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Track by track info about Engel’ upcoming album “Blood of Saints”.
by Niclas Engelin

For the upcoming album, “Blood of Saints” we’ve taken the Engel sound/music some more steps further. We have always been a hybrid of Metal and Industry with a big crush on huge catchy choruses, and this is the next era in the history of Engel.

1. Question Your Place
The first video/single, and the opening track of the album, with probably the most down tuned guitars in Engel history, and with a groove that is a new approach for Engel. This mix makes it a super heavy song. The song is co-written by Pontus Hjelm (Dead By April), who in fact have been involved in the writing process on 3 of the 11 tracks on the album. I felt that after have written somewhat 120 songs for Engel, it would be fun and inspiring to write with a fellow musician and friend.

2. Frontline
Is one of my favorite songs on the album! A straight up heavy metal tune with keys that keeps the pace in the verses and is filled with cool guitar solos and melodies. Everything leads up to the super heavy chorus that calls out to the masses for joining up in an epic singalong! Magnus is doing an awesome job on the entire album, but especially on this song by expanding his register to the maximum.
SURRENDER NOW!!!

3. Feel Afraid
Engel goes A&R…ehhhh..NOT!! A&R might not be the case, but this song might be the big hit, with a chorus so big and catchy that even Simon Cowell will lose his front teeth! A nice groove runs through the entire song and contains a middle part that might draw your thoughts to Iron Maiden? As always there’s loops and keys that battles the riff in the verses, and this song is a must on the upcoming tours.

4. Numb
A very pushy song that calls for circle pits around the globe. Jimmy had already made the drum beat and I built the song around the beat and Jimmy’s thoughts about it, which resulted in maybe the hardest and most intense song on “Blood of Saints”, with a drive and energy that’s going to be a pure pleasure to perform live. Just talking about the fourth song on the album it already feels that we have some awesome live songs/classics in the mix.

5. Cashking
One of the faster songs on “Blood of Saints” with a catchy approach in both bridge and chorus, which might make people go around humming the song without even thinking about it. This song is all about shredding and melodies for the masses, which we’ve put focus on with this album without having to make the song longer just to add a cool solo. Everything has its place and have to be natural, so if anyone doubted Engel’s shredding skills; Think again!

6. One Good Thing
Once again we used the big axes to create a very epic and big song which makes the listener take to the chorus right away. While writing this song at Pontus Hjelm’s studio, a security guard suspected us of break in and entering. After explaining what was going on the guy said: “Guys, this song is absolutely awesome, and you need to finish it right away!” PS. Listen to the M. Schenker solo! ;)

7. The Blood of Saints
The entire album is an homage to our fans who we call Saints. It’s impossible to miss its message in the mighty chorus! This will also be a massive edition to Engel’s live catalogue. I mean, how wrong can it be with a 16/4 beat? In my book; NEVER!!! The notes and groove will for sure make you think of In Splendour, but it will never lose its own touch.

8. Down To Nothing
Guitars, guitars and GUITARS! That’s the word of the hour from the heavy start to the mighty end. This is a perfect balance between keys and guitars, with Magnus’s vocals slammed right in the middle. There’s a lot of melody and guitar hooks, but without losing the heavy sound that defines Engel.

9. Drama Queen
Maybe the most complicated song that Engel ever recorded on an album ever. Not because it’s sounding weird and complicated, but because of the fact that some parts of the song is weird to play. And as with basically the entire album this is a future whiplash injury because of all the headbanging that’s going to be delivered during the live shows. On this song Pontus Hjelm and I brought our minds together to create this down tuned monster. I can’t even remember if we tuned down to Z or Y here. ;)

10. In Darkness (feat. Hellmans Drengar)
A song written for the HELL project Engel did with Hellmans Drengar during the fall of 2011. We all loved doing the project and can strongly recommend it to everybody. To mix Metal with a choir? Will that work? It worked out absolutely perfect without losing the concept of the song, even with awesome solos and shreds. A bigger chorus will be hard to find this year, since we don’t know about anyone else being backed up by a 50 guys strong all male choir!!

11. Journey’s End
I love the idea of finishing with a huge epic song, as we did on “Threnody”. This time around it’s Journey’s End, and it is an epic story that is very dynamic and large in its performance, and that leaves your mind open on how the next album might sound. It’s like you have been watching the first season of Game Of Thrones and you just have to know how the next one will start! Magnus shows that he can deliver first class vocals and masters various different styles of singing on the song.

Av Hampuz Nilsson 31 mar 2012 09:49