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IN SOLITUDE’s Pelle Åhman Talks “Sister,” Spirituality, and the Power of Creation

By capitalchaostv on November 30, 2013 • ( 0 )

Swedish heavy metal outfit In Solitude has returned with their latest album, “Sister”, released through Metal Blade Records. We caught up with frontman Pelle Åhman to talk about the making of the album, the band’s creative direction, spirituality, and what’s next for the group.

A Dark, Urgent Sound

The new album Sister is darker, broodier, and more emotionally charged than their previous work. For Åhman, that wasn’t calculated—it was instinctive.

“We just made what felt urgent,” Pelle explains. “That led us to all kinds of emotional places. If the album feels dark to you, then that’s real—it means the music did its job.”

The Making of “Inmost Nigredo”

One track in particular, Inmost Nigredo, stands out for its long and intense development.

“It took a long time to take shape,” says Pelle. “Some songs come together quickly, others hover in the background the whole time. This one needed space, and it ended up asking for something very personal in the lyrics. It has a special weight to it—for all of us.”

Not Repeating the Past

Despite the success of their last album, The World. The Flesh. The Devil., the band was adamant about not recreating it.

“That was the last thing we wanted,” Pelle says. “We weren’t interested in walking the same path again. The time we spent on the road, growing closer, helped redefine who we were as a band. We didn’t sit down and plan the sound—it just came out of our shared energy.”

Recording at Studio Cobra with Martin Ehrencrona

The band recorded Sister at Studio Cobra in Stockholm with producer Martin “Konie” Ehrencrona—a partnership that proved transformative.

“The studio wasn’t known for metal—it had more of a background in pop and soundtracks—but the atmosphere just seduced us,” Pelle recalls. “Martin was like a sixth member. He understood what we were doing and supported it in a way that felt essential. The album is almost dedicated to him.”

Spiritual, Not Satanic

Given the band’s dark aesthetic and themes, the topic of Satanism occasionally comes up. Pelle is clear:

“We’re not Satanists. We’re five very different people with varying beliefs. For me, there’s definitely a spiritual dimension to what I write—but we don’t have a shared agenda like that. We’re just a rock band channeling what we feel.”

Live Energy and American Mosh Pits

Asked about crowd reactions, Pelle notes a difference between continents.

“You really only see mosh pits at our shows in America,” he laughs. “In Europe, not so much. But it’s less about the pit and more about people freaking out in their own way. That’s what matters—whatever the music evokes.”

Psychedelia and the U.S. Underground

While Pelle hasn’t heard of newer U.S. bands like SpiralArms or Orchid, he’s deeply inspired by American psychedelic and experimental music.

“There’s a strong underground scene outside of metal in the U.S.—noise, ambient, psych rock. It’s everywhere. When we visited Mississippi Records in Portland, we felt that DIY energy. People are doing things—starting labels, running spaces. I admire that.”

On Collecting Bones and Books (Not Records)

Pelle isn’t your average record collector.

“I don’t have much money these days, so I don’t buy a lot of records. But I collect bones, stones, branches, paintings—whatever catches my attention. If it feels important, I keep it. Could be a deer skull or a rusty nail. I’m always collecting.”

What’s Next for In Solitude?

Following their current tour with Tribulation and Watain, the band plans to hit Europe more seriously.

“We’ve only done a couple of shows in Poland and Germany, but we want to tour Sweden properly. We’re also doing a run with Inquisition and Behemoth later this year. After that, it’ll likely be a lot more touring—it’s going to be intense.”

Final Words from Pelle