PAGANIZER

PAGANIZER is a Swedish old school death metal band that's been active for as long as 30 years now (but as PAGANIZER since 1998). A new EP, "Forest Of Shub Niggurath", is out now via Xtreem Music, and a new full-length album, "Flesh Requiem", will be released through Transcending Obscurity Records on November 1. Confusing? That's what I thought too. So I sent some questions to Rogga Johansson, which was answered in the beginning of October 2024, where he explain the situation.
As you probably know already, Rogga has also been active in many other bands through the years, and we talk about that too. Some of them all are RIBSPREADER, MASSACRE, FURNACE, GAUNTLET RULE, DOWN AMONG THE DEAD MEN, JOHANSSON & SPECKMANN, MEGASCAVANGER, NECROGOD, PUTREVORE and REVOLTING - Just to mention a pinch of all the active bands. Among the past bands are BONE GNAWER, DEMIURG, GRAVEYARD AFTER GRAVEYARD, The GROTESQUERY etc. And just if that wasn't enough, he also release solo material as Rogga Johansson once in a while. A busy man..
Paganizer press photo
I don't know who has taken the press photo..

You have been at it for a very long time now. What makes you continue year after year?
- It is that the urge to create more music doesn't go away. Always after you're finished with an album, then after a while comes that feeling that you want to make another. And another. Although you might actually feel like you have already written your best record 20 years ago, haha.

You have just released a new EP. What can you say about that?
- We waited a long time for our new album to arrive, but it was delayed. So then we thought that we release a EP, worked quickly and fun. I really like the 2 main songs, the first 2 on the EP. Then we just improvised the rest, so it's a little more basic stuff, and then we threw in a new version of an old song. I think it became a good release.

It seems like you're signed to 2 record labels. Is that true and how did that happen? And is there 1 or 2 albums in progress?
- I think we are between 2 labels definitely. But in that way it became more PAGANIZER for the world to enjoy, haha. But there will actually just be 1 full-length album this year, this November. But we thought we'd try to start working with the next record immediately actually, so it can be released already next year.

You, Rogga, have lots of other bands and projects. How many are there really and how many are active now?
- I fucking don't know.. It's a whole lot. Those who are active now might be around 6 or 7 I would guess. Then there will sometimes be added some old stuff that is released, that's been laying around several years unfinished, but then in the end will be finished.

How do you get the energy to write that many songs, and what inspires you? How does the creation take place?
- No idea, haha. I like to drink beer and riff simply. That's the way it usually is, you sit down with a few beers and a guitar. Then there are usually a few songs finished in one evening.

In what way do you think PAGANIZER differs from other projects according to you?
- It's my main band, and it has always been. It's the only band that I rehearse with and play live with, and it has been running since 1994 when we started as TERMINAL GRIP.

Is there something that you would like to add?
No! Thanks for a good interview!

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