Decoy

Torben Enevoldsen presents

the Glorious Return of DECOY

Interview by Ken Morton

Without Warning is the second album by Decoy, a Danish/Swedish collaboration between songwriter and guitarist Torben Enevoldsen (Fate, Acacia Avenue) and singer Peter Sundell (C.O.P., Ex-Grand Illusion). This new album features Pete Steincke (Fate) on bass and Dennis Hansen (Acacia Avenue, Section A) on drums, and the style is very melodic hard rock, but with a touch of classic rock and metal. The first meeting of the minds of Decoy since their debut Call Of The Wild endeavor in 2007, Without Warning is now available from Perris Records. Highwire Daze recently spoke with music mastermind Torben Enevoldsen to find out more about the new Decoy album as well as discuss his recently issued solo instrumental magnum opus. Read on...

Is there any overall story or concept behind the album title Without Warning?

No, not at all. We just thought that it would be a good title for the album.

What made you decide to do a new Decoy album after all of this time?

Sundell and I were working together on some songs not specific to any project, and as the amount of songs increased, we decided to do a full album. We had several ideas for a name, but finally ended up with Decoy as that to us made the most sense.

Select two songs found within Without Warning and what inspired the lyrics?

Most of the songs on this album are about love in one way or another, and this certainly goes for both Fire’s Gone and How Was I To Know. Fire’s Gone is about losing the passion for something (or someone) and the struggle that goes along with coming to terms with something like that. How Was I To Know is a basic love song about a love that you knew wasn’t really meant to be. Fire’s Gone is darker, whereas How Was I To Know

Torben Enevoldsen

comes from a place of acceptance.

Had you kept up with vocalist Peter Sundell throughout the years, and what was it like collaborating with him again?

Yes, Sundell and I have been in contact several times over the years and also worked together on a few occasions. It’s always a joy to work with Peter as he is very dedicated and serious about his singing.

What has it been like to have your Fate band mate Pete Steincke on Without Warning and when did you first meet Pete?

As with Sundell, it’s a true pleasure working with Pete. He too is a very dedicated and serious musician with great chops and a lot of experience. I first met Pete some time back in the 80’s. Apart from being in Fate, he was also a DJ at a very popular club here in Copenhagen that I used to hang out in on the weekends.

Dennis Hansen has played on quite a few of your var-

Peter Sundell

ious projects Section A, Fatal Force, Acacia Avenue, and now Decoy. What makes you and Dennis work so well together and when did you first meet up?

Dennis is one of my best friends and we have played together on and off for ages. He is very easy to work with and knows exactly what type of drumming I’m looking for, and always manages to deliver that extra something. He and I first met back in 1987. We met through this singer who was looking to start a band and Dennis and I immediately hit it off. The singer however was sacked shortly after and never heard of again, but Dennis and I remain close friends to this very day.

When you look back on the 2007 Decoy album entitled Call Of The Wild, what do you think of it now in retrospect?

I think that there’s some very good songs on the album, but this was one of the very first albums that I mixed myself, so I am not all that happy with the mix. I would actually love to redo that at some point.

You also have a new solo album for 2022 entitled Transition. Is there any overall story or concept behind that title? I believe Pete and Dennis also worked on that album?

Well, the story behind the title is a very personal one. It’s about where I am in my life at this point in time and about my future plans. I won’t reveal too much as nothing is written in stone, and I do like to stay open to alternative options, but if nothing unforeseen comes up, this title will fit my personal plans for now very nicely. And yes, Dennis and Pete are both playing on this album as well.

In the year 2020, you worked on the Rob Moratti and Pinnacle Point albums. What was it like to be working on and releasing albums in that pandemic year?

It didn’t actually feel all that different, as both of these projects are done over the internet. As you probably know, Rob is in Toronto and Jerome is in Florida, so we simply send ideas and files back and forth. I do all my work in my own studio here in Copenhagen and then send whatever files are needed to whomever, and that’s pretty much how we’ve always done it.

Anything coming up with Acacia Avenue or any of your other bands?

Yes, I am halfway done with the 5th Acacia Avenue album, and the same goes for yet another new all instrumental album. I am also involved in a few other projects, but it’s too early to give out any details just yet, sorry.

Would Decoy like to tour and play some shows in support of Without Warning?

That would be great for sure and hopefully this will happen. A lot of practical stuff needs to get sorted of course, but we would definitely like to do live gigs.

Any final words of wisdom?

I’m not so sure about the wisdom part, but I hope that everyone who reads this interview will check out my work, both past and present. So much more to come, so please stay tuned at: www.torbenenevoldsen.com