Screamer have plenty to celebrate as they are back with vengeance with their new album ‘Kingmaker!’ We wanted to find out more about the band and see what was being planned for 2023 in the Screamer camp! Check out this exclusive interview with Dejan Rosíc!

THE NWOTHM: Hey Screamer it is a privilege to be interviewing you guys! First up can you introduce us to the members of the band and where you are from?

Dejan: Hi, thanks for having us! Screamer is from a small town in Sweden called Ljungby but nowadays we have members from all over the country.  Me and the drummer Henrik Petersson are from Ljungby we’re the band is from and based. Andreas Wikström who’s the singer is from the north, a city called Umeå. Our new guitar player Jon Morheim is from Jönköping an hour north from the bands hometown and our bass player Fredrik is from Falköping.

THE NWOTHM: How did the Screamer form and is there any insightful story surrounding its formation?

Dejan: The band was formed in 2009 by our drummer and three other guys from our hometown Ljungby with the goal to be a live band and that hasn’t changed and will not change. I joined the band before the debut album Adrenaline Distractions in 2011 but I knew the guys for many years before that.

THE NWOTHM: The name Screamer is awesome! How did you choose the bands name and did you have a different name before?

Dejan: I’m not sure, but it’s a cool band name and I think that was one of the reasons why you choose a band name in your early 20s. But some 13 years later it’s hard to remember what happened on the battlefield when the smoke clears.

THE NWOTHM: As a band who would you say your biggest influences in life been, both musically and outside of music?

Dejan: We are of course inspired by the heroes of old such as Iron Maiden, Judas and Dio. But we are equally inspired by the Swedish melodic death metal scene as well as punk and 70’s Hard rock. I think you draw inspiration from everything you see, consume or experience even if you don’t realise it. 

THE NWOTHM: What did you listen to growing up? Do you have any guilty pleasure go to records?

Dejan: My dad introduced me to Deep Purple, The Doors and Pink Floyd when I started getting interested in music at a young age. It grew from that into heavier and harder to softer and more melodic and back and forth. I’ve been enjoying Tears for Fears a lot lately, but I don’t really see that as a guilty pleasure. Don’t really care what people think these days I like what I like, although this question would have had a very different answer 15 years ago haha.

THE NWOTHM: If you could play with any band or musician form the 80’s, dead or alive who would it be and why?

Dejan: Hundred percent Dio. No explanation needed.

THE NWOTHM: Going back to the start of your career if you could tell your younger selves to do something different, what would it be?

Dejan: I think there are a million things I would say. But at the same way I chose not to see it that way. What’s done is done and all the experience gathered along the way are what made the band what it is today and I wouldn’t change that.

THE NWOTHM: Do you have any major highlights from your musical career up until now?

Dejan: The biggest highlights are of course that we still to this day still are touring and releasing records. Going to the US last year not only doing one but two tours is a dream come true and I can’t wait to get back. 

THE NWOTHM: Who are the artists behind your artworks?

Dejan: For our latest album Kingmaker we’ve worked with a guy called David Paul Seymour for the cover of the album and all the layout has been done alongside covers for the singles by the amazing Daniel Porta (thepitforge).

THE NWOTHM: Touring is exciting and at the same time tiring! What have been the highs and lows for you while being on the road?

Dejan: The highs are always the live show and seeing people singing your songs and giving it all is the best feeling in the world. The lows are when you just pumped gas in Leipzig and are ready to drive down to Barcelona and the steering wheel on the van breaks. Then having to cancel and drive home to Sweden while driving at 60 km an hour while all the time having to tighten the bolt on the steering wheel with a wrench. I would say that is a low haha

THE NWOTHM: Which album(s) from your discography would you say you are most proud of or have been a reflection of something big that has happened in your lives?

Dejan: I would have to say our latest album Kingmaker. Working the way we did with the album and signing with Steamhammer feels like we really are heading into the right direction for the future. 

THE NWOTHM: If you gained a new fan, which songs would you introduce to them to give them an overall feel for Screamer and why?

Dejan: I would say Out of the Dark and Shadow Hunter from our album Highway of Heroes and from the new album Kingmaker it would be the song Kingmaker and The Traveler. I feel those songs at least for me represent what the band is all about. 

THE NWOTHM: Can you tell us a bit of background info about your new album ‘Kingmaker’ and how the songs came together?

Dejan: We started writing the album early 2022 i think or after Christmas late 2021. Me and the drummer Henrik wrote the foundation for the music before Andreas started with lyrics and vocals.  We did pre production with Jakob Herrmann at his studio in Gothenburg called Top Floor Studios early spring of 2022. When the album was almost finished Jon joined the band and we finished the album together with him and he brought a lot of good ideas to the table. 

THE NWOTHM: Which songs from ‘Kingmaker’ would you say are your favourites and why?

Dejan: The Traveler because it turned out a bit different from what we usually do but at the same time very Screamer at the same time since it’s very melodic and catchy.  Kingmaker because it’s just a kick ass heavy metal song and also one of the first songs that was finished for the album and sparked everything.  Chasing the Rainbow is another that is a favourite. The Hammond organ really gives the song a extra flavour.

THE NWOTHM: Can you tell us more about the ‘Kingmaker’ music video, the director and how you chose the direction for the video?

Dejan: The director is Max Ljungberg, and previous to the Kingmaker video we worked with him on two other videos. He’s a person we are big fans of and trust his expertise to the fullest. We had a location and we brought in Erik Tingwe (Wastelandpirate) to portray our mascot The Demon Rider who is a samurai warrior with wings. We wanted a bit of a filthy industrial type of location then we basically just let Max do his thing since we trust him and his talent and he never disappoints.

THE NWOTHM: What are your tour plans for 2023? Do you have any big shows lined up? Will you be playing the UK and Europe this year?

Dejan: We have a couple of shows in Sweden to start everything of before we host our own festival called TurboFest in Ljungby on march 31st and April 1st with band like Lucifer, Nekromant and of course Screamer. After that we are going on the road with Skull Fist through out European April. In the UK we will be doing ManorFest this year and hopefully a couple of more dates. The the world tour continues and we will play everywhere we can and also Muskelrock!

THE NWOTHM: Where can people check you out on social media and buy your music/merch?

Dejan: www.wearescreamer.com is a good place to start from there you can find everything you need regarding the band from music to mech to the social media’s. Give us a follow on social media and you can see what the band is up to now that we are hitting the road! 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wearescreamer

Bandcamp: https://wearescreamer.bandcamp.com/

Shop Kingmaker on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3HUeXP6

THE NWOTHM: is there anything else you would like to mention?

Dejan: Thanks for having me and thank a big thanks to everyone who has bought, listened or streamed our new album “Kingmaker” that is out now on Steamhammer. Hope to see you all on during our upcoming shows! 

Thanks so much for your time!

Thank you!

Dejan Rosić, Screamer 

#kingmaker #screamer #thenowthm #spv