schools and all kind of musicals I felt like he was the right guy for my demo. Fortunately he liked my stuff and agreed to sing on it, and the result was stunning so I was mighty satisfied with it and it seems like the labels liked it too since we got offers right away. Mathias was in to joining the band more permanently now, and I can only be thankful. This is his first band.

'The Old Rover' was a favourite of mine from the Mithotyn days.
Is there any chance of incorporating the same, deeper vocals
displayed on that song into the Falconer sound?
[Stefan] No, we will stick to what we have now. We are fully satisfied
with that allthough Karls voice had a deep good touch.

Will the new album, due out this year, keep to the original themes
and feel of the debut or will Falconer be heading into a different
direction with this release? and surprises?
[Stefan] Hmm, we've kept it in the same vein but we have broadened it. More variations in all ways, the new album is a bit slower and not as Power metally as the last. One have to head forwards to keep the glow, but we don't have any plans to change the music or lead it in some specific direction. But the evolution is constant so thereby the music will not be exactly the same from album to album.

Finally whats the word on Atryxion, are they here to stay or were thety just a one off project?
[Stefan] It's put to rest. We recorded an album for fun and not professional but there wasn't enough engagement to put down more work to it as one would have to if a release was at hand. I think you can find a couple of songs at MP3.com or something like that.

Well many thanks and goodluck with the new album. Any last words for out readers? whats does the future hold for both yourself and the band?
[Stefan] Well, Wacken and Bang your head this summer and maybe a little tour before. That's pretty much the plans we have. Thanks a lot for the interview and thanks to all the fans for the response we got on the first album, I hope you'll like the follow up just as much.