Although Swedish band Soilwork have been around for two decades, they’re still turning on new fans to their brand of massive, melodic death metal. On their 10th studio album, The Ride Majestic (out on Aug. 28 on Nuclear Blast Records), the band went for “a slightly darker, atmospheric and almost anthemic [sound], with some really interesting twists and turns,” says vocalist Björn “Speed” Strid.

Touring the United States this fall with Soulfly, Decapitated and Shattered Sun, the six-piece — made up of Björn Strid, Sylvain Coudret, David Andersson, Sven Karlsson, Markus Wibom and Dirk Verbeuren, celebrate The Ride Majestic’s impending release by releasing an exclusive teaser video of them  recording in the studio.

Drummer Verbeuren talks to Myspace about the band’s origins and the upcoming album.

Hometown: I was born in Antwerp, Belgium and moved to France in my young teens.

Current residence: I live in Los Angeles, California. Soilwork is a bit of an international affair. Our homebase is Helsingborg in southern Sweden; three of us still reside in that area. David lives a ways up north in Stockholm, Sylvain lives in France and Björn spends a lot of time in Toronto.

How did Soilwork members all meet?

Björn and our ex-guitarist Peter Wichers met in school. They were both heavily into metal and decided to start a band. Björn initially played guitar and never tried singing before, but they needed a vocalist so he gave it a shot. Soilwork was born in 1997.

How did you discover metal and decide to form a band?

I became a metal junkie in the late 80s through tape-trading with one of my classmates. It quickly became my whole world. I saved up to buy albums by Napalm Death, Slayer, Pestilence, Morbid Angel and the like. I stayed up late to see Headbanger’s Ball, they always played the heaviest bands last. It wasn’t long until I picked up drumming and became serious about it. Before joining Soilwork I spent many years touring and recording, including with my own band Scarve which performed throughout Europe and released four albums.

Sweden is more famous for its pop musicians than metal. How does being from Sweden influence you creatively?

Long, dark winters might have something to do with it. Creative arts are heavily subsidized there so it’s fairly easy to find a rehearsal space or recording studio. I still think there’s gotta be something in the Swedish water though.

Who are your biggest musical influences?

Initially, bands like Judas Priest, Dissection, At The Gates and Pantera. Nowadays our influences cross over to different genres of music. Over the course of 10 albums we’ve continued to experiment and grow without losing track of what Soilwork stands for. Every new album pushes the boundaries of melodic death metal.

What is The Ride Majestic about? What themes were you working on regarding the album?

The Ride Majestic deals with loss. Inspiration often comes in moments of darkness and most of us suffered personal tragedies when creating this album. In situations like those, the irrevocable notion of time passing can bring on a strong sense of melancholy. The Ride Majestic expresses that notion, both on a personal and on a more universal level.

Why are you called Soilwork?

It stands for “building from the ground up”. The name is appropriate because we feel underrated as a band. Those who might not have given Soilwork a thorough listen would be surprised by the quality of our music.

Who would you love to collaborate with?

It would be amazing to have David Lynch or Clive Barker direct a music video of ours. I wrote a song for The Ride Majestic that’s inspired by H.P. Lovecraft so that would be a perfect fit!

What do you do for fun?

On my rare days off I play video games, mostly the Dark Souls series, and I spend as much time as possible with my wife and pets. But I enjoy my job.

What's the craziest thing a fan has ever done for you?

Soilwork fans are amazing. One of them made personalized t-shirts for us when we first played in Mexico City in 2013. Others have given us Soilwork cakes and artwork, and tattooed our logo. I get blown away when people travel across the planet to see us play. We wouldn’t be making albums if it weren’t for our amazing fans who make every bit of hard work that goes into this band worthwhile.

What is your favorite city in the world to play in and why?

I enjoy every show we play, no matter where and regardless of how many people show up. I feel extremely fortunate to be where I’m at.