“We wrote and recorded the album in two weeks” – interview with Mando Diao’s Björn Dixgård

Mando Diao have always been free spirits. They have always gone their own way, resisted authority and enjoyed the hedonistic side of life, elements which have contributed to the band’s successful and musically extensive career which celebrates its 20^th anniversary this year.

The character Boblikov, the symbol of Mando Diao’s new studio-album “Boblikov’s Magical World”, represents the persona we all carry inside of us that likes to turn things upside down – the little devil on our shoulders. He isn’t evil; he’s simply looking for advantages and to manipulate things in his own favor. As the mastermind behind his enterprise, he is not usually in the spotlight. This anonymity gives him a sense of security and respectability even though he is involved in some shady business.

After a long and triumphant Swedish tour following the release of the #1 bestselling, gold-record awarded album “I solnedgången”, Mando Diao regrouped in the studio together with producer Charlie Storm with the goal of creating an unpretentious rock album. The songs – heavy with riffs, messy guitars, powerful drums and bucketloads of energy – have been released in portions in the form of EPs, and now, the two first volumes will be completed with a third EP and a compilation album. Songs like “Frustration” and “Fire in the Hall” have enjoyed major success on international and Swedish rock radio, and the band has been seen on the stages of the biggest European rock festivals.

“Boblikov’s Magical World” invites the listener into a fictional world where the schemer protagonist rules over a group of agents spread out across the world, agents who receive instructions from Boblikov himself to carry out evil deeds. The overarching theme is further amplified by both the cartoon covers and the visualizers. Mando Diao invite you into this parallel universe.

The record release show for “Boblikov’s Magical World” took place at the legendary Tavastia club in Helsinki, Finland on May 19th. Chaoszine sat down before the show with band’s guitarist / vocalist Björn Dixgård and discussed several different topics with him including the ongoing ice hockey world championship, Sweden’s win in Eurovision as well as band’s new “Boblikov’s Magical World” album. You can check out the entire video interview below:

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You can check out Mando Diao’s latest “Boblikov’s Magical World” album in full below: