Sweden’s Pain released their new album, I Am, in May via Nuclear Blast ahead of the European summer festival season. The group has since been making appearances in support of their latest offering. The project, led by mastermind Peter Tägtgren, moves as more of a creative outlet with no restrictions, blending metal with electronic and whatever beats come out of his head, steering away from the sounds of Hypocrisy. The musical genius Tägtgren continues to record music somehow throughout his busy schedule, which never seems to damper in quality. Metal Insider had the privilege to speak with Tägtgren to discuss the record, its dark meanings, upcoming plans, and more.
I know this was quite a few years in the making, but what was the overall creative process for the new album, I Am?
It started in 2021, I think, like in February or March and the Hypocrisy album was set for September, the Worship album to release. My manager said, ‘hey, you need to bring out some new Pain stuff because you will be busy with Hypocrisy.’
I was like, oh yeah, shit. So I wrote, “Party in my head,” and released “Gimme Shelter” that was actually morphed as the original from the (Rolling) Stones, but I kind of pimped it up for this release to make it more modern, so to speak. And then, yeah, after I was done with that in April, I started going back to the last album and listening to it and it, it felt a little bit sleepy kind of.
For me, it needs more, more punch in the shed, more distortion. I need more attitude. So I actually started to write “Push the Pusher” right away after that, but then I did the title track, “I Am” , the slow song after that. And then, of course, I had to stop because we had to start going to festivals and things like that. And then in between, you try to find some time to do one song here and one song there. So that’s how it was for two years until it was done. In the end, I got more and more time, in between tours and things. So it was much easier to finish it up at the end.
I can only imagine the switching between both projects. Were there any challenges that you faced during the writing process for the new album?
Yeah, I mean, always the process for me is to make me feel interested in what I’m doing. You know, that’s the first thing, to make yourself feel like, wow, this is making it a little bit fresh for me and blah, blah, blah.
For example, like, “Go With The Flow,” that’s so naked with just bass and drums in the beginning. Took me a while to figure out how the hell should I sing on this. And it’s been like that with every song. I think I just go step by step and, after I’m done with the music and think, okay, how can I sing on this?
And what should I sing? These things can take forever until you find the right way. Where I feel I am the judge here. Because then the fans are the judges. But first I have to be happy before I even dare to let it out. I try a lot of things with Pain that I don’t deal with Hypocrisy because I want Hypocrisy to stay in the same frame, and not, you know, fly off to something different than what we are.
We have our own unique style. So with Pain, it’s just keep on searching and trying to develop as a songwriter. And, singer and a producer, really. You know, that’s what Pain started us from the beginning. To do different things from what I normally do. It’s an adventure, and keeping the energy, the creativity alive.
What can fans expect from the new album compared to previous Pain records?
I think it’s more awake, and the last one was a little bit more sleepy. But you know, I was in that phase at that time. Every time you make an album, you’re in some kind of way of thinking or what you’re inspired for, at the moment.
So with the new album, I wanted to get it more uptempo, a little bit more, industrial, more catchy, more danceable, whatever you want to call it.
“Push the Pusher” was one of the first songs written. And I remember when the press release came out for it. You mentioned it’s about what you’ve heard half your life about how to grow up. Can you elaborate more on that?
I mean, I think everybody since they were kids, people would tell them to grow up. For me, it was just annoying and, from the beginning, the lyrics were really about, like, cancel culture shit. And, I guess, something inspired me to change it over to me and make it more personal. Yeah. I don’t know if there was a phone call from someone that irritated me, but, all suddenly it became about me, and not wanting to grow up. I guess.
You used AI for the video. What was that process like for you?
Well, it sounds very simple to press one button and then it’s done. But that’s not the truth. It actually took two guys to do the drawings for two and a half months, and then with AI, they got it together, in the way of the cutting and the moving and stuff.
But, you know, two guys had to sit and draw these things for two and a half months at least, before it was even time to put the AI in there. So it’s very much, of, man’s handcraft or woman’s handcraft, you know, a human hand in the way. But just to speed things up, to make it more possible, they used AI if I understood it right, I was not really, so involved in how they did it, to be honest.
But, yeah, that’s how you do it sometimes. And we even did that with the Lindemann album on one of the songs where the faces are going in between each other. We did an AI video, but we gave it the faces and it did everything by itself. That’s a different thing.
Can you talk about the meaning behind the title track?
It’s about, I’m singing I am the Cancer AI and the cells in your body, you know, that makes you sick and turns off the light for you.
But, the album itself is really I am. This is what I was for two years, kind of. So it’s two different things that represent. But on the other hand, Sebastian’s grandma died of cancer last year. So that also kind of made me think about these lyrics. My mom had cancer, but she survived. My grandma had cancer, but she passed away from it. So. Yeah. So it became something important during these two years, 21 to 23 that was surrounding me, that really makes the album.
It’s a very vicious disease. There’s a lot of survivors and there’s a lot who have unfortunate outcomes.
Yeah, exactly.
It’s a powerful message. People need to get checked out. More people who are younger are getting it as well.
Yeah. I mean, it’s by design that they want to depopulate us. So whatever they can do, put it in the food, put it anywhere. Just give us cancer. So they’re, what do you call it? I mean, we’re just like slaves for some people, you know, to do their work so that they can live happily ever after, kind of thing. It’s kind of fucked up the whole situation. I heard that scientists are now discovering that cancer is actually something else than what they really thought it was.
No, I know America, the food industry alone puts cancerous items and it’s also very addicting. So humans don’t really understand. They’re like, well, I’m not drinking, so what do you mean? I don’t have a problem as they, like, consume processed foods that’s filled with chemicals that give you cancer.
Yeah, I mean, cancer, loves sugar, glucose. And it’s in everything, and, yeah, it’s crazy how it is. People are just going to go. Oh, you’re so paranoid. No, sorry. We’ll find out later.
The more you read, the more questions you get about our history and the truths behind everything. That’s really messed up. Which is why it’s like all you can do is be creative and enjoy life until you can’t.
Exactly.
Aside from Pain’s upcoming shows and I think a few live gigs you have for Hypocrisy, are there any, further plans you can reveal for both projects?
This summer will be packed with festivals, and like you said, there will be like three Hypocrisy, festivals this summer. We were staying pretty low. After that, we are doing this Scandinavian tour and we’re working on trying to get to America as well. right now, we can’t find anyone to open up for it. So I guess we’re just going to go by ourselves and, more or less, like, introduce ourselves to America and Canada, of course. so, it will be. I don’t know, we were working in September. Now September is very close. I think they are trying to work on it for November now in America and then in Europe. We go out in January together with The Halo Effect. So, we just kind of keep on going and then hopefully come back to America once again. This is the plan that we’re working on.
I heard that the visa prices have increased. And so I hope things will go smoothly for you guys.
Oh, you never will. No, but the visa is the least problem. Yeah. It’s freaking expensive now. But I guess it’s up to me if I want to put the money in there or not. And I really do, because I believe that it can be really cool for Americans to check it out. And Canadians. So for me, it’s worth it to go minus the first time or the first couple of times. And maybe after that you can see some money. But for me, it’s more important to get out and play for people.
Is there anything else you want to say or add about the new album?
It’s very good. You buy. Yes. No. I would say, it’s a very mixed album, but I think it’s pretty catchy here and there. So I think people just have to check it out.
