Tiamat
Anders Iwers – Bass
1. First and foremost, how does it feel to be back off a 5 year hiatus?
Anders-It’s absolutely amazing! First and foremost, the fact that the album actually saw the light of day after all the stuff that went on, is a victory in itself. And it seems to be pretty well received too, in Sweden we even got five-star reviews, which is not common for us, so we are proud and happy!
2. How does it feel to be working with Nuclear Blast Records after having been with Century Media for so long?
A-So far, it’s good, we haven’t been on the label for a very long time yet, so it’s a little uncertain, you know, who to call for this, who do I tell this too. It was easier on CM, but that’s only cause we’ve been there since the dawn of time, hell, we were there longer than most employees would stay! But I have high hopes of a bright future.
3. On a more personal level, who are some of your influences as a bass player?
A- Well, that’s hard to answer, since I started out as a guitar player, I had my musical taste and influences pretty much formed when I made the switch to bass. But when I look at what I play, I tend to think bands more than players, as influences, but, if you must know, I would say somewhere in between Cliff Williams, Cliff Burton and DeeDee Ramone, that’s where you’ll find me! I play less notes than most Metal players, I’m more interested in grooves and locking in with the drummer, making the other guys’ jobs easier, and when I do play a little melody, I think I’m Paul McCartney…:-) I also work a lot with my picking hand, that’s where the nuances are. When we start a song in rehearsal, I play a lot more busy stuff, and that tends to simplify itself with each take.
4. Being an amateur bass player myself, I have to ask, what made you want to be a bass player?
A- Actually, truth be told, I started on bass in Tiamat because that was the vacant position. I had my eye on the lead guitar for a while, but when the chance presented itself when we did “skeleton” I had somehow turned into a bass player, and said no. I now know what every bass player knows, that it’s the most important instrument in a Rock band, and also, by far the coolest!
5. Going back to the band in general, there are quite a few genres Tiamat could be listed in. Is there a certain one you would “label” the band in or is there one you would rather be called?
A- Genre-labeling is mostly there to make journalists’ jobs easier, I do sincerely believe that there are only two labels that matters that you can put on music, and that’s “good” and “bad” music. I think we belong in the first category. That being said, you can call us whatever you see fit, as long as you can also say it to my face 
We had a Swedish “journalist” calling us names, being very tough online, but two can play that game, as he found out
6. During the writing process, how do you stay in a darker mindset to really get into the song and write your part?
A-That’s never been a problem, or even something I think about. I think we can put our stamp on any piece of music, if we would play a Creedence or a Skynyrd cover, it would sound very Tiamat. That can be good thing, or just that we are not technically competent to play any other way, you decide!
7. Do you feel a more personal connection with Tiamat’s style or is it just a style you enjoy playing no matter what’s going on in your life?
A-Yeah, it’s a deeply personal connection. But when we play, I try not to think at all, the music seems to benefit from instincts, rather than preconceived ideas of what to do.
8. How would you compare Amanethes to other albums and EPs Tiamat has released?
A- I wouldn’t really. I think it stands on its own. I guess though that it wouldn’t have sounded the way it does if we didn’t make all those albums over the years, we have probably learned from them all. I can say that if we would have sounded like this in ‘92 we would have gone home to masturbate in pure happiness, this was how we wanted to sound, but couldn’t!
9. What are your overall thoughts on the final product of Amanethes?
A- I am extremely proud of how it turned out. This album, it would probably have been easier to just split up than to go through the process it took to make it, but we are just way to stubborn to even consider that! So, I know it’s a cliché, and all musicians say this, but I can honestly say that we could not have made a better Tiamat album right now.
10. What does the future hold in store for Tiamat?
A- Hopefully touring, touring and touring. It may even take us to the States, where we haven’t been since Bush the elder ran the place! I hope we get to flog this horse until it, or us, drops dead!
