Dan Swano talks about producing DISSECTION The Somberlain and Storm Of The Light's Bane

Beyond writing music Dan Swano has an extensive discography of studio work and the classic DISSECTION albums are an example of it. It isn't everyday you can be brought into the studio recording those monumental records. Combined with the personality of Dan this video is an entertaining conversation! Wait until next week when we post the complete 2 hour episode, it's packed full of gems like this.
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[@ReaperMetalProductions]

If you like DAN SWANO buy his music: amzn.to/2CQLsjX Make sure you are notified when the episode posts! Subscribe to REAPER METAL PRODUCTIONS mailing list: www.reapermetalproductions.com

[@lowestfrequency]

In my opinion, Dan Swano is the most underrated/under the radar metal God of all-time. So many people don't understand this man's contribution to metal as a musician, a songwriter, a producer, and engineer. This is a great interview!

[@olivergarcia3635]

Yeah dude, I mean he wrote Eaten for Bloodbath, that has to be enough recognition but I guess people is dumb

[@allanbenoit8305]

Swano is THE man! I've always loved his stuff. Real likeable guy!

[@bfkc111]

His band or releases are fairly well-known to anyone who is not a newbie and might even listen to a metal podcast. He is just around the corner from Opeth, for example.

[@enriquesantiago3110]

Storm of the Light's Bane is a masterpiece!!

[@supremelordoftheuniverse5449]

Probably the best album ever

[@someshkadam2441]

duh.

[@darioberki4569]

correct

[@jessvolina6007]

Dan Swano is literally a Metal God and so much a reason why Sweden became a factory for some of the best bands and albums of all time. Dissection…I don’t think there is a band I mix more. All 3 full lengths are amazing, Jon’s vocals were seething with darkness and bloodlust and fit perfectly into music that wasn’t just crushingly heavy but also some truly beautiful and emotional sounding guitar work. I hope he found what he was looking for. Rest in Power Jon Nodveidt.

[@robertbordevik5072]

My god I didn’t know this. Those two albums are the pinnacle of the genre, and Dan with his Edge of Sanity’s Crimson was like a religion to me and my metal friends.

[@METALMISFIT6]

I absolutly love DISSECTION..i miss this band badly

[@eon14873]

Got to see them live in 2004 and met Jon. They were fucking epic

[@HipHopAn0n]

Dan Swano is a legend - from Edge of Sanity to Opeth, to Dissection and many more I cant think of now.

[@admiraltodd413]

Dan,brother,love your work with godsend,as the shadows fall brother! God bless!

[@AtlasBenighted]

Dan Swäno is a brilliant musician and producer! Love all his stuff! Didn't know the Swedish government subsidized bands at the time. I think it paid off very good though!

[@SJ-ym4yt]

That system still exists! Bands can sign up for rehearsal spaces (equipped or unequipped), and as long as they log their rehearsal hours, they can get a few hours in a recording studio for a demo etc. It’s pretty neat, as it helps new musicians and bands get some momentum going. This system is also most likely part pf what makes Sweden so successful when it comes to exporting music, both within metal and pop.

[@polarblade1159]

Yes- for his work with Bloodbath alone he became a legend

[@TimmyTurner421]

@@polarblade1159 Edge of Sanity

[@gman___]

Im 18 and its crazy to think I was 3 years old when John passed away. RIP to the legend. Im so jealous of the people who were actually able to see him live.

[@xyvxyethe5584]

R.I.P. to your generation who have never heard of Dissection's music, kudos to you

[@jormundgandr3668]

Have a huge respect for dan. The man is a legend in the industry, jon knew it, thats the reason for the why go with him to produce this masterpieces. I personally likes the 2 albums as equals, maybe the storms of the light bane more.

[@jayguneyler4507]

I miss this Band so much, by far my favorite Black metal band

[@Ichnos76]

Melodic blackened death...to be precise.

[@gillaliglaou2840]

@@Ichnos76 there is no death metal in their first 2 albums (definitely not the vocals, probably a few riffs in an album). for reinkaos, I don't get why it's labeled melodic death metal, I feel like it plays with genres but isn't completely loyal to one. it's just a sort of melodic metal with harsh vocals that don't conform to death metal or black metal vocal styles. so, it isn't melodic blackened death, it's just melodic black (for the first 2). their early demos had lots of death metal tho.

