#Interview with Johan from Riket (Sweden)
Interview conducted by Sílvia
Riket is a Swedish Death Metal band that has been active for 10 years, releasing two EPs and a live album until now, but 2026 is the year of their debut LP, and sure thing, it will crush the listeners with their old school harsh style. In the words used by their label, Black Lion Records: “RIKET stands at the intersection of ferocity and history, channeling the raw aggression of death metal while weaving in the relentless drive of thrash and the defiance of punk. What sets RIKET apart is not only the uncompromising weight of the music, but also its unique lyrical concept: every song is performed in Swedish and rooted in the darker corners of our shared past: small historic tales of catastrophe, blunder, and human downfall.” In order to know more things about this band, I did an interview with Johan, the vocalist. Let’s see what he has to say!
Hi Johan, thank you for agreeing to this interview. How is life treating you these days?
Life is intense in a good way. I feel creatively restless, which I see as a healthy sign. There is a lot happening around the band, but I try not to let that become noise. For me, life works best when I stay curious, slightly uncomfortable, and focused on creating rather than reacting.
Riket celebrates its 10th anniversary this year 2026, what have these first ten years of existence been like?
The first ten years have been a slow burn rather than an explosion. RIKET grew without a master plan, and I think that is one of its strengths. We allowed the band to evolve naturally, without chasing relevance or trends. Looking back, it feels like a long process of stripping things away until only what truly matters remained.
You and Tobias (Tinitus) were two of the founding members, how did you come to embark on this new adventure while also being focused on Netherbird?
RIKET came from a need to breathe differently. Tobias and I wanted a space where instinct mattered more than structure and where we could explore something more primitive and direct. Netherbird had its own identity and expectations, and RIKET existed outside of that. Over time, it stopped being an escape and became a destination.
Sadly Tobias has very recently decided to step down from RIKET and focus on other things in life. It came a bit unexpected but that is how life is and RIKET is now a band with its own momentum so we have already recruited a new lead guitarist and will do our first gig together in less than a week. I will of course miss Tobias but we stay good friends and he will keep being involved, but no longer as a live musician.
Not that you were new in the Death Metal scene, Johan, as you were in Sickness and Benighted back in the 90s; how was it being part of that, starting as a teenager?
It was raw and unforgiving. I was a teenager thrown into an environment driven by obsession rather than reflection. There was no safety net, no strategy, and definitely no idea of a “career.” It taught me discipline through chaos. Those years gave me instincts that still guide me today, even if I question some of the decisions I made back then. But truth be told I consider myself very lucky to have been part of the underground scene as it all happened and I could share stories until the end of days about how those days were. I do not regret one single minute I spent back then.
And, speaking about those old times, the two demos by both bands have been re-released via Doomed to Obscurity Records, on CD and digital version. How proud are you of those early works? What were your dreams for the future back then?
I see them as honest documents of their time. They are flawed, aggressive, and sometimes clumsy, but they are very real. Back then, the dream was simple. To create something that existed beyond ourselves. The fact that people still care enough to revisit those recordings decades later is humbling and slightly surreal. And I was surprised when I listened to the re-masters as they arrived from Dan Swanö: they sound better than I remembered them. Some things mature with time, like a good wine.
Riket has been more active lately, with the recent release of a new single and the announcement of your debut album for this year. Have you been working on it for a long time? How’s the process been?
Long enough to feel necessary. We never wanted to release something just to keep momentum. The album grew slowly, shaped by instinct first and reflection later. Some ideas fought their way into songs, others were left to rest. That patience is audible, I think, and it gives the record weight. Now there is a distinct idea behind it all and RIKET is now something I feel is a band that will add something to the scene that wasn’t there for a long time.
What can you tell us about the grim artwork? The black and blood-reddish human figure bent over a weird typewriter dripping blood… oh and is that a heart? Very disturbing indeed!
The artwork represents the eternal source of dark failures, something timeless that sometimes interacts with the living. A figure that is in the process of turning trauma, failure, and disaster into narrative. It is trapped in the act of producing meaning from blood and memory. It is uncomfortable because it should be. The artwork is done by Axel Torvenious based on a number of discussions we had with him about the band, the album and the songs included. I think he really made something different and very strong with this artpiece.
