In 2008 multi-tasking Swedish prog renaissance guy Roine Stolt put The Flower Kings on ice. The band returned to motion in 2012 with eleventh album Banks Of Eden. That yr Stolt advised Prog why they’d taken a smash and mentioned the ups and downs of being in 3 other teams on the identical time.
The Flower Kings are again. There used to be no absolute declaration of a break up, in fact, but if guitarist/vocalist Roine Stolt blogged a few “brief intermission for what could be labelled TFK” in November 2008, many enthusiasts went into mourning.
A retrospective are living DVD and double-CD package deal entitled Excursion Kaputt used to be launched in Would possibly 2011. Then an reputable Flower Kings web page seemed on Fb in October, and those self same enthusiasts had new hope. They figured the process needed to imply excellent information. They weren’t mistaken.
In February 2012, a press commentary introduced imprecise main points of a brand new Flower Kings album. Nevertheless it additionally integrated particular affirmation of a reunion gig, with Stolt, bass guitarist Jonas Reingold, keyboard participant Tomas Bodin and guitarist/vocalist Hasse Fröberg joined by way of a brand new younger drummer, 26-year-old Berliner Felix Lehrmann.
Then in April we came upon the album used to be known as Banks Of Eden and can be quintessential Flower Kings fare. However nonetheless one query remained unanswered: why did the band get placed on dangle within the first position?
“We by no means did any giant announcement or the rest,” says Stolt. “There are many tactics of having the scoop out, whether or not on Fb or MySpace or no matter, and I feel we simply stated, ‘We’re taking a smash.’ We couldn’t say for the way lengthy – part a yr, a yr, 10 years – however it will be till it feels proper to come back again and write some new tune, liberate a brand new album and play are living onstage once more.
“We’d been going since 1994, and after 10 or 11 albums and a few are living albums and DVDs, we have been simply on autopilot,” he continues. “Everybody used to be anticipating any other album – the blokes within the band, the target market, everybody – so a bit of little bit of the joy used to be taken away, and it’s a deadly factor whilst you simply pass on making tune. However there are different choices, and one choice is to prevent for some time and paintings with other folks, get impressed once more and do various things. And that’s what took place with The Flower Kings.”
In addition to wearing on enjoying guitar with global prog supergroup Transatlantic, Stolt endured to paintings with The Flower Kings’ bassist Jonas Reingold in each Karmakanik and Brokers Of Mercy, making 3 albums with every team. Obviously they didn’t hate every different, then.
“Jonas and I’ve been enjoying at all times and in nearly day by day touch,” Stolt explains. ”Infrequently we name every different 3 or 4 instances an afternoon! So there’s been discussions occurring. He could have requested me a few years in the past, ‘How do you’re feeling about The Flower Kings?’ Both you’re feeling impressed to jot down one thing otherwise you don’t.”
Ask Metallica to jot down a prog rock tune and it’s nonetheless going to sound like Metallica
No quantity of badgering from enthusiasts or bandmates modified Stolt’s thoughts about getting the outdated band again in combination. As a substitute, it used to be a bit of little bit of similar paintings that whetted his urge for food for extra. “We launched a are living DVD known as Excursion Kaputt a yr in the past,” he says.
“I used to be in reality enhancing the movie and combining the tune, and it’s imaginable that at that second I felt like, ‘Possibly we will have to get in combination and do a few presentations and even document an album.’ Then I more than likely began speaking with Jonas and he felt the similar means so we contacted the opposite guys.”
Does Stolt have any concept why the smash used to be see you later despite the fact that? Judging by way of The Flower Kings’ historical past, 5 years is generally a minimum of 4 albums price of output. He pauses for idea. “We by no means stated, ‘Let’s wait 4 or 5 years’ – we simply stopped and waited to look what would occur. I will be able to’t actually inform why. I will be able to’t glance into myself and say why I ended for that lengthy. That’s more than likely too sophisticated. It used to be only a feeling I had.”
Fortuitously for everybody, Stolt after all were given that feeling and it used to be robust sufficient to begin writing a brand new album. Banks Of Eden is the outcome, and the reputable spiel accompanying it crows about how the tune accommodates the entire logos of The Flower Kings and celebrates their place as probably the most international’s main fashionable prog bands. A superbly self-deprecating teaser trailer doesn’t contradict any of this – however there should be one thing new in regards to the band’s eleventh album, another way what used to be the purpose of taking time without work to refresh their sensibilities?
“It’s more than likely more uncomplicated for the enthusiasts to mention what’s new than me, since you attempt to do one thing a bit of bit other, however you’ll’t actually run clear of your self,” he replies. “You’re what you’re – and I feel that is going for almost any artist. Ask Metallica to jot down a prog rock tune and it’s nonetheless going to sound like Metallica. After getting a singer, you recognise the voice, the guitarist doing the riffing or their solos in a undeniable means, or a keyboard favouring positive forms of sounds. It’s actually onerous to escape from that, even supposing you actually take a look at.
“I feel it’s a query of stability to make one thing that works are living onstage, that folks will purchase tickets to look the band play and that folks will obtain or pass purchase [the record] within the store,” he says, with the practicality of a person who’s been across the block and is aware of precisely what’s what. “With the historical past of The Flower Kings it’s been about melodic, symphonic innovative rock. Infrequently extra riffing and occasionally a bit of bit softer, and I feel for the brand new album, it’s more than likely extra of the similar.”
