B-Mac Chat with Elize Ryd of Amaranthe
The country of Sweden is known for producing many great metal bands. There is one band in particular from Gothenburg, Sweden that caught my eye. They call themselves Amaranthe. With their combination of death metal and pop music, they have become one of the best metal acts in the world.
I had the pleasure of interviewing one of their three singers, front woman Elize Ryd. Today, Ryd is considered one of the best female voices in a metal band. I was fortunate enough to be able to conduct our interview through Skype and all I can say is that she has a fiery passion for music.
After giving her a grand introduction, Ryd was eager to speak with me. I asked her what Amaranthe meant and how the name was chosen. She said that Amaranthe translated means “fading flower.” She went on to explain that it is their goal to bring colorful elements into the darkness. She then told me the story of how she joined Amaranthe. She was approached by guitarist Olof Mörck and singer "Jake E" to sing some the songs they were already working on. I then asked her how their upcoming record, Maximalism, is different from their previous records. Ryd explained that they added some new elements and that their unclean vocalist Henrik Englund Wilhemsson shows off his vocal abilities with the song “Fury.” She also told me the two songs that the fans are sure to love are “Boomerang” and “That Song.”
We talked about her time spent as a guest vocalist with metal groups Kamelot and Nightwish. She told me she still loves singing with them when she has the time. She even mentioned doing a Christmas album with Nightwish members Floor Jansen and Marco Hietala. We continued to speak about her favorite singers/performers from the US, which included Courtney Love and Amy Lee of Evanescence. I mentioned to her that Amaranthe has some awesome videos and they give positive messages, such as the message in the music video for “True.”
This was one of my favorite interviews. She was a lot of fun to talk to. I learned a lot about her as a singer and as a person. She was funny, witty, and never took herself too seriously. To end the interview, I told her that she is a great singer, which she thanked me for. I cannot wait to hear Maximalism and see her perform live. To Elize Ryd, I say thank you and we salute you. Horns up!!!
About Brandon "B-Mac" McCarthy
JournalistI've been writing for heavy rock 'n' roll for over 2 years. I've been a metalhead for over a decade. It will be my duty and pleasure to bring to Center Stage the heavy metal music it has been yearning for. From upcoming bands to legends of hard rock/heavy metal, I will bring you to your knees in Metal!!! For those ready to rock, I salute you. Horns up!!! - Brandon "B-Mac" McCarthy
