SOURCE – Freya has been together nearly 22 years and Fight As One is your 6th studio album. Where do you see the band at this time?
Karl Buechner (Vocals) – Everyone in Freya plays another bands. Eric is the lead guitarist of Farthest Man. Tommy is the lead guitarist of the Interrogation. Ethan sings and plays all of the instruments in a Megadeth esque studio project called Ethan D Henry/Ed is the front man of Void Emperor/and I play in Earth Crisis and Apocalypse Tribe. When we join together in Freya it’s a unique band where we get to experiment by blending styles together. Freya has gone through many incarnations over the years. When we got close to our 20th anniversary we looked back and reflected on what was our favorite era. Collectively it was when we wrote the songs for lift the curse and the hoods Freya split. So essentially Fight As One is a return to that musical lyrical and artistic approach. One of the great things about all of us being involved in multiple bands is when the cycle of composing recording and performing winds down for one we can return to Freya and write at our leisure. Since we’ve reactivated we’ve made three videos and played quite a few shows on the east coast and in the Midwest so overall I think we’re in a good setting.
SOURCE – How do you think the band has evolved, and you specifically in your playing and songwriting, on this album, from your previous record, Grim?
Karl Buechner (Vocals) – Grimm was a fun album to write. It was a great opportunity so to speak spread my wings and Grant myself the freedom to not necessarily concern myself with what could be vocally reproduced live. So I branched out with three part total scream style harmonies along with some other approaches that were new to me. Tommy and our former guitarist and drummer put together some very interesting and intricate pieces on Grimm.
SOURCE – What were the advantages of having seven years to write the album, Grim (2016) to Fight as One (2023)?
Karl Buechner (Vocals) – We had already started preproduction for Fight As One in 2020 when the pandemic hit. Having so much time to reflect on what we had done so far. We had branched out widely from our home base in hardcore and thrash. It felt right that we return to our roots and with members that spanned the entire evolution of the band. This allowed for a new kind of alchemy. A rawness and aggression that sat perfectly with the lyrics.
SOURCE – We’re coming up on the 20-year anniversary of As the Last Light Drains, the band’s debut album. Are milestones a time of reflection for you?
Karl Buechner (Vocals) – When the Edwards brothers and I started Freya all those years ago Eric really stepped forward with his role as primary writer. Before he joined Earth Crisis and started the new band with me he had played in a number of melodic hardcore bands. Groups like bone Jack and Farthest Man. He brought those melodic elements into Freya and Ian carried over the aggression of Earth Crisis and both their styles blended. We actually still play some of the songs off the first record live.
SOURCE – Several artists have recently been talking about issues with streaming services and losing money, while others have been defending it. What are your thoughts on this evolution of the music industry?
Karl Buechner (Vocals) – I think the way that governments of some of the northern European countries for instance such as the Scandinavian Nations and Canada have the best solution they subsidize an offer grants to career musicians to supplement their income. I think of a band can last and tour and sell records it’s fair. Bars clubs and concert Halls booking agents staff at record labels people employed at record shops seem to be able to pay their bills musicians especially avant-garde ones often times have to run themselves ragged with different jobs to stay above water
SOURCE – Tell us about the track Omens and the video you shot for it. How important are videos in the promotion process these days?
Karl Buechner (Vocals) – The song Omens off of our newest record to me lyrically is one of the most important I think musically although it has a short running time it packs a heavy punch the message and meaning of it is looking to the positive and staying persistent in order to advance towards goals.
SOURCE – Anything else you’d like to mention/promote?
Karl Buechner (Vocals) – Thanks to all who came to see us at the shows we’ve played with madball leeway pissant In Cold blood blackest Dawn illmatic and Ebony sorrow. We are currently booking more shows and working on new material for our follow-up album. Thanks to all who came out to see us live and to all who support and appreciate Freya!
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