Hypocrisy   Hypocrisy Beyond the Final Chapter  
  One might says it's hypocritical to say in interviews that you are releasing your last album and then within a year you release two more. That's exactly the crime Peter Tagtgren is guilty of. Hypocrisy released the "Final Chapter" in 1997 stating that after many years of mountanious hardships that Hypocrisy would be done. Guess what, he lied! Not only did Nuclear Blast release the live album Hypocrisy Destroys Wacken but they just recently released the band's newest acccomplishment, aptly self titled Hypocrisy. After hearing the new album I just couldn't stay pissed. True, I'm tired of bands trying little publicity stunts for attention but Hypocrisy's latest musical endeavor is one of the best metal albums so far this year. It was slightly after midnight in Peter's homeland of Sweden when we started the interview. He seems a genuine person? so I had to ask "Why did you call it quits and then keep playing?" "I was fed up with the countless hours, days, months,  and years of effort with very little to show for it. I was  becoming more involved in my solo project Pain." It seems that  the overwhelming support from the media and most notably the American fans at the Milwalkee Metal Fest changed Peter's view  on the situation. Peter continued "American fans want their metal brutal while European fans want their metal more melodic.  Hypocrisy falls into the middle."  Peter had lived in Florida for about three years, so I asked him about the differences in cultures and about American Stereo types. His reflections of Florida consisted of old  people, palm trees, hamburgers, pot and not being allowed to drive around with an open can of beer. In Sweden it's against the law to drive under the influence of any alcohol. The Swedish police can pull you over at anytime and search or test you for alcohol. He also recalled that a lot of American's smoke pot while the drug of choice in Sweden is alcohol, especially vodka. "When I was in America and partying I would carry around a bottle of vodka and drink til I passed out. People thought I had  a problem or bad drinking habits but that's just how we do it in Sweden. Beer is not as big over in Sweden." His final thoughts of America were that he enjoyed his time in Philadelphia. "It's much more industrial and I got to see the Libery Bell but missed the Rocky steps!" Being interested in all aspects of music, Peter also has his own studio dubbed Abyss Studios, where he has recorded the band's last couple albums as well as albums for Marduk, Immortal, and Dimmu Borgin. There are also several American bands planning on making the journey to Abyss Studios. The new album has a very distinct sound which not only comes from Hypocrisy's original approach but from the philosophy of the producer. I asked Peter if he had any formal training on recording. "I never took any lessons or really read any books. I  just do a lot of experimenting with microphones and mic placement." "I use Shure Sm57's on almost everything, I love their sound. I also have some $500 custom made mics that sound better than $3,000 store bought ones." For effects I use the Lexicon Reflex and Lexicon 480. Surprisingly the cheaper stuff usually sounds better." The self  titled release took just over two months of 7 day weeks to finish. You've got to respect the bands that do everything themselves and keep complete artistic control of their  projects. Unlike too many of today's bands that want to be recorded and produced by the week's trendiest name. Hypocrisy deals with several science fiction themes. This is nothing new for Peter, who has always been in awe of the
unknown. Especially the unknown beyond our sun and moon. We discussed the possibility of man just being the dna experiment of  aliens and the limitations of existing in a 3 dimensional world. It truly seems ridiculous to think that human beings are the be
all end all of the universe. The odds are in favor that there are other forms of life transcending our own earth. Even at a very
young age Peter had a belief in other life forms. "At age 4 the Star Trek television show fascinated me. When I was older and
read the book Communion I had to check under my bed before I went to sleep, it scared me so."For those interested Peter is a Gemini and his biggest metal influence as a child was Kiss and later Venom, Possessed, and Slayer. He also stated that the reigning king of heaviness was Dio and Black Sabbath was better with Dio then Ozzy. I was waiting for lightning to strike Peter down but it didn't happen. As he became older he got into Deicide, Morbid Angel, the Exploited and The Entombed. When I asked what genre of music he would like to see entirely eliminated from this planet, without hesitation he stated "RAP!!, especially mixing metal with rap!" While I evoked a powerful response I prodded with the question "What's the worst rumor you've ever heard about yourself?" Peter followed with "That people talk to me on the internet or that I said this or that on the internet. I"m not on the internet! So apparently people are going around saying they are me and others are believing it!" It's taken Peter ten years of writing music to finally receive the attention that he and Hypocrisy deserve. Not only has Hypocrisy's albums been gaining lots of popular attention but so has Peter's solo project Pain, from labels like Warner BRothers and Virgin. He describes it as Rammstein mixed with dance. The success is attributed to lots of practice and the brutal honesty of getting to know the right people. The self titled new release indulges in speed, brutal blackness, melody, atmospheres, and beautiful aggressions. Just when you thought they were over, Hypocrisy unleashes it's biggest surprise!
-greg "the hammer"
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