BiB: Mikael Stanne (Dark Tranquility): Swedish Grammy Wins, Bus Rides with In Flames, and 13 Albums!

What happens when a teenage metalhead from a quiet Swedish suburb grabs a guitar, jumps on a local bus with his friends—and some of the biggest names in Scandinavian metal—and decides to rewrite the soundtrack of modern metal? On today’s episode of Bringin’ it Backwards, Adam and Tera Lisicky sit down with Mikael Stanne of legendary band Dark Tranquility for a candid, unfiltered look at three-plus decades in the scene, from cassette tape trading and fighting over synth vs. metal in the schoolyard, to accidentally inventing the “Gothenburg Sound” alongside fellow icons At the Gates and In Flames.

Mikael shares why forming Dark Tranquility with neighborhood friends was more about escaping the ordinary than chasing fame, how those infamous bus rides into Gothenburg were basically a rolling summit of musical minds, and what it was really like to win a Swedish Grammy during the chaos of 2020 (spoiler: he had to text the band to tell them they’d won). Plus, hear how the band’s 13th album, “End Time Signal,” came out of major lineup changes and a band-wide leap into the unknown.

Whether you’re a die-hard metal fan or just fascinated by artists who never stopped pushing forward, you’ll want to catch every minute of this episode. Make sure to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts, follow @BringinBackPOD, and let us know your favorite moments from the interview!