Next spring, Truckfighters will release their first full-length album since ‘V,’ which came out nearly ten years ago. The Örebro-based band has been back on stage for a while, and now they’re finally ready to share some new music.

“Not whispers, it’s more like a scream,” guitarist Niklas Källgren (aka Mr. Dango) declares. “The songwriting has been smoother than in many years. If something feels good, it’s good — and we move on.”

The band’s nearly 25-year journey from their early days at Rock Palatset and the now-legendary Bombshelter MK1 studio has been marked by both relentless touring and careful reinvention. Oskar Cedermalm (Ozo), balancing his passion between music and his specialty coffee roastery, emphasizes the importance of creative joy: “It doesn’t matter what you do in life as long as you enjoy it. The key is fun.”

Truckfighters’ imprint, Fuzzorama Records, continues its mission to “save the world from crap music,” offering a haven for likeminded riff worshippers. As Ozo notes, while the label dreams of signing established acts, it’s equally committed to nurturing emerging voices in the scene… increasingly through digital-first releases that may one day find physical form.

Truckfighters are hitting Stoner Kras 2025 and it should be another reminder of why they’re still such a force live. Expect the punch of their early ‘Gravity X’ stuff mixed with some of the more spaced-out vibes from ‘Universe’ and ‘Mania.’ Their sound still leans on the heavy foundations of Black Sabbath and 70s hard rock, but they keep pushing forward without losing what made them special in the first place.

“We are eager to show you some new songs”

It’s really great to have you. Are you excited to be back on the road?

Niklas Källgren a.k.a. Mr. Dango: Yes, of course there’s always excitement involved in touring. It has changed a bit over the years though. In the beginning, EVERYTHING was exciting; now, after almost 25 years, the shows and meeting the fans are still exciting, but the whole traveling thing is something we’d prefer to be without. Maybe it’s time to set up a Las Vegas show and people will have to come there, haha!

Oskar Cedermalm a.k.a. Ozo: Personally, after our break a few years ago, I try to enjoy and embrace every aspect of touring, including traveling and seeing new places, because who knows, it might end tomorrow, right? And why waste the time instead of actively trying to enjoy every moment… So I’m usually out running or walking in each city we visit and try to use the time in the car for some work or other things I need to do on the computer, or just look out, enjoying the scenery. So I guess me and Dango are quite opposite in that sense, haha.

You’re not just having a killer band, you’re also running a label. But before the fuzz took hold, before Fuzzorama, what was the sonic wasteland you crawled out of? What was the first record that made you think, !Yeah, I want to drown the world in this noise!?

Dango: ‘Nevermind’ by Nirvana! That was when I decided to become a rockstar when I grew up.

Ozo: Well, back when I was very young, it was more melody makers and pop stars like Elton John and Michael Jackson. But after a while, and especially when I picked up an instrument, I discovered the dark force of distortion. My first love with that was 70’s music, Deep Purple and Rainbow, but after a while, I obviously dug into Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath as well.

What was the scene like back in Örebro? Was there a certain place you liked to visit and hang out? Any legendary bars or rehearsal spaces where the magic first happened?

Dango: The first rehearsal space was called Rock Palatset (Palace of Rock) — that feels legendary now! And Studio Kuling, where we recorded the first EP. Our studio Bombshelter MK1 and MK2, of course, where we rehearsed for years and recorded our two albums.

The bars that come to mind for rock’n’roll vibes and hangouts were Svenssons and Mitt Andra Hem.

Before Truckfighters, what were some of the bands you were part of and how did they sound? Any recordings of that?

Dango: Grunge! Nothing that’s been published officially, so you can’t really hear it. I also did a little nu-metal session once — 4 songs with a friend who is into hip hop, with Swedish lyrics. But that’s also unreleased.

When we had the little hiatus in 2018, I wrote and recorded an album that ended up as ‘Enigma Experience’. When the album ‘Question Mark’ finally was released, it was during COVID and we were back with Truckfighters again. We haven’t done much touring with this project as there is not enough time to do everything. The album is killer though, so if you haven’t heard it, check it out.

Ozo: I started Firestone about two years before Truckfighters and for a few years I played in both bands, but after a while Truckfighters was more fun and took more and more time, so Firestone was no more.

You’re still kicking after all these years. What keeps the fire burning?

Dango: The god of rock’n’roll projects his power through us to make this world open for better music. I am his prophet, ha.

Ozo: I think the key to keep doing what you’re doing is always to have fun. It doesn’t matter what you do in life as long as you enjoy it. It was actually me who took the initiative to our hiatus a few years ago. It doesn’t matter if you earn money on it and can keep doing it just to make money — it would shine through that you’re only doing it for the money. Priority ONE is you really have to enjoy what you’re doing, so I’m trying to embrace it for as long as it’s fun. I really don’t see myself playing in Truckfighters when I’m 70 years old haha, but who knows. The key is “fun”.

Are you excited to play Stonerkras Fest 2025? Are we talking a full-on fuzz assault?

Dango: YES! Been ages since we played in Italy! Always nice to play festivals, the vibe with a lot of other bands is usually so much fun.

