Forged in Steel: Patrik J. Selleby on Bloodbound’s Field of Swords

Forged in Steel: Patrik J. Selleby on Bloodbound’s Field of Swords

🔥 Introduction

Swedish power metal veterans Bloodbound have carved out a reputation for crafting larger‑than‑life anthems steeped in myth, steel, and history. With their new album Field of Swords out now on Napalm Records, the band dives headfirst into the grit and glory of the medieval era, exploring the Crusades through soaring melodies and sharpened riffs.

I sat down with vocalist Patrik J. Selleby to talk about the making of the album, the band’s evolving historical themes, their first‑ever guest collaboration with Brittany Slayes of Unleash the Archers, and the upcoming tour with Brainstorm and Angus McSix. We also looked back on Patrik’s 15 years in Bloodbound, the legacy of Nosferatu, and the early days that shaped him as one of power metal’s most distinctive voices.

We are here with Patrik J. Selleby from Bloodbound. Let’s talk about the new album. Is there any overall story or concept behind Field of Swords?
I wouldn’t say it’s a concept album per se, because there isn’t a story running from beginning to end. But every song is based on a specific era in time—mainly the medieval period, the Crusades, and the Crusaders. So I’d call it more of a theme‑based album.

Our previous album was about the Vikings and the Viking era. We ended that record with the song “1066,” which marks the end of that era, so we couldn’t really continue with that theme. Tomas, our main lyric writer, started looking into what came after the Vikings, which led him into the medieval period and eventually deeper into the Crusades.

Of course, a lot of metal bands have written about the Crusades, but he became especially interested in the point in history when people began mixing iron with carbon—creating stronger weapons and superior swordsmen. That angle felt a bit different from what others have done. So that’s really what the album centers around.

Who knows—maybe one day we’ll get the entire history of the world told through Bloodbound.
Maybe. You never know.

I want to talk about two of the songs, starting with the single “Defenders of Jerusalem.” Tell me a little about that one.
Yeah, that was the first single. It’s a very melodic mid‑tempo track—really catchy. As I mentioned, Tomas writes most of the lyrics, and this one is about the defense of Jerusalem during the time of Saladin and everything that happened around that period.

I won’t grill you too much about the lyrics, don’t worry. But I do want to ask about “The Nine Crusades,” which features Brittany Slayes from Unleash the Archers. How did that collaboration come about, and have you performed it live with her yet?
No, we haven’t performed any of the new songs live yet. The collaboration came together while we were recording the album. We started talking about whether we should have a guest on this record, since we’d never done that before. Then we asked ourselves which song would work best and who we could approach.

We landed on “The Nine Crusades” because it’s a very different kind of Bloodbound song, and we thought it would be perfect for a guest vocalist—especially a female singer—to add some dynamic contrast. Fredrik, our keyboard player, actually wrote that song, and he had been in contact with Brittany before. He suggested we ask her. We all think she’s a fantastic singer, and we know she likes Bloodbound too.

We didn’t have much time because the deadline was coming up, but she managed to record her parts quickly, and it turned out great.

What are you looking forward to most about your upcoming tour with Brainstorm and Angus McSix?
I think it’s going to be a really cool tour because even though we’re all power metal bands, we each have very different styles. Fans won’t be hearing the same thing three times in a row—each band brings its own angle.

We also know Samuel, the singer of Angus McSix, and Seeb from Orden Ogan very well. They’re great guys, and we get along with them. We’ve toured with Brainstorm before too, and they’re also fantastic people. So I think it’s going to be a lot of fun.

Has Bloodbound ever played in the States, or would you like to with this new album?
We’ve only played ProgPower USA in Atlanta, and we also did 70,000 Tons of Metal, the cruise out of Miami. But we’ve never done a proper U.S. tour. We’ve been asked to join some bands on U.S. tours before, but for various reasons it never happened.

Hopefully it can happen for this amazing album. We’ll keep our fingers crossed.
Yeah, you never know. But it’s very expensive to tour in the U.S. It’s hard to make it work financially. You don’t have to go home as a millionaire, but you also don’t want to pay to play.

We’re going to go through some anniversaries of the band. Next year marks 10 years since the live album One Night of Blood. When you look back on that album now, what do you think of it in retrospect?
I think it’s a good snapshot of where Bloodbound was at that time. Every live album or live DVD/Blu‑ray is like a compilation of what you consider your best songs at that moment. So it serves as a nice marker in our history.

You’re also celebrating 15 years since you joined Bloodbound. You joined back in 2010. When you look back on that now, what comes to mind?
The first thing I think is, “Has it really been 15 years?” I’m getting old! But honestly, it’s been a pleasure from the start. We clicked immediately, became good friends, and we always have a lot of fun when we’re out playing.

