Fredrik Andersson: From Amon Amarth To Fimbul Winter

Fredrik Andersson: From Amon Amarth To Fimbul Winter

Few musicians have carved their names into the history of melodic death metal quite like Fredrik Andersson. From his formative years in A Canorous Quintet, to nearly two decades behind the drum kit for Amon Amarth, to his unexpected return with the old‑school fire of Fimbul Winter, Fredrik’s journey is one of evolution, resilience, and rediscovery.

With Fimbul Winter releasing new music and stepping back onto festival stages, Fredrik is embracing a role fans have rarely seen from him — not as the drummer driving the storm, but as the guitarist standing at the front lines. In this conversation, he reflects on the band’s origins, the emotional weight of revisiting his earliest material, and the creative spark fueling the next chapter.

What follows is a candid, thoughtful look at a musician reconnecting with his past while forging something entirely new.

We’re here with Fredrik from Fimbul Winter, and we’re going to ask him a few questions about the new single and the recent EP. First of all, for fans of Amon Amarth, how would you describe the music of Fimbul Winter?
I guess the easiest way to describe it is: how Amon Amarth sounded in the ’90s and early 2000s. It’s a more old‑school approach compared to the more modern version of Amon Amarth.

How did you three former members of Amon Amarth decide to start Fimbul Winter? What kicked it off?
It actually started because our drummer, Niko, was having his 50th birthday party. He wanted to perform the old Amon Amarth demo he recorded back in ’94, The Arrival of the Fimbul Winter. I suggested I could play guitar with him, Anders joined in, and we had a couple of other friends helping out. Clint — who later became our vocalist — was also coming to the party, so he handled the vocals. So it began with us performing those three demo songs, and afterward we figured: why not write our own material too?

Clint wasn’t in Amon Amarth. What’s his background, and how did you meet him?
He was a longtime Amon Amarth fan. We came across him on the old Ultimate Metal forums back in the day. We started chatting, and then he came to Europe — around 2003, I think — to see us at Wacken and hang out. We became friends and stayed close ever since. He’s visited me and Niko in Sweden many times over the years. He’s basically just been a close friend.

Before we talk about the new single, let’s talk about the EP What Once Was. Is there any overall story or concept behind that title?
No, it’s not a concept release. The title comes from a phrase in the lyrics of the song “What Once Was.” It just felt catchy and fitting.  For us, revisiting an older style and our past, it’s kind of a nod to our younger selves.

Now let’s talk about this amazing new song, “Crowned in Ash.” Give me a little background on that one.
We actually started writing new songs last year. We had eight new tracks, and since we’re playing live this summer, we wanted to release something beforehand. We chose this one because we felt strongly about it. The lyrics came together really well, and the song kind of took on a life of its own. It wasn’t planned to have that particular theme — it just happened naturally.  The plan is to keep writing. Hopefully we’ll have an album early next year. Nothing is set yet, but that’s what we’re aiming for.

You also have some festivals coming up — Southhammer and Into the Grave. What are you looking forward to most about playing these shows?
For me, it’s both exciting and… interesting, I guess. I’m not nervous, but it’ll be different being on stage as a guitar player. I haven’t done that in at least 30 years — I’ve always been behind the drums. Festivals are always fun, though. You meet friends and bands you don’t see often, and you get to play for people who might not have heard you otherwise. The atmosphere is always great. After the set you can relax, have a couple beers, and watch other cool bands.

Any chance of Fimbul Winter touring in the States?
There’s always a chance, but with how things are right now, it’s difficult for European bands to get over to the States. But anything’s possible — it just depends on what opportunities come up.  I hope so. It would be amazing to play there again. It’s been a while.

At least you don’t have to drag a Viking ship with you.
(laughs) Yeah. I think they (Amon Amarth) retired the Viking ship, but they actually have it stored in the U.S., so they don’t bring it over anymore.