[@shapeshifter-theamorphousg3264]

@@Ichnos76 No. It doesn't matter anyway. There are elements of heavymetal and thrash too in there, i also did refer to them as (melodic)deathmetal in the past but it's really a league of their own. (Catch my drift?)🤘😉

[@shapeshifter-theamorphousg3264]

@@gillaliglaou2840 Yes there's some Swe. style deathmetal going on on The Somberlain, but anyway i hate labelling (especially)Dissections music, see other post. Maybe one day you'll understand

[@davidcouzens]

They are a fucking death metal band... end.@@gillaliglaou2840

[@lNTOTHEGRAVE]

DARK FUNERAL: are we faster than Marduk? lmao 😂

[@michaelh.8260]

Man, I love Dissection...Reinkaos was a waaay different departure from their past stuff but I love it none the less. All 3 are masterpieces in my book. RIP Jon. Anti cosmic...Metal of Death.

[@annf4027]

Reinkaos is my least favorite although I listen to it often enough. It may have been Jon's favorite at the time he created it but things change. What's the word I'm looking for, maybe he thought it was his best "masterpiece" at that time. The Reinkaos musicianship is outstanding, the guitar work is so incredible that it's beyond words. However, I prefer the first two Dissection albums. As far as anything else with melodic elements, I would say my favorites are Bathory (Sweden) and Emperor of Norway.

[@MABMGuitar]

I love all their stuff including Reinkaos. My favorite Dissection record is probably live from Stockholm 2004.

[@shapeshifter-theamorphousg3264]

I was a sucker for SotLB at the time and was hugely dissapointed when Reinkaos came out, but it grew on me over time. It has some of the catchiest melodies Dissection has ever written and when i got over the fact it's not fast anymore(read: i matured and learned to appreciate different music and ways to approach it) there's actually better songwriting, coherence and catchiness overall going on! Edge of Sanity and Dissection are equally legends!

[@CoolDude-uj8ob]

"The Somberlain" and "Storm Of The Light's Bane" are two of the greatest metal albums ever made. Great interview.

[@ReaperMetalProductions]

Cool, dude

[@TimmyTurner421]

I agree with the cool dude

[@supremelordoftheuniverse5449]

Storm is maybe THE best

[@danewing4658]

R.I.P. Jon Dissection was one of the best bands from Sweden!!

[@schninx]

first time i hear dan swanö speak. awesome guy, very very kind and authentic. great upload! thnaks man

[@ReaperMetalProductions]

Check out our other death metal interviews

[@annf4027]

I've

[@Jaylamah529]

10:19 “Yeah i invented a lot of high tech shit that i still use to this day” 😂 this dudes a prodigy lol

[@Nogodnomaster]

Please a new Edge of Sanity album

[@florin8049]

Amazing! Best 11 minutes ive listened to since the start of quarantine... Cant wait for the full one! ❗🤘🏻🔥

[@metaldrivermd2333]

Eleven as One lol

[@crimsondeath7468]

Well I am glad they fought you on the storm of the lights bane as that turned out to be one of the best metal albums ever

[@annf4027]

Yes.

[@BlackHermit]

Interesting! So this is the guy behind the scream and choir of Black Horizons...

[@eon14873]

Reminded me of King diamond

[@sinistrodellamorte]

When, after years, you realize it's pronunced "Yoon" and not "John". Nodtveidt. Well, guess that makes sense.

[@sinistrodellamorte]

@Douglas Heeren as I said, makes sense. Why are you being so sarcastic? Not everyone knows Swedish grammar :-/

[@benporter4235]

Upon is Vander sloot guy

[@benporter4235]

Yoon is Vander sloot the guitar other one

[@eduardo0796]

The "o" in Norwegian and Swedish (can't vouch for Danish 'cause it's on another level) does sound like the English "oo" as in "cool".

[@annf4027]

I pronounce it like 'Yon' not Yoon but I'm american

[@NekroWitch666]

Looking forward to the whole interview! This was a nice thing to run into during break.

[@sadekx5251]

Cannot wait for the whole interview 👌

[@themadmattster9647]

Fascinating stuff, legendary interview!

[@Vitsi5935]

Tracking down SOTLB was a task of no other. Then one day at a record shop I see that their selling a used slipcase version of The Somberlain, but when I take out the CD, it’s SOTLB! Bought it without hesitation. Svensk svarta metall för all tid!

[@hmetaljustin]

Nice! Looking forward to this one!

