1: The Quill has been around for a number of years now. Could you start by giving us a brief history of the band?

We started out around 1990, got our first record-deal in -94. Recorded our self titled debut. Did some touring in Sweden. Got rid of our keyboard-player looked for another record deal and released our second album”Silver Haze” in -99. Looked for another label, got signed by SPV/Steamhammer and made 3 albums there, “Voodoo Caravan”, “Hooray! It’s a Deathtrip”, changed bass player and then recorded “In Triumph” in 2006. Toured around Europe a couple of times, played big festivals etc. Visited UK in 2004, supporting Monster Magnet.

2: It's been five years since your last studio album. What have you been up to in that time?

We struggled to get a new record deal after we split with SPV in 2007and our singer grew tired of everything and we split with him. Jolle, our drummer, joined Hanoi Rocks and played with them in the last year of their existence. After searching all over Sweden for a new singer that could cut it we finally found Magz in 2010. We started working on new songs, cut a demo that got us a deal with Metalville; we wrote more songs and recorded our new album “Full Circle”

3: How does 'Full Circle' compare to past releases? What did you do differently?

Since we are spread out all over Sweden these days the songwriting-process is kind of different. We didn’t spend much time rehearsing and writing all four of us in the same room. Some songs weren’t finished until we were in the studio recording. I think we have a lot more energy in the playing on the new album if you compare to the latest albums. I think it has most similarities to “Voodoo Caravan” except that the songs are shorter and less “jam-oriented”

4: The Quill are joining Airrace, Vega, Coldspell & Casablanca for the London date of the Smokehead Rocks tour. How did this come about?

Our manager is the one of those who is putting the Smokehead packages together. I don’t consider us an AOR-band but I think we will fit in quite well anyway; at least we will open up the night on a high energy-level…

5: Do you think the show will go well?

Absolutely, we are well-oiled live-machine and the Islington audience will not be disappointed if they are ready for some ass-kicking Heavy Rock!

6: There seems to be something in the water when it comes to Swedes producing quality music. Why do you think this is?

Don’t really know. Maybe it’s because we have been influenced by American/English culture/language since the sixties.

7: AOR is experiencing something of a return to the mainstream. Are you excited by this prospect?

Yes, I’m really tired of the growling and the screaming in heavy rock-music. It’s never appealed to me. I love heavy riffs and drums etc but I need a singer with melodies on top of that to be attracted.

The Quill join the Smokehead Rocks line up for the London show on Monday 21^st November at the Islington Academy, you can also check out The Quill with Coldspell + Toxic Federation at the barfly on November 22^nd.