Doomed Confessionary: Johan Jansson (Moondark)
Photo by Fredrik Karlén
Moondark is a death/doom metal band from Avesta, Sweden with current and former members of Dellamorte, October Tide, Katatonia, Uncanny, Centinex, Demonical, Interment, Kryptan, Necrophobic & more. They released their long-awaited debut full-length album »The Abysmal Womb« on December 20th, 2024 via Pulverised Records.
A brooding and dense atmosphere weaving towering grooves of perpetual tenebrosity with insurmountable gloom strewn over the entire album, »The Abysmal Womb« permeates a striking yet unique parallelism of early Crematory, Crowbar and peppered with bits of Cathedral’s debut album. The clever utilization of megalithic riffs are clearly evident and immense pulsations are scorched in deep abyssic darkness.
Moondark are Alexander Högbom (vocals), Johan Jansson (guitars), Mattias Norrman (guitars), Allan Lundholm (bass) and Kennet Englund (drums).
Can you say a few words about your band?
We are an old doom/death metal band that started 1993 as a project band. Our main influences were and still are Crypt Of Kerberos, Eternal Darkness, and Bolt Thrower etc. We recorded a demo tape (»Demo #1«) the same year and did a local gig here in Avesta. Then we put Moondark to rest because we all have other bands at the same time. Then it took 21 years until we reunited 2014 for some shows and talked to do a fullength album. Ten years later we finally recorded and released »The Abysmal Womb« in December 2024 and looking forward to do some shows this year.
What was the biggest challenge for the band?
It has been a challenge to rehearse the new songs for the album because we all have other bands and some of us live in other cities. That’s why it has taken so damn long time to finally complete and record this album.
What can you be most proud of so far?
Well, I’m proud that I/we finally managed to record this album after so many years and it feels good when you read the nice reviews that it was worth the longtime work.
What was your biggest regret?
I don’t know really. I don’t have any regrets…
What was the best concert/tour so far and why?
The reason why we reunited was a request to play on Kill Town Death Fest in Copenhagen 2014 and to play there was a blast and a new beginning for Moondark began. Then we played Wolf Throne festival in Paris 2015 and Finnish Death Metal Maniacs in Pori 2017 and all of the gigs was killer.
What was the biggest surprise on the music scene for you?
There are too many overrated big bands that mainstream people don’t realize are just shit.
What is currently in your heavy musical rotation?
Meshuggah, Killing Joke, Judas Priest, Olkoth, Mortiferum, Perdition Temple, Spectral Voice, Venom, Unsane, Meanwhile and BRMC.
What was the best advice you’ve ever been given as a musician?
Well, probably not to take all for granted and don’t be too excited for gigs/festivals that is booked until you have confirmed flight tickets and good contact with the promoter etc.
What are your guilty pleasures?
My son of course. Then I can’t live without music, awesome food, beer, hard liqueur and cigarettes.
Can you say something more about current music scene in Avesta / Dalarna?
Well, it’s still many bands around here but it was more in the 90’s, especially more metal and hardcore bands. But of course many of the old bands (including ours) are still around and active. The live scene was also better back in the days but it’s still gigs and festivals going on here period.
Where can we see you live this year (concerts/tours)?
We have some gigs/festivals booked this year but some of them aren’t official yet. We will start with two gigs in Sweden. We’ll play at Klubb Slammer in Falun in February together with Crawl and Menecia. Then we play Mangelfest in Stockholm in May with Eternal Darkness etc. In June we’re going to Finland to play once again on Finnish Death Metal Maniacs in Espoo together with Rippikoulo, Eternal Darkness etc. After the summer we have two more festivals that will be revealed soon…
What are your plans for the future as a band?
The plan now is to do some gigs and festivals and we will see when we can begin to make riffs for our next album, time shall tell…
How can people best support your band?
They can support us by to get our albums and merchandise though labels or us. If they come to the gigs they can buy directly from us for support. Then it’s appreciated if all can spread our new album to people who haven’t heard us because we’re quite unknown even in the underground scene.
Do you have any message for your listeners?
All will be doomed and immersed to the crypts…
Bojan Bidovc // music enthusiast, promoter, misanthrop and sometimes a journalist as well