Interview with Pete Devine of Pete’s Rock News and Views & SICKOMANIA Guitarist Arne Lunde
PD: How would you describe yourself or your band as an artist?
AL: SICKOMANIA is a collective of friendships across different musical genres and national borders. I started the band in 2019 together with Jesper and Kenneth, and we quickly got Lawrence on board even though he is a super busy man with many projeks.
Since our songs are very much based on 2 guitars we had to find someone who could get along with the rest of the band both musically and mentally, and I’ve known Daniel for many years and always wanted to do something serious music with him , so it came naturally that he was to be the 5th member.
We have a very special brotherhood and our different perspective both music wise and way of life is actually what makes us even stronger.
Everyone in the band has so much experience from the past that we combine into a huge force
PD: Can you tell us briefly about your background – i.e. where you’re from, how you came to make music, etc.
AL: I’m from Roskilde in Denmark.
I had a rough childhood, my little brother and Dad died when I was very young and it made some scars I battle everyday.
I allways say that Music Saves My Soul,
(I even got a tattoo that says it😁)
If I didn’t have the music I probably would lost my mind or life.
I started playing guitar when I was 6 years old, but my interest in Heavy Metal came as a teenager. It was bands like Black Sabbath and Iron Maiden that opened my eyes to this fantastic universe. The big revelation for me was definitely when Metallica and Slayer appeared in the early 80s, and my personal favorite albums are still to this day masterpieces like “Master of Puppets” and “Reign in blood”.
PD: Who and what inspires you to make music, both in terms of musical and other influences? What do you like to write about in your songs?
AL: Musically, my own inspiration ranges from The Beatles to the previously mentioned bands (Metallica, Slayer, BlackSabbath, Iron Maiden).
I listen to everything from Flamingo guitar and classical music to Black & Death Metal.
I love a good melody line, playing around with harmonies and at the same time keeping the energy and wildness at max. That to me is paramount. It fascinates me to be able to take a beautiful piece of music and make it more and more intense, finally exploding into savage brutality.
I think that’s one of the reasons why you can’t put a specific genre label on SICKOMANIA.
When it comes to the lyrics Kenneth (our singer) and I writes with large brushstrokes and makes a multi-page story intertwine.
Each song has several different angles that the listener can interpret from his own perspective.
Everything from the big questions of life to everyday issues can be turned into a song.
PD: What are your aspirations as an artist?
AL: Making music I want to hear myself. Maybe even making a prober living off it hahahaha 😁
Would love to tour some more with the band and play different countries making sickOmania known around the world.
I really hope the new songs will open the right doors because metalheads deserves to hear this.
PD: What is the proudest moment in your music career so far?
AL: The debut album is a milestone that I appreciate very much.
PD: Promoting one’s music is such a challenge these days, especially with so many new artists emerging from bedrooms in the day of the home studio. How is that going?
AL: We are definitely not that good at promoting our music and all that stuff.
Our strength is making good songs, not having to sell it afterwards. I think this is the eternal problem for true artists.
That’s why we try to hook up with the right people so we can consentrate on doing what we are good at … making music!
PD: And how do you book and promote your live shows and tours? Any performances coming up?
AL: Funny you ask cuz we are currently seeking a new management and booking agent haha 😁
We got two festivals in Denmark this summer but hopefully more is to come.
PD: What do you think about downloading music online? What about streaming sites like Spotify?
AL: My own personal opinion is that the streaming services like Spotify is ruin the music industry… It’s like they devalue the value of music releases and degrade quality in favor of quantity. But maybe I’m just to oldschool to understand the agenda of our time 😁
I prefer to have a Vinyl or CD and enjoying the journey to listen to an album in its entirety. Having a physical copy and enjoy everything from the artwork to the production is so more giving than skipping through 30 songs in 5 min on you Phone.
PD: What song do you wish you’d written and why?
AL: “Strawberry Fields” – by The Beatles… it’s such a epic composition. Even if you just hear John Lennons demo of the song.
They invented a basic form based on fantastic melodylines that you still hear in music today. And “Strawberryfields” is from a producer perspective a work of genius. Well this may sound a bit to sweet and soft I probably should have said “Raining Blood” hahaha 😁
PD: Is there anything you don’t like about the music industry, which you would change if you could?
AL: I really like to see the streaming service guys paying the bands that makes them rich. It’s crazy how few leeches get extremely rich off of other people’s art.
it is disrespectful to the entire music culture and reprehensible that it can continue to go on
PD: So, what are you working on at the moment?
AL: Right now we are finishing recording the last songs for the second album while we are shopping the four tracks thats done to record labels hoping to get the right deal.
PD: Where can we learn more about you and buy your music/merch online?
AL: Check out our homepage: www.sickomania.com
or our Facebook page
visit Bandcamp and buy our debut album on Vinyl or CD. We also have new T-shirts in the making 🤘 Thanks 🤘
sickOmania links:
Band/Artist location – Denmark
Website – Facebook – You Tube – Bandcamp –
Instagram – Apple – Spotify – Amazon – Deezer –
Check our page for sickOmania
