Adept – From Sweden with Love

It is no secret that Swedes, our beloved neighbors to the west, produce an insane amount of heavy metal. Excellent heavy metal. Ilosaarirock managed to grab one such act to liven up its Sunday evening’s schedule. This five-man ensemble hailing from the small town of Trosa is collectively known as Adept. Web Press managed to talk to the band’s singer Robert, guitarist Jerry and bass wizard Filip.

Adept released its third, and what some people have dubbed their most ambitious, album “Silence the World” earlier this year. According to Robert, the record has been very well received and he goes on to add that even if the previous album was kind of a dissapointment to the band as well as to the fans, the new album is bigger and grander in every way.

What he says holds true. Even though Adept’s music falls between metal- and emocore, it is not limited to treading water and crab-walking against a wall of guitars. The band’s Swedishness may not be apparent on the outside, but it can definitely be heard on the tracks. These guys have grown up listening to the Gothenburg Greats and you don’t have to be a hardcore headbanger to notice the In Flames and At the Gates influences they have picked up over the years.

Adept in Finland is a rare but not unheard of occurence. The band has played smaller club gigs at least in Helsinki, Vaasa and Jyväskylä. They haven’t played any festivals or large open stages here until now, but the audiences have always welcomed the band with open arms, say Robert and Filip.

What does the band expect of their festival debut, and Ilosaarirock in general?

“We have no expectations. Well, except maybe that the Finns will be really drunk!” Robert laughs. “In Finland and Germany, if there is one thing you can be sure of, it’s that the audience will be smashed.”

“We also couldn’t recognize any metal bands on the festival’s roster. I’m sure they’re there, but we just don’t recognize the names. Except for Finntroll! Jaktens Tid!”

But of course! Finntroll’s songs are in Adept’s native Swedish after all, even though the band is Finnish. What, then, can Ilosaarirock expect of Adept?

The band responds nearly in unison: “Movement. Lots of movement and energy! Even if we sound like shit at least the gig will look really good.”

With all modesty aside, those who witnessed the gig can attest to the fact that Adept’s show both looked and sounded terrific, one of the best of the day for sure. Heavy touring and rehearsing the third album’s material have truly paid off. Adept’s stage performance brings movement, aggression and vivacity together in a way that is hard to describe.

And what sort of greetings would Adept like to send to the crowd at Ilosaarirock?

“Congratulations on staying alive! It is a must-have skill during all festivals, in Sweden and in Finland. Oh, and guys, watch out: our plan is to hit on every single male attending this festival.”

There is no better way to end an interview than a Swede joke told by a Swede. Have a great touring summer Adept, Ilosaarirock thanks you!

Text: Mika Martikainen
Photos: Sampsa Geijer
Translation: Jyrki Laitinen