Dynazty are an exciting hard rock band hailing from Sweden. Hot on the heels of a storming performance at Melodifestivalen and being named one of the best rock bands in Sweden by Swedish magazine SLITZ, the band are finally ready to launch their new album KNOCK YOU DOWN! This will be the band’s first album on Stormvox Records and will be released in Scandinavia & Japan on april 20th, and in the rest of Europe, North America & South America in the summer 2011.
Their lead guitarist Rob ‘Love’ Magnusson was kind enough to take a break from their busy schedule to give Fretpoint this exclusive interview.
1. This sounds like an exciting time for Dynazty with 2 albums, ‘Bring The Thunder’ and ‘Knock you Down’ now under your belts?
Rob Love Magnusson: Yeah, for sure! We are really excited for what 2011 will bring us, and so far we are doing good! We are really happy with how the new “Knock You Down” album turned out, and it’s going to be a blast to release it!
2. It sound like Skid Row were a big influence in your music. Can you tell Fretpoint more about the band’s influences and in particular what guitarists or bands influenced you?
Rob Love Magnusson: We all listened a lot to bands like Van Halen, Whitesnake, Dio and Skidrow when we were growing up. But we all listen to all kinds of music, not necessarily hard-rock all the time, so I really think we have a wide spectrum of influences!
I listened to and was inspired by Yngwie Malmsteen (and still do) when I first started playing guitar. Other influences included guitarists like John Norum, Zakk Wylde, Gary Moore, Steve Vai, Joe Satriani, Kee Marcello, John Sykes etc. And there are too many albums to mention that have inspired me over the years.
3. Dynazty are a very polished outfit and you have some great songs. However in an age where indie/pop dominates the charts, why have you chosen such a heavy 80′s hard rock vibe?
Rob Love Magnusson: We haven’t chosen to go for a certain style musically or clothing wise. That’s just who we are and how we play! I think all too many bands/artists fail due to trying to be something they aren’t.
4. What was your first guitar?
Rob Love Magnusson: My first guitar was an old “Levin” I found in the basement where I grew up. A few years later (I think it was 1998) I saw a guest appearance by Yngwie Malmsteen at the Swedish grammy awards and I was totally blown away, and immediately decided to start to play electric guitar. The very next day, my parents and I went to buy a vintage white Fernandes Stratocaster, and since that day guitars have been the main part of my life.
5. It looks like your a big Les Paul fan now. Did you use Gibson Les Pauls exclusively on the records?
Rob Love Magnusson: Yes! Even though I started out as a Stratocaster-fanatic, I almost exclusively use Gibson Les Pauls nowadays. I absolutely love the tone and the feel of it, and not to mention the look of it…Even though my neck is hurting after every show due to it’s weight, it’s worth it!
Recording-wise I would say it is like 95% Les Paul on the albums or something like that. There were moments when I tried different guitars on the recording of this album, but I ended up doing them with the Les Paul instead.
6. Can you talk us through some of the equipment you use for recording and live performances?
Rob Love Magnusson: Live I use my Les Paul, an ENGL powerball head, a Marshall 1960a Vintage (the one with the celestion v30 elements). I use to have a few stomp-pedals as well, and mostly I use a exotic pedals “RC-booster” as a volume-booster and a BOSS digidelay. I don’t like to use too many effects though as I want to be able to hear the amp doing it’s job!
It’s pretty much the same for studio-recordings.
7. What would your ultimate cover version be?
Rob Love Magnusson: Hmmm, thats a tough one! I don’t know actually, but maybe something with Roxette!? =)
8. What was it like playing MELODIFESTIVALEN 2011?
Rob Love Magnusson: It was awesome! It felt great to play at the biggest indoor arena in Sweden, knowing that almost half of the Swedish population where watching the TV show. The appearence has really given us great feedback, and we are really happy we got the opportunity to do this! After the show we went to a great after party and had a lot of beers.
9. Do you have any plans to tour the UK right now?
Rob Love Magnusson: Not right at the moment, but we will do everything we possibly can to get over to the UK for a tour as soon as possible!
10. What are Dynazty’s plans for 2011?
Rob Love Magnusson: We are releasing our second album “Knock you down” april 20th, and after that we will do a lot of shows and festivals in Sweden to begin with.
At the moment we are working on what’s next after that, and you can find all of the info later at our website www.dynazty.com
All the best!
Rob Love Magnusson
Check out the band’s superb performance of the song ‘This is my life’ at Melodifestivalen.
