So you've been in the UK for a few days now, playing a few dates, how has it been going?

It's been good, we started off supporting Paradise Lost on seven dates, then a few headline dates and now we're here at Hellfire Festival. Everything is good! We like the UK!

Night Is The New Day, your latest album has just been released! Has it exceeded your expectations, how do you feel about it?

Actually, the press has been extremely good and the people seem to like it very much. Of course I have high expectations for it, but I'm very much pleased with it. It's my favourite album so far, because we have so many albums, we always have to challenge ourselves when making new music, to try to do something we've never done before, while retaining the Katatonia sound; we worked very hard on the songs.

Do you think you're more comfortable with the sound that you have now, obviously you're not as dark and doomier as you were back in the day?

Yeah, I think we're very comfortable since the last few albums, we've got a great foundation and we try to work from that, which we're very comfortable with. We've gone in different directions, just to try and make it sound like Katatonia even when we take in different influences.

Your producer David Castillo, how was it working with him?

Its great, we've known him for a few years, he used to be our live technician and its great working with him, we have a good relationship!

Night Is The New Day was recorded at Ghost Ward Studios which you claimed was a 'source of inspiration' working there, could you expand on this?

Well basically its a very small studio located in a very sketch neighbourhood which added to the effect. You never knew what to expect, we felt at home because its kind of remote, we dont get disturbed, no phones.

So you pretty much lock yourselves away then?

Yeah we lock ourselves away, we work, have lunch; thats what we do! The studio is so small, I mean we've been to bigger studios that have places to relax, video games and stuff like that which is good of course, it's a distraction, it takes away the working moral. For this album, we didnt have anything else to do other than work.

Also, Peaceville; what are your plans with your label at the moment?

We've been with Peaceville for ten years, it has been up and down and the last few years has been really good so we're actually going to resign with them.

It's good they have a small number of decent artists signed, so I guess they can fully concentrate on you...

Yeah thats how we feel, we had offers from many labels, it's interesting of course, but looking at those labels they have so many artists, they give you a certain time to promote it then its time for the next label to promote the next artist and their next album. At least this way we can keep promoting the album for a long time.

Do they give you a lot of freedom?

Yeah, artisit freedom is very important. They never told us to do anything, they never interfere so for us this is really important.

Also, what to you think attracts people to Katatonia, what is your appeal?

i think its the fact that we're a dark band, but we still maintain some beauty in the music, its not just black and white. There are different shades to every song, I guess it makes it easy to listen to,  but its not easy listening. It's fairly easy to get into, but when you get there, it has a lot to offer.

How do you work together as a band, do you spend time together outside of the band?

We don't practice collectively, we're based in different cities and we dont see each other that much outside of the band. It's just me and Anders, we are the main song writers, we do our stuff at home, send out the music to the other guys, they give their opinions, then we just meet up in the studio. Being in the studio is also part of the song writing process until the final mixing stage, which I think is interesting because we don't just go into the studio, nail everything and then leave. We try to experiment as much as possible.

So do you rehearse as a band or is it all just practicing when you are due to record?

We usually don't even rehearse for an album, which is not the best solution but its the one that works for us, we only rehearse when we have a tour coming up.

How do you find being in a touring band, balancing day to day life?

It was harder before, when we weren't so used to it. Its a part of our lives as we've done it many times now.

What are the positive and negative aspects of being in a band?

I mean the positive aspect, is of couse to get your music out there and get a response from the audience. That's the fuel. The bad thing is that you have to go away from your family and friends for a long time, if we do a seven week tour, you have to be away from family and children for a long time which is quite harsh, but you get used to it, but thats the worst part.

Is it hard to re-adjust after being away from home for such a long time?

Yeah, its really different! When I get back home, we're not rockstars, and when you get home, we're certainly not rockstars. But it's not a problem!

You recorded with Aryeon on the latest album, how was it for you?

It was very nice, it was a great overall experience. I didn't know him before, and didnt really listen before, then he approached me and I thought it was a really exciting project to be a part of! Such a nice person, I really enjoyed it, when I do vocals for Katatonia, it's my vocals and I don't have anyone to tell me what to do, but with him, he told me what to do, what to change, it was a great learning experience.

Do you think you'll get involved in more side projects?

I'd love to, if I had the time! Right now Katatonia is such a time consuming band, we also have, me and Anders have Bloodbath!

Ah yes! What's happening with Bloodbath at the moment?

We're booking some festival shows for next summer, I'm not sure if there are any UK dates but I hope so!

What's next for Katatonia? Is there anything left that you want to do?

Just to continue doing what we do, gradually rising. What I would personally like to see, is seeing one of our songs in a movie!

Hmm, something dark and dramatic! (laughs)