Let’s talk about some anniversaries. First, I want to go back twenty years to With Oden on Our Side by Amon Amarth. When you look back on that album now, what comes to mind?
First of all, it’s insane that it’s been twenty years. It feels unreal — like COVID stole fifteen of those years.  But I have very fond memories of that recording. It felt like a new start for the band. We were at a really low point with the album and tour cycle before that, so when we began working on With Oden on Our Side, the mindset was completely different.

Everyone was at their peak, creatively and personally. We worked with Jens Bogren for the first time, had a new producer, new energy — it felt like a fire had been lit in the band again. It was a great recording, and I still really like that album. The songs hold up.

Let’s go back thirty years. I was listening to Silence of the World Beyond by A Canorous Quintet. When you look back on that album — thirty years later — what do you think of it now?
If twenty years feels long, thirty is unreal.  But that album… I consider it my firstborn. It was the first full‑length I ever released, and that band felt like my band. I was one of the founding members, and I was heavily involved in the songwriting — I wrote a bunch of the songs on that album.

It’s emotional to play those songs live because they’re such a huge part of who I am. And it’s amazing that we’re still able to perform them after thirty years, even in places we never played back then. That’s really special.

Is there any new A Canorous Quintet music on the horizon?
We have some ideas, but it’s hard — timing, work, families. And I’m very picky about how it should sound. I don’t want to just throw out a couple of songs and say, “Here’s new A Canorous Quintet.”  For me, it has to sound like what the band would have sounded like if we had continued. So it’s a slow process, something we’ve been working on for a few years.

With any luck, yes — there will be new songs or even a new album at some point. But I can’t guarantee anything.

Would Fimbul Winter and A Canorous Quintet ever want to play together or tour together?
I think that would be awesome. I hope so.  Clint — if he’s a big Amon Amarth fan, he’s an even bigger A Canorous Quintet fan. He’d probably lose his mind. He actually flew to Sweden just to see our reunion show in 2018.  So yeah, that would be really cool. Hopefully someday. You never know.

Are you currently involved with any other bands or projects outside of what we’ve talked about?
No. I quit everything else. I was involved in Kvaen, Vananidr, Myronath, and Netherbird, but I just don’t have the time anymore.  Fimbul Winter takes up a lot of time for me — everything behind the scenes except writing music, which is mostly Anders’ part. But still, every night there’s something that needs to be done.  And I have to practice guitar. I’m not a great guitar player, so I need to keep improving. It takes too much time to be involved in other bands.

You’ve got new music coming. What would you like to accomplish for the rest of 2026?
We have a few live shows this summer. After that, the focus is finishing the new songs — getting eight or nine tracks ready and hopefully recording them in the fall.  That’s basically all of 2026. Then in 2027, hopefully a bunch more live shows and getting out to play more.

Do you have any messages for fans here in the States who’ve been following your career since A Canorous Quintet and Amon Amarth?
First of all, thank you — hopefully you’re not being creepy about it.  (Laughs)

But seriously, it’s humbling. When people DM me saying I’ve influenced them or they like my playing, it’s incredibly gratifying.  It’s an honor to be in a position where you can influence someone. I’m grateful.

In Conclusion

Three decades into a storied career, Fredrik Andersson stands at a crossroads where legacy and reinvention collide. Whether he’s honoring the roots of A Canorous Quintet, revisiting the early spirit of Amon Amarth, or pushing forward with the raw, revitalized power of Fimbul Winter, Fredrik remains driven by passion, humility, and an unwavering commitment to the music that shaped him.

As Fimbul Winter prepares new material and steps onto festival stages, fans across the world — especially those who have followed Fredrik since the earliest days — will find plenty to celebrate. His gratitude is genuine, his fire is intact, and his story is far from finished.

Fimbul Winter is rising, and Fredrik Andersson is once again at the heart of the storm.

(Interview by Ken Morton)

Fimbul Winter on Instagram