Interview for DEATHTHRASHER MAGAZINE by ARMANDO MUTILATOR : 

DT: Hello MARTIN How are you?.  Martin Persson: Hi man! I´m fine thanks. DT: When did you start playing?.  Martin Persson: I started playing guitar when I was about 12 years old. My first band was at the age of 13-14 something, not much of a band but hey - you have to start somewhere haha! DT: What do you think about Religion, Church and Pope?.  Martin Persson: Religion sucks, think for yourself instead. For me, religion is an option for weak people who haven't got the courage to take responsibility for their own life and their own actions. So religion, the Church and the Pope is the same shit with a different name. DT: Do you think that wearing chains, blood, make-up and all that stuff is important for you image?.  Martin Persson: I never wear any of that stuff so for me it´s not important at all. If you want to wear it, go ahead. But take it easy with the makeup ;-) DT: Your musical influences?.  Martin Persson: I love JUDAS PRIEST, they are the biggest influence for me. But I listen to all metal and I think that everything you listen to becomes in one way or another an influence. DT: Which is for you the best old DISMEMBER's album?.  Martin Persson: It's a dead race between "Death Metal" and "Like an everflowing Stream". Those two are outstanding in the discography of DISMEMBER I think. Favourite song is probably "Skin her alive" from "Like an…". That's also the bands favourite livetrack. DT: How is a gig with DISMEMBER?.  Martin Persson: Total mayhem. 5 guys delivering pure Swedish Death Metal and doing everything they can to make the audience go off. That formula hasn't failed us yet. DT: What do you know about Peruvian Scene?.  Martin Persson: Nothing actually! DT: Your Swedish fave European bands?.  Martin Persson: The Swedish bands I like are GRAVE, AT THE GATES, ENTOMBED and of course a lot more… DT: Do you know JOHNNY from UNLEASHED?.  Martin Persson: No, not me but the other guys of course know him. DT: Who's the best?...SIR ALEC GUINESS or LEONARD NIMOY?.  Martin Persson: Guiness. DT: Do you remember your days with BERSERK?, tell us about the Shows with DARK FUNERAL, BERSERK's Demo and about the CD Compilation with BERSERK, MERCILESS, DISMEMBER...  Martin Persson: Damn, you've done your homework haha! I don't remember so much but we had a fun fucking time and evolved as musicians a lot in that band. It was a three piece band playing old Death Metal and I played guitar and did the vocals so it was cool. DT: Where and how you knew to DAVID BLOMQVIST?.  Martin Persson: I met him through a labelmate, JONNY WRANNING (EBONY TEARS, DOGFACEDGODS etc.). I heard that DISMEMBER needed a guitarist for a European tour so I called DAVID up and in two rehearsals I learned 15 songs. After the tour they were so pleased with me that they asked me if I wanted to join them permanently. Which I of course did. DT: Is JOHAN LIIVA a friend of yours?... do you prefer JOHAN LLIVA or ANGELA GOSSOW?.  Martin Persson: No, don't know him yet. But we're doing a tour in Holland / Belgium this fall with his new band HEARSE so I'll probably catch a few beers with him then. I prefer JOHAN in ARCH ENEMY. DT: What do you think about the Norwegian Black Metal Scene?.  Martin Persson: I'm a big fan of EMPEROR , otherwise I don't care about it at all. DT: Do you have problems with alcohol?. Martin Persson: I have no problems with alcohol, but I have HUGE problems without it haha! No, but seriously, the life on the road is not the healthiest life you can live. But it´s a lot of fucking fun! DT: Please, talk me about your work with THYRFING.  Martin Persson: I grew up together with the guys in THYRFING. We all come from a small suburb to Stockholm called Tyresö. I shared rehearsal places and beers with them for many years so when they asked me to do some leads on their "Urkraft" album, of course I did it. DT: Who designed "WHERE IRONCROSSES GROW" cover?. Martin Persson: It was DAN SEAGRAVE. Kinda cool since it was he who did Like an … as well DT: What can you tell me about "Tragedy Of The Faithful" lyrics?.  Martin Persson: This is a question for MATTI and not me so I'll pass on this question! DT: In your opinion, which is the most powerful song from "WHERE IRONCROSSES GROW'?.  Martin Persson: My favourite is "Where angels fear to tread". That's a heavy fucking song and that's a great one to play live as well! "Tragedy…" is also a great song which goes well live. DT: The current members of DISMEMBER, DAVID BLOMQVIST, MATTI KÄRKI and FRED ESTBY played on a legendary band like CARNAGE, do you remember this times?  Martin Persson: Yeah, I remember it but I wasn't so old then and I didn't know the guys then. Killer album though! DT: "WHERE IRONCROSSES GROW" is the best Swedish Death Metal gem from ever?.  Martin Persson: The album is one of the best Death Metal albums ever but there are others to man! But its easily the best old school Death Metal album for the last years. DT: Your future plans?.  Martin Persson: Right now we have been doing loads of festivals all over the world and in August the DVD will be released. After that we'll tour until Christmas and for the first time ever we will hit South America, can't wait for that! DT: Your last growl for DT. Readers….. where can they find your stuff?. Martin Persson: Come see DISMEMBER on our South America tour this fall! Keep yourselves posted on www.dismember.se  Thanx for the interview!  // Martin