For me, it’s been amazing to be in a band with these guys. I was a huge fan before I joined—I bought the first album on release day. So joining Bloodbound back then was a huge deal for me because I really loved their music. Now they’re my best friends in the world, my second family.

Speaking of anniversaries, Nosferatu is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, which is wild. I know you weren’t on that album, but what do you think of it?
As I said, I was a first‑day buyer. I really loved it. It came a bit after the first power metal wave, but the reason I loved the band from the beginning was that—even if they weren’t doing something completely original—they had such good songs. It sounded like a mix of Helloween and Iron Maiden, two of my favorite bands.

I still think it’s an awesome album. And “Nosferatu,” the song, is one we just have to play live. We always end our shows with it.

Did you know the original singer, Urban Breed, who was also in Tad Morose?
Not personally. I’ve met him a couple of times since joining Bloodbound. We talked a bit, and he’s a nice guy.

Looking back on your work with ShadowQuest, what do you think of those albums now? And will there be any new music?
To be honest, I really like the first album. The songs were strong, the recording process felt good, and it was pretty easy—I recorded my parts in just a couple of days. But the second album… I don’t think it’s as good as the first. I’m not sure why, but the songs just aren’t on the same level. It still has some highlights, but as a whole, it’s not as strong.

You don’t always see that while you’re working on it because you’re so deep into the music. But looking back now, it’s clearer.

As for new music, I don’t think there will be another ShadowQuest album. I’m not really sure what happened—it just kind of faded away. We stopped talking, and it’s been a long time now. And yeah, Gallows of Eden came out just a few weeks before the pandemic, which didn’t help. We had some shows booked, but then everything shut down and it all just disappeared into the sand. I talked to Jari, the bass player, this summer, and he felt the same way—we don’t really know what happened.

Your other project, Tales and Legends, just released a single called “Agony and Fury.” Tell me about that single and what might be next for the band.
I wouldn’t say I’m a full band member—I’m more of a hired gun. I’m not involved in anything except recording vocals.

Do you think there will be more music with them, or is it too early to say?
I’ve already recorded album number two—that’s where this single comes from—but I recorded it about two years ago. So, I don’t know. I just saw the single was released, and I have no idea what the plans are.

I want to touch on one other band you were in—Dawn of Silence. When you look back on that band, the albums, and the EP you did with them, what do you think of it now in retrospect?
Dawn of Silence was my first real band, formed with friends from high school. We were around 18, 19, 20 years old, and looking back, I think we really had something. If I listen to the albums now, I’d probably want to rewrite every song, but that band made me who I am today.

I probably never would have started singing without Dawn of Silence. I was the guitar player when we started, and during one rehearsal we played an Iron Maiden song. The microphone was there, and I just started singing along in the middle of the song. The other guys looked at me like, “That didn’t sound too bad—can you keep doing that?” And I said, “Maybe… okay, I’ll do it until we find someone else.” But we never did, and I kept evolving as a singer.

We recorded two albums that were released by labels, and after that I joined Bloodbound. When Bloodbound called me, that’s when I realized, “Okay, now I’m a singer.” I still saw myself as a guitar player until that moment. Dawn of Silence is a huge part of who I am today. We learned everything together—how to play, how to write—and that was the beginning of my life as a musician.

I’m looking at the credits, and that’s another anniversary—the Lost in Hope EP came out in 2005. Twenty years. Wow.
Yeah, that’s correct. Time flies.

Are you involved with any other bands or projects we haven’t mentioned?
No, that’s pretty much it. I have a local melodic punk rock band with my brother, but it’s very local—we just do it for fun.

So you’ve got a new album coming out, Field of Swords. What’s next for Bloodbound?
As you mentioned, we have the tour coming up. After that we’ll be doing some summer festivals. Then we’ll look into what we’re going to do in the autumn and next fall. We don’t know yet—we’ve only planned through the summer, and then we’ll see.

I wish you’d bring that tour to the States with Angus McSix and Brainstorm. That would be incredible.
Yeah, the tour is getting a lot of attention, so you never know—there might be something more with that lineup. A lot of people seem to enjoy the package.

Last question: Do you have any messages for Bloodbound fans here in the States who are reading this?
Just make sure to check out the album. I hope you’ll like it, and hopefully we’ll see you soon in the U.S.

In Conclusion

As Bloodbound sharpen their blades for a new chapter with Field of Swords, Patrik J. Selleby stands at the center of a band that continues to evolve without losing the heart that made fans fall in love with them in the first place. Whether reflecting on two decades of history, celebrating personal milestones, or looking ahead to tours and future plans, Patrik’s passion for the music—and for the fans who support it—remains unmistakable. With a powerful new album in hand and a wave of excitement building around their upcoming shows, Bloodbound’s next era is already taking shape. And for fans in the United States, Patrik leaves the door open with a promise: keep the faith, and hopefully the band will see you on American soil soon.

(Interview by Ken Morton)

Bloodbound on Instagram