About your lyrics, you seem to be interested in relating some historical catastrophes. Do you think humans are “specially gifted” at creating disasters? In your opinion, what qualities best define the human race? For good and for bad.
Humans are incredibly creative, but also incredibly short-sighted. Our greatest strength is imagination, and our greatest weakness is how often we fail to see consequences. We are capable of empathy, courage, and beauty, but also denial, repetition, and destruction. History shows both sides very clearly.
How has it been signing with Black Lion Records? Is that a good push for the band?
It has been very positive. They understand what RIKET is about and give us room to be ourselves. That kind of trust is important. It feels like a good partnership rather than a business transaction, which is exactly what we were looking for.
Now, what are your plans? Do you already have gigs booked for this year? I can imagine you are eager to play your new songs in front of the audience…
The focus is very much on bringing the album to the stage. We are eager to play the new material live and let it take on a life of its own. Shows are being planned, and we hope to reach new places and new audiences along the way. We will perform at Inferno Metal Fest in Oslo in April and we are also one of the bands performing at a special LG Petrov memorial evening in Stockholm so things are really moving ahead. We hope to also bring our music to stages outside Sweden, so anyone wanting to add something quite different to their lineup should not hesitate to get in touch. We are ready!
When you are on stage with your bandmates, which is the main feeling dominating you, Johan? What’s the thing you like the most about performing live?
Presence. When everything works, nothing else exists. I love the direct connection, the lack of safety nets, and the shared moment between band and audience. Live music is fragile and dangerous in the best possible way. We do not use any artificial tools, we play raw without backing tracks. Our goal is not to replicate the album, we want to make every gig unique, including the element of flaws. That is how I think live music should be.
With all the streaming services, and the fact that today almost all the music is just one click away… How do you see the future of underground metal bands?
It is more challenging, but also more open. It is harder to stand out, but at the same time easier to reach people directly. The bands that thrive will be the ones with a clear identity and real passion. Trends fade quickly, honesty lasts longer.
Talking about other things… you belong to the generation that spent their childhood and youth before social media appeared. Do you miss the old times, when all interactions were “in person” (but of course, more limited to your area or the places you could travel to)?
In some ways, yes. Things felt slower and more personal. But I also appreciate the possibilities we have now. I try not to romanticize the past too much. Every era has its limitations and its freedoms.
There have been a lot of technologic advances in recent years, and this has led society to change a lot. Specially, regarding how we relate and interact to each other. What do you think about it? Do you like all the social media stuff, and the chance to meet people from around the world but with the coldness of the screen?
It is a powerful tool, but a poor substitute for real connection. I like the access and reach, but I am careful not to let it replace human interaction. It works best when used consciously, not compulsively. So an interview like this adds so much more depth to what RIKET is about than any playlist where our songs are just some items in a looong list.
With the emergence and development of AI, it seems it can do almost anything… Do you think it is possible that children won’t have to go to school in a couple of generations? Or that the content taught there will change drastically? More focused on technology and leaving aside the knowledge that has been taught until now, because it all can be found or generated through AI…?
AI is a tool, nothing more. It can support learning and creativity, but it should never replace curiosity, critical thinking, or human expression. Education will change, but it should still focus on teaching people how to think for themselves, not just what to access. I think creative people will create even better things thanks to new tools, and mediocre people will create tons of mediocre things. The skill to tell what’s what will be vital in days ahead.
How do you see humanity’s future (if there’s one)?
Uncertain, but not hopeless. We tend to move slowly and learn painfully, but individuals can still choose empathy, responsibility, and creativity. That is where I place my optimism.
Thank you for your words, Johan. Is there anything you want to add?
Only that we are excited about what lies ahead. RIKET is still evolving, and the journey feels far from finished. Hopefully, we will meet listeners out there on the road, share these stories live, and raise a beer together somewhere along the way. Many thanks for this interview, Sílvia! Keep it metal.
Interview by Sílvia
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