Vintersorg: The Return of the Elemental Alchemist
Vintersorg: The Return of the Elemental Alchemist
Vintersorg: The Return of the Elemental AlchemistAfter eight years of silence, Vintersorg has re-emerged with Vattenkrafternas spel, the long-awaited final chapter in their elemental saga. But this isn’t just a comeback — it’s a celebration of three decades of sonic exploration, from the icy landscapes of Sweden to the swirling depths of philosophical metal. In this exclusive conversation, we dive into the water-themed concept album, revisit key milestones like The Focusing Blur and His Creation Reversed, and explore frontman Andreas Hedlund’s other project, HarmDaud. With new music already in the works and a rekindled live presence, Vintersorg is not just back — they’re surging forward.
Is there an overall story or concept behind the album title Vattenkrafternas spel?
Yes, it’s a Swedish title again. Vattenkrafternas spel translates roughly to “The Play of the Water Powers.” It’s a concept album — the final chapter in our four-element cycle. We did Jordpuls as the Earth album, Orkan for Air, Naturbål for Fire, and now this one represents Water.
We were supposed to do this album much earlier, but we felt compelled to create a sequel to Till Fjälls, which interrupted the elemental cycle. So, this album closes that era. The concept is simple yet layered — a winter story exploring the relationship between man and nature. There’s a lot of nature worship throughout, and we examine water from many angles: ice, snow, fog, clouds — the whole winter setup. It’s been rewarding to dig into the water element from so many perspectives. Now that this segment is complete, we’re ready for new adventures.
It’s been eight years since Naturbål. What was it like returning to the studio after all that time?
I wasn’t completely away from the studio. We took a break, but it wasn’t a conscious decision — life just happened. Our bassist Simon had two kids during this time, and there were job changes and other shifts. But I kept writing music throughout and worked on albums with other bands. I’m in a band called HarmDaud, and we’ve released two albums and are working on a third.
I continued writing Vintersorg material during that period, so we had plenty to choose from. We knew we wanted a concept album, so the track list came together naturally. Once things settled — Simon’s kids got older, life became more manageable — we started playing live again, for the first time in eight years. That’s been a huge boost. Suddenly, we’re very active: new album, live shows, rehearsals.
We also parted ways with Napalm Records after our contract ended. It wasn’t a dramatic split — they’ve changed a bit as a label, and we felt it was time to move on. We’re now with Hammerheart, which is closely connected to Napalm in terms of distribution. It was a good move for us, though the transition took nearly a year. I also missed a mastering deadline due to work, which delayed things further. But here we are — back in the spotlight, and it feels great.
Will we have to wait another eight years for the next album?
No, definitely not. I’ve already written several new Vintersorg albums. They’re partially recorded — not fully finished with vocals and final touches, but the foundations are there. We’re also remastering older albums for a new box set on Hammerheart. So no, you won’t have to wait another eight years. We’re rehearsing, playing shows, and the band is in a much more active phase now.
Have you ever played live in the States?
We played once in New Jersey, I think it was around the year 2000 — so 25 years ago now. After that, we went up to Toronto and did a show in Montreal. Just a couple of gigs in North America. Of course, we’d love to come back. We’re not planning long tours, but we’re aiming to play festivals here and there. I know we have a solid fan base in the U.S. — I see it in our Spotify streams and other online stats. So yes, it would be great to visit again.
Let’s talk anniversaries. The Focusing Blur came out in 2004 — it just passed its 20th anniversary. What are your thoughts on that album now?
I see The Focusing Blur as a twin album with Visions from the Spiral Generator. They’re very connected in my mind. Both were fantastic to record. We had the chance to work with Steinar Gundersen on bass and Asgeir Mickelson from Spiral Architect and Borknagar on drums. Those albums were quite progressive — a distinct era in Vintersorg’s history.
Since then, we’ve moved back toward a more folky, straightforward songwriting style. The new album is more basic in structure, though we still embrace complexity — just not through time signatures, but through layering and texture. The Focusing Blur remains a great album and a vital part of our journey. It helped shape where we are today.
Let’s go back 25 years to His Creation Reversed by Havayoth — one of my favorite records you’ve done. What do you think of it now?
I haven’t listened to that album in years — I probably should! It was a great collaboration with Marcus Norman from Naglfar and Bewitched. We really experimented with that one — it was totally different from our other bands. We even brought in a small choir for some chorus parts. It was a studio experiment, and I loved it back then.
That album was released by Hammerheart, so it’s nice to have that connection again now that Vintersorg is signed with them. We’ve briefly discussed re-releasing it on vinyl. That would be great — we’ll see what happens.
Would you consider doing a second Havayoth album?
I haven’t thought about it much recently, but the idea has crossed my mind. I haven’t talked to the other guys about it — they’re all busy. Marcus is touring constantly with Bewitched and Naglfar, and I’m not sure how active he is with his other band, Ancient Wisdom. But if it were up to me, I wouldn’t close that door. If the timing and circumstances are right, it could be a fun project to revisit.
You’re also celebrating a kind of 30th anniversary. Vargatron started in 1994, and by 1996 you transitioned to Vintersorg. That puts you right in the middle of a 30-year milestone. When you reflect on that, what comes to mind?
It’s been a good 30 years, and I’ve learned a lot. I’ve had the opportunity to work with great musicians, great labels, and meet amazing people on the road — the fans, yeah, it’s been a really nice ride. And now we just keep going. Hopefully another 30 years! I mean, I’m only 51 now — you can still be inventive at 80, right? Why not?
Vintersorg via Zoom!
Tell me a bit about HarmDaud and how it compares to Vintersorg.
HarmDaud is quite different — much harsher, more aggressive. It was founded by a friend of mine who had recorded some songs and asked for help in the studio. I’ve got a small home setup, so I jumped in. But then I started adding keyboards, guitars, producing, mixing — I got really involved.
On the first album, he wrote the basic songs and recorded some guitars, but I ended up re-recording nearly everything. On the second album, we kept the same workflow: he writes the core material, and I come in to produce, add elements, tweak things. It’s a great collaboration.
Musically, it’s melodic but not in a Vintersorg way. I do some clean vocals, but not much. He’s the main vocalist, switching between darker growls and brighter black metal shrieks. The music is dynamic — not just constant blasting, but full of shifts and atmosphere. I started out just helping a friend, but now I’m a full-time member. And we’re currently working on a new album.
Any message for Vintersorg fans who’ve followed you all these years?
Just — thank you. You’ve shown incredible patience and stamina. We’ve been away for a while, but even during that time, social media helped us stay connected. We weren’t releasing new albums, but we could still talk with fans and feel that support.
We’re really grateful that people waited for us to return with new music. And now we’re back — not just with this album, but with much more to come…
(Interview by Kenneth Morton)
