It is always interesting to chat a few with somebody who has something to say. This is case of talk with Tom S. Englund from Evergrey. We´ve talked about everything possible or impossible - not only about the band, new album or new band members, but I had opportunity to look into his mind as well. Let´s try to look with me … 

After less than one year you´ve got another option to say few words for our magazine. What has changed for you in last 9 months?

Not that much has changed. We have just recorded new album, you know, got right deals with the rest of the world, try to focus everything into one certain way. I was playing few gigs here and there. Nothing special. That´s it.

Cover for upcoming album is kind interesting. Who´s idea was to have 3 colors drawing on cover? Who made it for you? 

We got a guy called Michael and he is a comic book sketch artist. He made a lot of work just with pencil and his hands…so it´s not made on computer at all. Whole artwork is made like that, from every booklet page to every back side and inside and digipack and whatever.  It´s just a different way to purge a thing for us. It´s always nice to do something new. 

Who´s idea was to work with that comic book sketch artist?

It was my idea. Almost everything is my idea. (Laugh) 

You got words about positive energy that comes from your new album on your official page. I´ve felt that this album is more positive than before. Does this mean that you are changing course from the dark road you were walking with Evergrey almost every time?

I think that you miss lyrics because the darkness is there more than ever. But, you know, you change, you involve, you get older and wiser, you get more stupid, … you get everything and you change as a person. That also means that changes your perspective of things and your approach on music and ideas in general so I would say that just this time we were also two members alone writing all album and of course that changes some parts of the music into another thing which is … for this album we didn’t really care about what influences we have. We just tried to write good songs and I think … I think we got achieved it actually.

So new members don’t participate on writing songs for this album at all?

The guitar player – Marcus, he has participated in writing two songs. One is called “You”, which is the second song and one is called “To fit them all” which is, I think, the sixth song. So, they participated in great way – being a new member and also I mean all the other guys had also participated by thinking and listening and saying what they think and…you know…the things you are doing in a band – not everyone writes but everyone participates in making the final outcome the good one. 

Can you describe us Glorious Collision by your words? What are you trying to say, what are the ideas of album or of some specific songs…?

It´s always hard to summarize album and I think, as I´ve just said, it´s an album that´s sort of some is lot of things in there and in same time, it´s the album we have the most music in. It´s over 60 minutes long and we got even 3 or 4 more songs that we can fit in to bonus and we wanna to. We got Japanese versions and stuff like that. I think it´s an album that was made in pure sort of creation joy. It comes with something new as well. You still gonna hear it´s Evergrey, you´ll hear that songs are based on same Evergrey form as always but it is in a different haircut. (Laugh) Same guy with a different haircut. (Laugh)

You were talking about Japanese bonus track. Is it possible that we can hear this bonus on live concerts?

Yeah. I think so. It´s the guitar track so it is only guitar soloing so I think that it´s something that we will integrate to live shows. I need some rest and Marcus needs to show himself to Evergrey audience so I think it´s a good idea.

Do you have any favorite song on this album? What are your highlights of this album?

As I said before, questions like this are very hard. It´s so early in the process but I have one song for every kind of demand I got. If I want cool and atmospheric song, I listen to a song called “Free”. If I want hard hitting hit song, I would listen to “Restoring the Loss” or “Wrong”. If I want a metal song, I would listen to “You” or “Leave It Behind Us”. It´s impossible for me to choose one song for one specific moment. I can´t say which one is the best.

How goes recordings? No problems or something like this? 

I think sometimes it´s hard, sometimes it´s … when we were recording the drums, if you look on our facebook page or www.evergrey.net – we got trailers every week from recordings of album. We showed how it was in the studio and recording the drums was hysterically hot. The studio was so fucking hot and we almost died in there. But the recording was very smooth. We recorded in my home studio and … well … we used three or four … four different studios from start to finish. It was nice.

How goes working with new members and how does fans accept them on concerts?

The fans have been extremely grateful towards the guys which is nice for us. I think it has a lot of to do with explanation we give them on website. You know, me and Rikard and Henrik, we split up as friends. We are still friends. I spoke with Henrik one hour ago so it´s not any problems between us and I think that all gives fans a lot of more respect for us and for the new members. They know, that there is not any bad blood between us at all so everything is cool …

What about the tour planned for 2011 with Kamelot? Would this be tour with two headline bands or are you playing as some kind of support band?

We are special guests. 

So there´ll be about one hour for you to play?

Something like that. Yeah.

What is your relation to Kamelot´s music? Do you like it?

Yeah. I think they have got some very good songs actually. We have been touring before with each other about 10 years ago so we know each other as friends as well so it’s nice thing to be able to come back each other like 10 years later and see what happens … 

So whole idea of tour with Kamelot is something like déjà vu for you?

No. I think we both – Kamelot and Evergrey – will benefit from each other. I think we get lot from each other’s fans and also we would play quite big places in some countries and it´s good for us. Instead of Kamelot will play for example for 1100 in Paris and we play for 800, we play this like 3000 instead and it is pretty cool.

Let´s talk about you. You are part of Evergrey since you were 22. Can you imagine your life without music?

I think I´ve been playing music since 1989 and I am part of Evergrey since 1996 (or ´95) so of course, I cannot imagine doing my life without music. It´s half of my life already. It is weird in a way but it is also very cool. I am happy to be able, you know, travel the world and do music for people that are interested. It is a nice blessing.

Let´s try to imagine that you are not rock star. What else could you be? 

I think I would write books if I wasn’t playing music. I think I would be a writer.

Have you ever tried it or have you had wrote something yet?

Yeah. I wrote one book. It is reviewed right now in the publisher’s office. So, we will see what happens.

You reach something that many just dream about. You got fame, tons of fans. You can do what you like to do. What else do you want to achieve in your life?

I want to stay healthy. I want to be a good person to other people. I want to influence people to become great persons as well. I think that that´s our main goal – to influence people to make the right choice in their life and eventhough our music is dark, there is hope in it and I think it is most important thing for us. For me as well as for Evergrey. There is many things I wanna achieve in life, there is many countries I wanna visit, there is many cultures that I wanna see and many more albums that I wanna record, so I have a ton of job in front of me. (Laugh)

You were talking about many countries you wanna visit. Can you say one you want to visit the most?

I want to go to Argentina actually. I´ve been not in Argentina. It´s nice country, nice nature, nice people. My sister´s husband is from Argentina as well. And they have great football team as well. Really a lot of things.

Just few days ago, it was a New Year. What is your relation to “New Year´s Relations/Promises”? (Interview was done in first days of 2011)

I don’t really do any promises for New Year at all. If I wanna achieve something or if I wanna promise something, I do it any another day. Not New Year. Anytime, but not in New Year. (Laugh)