[@Chris-jg3km]

This guy has worked on some of the all time greatest metal albums of all time big respect

[@gruu]

Oh man what a treasure these interviews are, thanks guys! Dan Swanö is so awesome

[@kimlarsson7259]

Amazing stuff 🌟 JN was just a goddamn snorunge (a little kid) as we say in Sweden. Unbelivable. He was a genius from the start. So sad his life turned to shit.

[@xyvxyethe5584]

both records are iconic

[@cameronthrashbonergreatcri8848]

Fuck yea, can't wait for the full broadcast

[@HenriqueDeathMetal_]

dan swanö is my fav many good albums him mixed and mastering

[@Necronomikyle]

I wish I knew more about Dissection from the Somberlain era and really appreciate Jon while he was still alive.

[@gene0five]

Two Perfect album !

[@michaelperez2827]

This is great!

[@Markyman29]

Man I grew up in Finspång. If only I was born in 1970-1975 instead of 2000. My mom knew Dan personally which makes me jealous and pissed off every time when I think about it haha :(

[@chrisharding5447]

Well there's your "in".... Grab an axe, find some guys and as I read above Sweden supports young bands with rehearsal space, etc, make your dream band, with good dedicated ppl who have metal hearts, and once you start gigging and hooking into the gigging circuits and feel your material is something worthy of tracking, use what us old musos never had, besides global tape trading, that is, and hook into social media. A lot of comments talk of Mr Swäno's passion for his art, and this is a great way to hear he might even give a mobile phone band practice on a CD that he may listen to, and soak up the older metalhead generations' stories, etc. He might be blown away that he remembers your mom, see if he would let you record a track off crimson or purgatory afterglow, even if you get his latest album signed and you stay in contact, he might know musos or promo, artists, etc. Even if you are not into playing in a band, the world of metal has so many dedicated ppl whom live for metal, and do art, print shirts, run a venue... that's why the best thing in my world is without a doubt the music and all the clever, intelligent, and awesome people that make our music the most innovative, creative music that is at the pinnacle of future developmental evolutions, and the people that appreciate the work put into the various helping demons that do it for the appreciation of all. A bit of a novel, man, but follow your dreams, creativity is good for the soul, pumping gas might feed and clothe you, but follow your Dreams!! I used to take a hiking stereo vcr recorder and line out of the desk, I have maybe 60- 80 full tapes w a gig on it, 2-3- 4 bands, some great mixes. I'm going to be converting them and want to put out comp disc's of some of maybe 15- 20 different bands we played with, around nz, local mates bands.. kATIPO_mEDIA is the label, we could distribute disc's to each other or something. @ntiCHRIS Goats up 🤘 from New Zealand.

[@roberttoompuu]

awesome video!

[@blinkruna]

Dan swano I love your version of country girl when you're singing and Peter is playing guitar. The original is great and your cover is really cool.

[@eon14873]

You guys need to here A journey told through fire by Sworn. Dan produced it. Superb melodic black metal obviously influenced by dissection

[@astraldoomblog]

yo, this is sick content.... post the full video but also break them down this for extra views/exposure!

[@theokumlin7477]

Really cool

[@user-nj4no9py6p]

Donetsk❤️ love Dan swano 🤫🧿

[@Thekanokane]

Two of the best albums ever made

[@flatterswhite]

"we don't care, we're black"

[@wfd666]

awesome

[@vitnemec8365]

Hi, I was always wondering whether or not was The Somberlain recorded like 10 percent slower and then sped-up before recording the vocals. Because, like Master of Puppets title song, the album version is slightly sharp (noticable when you play-along). MoP is now confirmed to be sped-up. There is a remarkable jump in instumental proficiency between The Somberlain and Storm of the Light’s Bane (most noticably the solos, but in general), due to more intense live playing and rehearsing for the secong album. Anyone have some sources regarding this?

[@LordDathka]

I've noticed as well most tabs I find of Dissection are always in E standard. Which somberlain was not standard. It is quarter step I like to call it. In between E standard and half step up. I feel like the speed up has a lot to do with that. The tune is sharper.

[@SeanBlitzkrieg]

There’s actually a part in Somberlain where the kick is off .

[@pablotepa13]

Fucking great.

