Dear Markus hi. First of all thank you for talking to Metal Perspective.

Hi Giannis, it's a pleasure.

I would like to start straightforward. I would like to tell us a few things about your urge to create 7 Days. What were the reasons behind the creation of this new band?

I've always had a passion for symphonic metal. And in the other bands I play we don't focus so much on that kind of music. Also I write a lot of music, I would say I have a need to write music almost on a daily basis. So I have a lot of ideas for songs just laying around, that I just don’t want to see get wasted. So, I guess from that the idea of 7days were born.

You also play in two other bands, Harmony and Darkwater. I admit that I haven't heard a note from these two bands, so I would like to ask you about the musical relationship between 7 Days and Harmony/Darkwater.

Harmony (www.harmonymetal.net) is my first and main band. On our first cd called Dreaming Awake, released on Massacre Records, we play melodic metal with some neoclassical influences. Most people would place it in the vein of Malmsteen’s Fire & Ice and Eclipse era, I think that's a pretty good description. The next Harmony cd which is being recorded at the moment will be a little more modern. More of everything, speed, heaviness and melodies. Darkwater (www.darkwater.se) is a progressive metal band. We are recording are debut right now. It will be finished/mixed in August and hopefully released later this year.

It is quite clear that 7 Days is a personal project. However you havegathered some very talented musicians that I would like to introduce them to us.

Well, I guess that the biggest name is singer Thomas Vikström. Known for his work in the band Talk of the Town. They had a hit single in the 80's called "Free like an Eagle". In the world of metal he is mostly known work his work on Candlemass "Chapter V". His also done a lot of session works for Brazen Abbot among others. I got in contact with him through Christian Rivel at Rivel Records. On drums we have Daniel Flores, a great drummer/session drummer. His main band is Mind's Eye, who have made a big name in the progressive metal scene. He has his own studio and does a lot of session jobs as well. I was introduced to Daniel by bass player Andreas Olsson. Andreas is a former member of Harmony, and obviously the one I've known for the longest period of time. So it was an easy choice and a good way to continue to work together, since he left Harmony to focus on his other bands Narnia and Divinefire.

What were the criteria for their selection?

Well, basically that they could handle their instruments/singing in a professional way. Also that they could record on their own, except for the singing which I wanted to be part of. This was due to the long distance between us. I live about 5 hours drive from the other, they live in Stockholm. A criteria for the drummer was that he could record on already tracked guitars. I think he did absolutely well, but this is something I won't do again. Guitars and bass should be recorded after the drums to get the right groove, I think, but it was a good experience.

Now let's go to your first album, which is going to be released in August. I guess that is very early and you haven't gathered solid feedback from the press and the audience, but I would like to tell us how satisfied you are with the final result.

This has been a journey not very free from problems. Some travels to Stockholm and so. Mixing in different places and some major computer problems, basicly boring stuff. But I feel that I've learned a lot to take with me to future productions. So In the end I have to say that I am satisfied, but maybe in a year from now I will know what I really feel about the CD, when I have some distance to it all. But right now I feel satisfied.

Do you think that you could change something in order to improve it?

Yes, I think that’s a feeling that you always should have. So that you can improve. If you have made an album that you are 100% satisfied with, then what’s the point with making another one J. But I don't regret anything though, I have to add.

7 Days is an intriguing name for a band. Does it has anything to do with the Tales of Creation (something reminds this...).

Yes, in a way. But I actually got the idea when I heard the trailer for the movie the Ring, when a voice says "seven days". I havent seen the movie so that doesn’t mean anything to me, and I wouldn’t have taken the name if it wasn’t for the Tales of Creation. So you are right about the main reason for the name.

What is the concept behind the title "Weight of the World"?

First I would like to state that it is not a concept album, although it may seem like it in a way, because most of the lyrics are about struggles and doubts in life. I hope that the listener maybe can identify him/her self some way, in some of the lyrics. The title track is actually based on a weird dream I had I while ago. You never know what will inspire me the next time J. It could also be seen as a metaphor for what Christ must have felt in his mission, he kind of must have felt the weight of the world.

A lot of bands strive for a contract and yet you seem that you found easily a contract with a very serious label, Rivel Records. Can you tell us how did you reach to a deal with Rivel?

I've known Christian Rivel (Rivel Records) for a couple of years now. It started when he heard the first Harmony demo a couple of years ago. And when he saw the artwork for the CD Dreaming Awake he wanted me to help him out with some cd artwork for his label. When I told him about the project he was very interested, so the choice of Rivel Records was an easy one, especially in these times when the record industry is not very good. It's good to work with someone that you know, and can trust.

Covering Veni Domine is something that doesn't happen very often. In fact it was kind of a shock. How did you come up with this song and what's your opinion about them?

I'm actually not very fond of covers, but if I was ever to do a cover it would be this song. The first time I heard Veni Domine ("Fall Babylon Fall") I was blown away by the atmosphere in their music. The song Wisdom Call was my absolute favourite song. I had listened a lot to Candlemass in my early days. But Veni Domine, as a doom band, had everything that Candlemass lacked, in my opinion.

Do you think that 7 Days have musical similarities with Veni Domine?

I would say a little. Maybe in the atmosphere so to speak. But 7 Days is not so doomy.

You seem pretty active and creative. You have in charge also the artwork of"The Weight of the World" and you run Tenement Design. I visited the site of your Design Label and I was impressed. Can you tell us a few things about it?

Thank you very much. It all started with the harmony CD where I did all the artwork as well. I have some education in graphic design and always liked noodling around with Photoshop and photo editing. I got very good response for the Harmony artwork from people, and in the reviews. So I thought I may as well start offering my artwork public. Any bands out there interested in my help? Don't hesitate to contact me.(www.sigfridsson.net/tenemen).

Do you think that you can select while being a professional graphical artist? I mean if you get approached by a band that has a contradictive aesthetic with your beliefs and ideas will you accept their proposal and materialize their project?

Since this is not my fulltime job (doing CD-artwork) I think I can choose, yes. But I wouldn't want to do artwork for a straightforward serious satanic band. But otherwise people have the right to believe what they believe, and I would accept it.

It is very early, but I am tempted to ask. What are your future plans? Is there a criterion of success in order to move on with 7 Days or will you continue no matter the acceptance?

No, there are no criteria for success. I will continue with 7 Days no matter what. Of course I hope for success so that I can finance next album, and of course I hope people will like my music. But that’s not why I'm doing this. I just want to write and record and release music.

Dear Markus this is the end of our discussion. Thank you very much for your precious time. I wish you all the best with 7 Days.

Thank you, it was a pleasure. Hope you, and all of you who read this will enjoy the album. Take Care!