Stefan Lönnebrink

Age: 33
Lives in: Umeå

1. For how long have you been listening to metal?
"For as long as I can remember. The first record I bought was Herreys*, and after that it was just metal."

2. What do you like the most about metal?
"Oh it’s everything. The music... well, yes, I love everything about it."

3. What’s the best thing about hearing bands live?
"To live out all the difficult stuff and just have fun."

4. Name some of your favorite Swedish metal bands.
"I listen more to non-Swedish bands, like Skid Row, Paradise Lost, AFI, Zico Chain and Queens of The Stone Age."

5. Name a couple of things a proper metal fan should have — looks, attitude, something else...?
"Obesity, long hair and a little moustache."

*A Swedish pop band from the 1980s.

Linda Erlandsson

Age: 27
Lives in: Vassunda, between Stockholm and Uppsala

1. For how long have you been listening to metal?
"Since I was very young. My first record was Meatloaf — maybe not so metal, but then I moved on to Metallica when I was about 10."

2. What do you like the most about metal?
"I’m mostly into death metal and it’s a lot about the vocals and the riffs for me."

3. What’s the best thing about hearing bands live?
"That’s what I live for; it’s the best thing I know. I love the live experience, but it has to be a good performance, of course. But when it is, I get chills."

4. Name some of your favorite Swedish metal bands.
"Vicious Art, Necrophobic, Watain and Torture Division."

5. Name a couple of things a proper metal fan should have — looks, attitude, something else...?
"It’s not about the appearance. There are white-collar workers who are into metal, but metal head are always cool, nice people to hang out with. Being a proper metal fan is first and foremost about the music. They’re usually just really down to earth, easy-going people."

Dave Orman

Age: 27
Lives in: Umeå

1. For how long have you been listening to metal?
"I was quite a late starter, when I was about 16, so I’ve been listening to metal for about 11 years."

2. What do you like the most about metal?
"The culture. I like how it brings a lot of people together, who shouldn’t really be together. It’s just a whole lovely culture. Metal heads look like the scariest people in the world, but once you get to know them they’re the nicest people you’ll ever meet. I think that’s the best thing about the scene. You barely see fights at shows, because everyone lets out their aggression in the music — they don’t let it out on each other."

3. What’s the best thing about hearing bands live?
"Well, it sort of goes back to the second question, it’s the culture. You get together with a group of like-minded people who enjoy the same kind of music and have the same kind of taste as you, and you get to have a good party."

4. Name some of your favorite Swedish metal bands.
"At The Gates, In Flames, Arch Enemy, Dissection and Soilwork."

5. Name a couple of things a proper metal fan should have — looks, attitude, something else...?
"An open mind, a love for the music and just a sense to have fun."

Mats Björklund

Age: 38
Lives in: Umeå

1. For how long have you been listening to metal?
"Since I peeked out of my mom’s tummy, more or less at least."

2. What do you like the most about metal?
"The solidarity."

3. What’s the best thing about hearing bands live?
"The feeling that you experience in your body during the show and afterwards. You can’t describe it — it has to be experienced."

4. Name some of your favorite Swedish metal bands.
"Agony, Unleashed, Tiamat, Helltrain and Bathory."

5. Name a couple of things a proper metal fan should have — looks, attitude, something else...?
"Be yourself, don’t bow to other people’s opinions and listen only to what sounds good to your ears."

Jonas Danielsson

Age: 37
Lives in: Holmsund, just south of Umeå

1. For how long have you been listening to metal?
"Practically all my life. My favorite band when I was 5 was Saxon."

2. What do you like the most about metal?
"That’s a very hard question, but lately it’s been the anger. I usually pay more attention to lyrics, but when it comes to metal I listen more to the music than the lyrics."

3. What’s the best thing about hearing bands live?
"With a live concert it’s for real, so to speak. And you get to share the experience with everyone else in the audience, unlike when you just listen by yourself. That’s what it’s all about, the energy."

4. Name some of your favorite Swedish metal bands.
"At The Gates, November, Entombed and Meshuggah."

5. Name a couple of things a proper metal fan should have — looks, attitude, something else...?
"Nothing. It doesn’t matter what stuff you have, as long as you like the music."

Johan Paulin

Johan Paulin is very happy that he’s able to combine his two major interests, music and psychology. He works as a project assistant at the Department of Psychology at Umeå University, and in his spare time he is a freelance writer and full-time metal head.