I don’t assume I may just envision that we’d pass play in the USA, Japan or South The united states… I simply idea we may pass and play in Stockholm
So how has the smash helped Stolt in my opinion? “I’ve mainly been enjoying the similar taste of tune however with other other people and in numerous venues,” he says. “It’s very a lot been industry as same old – however on the identical time there’s been one of those freshness enjoying with other folks.”
Definitely enjoying with Transatlantic is an overly other enjoy, each musically and with regards to reputation? “I by no means actually seemed Transatlantic to be steel,” he says. “Certain, Mike Portnoy used to be coming from Dream Theater, and that’s intended to be some kind of prog steel; however the tune in Transatlantic – as I noticed it – is innovative rock. Infrequently it’s symphonic and occasionally it’s with acoustic guitars, and the melodies that Neal Morse writes are nearly like sing-along melodies.
”There’s a bit of little bit of onerous riffing however now not at all times. So in my thoughts it’s now not actually that other from what I’m doing. There’s been riffing in The Flower Kings and Brokers Of Mercy, particularly in the newest album. The principle distinction for me is that it’s on a distinct stage with regards to gross sales and what number of people come to the concert events.”
It will appear as though he’s spreading himself somewhat skinny – for sure probably the most the reason why he felt it important to pause TFK – however having obviously idea onerous about his profession and the way he approaches every mission, he’s additionally conscious about the advantages of being desirous about 3 other organisations.
“The nice factor is that there’s all the time some kind of process with probably the most bands,” he says. “If it’s now not The Flower Kings, it’s going to be Transatlantic, and if it’s now not Transatlantic, it’s going to be Brokers Of Mercy. I feel it’s a excellent factor – if it’s The Flower Kings throughout the year and once a year, we’ll finally end up in the similar state of affairs the place we’ll simply stay doing albums and excursions one after any other, and the freshness is long past.”
It should get fairly complicated occasionally, despite the fact that. “It will get to some degree whilst you’re status onstage and you have got to remind your self what band you’re in reality enjoying in,” he chuckles. “You lose your self within the tune.”
With 11 albums over 18 years, The Flower Kings are completely Stolt’s primary mission. Whilst his early paintings with Kaipa is held up as a few of Sweden’s best symphonic prog, it’s TFK who’ve toured the world over and bought sufficient data to maintain a profession.
There are bits of Coldplay or Muse in our tune, however it sort of feels that almost all enthusiasts don’t actually hit upon it
“The very, first actual album [1994’s The Flower King], I don’t assume there even used to be a band,” he says. “It used to be simply me and a few buddies. After a few gigs it used to be transparent that we in reality may just play the tune are living. We began doing albums after which we were given into doing double albums; we’re roughly well-known for doing double albums. However I don’t assume I may just envision that we’d pass and play in the USA or Japan or South The united states at that time. I simply idea we may pass and play in Stockholm.”
How about the truth that TFK are noticed as probably the most premier Swedish rock bands of all time – and that Stolt is held in prime esteem international? Being requested to enroll in Transatlantic used to be no coincidence, in fact, he had the pedigree. “It feels excellent,” he laughs, earlier than including: “With absolutely anything, when one thing is actually excellent and the solar is shining, you all the time be expecting it to prevent shining in part an hour.
“I document and compose tune that is thought of as to be a bit of bit bizarre and now not that business,” he continues. “I will be able to make a dwelling out of it, and I will be able to play with musicians from around the globe and be in fascinating initiatives. In some way it feels adore it may just forestall any day – so it’s excellent to only be proud of what you have got and hope it is going on for a pair extra years.”
Having been in and round it for nearly 4 many years, how wholesome does Stolt really feel the prog scene is at the present time? “The location at this time is that you’ll in reality excursion,” he says. “There are a selection of prog fairs arising, and there’s Prog mag in the United Kingdom, in fact. I’d say there are in reality extra prog rock bands lately than there have been within the 70s. Then you definately had Sure, Genesis, King Pink, ELP, Focal point, and also you needed to be actually, actually excellent to get a deal on a document label.”
What’s it, then, that assists in keeping The Flower Kings in such a lot call for? All through their hiatus, their enthusiasts have been clamouring for extra. What’s the name of the game? “We simply write songs,” he laughs. “We’re impressed by way of a number of tune from again then – bands like Fleetwood Mac or Led Zeppelin – however we’re additionally impressed by way of tune that’s more moderen.
”There are bits of Coldplay or Muse in our tune as smartly however it sort of feels that almost all enthusiasts don’t actually hit upon it. If say that I feel we’re a contemporary prog band, any person else will say we’re similar to the second one Delicate Large album or we sound like Focal point’s first album. I’m positive we do.
“There also are bits of Swedish people tune. Possibly other people don’t hit upon it, as a result of they haven’t heard Swedish people tune. I feel other people coming from South The united states or Japan in finding the folklore affect within the tune very unique and engaging, so I feel it’s a mixture of the whole thing – however I’d agree that The Flower Kings is extra of a symphonic rock band.”
That’s the name of the game, then. For those who’re an aspiring prog band, Roine Stolt reckons that – an unlimited breadth of influences apart – you will have to “simply write songs.” Within reason, it’s labored out beautiful smartly for The Flower Kings.