What’s your gear looking like these days? Any secret custom pedals, or vintage amps that are crucial to your sound?

Dango: Mine’s been about the same for like 10 years or so. I used to play Hiwatt, but at one point I changed to a two-amp setup, with double stack Mesa Lonestar amps and 4 cabs. I have a custom-made fuzz pedal “Dango Unleashed” that sounds like a Russian Big Muff (which I played before this custom pedal). Cry-baby wah is also an important part of my setup. Guitar is a Gibson SGGT that I have played since the second half of 2007.

Ozo: I use my Fender Jazz, which is a beast, totally love it. And pedals I usually have the MXR M80, fantastic pedals with a great tone for bass. I play Mesa Boogie amps, have two BigBlocks that I’ve had for maybe 15 years. And fairly recently I also got two Subway amps to embrace the modern smaller size and weight technology a bit. But I still need big cabinets!!

‘V,’ that album’s almost a decade old now. Does it still resonate? Any plans to revisit those songs, maybe give them a 2025 facelift?

Ozo: Well, I think both me and Dango are eager to show you some new songs, so the main focus now is to nail the recording and eventually start rehearsing those songs. So the boring answer is NO, we probably will not revisit any ‘V’ songs at this point at least.

“Next spring we will release a new album, finally!”

New album whispers… are they just whispers or? What’s the direction, the vibe?

Dango: Not whispers, it’s more like a scream. Next spring we will release a new album, finally!

Ozo: It’s very, very hard to hear that from our perspective. It will sound like Truckfighters but, as all new albums do, it has some progression and each album sounds a little bit different. I guess this album could sound a little bit more straightforward?

What’s the philosophy behind Fuzzorama?

Dango: “Saving the world from crap music” is our slogan and idea. Fun question — we don’t have a stated philosophy or business plan. We started the label so we wouldn’t release more demos with Truckfighters. We want to bring good music to the world to be a little part of educating the masses away from mainstream crap.

Ozo: Agree!

2024 has been pretty busy for the label as I see lots of really interesting releases. What are the current plans for Fuzzorama records? Any new signings?

Ozo: Well, we would like to sign a few “bigger” bands but then it’s very difficult because there are many good independent labels these days. But we’re of course also open to signing completely new bands if the music is amazing. We can also these days offer bands a digital distribution deal, so the plan is to start distributing bands that we might not be able to release physically at that point, and then we’ll see. Who knows, we might release them physically later on.

How do you balance running a label and being in the band?

Ozo: It goes up and down, sometimes you feel like only playing in a band focusing on doing more songs, and to be honest, we would probably get more progress both as a band and a label if we would focus more on the music. BUT on the other hand, it’s sometimes nice to do some label stuff.

I can’t believe it’s already 20 years since ‘Gravity X’ was released. If you would listen to the record right now, what are some of the fondest memories that run through your mind?

Ozo: It feels like a completely different life. Everything seemed a bit easier back then, and the excitement of recording our first full-length and not knowing what people would think or where it would take us in the future is something we can’t get back. You were young, inexperienced, etc. Great times. But all albums and years of the band have had highlights, of course, but in a few different ways.

Dango: Hmm yes, I mean we were not so experienced then, it was a journey. The recording was very intense, long days, many days, hehe. What I like especially when looking back, and something I try to get back to, is just doing things without thinking. Go with the instinct. I remember the process to write the ‘Universe’ album — we overworked everything and it took forever and almost made us crazy. The new album has a better workflow again; if something feels good, it’s good and we move on. The songwriting has been smoother than in many years for sure.

Speaking of your albums, would you mind adding a comment or two about ‘Phi’, ‘Mania’, ‘Universe’… just some of the first thoughts that run through your mind?

Ozo: ‘Phi’ is more towards “metal” I would guess, songs and sound. ‘Mania’ is more “airy” and maybe got more room and a 70’s vibe on top, I don’t know. ‘Universe’ is like a mix — more progressive stuff but still some more straightforward songs. I think that album took what we started on ‘Mania’ a step further.

Dango: Yes, I think there has been an obvious red thread to our albums and our development as musicians and humans. So now, almost 10 years since the last album release, it will be interesting to hear the result as much for us as anyone.

What’s spinning on your turntables right now? What records are you currently obsessed with? Not the usual suspects, but the deep cuts, the hidden gems?

Ozo: I’ve listened a lot to my old classics on my turntable lately — some Rainbow, early Whitesnake which I think is in a different league than the sleazy 80’s stuff they might be more famous for. On Spotify it’s been more roots rock, a touch of country lately. But if you ask me in one month, it might be metal, haha.

Is anyone involved with something else that would like to share with us?

Ozo: Well, I run a coffee roastery called Cozocoffee that is like my extra child. Only roasting specialty coffee and from time to time also open with food and stuff. Even had pub nights with live music. Feels great to work with something else creative but something completely different. I really need contrasts in my life. Would never like to be in one of those bands touring all the time.

Dango: Haha, but we used to do 80-100 gigs a year for a while. But this was when we lost a bit of that vibe and took the long break. Nowadays we are more selective with shows.