Interview / VILT
- Rakkan
- 5 days ago
- 6 min read
VILT is a melodic death metal band from Linköping, Sweden, active since 2016. They released a demo in 2018 before stepping into the spotlight with their official singles beginning in 2021, building momentum through a steady stream of nine singles and two EPs rather than a full-length album. I first listened to them in 2023, and they were recently featured in our band spotlight section, after which I had the chance to get to know the band through a full interview.
Let’s rewind to the very beginning. You formed in 2016, but it took a few years before that first demo in 2018. What was pushing you then? Was there a clear vision for what VILT should sound like or was it just friends chasing riffs?
In the beginning we were just kids with dreams having fun together. I think we all had dreams of playing our music on larger venues and I think that dream kept us pushing forward through the early days.
I am always fascinated by the spark moment. Was there a band, an album, maybe even just one live show that pulled you straight into the melodic death metal world?
Conrad: I think we all have a different experience. For me it was after me and Casper's father Michael introduced us to Iron Maiden, and I first saw the video of their Rock in Rio live show 2000. The energy of the first track "the wickerman" gave me such adrenalin that I forever after longed to myself be apart of that kind of experience. It was something about the build up of that riff which later explodes into a huge energetic experience.
Sweden has such a stacked history of heavy music. Being based in Linköping, did you feel like you were stepping into a legacy, or did it feel more like you were building your own corner from scratch?
Conrad: For me personally I really just wanted to write music that I loved to listen to. Energetic, hard hitting but also beautiful and melancolic with a touch of groove and Swedish folk. It has always been hard for me to stay in one specific genre while writing. I love a good variation and dislike the idea that music should be strictly organized into specific genres. I felt like a lot of the bands that were coming up tried more to appeal to one specific genre more than trying to experiment with blending the best of all genres.
Your first fully produced single didn’t drop until 2021. That’s a long build-up. Was that patience intentional, waiting until you had the right sound, or just the reality of figuring out how to do this right?
We were careful to experiment and to have a “demo period.” When we started the band, several of us were still teenagers, so a lot of it was also a financial issue. We took a few years’ break while looking for the right members, working on other projects in the meantime. Honestly, having a band unfortunately means having a lot of money, a lot of focus, and the right members.
Since then you’ve gone heavy on singles and EPs, nine tracks and counting. Do you see that as strategy, as a way of staying visible, or is it just the most natural way for VILT to write and release music?
It definitely helps to stay visible over a longer period of time. In the modern era with streaming algorithms, you need to be visible more frequently. We would have loved to record an album and release it as a whole, but we see that it’s necessary to keep up with the demands of the times.
Another positive thing is that each song needs to have high quality. It has to stand on its own and can’t rely on there being one or three “bangers” on the album. It’s also fun to shorten the time between writing a song and releasing it.
Fans are always asking about a full album. Is that in the cards, or do you prefer the single-by-single momentum?
Casper: The single releasing formula has worked very well for us so far, but of course we will release albums. In what shape or form the Albums will be released is still up for debate though.”
How would you describe the VILT sound in your own words?
I think we would describe us as a riff focused modern metal band that likes to incorporate all sorts of styles into our songs. But it would be hard to argue against the fact that we have similar roots as the old school melodic death metal band of Gothenburg. A mix of thrash metal, NWOBHM and mixed death and black influences.
Heart of Gold floored me with that 02:35 mark, when the solo and melody hit. Can you walk us through how that section came together? Was it a studio discovery or locked in long before?
Conrad: I wrote that song when I was 16 or 17 years old. I'm not actually sure what exactly I was thinking of except that I wanted a solo section that started off like “an old machine”. I also know that the solo has had some different variations over the years, the version you hear on the EP is one that is a mix between multiple variations that I have played live during our demo years. The harmonies at the end was something I wanted to add to create some kind of “folky” “neo classical” touch to the otherwise very heavy metal-style solo part. If that makes sense.
You manage to balance raw aggression with real vulnerability. Do the songs start with riffs first, or do the lyrics and themes lead the way?
Conrad usually creates a demo song without any vocals. Oscar then writes his lyrics based on the feeling he gets from the demo.
Who in the band is the melody obsessive, the one who keeps pushing for those hooks that cut through the chaos? This is not a complaint. I absolutely love it.
Thank you! I think we all love a great hook in music overall.
When the world outside feels bleak with wars, divisions, and personal struggles, how much of that bleeds directly into the songs?
I think we all can agree that the direction of the world is nothing less than bleak and outright disgusting. We try to express our inner anger, fears and sorrow through our music and we hope that in some way it will make a difference to someone.
VILT’s tracks are so tight and layered in production. How do you bring that same intensity to the stage without losing the clarity?
Rehearsing sure helps!
Was there a live show, either one you played or one you attended, that convinced you this band could hit harder than just a studio project?
One of our favorite bands today are a band named “Vittra”. Their songs are extremely well written and have so much of what we in VILT love about metal in general. We are happy to say that we regard them as our Sister-Band in terms of bands that we can identify ourselves with.
When fans come up after shows, what do they tell you most often about how your songs hit them?
Usually it's the people that heard us once live and then started to listen to us more, they usually say that they are happy that we manage to connect a lot to their preferences in music. Some of the most common songs we hear people love are “Mind Flayer”, “Heart of Gold” and “Enslaved”.
Beyond the Gothenburg school, what are the influences that might surprise people. It could be anything outside of metal that still finds a way into your music?
Conrad loves Swedish folk music, swing jazz, funk and classical music that he sometimes manages to sneak in his writing.
If you could add one completely unexpected cover to your set, something far outside your genre, what would it be?
Not sure. Probably some old swedish folk song or a very groovy funk session.
What’s next for VILT? More singles, maybe a debut album, or something fans aren’t expecting yet?
We are recording songs this autumn and what we do with them when they're finished, you will have to stick around to find out.
As you keep moving forward, what do you want VILT to stand for, not just musically but as a band that’s part of the heavy scene right now?
Casper: I think VILT, from the get go has always strived towards inclusivity for all, cause that is how we write our music, not from a rugged and rough streamlined perspective of music, but from a welcoming one. Welcoming new idéas and styles, we love to mix and match and will continue to do so!
On a final note, what does VILT actually stand for?
A single word, carrying many tongues within it. Outwardly simple, yet quietly profound. It speaks of everything and nothing, a paradox we found impossible to resist.