[@Aetherea_B4M_B4M]

Reign in Chaos Jön, u will we missed

[@ihatedill2447]

[@supremelordoftheuniverse5449]

Could listen to this guy for hours

[@stormheim]

Isn't it weird that Swano said Jon told him that Nuclear Blast won't like the remix, it should've sounded like Slaughter of the Soul. This is weird because these two albums released a few days apart, recorded in two different studios, published by two different labels (earache and nuclear blast). Hmm..

[@dartanyolivingston7037]

My God.. to have been this guy. That history he seen. Damn..

[@therightarmofthefreeworld4703]

The production on Storm of the Light's Bane is perfect. It has enough clarity to bring out the parts that benefit from being more precise, but it also retains an organic feel and effects like reverb are at just the right level (sounds especially good on those tom fills). It's perfect. The Somberlain sounds fantastic but Dan Swano really should have tried to intervene regarding some of the arrangements and riffs. For example, the opening riffs in Black Horizons really needs to be in a minor key. And they needed to rework some of the riffs and parts that felt very melodic death metal. He says it felt comfortable and that's cool, but it's possibly because he didn't push them on certain things.

[@Syko1985]

Why has storm of the lights bane not been repressed?

[@wilfredgecko5084]

Ask Vlad Draconi

[@annf4027]

Glad that I have it. Jon Nodtviedt was underrated here. Probably everywhere. Tack, this is fascinating.

[@jedsteelwell2354]

I thought storm of the lights bane sounds great!

[@ReigningOnYourParade]

PINEAPPLE BACON CHEESEBURGERS WITH SRIRACHA SAUCE RULE.

[@SDMF20]

Eww, pineapple.

[@FetalJuice88]

@@SDMF20 pineapple is amongst the few truly elite fruits

[@shapeshifter-theamorphousg3264]

Pineapple has to go.. It poisoned enough otherwise good foods(pizza hawaii..🤮) Bacon cheese with sriracha ftw!

[@JohnDoe-rj8nd]

The Somberlain is one of my favorite albums both because of the songs but also in no small part due to the mix, great prominence of the bottom end yet still managing to stay ultra crisp. Storm of the Lights Bane is so thin in comparison, not to mention has less consistent quality in the song writing seeing as how Night's Blood, Where Dead Angels Lie, and Thorns of Crimson Death are such incredible tracks while for the others I am more inclined to hit skip.

[@wenndingofoster5680]

The Somberlain is one of my favorite Black Metal albums . Far superior to the overated Storm of the Light's Bane . Which is not terrible (a little too slick , and clean ' not to mention the tracks are too similar)

[@metaldrivermd2333]

When i was a teenager once i met a guy who told me he only liked The Somberlain because "it sounded more unique",he didnt like too much Storm of The Ligth's Bane when the record came out back in 1995,he felt the band ended sounding like a average Black Metal from that era

[@ReaperMetalProductions]

I don’t think they are THAT different of albums. Reinkaos yes

[@wenndingofoster5680]

@@ReaperMetalProductions I mainly prefer the re issue of Somberlain with all the demo tracks , as opposed to the Storm of the Light's Bane which offers an alternate recording of the same album . Didn't really care for the Morbid Angel - Altars of Madness bonus live DVD which contained the band performing only Altars of Madness ( which is chopped up with no stage banter , and other than a short Trey Azagthoth contains nothing that isn't on the album ) . At least on Entangled In Chaos the vocals are different than the Altars of Madness LP ( allbeit inferior ) . That album really sucked for not playing my favorite song Chapel of Ghouls in it's entirety , cutting out the best parts of the song . I don't care for CDs that include instrumental versions or alternate mixes of the same song , maybe I would appreciate Storm of the Lights Bane a bit more if I hadn't burnt myself out on it trying to differentiate the normal studio album from the alternate mix .I have no one but myself to blame , even though Jon Nodtveidt did tell me after 200 consecutive listens I would come to know the difference between the recordings . Anyway Somberlain has 2 or 3 songs that are a bit rawer ( still pretty slick and melodic for Black Metal ) and Heavier than the Storm of the Lights Bane , and I just really enjoyed the title cut Somberlain more than anything Dissection have recorded

[@flatterswhite]

I overall like the first album more but where dead angels lie is my fav dissection tune

[@wenndingofoster5680]

@@flatterswhite I agree Where Dead Angels Lie is a brilliant song

[@TheBramVC]

We asked Dan to master two of our records and he could not be a nicer, more friendly dude

[@eurologic]

This is gold.