Kane first joined Destiny in 1994. Then known as Håkan Svantesson he recorded the album “The Undiscovered Country” (released in 1998) before quitting both Destiny and playing the drums.  Some years later Kane once again picked up his drums and made a serious comeback playing with bands like Evil’s Eve and Fretless amongst others.

When Roger Christiansson a couple of weeks ago suddenly and unexpectedly decided to leave Destiny, Kane was the obvious first choice to replace him. After just a few rehearsals Kane had picked up most of the songs for the new live set and agreed to rejoin Destiny.

Mixxx from Crank It Up meets Stefan Björnshög. (In Swedish only, sorry)

Click here for the interview.

This year Destiny celebrates its 30: Anniversary with a digital worldwide release of the band’s back catalog, which means that several albums that were previously discontinued now will be available for the first time in many years.

Destiny’s founder Stefan Björnshög, the band’s bassist and main composer, has for several years been thinking about how to best take advantage of the new opportunities that digital distribution offers. About a year ago he ran into Magnus Högdahl whom had just started the record label 44 Skull Records that specialize in digital distribution. After a short discussion about the music industry they exchanged contact information and soon after that Magnus returned with an offer from 44 Skull Records. A few meetings later, it was clear that this was the solution to Stefan’s thoughts on digital distribution.

44 Skull Records has now signed a digital distribution agreement with Destiny. The plan is to release Destiny’s back catalog on the sub label Gothenburg Legacy Records, while the anniversary album ”The incompatibility of Philosophical Terminology” will be released on 44 Skull Records. First up this spring are Destiny’s two latest albums ”Future of the Past” and ”Beyond All Sense 2005″ and one or two digital singles from the anniversary album. The agreement does not apply to CD, vinyl or other physical formats.

Stefan was recently interviewed by Metal Shock Finland.

Click here to read it.

In the beginning of 2013 the final piece of the puzzle for the new line up was added when keyboardist Carl Dahlberg joined Destiny. This is the first time that Destiny has a permanent keyboard player in the band even though there have been keyboards on a few songs on all of the albums, except “The Undiscovered Country”.

With Carl in the band there will be a new exiting dimension added to the music of Destiny.  Carl will be featured on both the anniversary album ”The Incompatibility of Philosophical Terminology” and “Global Warming”.

Drummer Roger Christiansson, a long time friend of Stefan since that last 25 years even though they had never played together before, joined the band in December 2012. Roger is prefect for Destiny on every level and already on the first rehearsal it’s clear that Roger and Stefan will be a dynamic and heavy new rhythm section.

 Vocalist Jonas Heidgert (Dragonland) joined Destiny in November 2012. He immediately started to record vocals for a planned digital single. Everyone that heard the result so far has been overwhelmed and there is no doubt that Jonas vocals and stage presences as well as his personality will fit Destiny perfectly both in the studio and on stage. .

Guitarist Micael Åberg has been a member of Destiny since 2005. After all these years and numerous gigs with the band it’s finally time for Michael to debut on not just one but two Destiny albums, ”The Incompatibility of Philosophical Terminology” and “Global Warming”.

Finally, there is the driving force of the ever present bassist Stefan Björnshög whose visions and music has molded Destiny since he founded the band way back in 1982.

SWEDEN ROCK MAGAZINE has published their writer’s lists of Swedish favorite bands – ”SWEDEN’S 30 BEST HARD ROCK BAND &-ARTISTS OF ALL TIME!”
Four of the writers, Eric Thompson, Martin Carlsson, Alex Wahlqvist and Zendt features Destiny on their lists!

My name is Jonas Heidgert, I am 35 years old and was born and raised in Gothenburg. Alongside Destiny I am also in Dragon Land, Rawburt and the cover band Metal Monarchs with Oscar Dronjak (Hammerfall) as the band leader. It may sound a lot, but Dragon Land is largely dormant since two of the members are in another band that is doing very well at the moment.  Oscar is also very busy with his other projects, so Metal Monarchs will only play occasionally. It’s still mostly a fun hobby.

And now you are in Destiny.
Yes, I received an email from Stefan Björnshög. They were looking for a singer and someone* had told them about me. I feel very flattered to be asked by a band that has been around almost as long as I am old. The music they play is close to my heart and I’m very much psyched for this.

Did you listen to Destiny before joining the band?
Not actively listening, no. But I have heard them and knew of them. Now I’m listening a lot, of course, learning the lyrics and especially the vocal melodies.

How would you compare yourself with your predecessor, Kristoffer Göbel?
We have probably about the same tonal range, but otherwise we are quite different as singers. I find it hard to put a finger on how to describe it. Kristoffer has maybe a little rougher voice, a little more hoarseness. I’m probably a little more ”clean”.

What’s next for you in Destiny?
I have a cold now, but as soon as I get well I’ll record vocals for ”Sabotage”. It’s a song from the Destiny album ”Future of the Past” that we are recording again and releasing as a digital single. It’s a heavy and dark song that does not sound like anything else. I will of course try to make the best version ever of the song.

You are self-taught as a singer. How did you discover you could sing and how have you worked to develop your singing?
It all started when I applied to the school choir in high school. Not very fun, it was probably just a ploy. Then I noticed that I could sing and joined a band. After I left them really not very much happened before I started Dragon Land. That’s when I started to work with my voice; it was mostly by trying to imitate my favorite singers. Bruce Dickinson is one example and of course, the best hard rock singer of all time, in my ears: Michael Kiske. So I sat and howled along with their songs.
*The excellent singer Mija.

Interviewed by: Zendt
Photos by: Lillian Christiansson

Jonas Heidgert is a very talented musician who is by far no newcomer to the metal scene. In 2000 he released his first of five albums by Dragonland where he both sang and played the drums on the first two albums before concentrating on the vocals on the three latest releases.  He has also performed vocals on an album by Diabolicus as well as touring with both Dragonland and the cover band Metal Monarchs.
In the fall of 2012 he joined Destiny where he will record vocals for the anniversary album ”The Incompatibility of Philosophical Terminology” and “Global Warming”.

Member Since: 2012

Position in the band: Lead Singer

Education: Could never afford singing-lessons since it´s insanely expensive here. So I´m completely self-taught.

Influences: The greatest vocalist ever, Michael Kiske. Then there´s always other ones like Bruce Dickinson, James LaBrie and about a thousand others making me what I am today.

Values: Humor, Honesty and thoroughness.

Present favourites: Dream Theater.

At the movies: Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, Shrek, Ice Age.

On TV: Absolutely Fabulous, Fawlty Towers, Friends, Family Guy and SPORTS, especially Hockey (Frölunda Indians) and Soccer (IFK Gothenburg).

Books: The Wheel of Time-saga by Robert Jordan, anything written by Raymond E. Feist.

Motto: I don´t have a motto, at least not that I know of.

Basist Stefan Björnshög formed Destiny together with guitarist Magnus Österman way back in 1982. Right from the start Stefan has been the band’s leader and has over the years evolved into the bands main composer. Stefan has also for many years worked as the morning show host on several radio stations Inkluding Radio FM, Z Radio, Radio RIX, Radio City and Radio Match. In addition, Stefan also founded and was the editor of the Swedish e-zine RockZine and founded and organized rock concerts for Rock Scene Gothenburg as well as the Gothenburg Metal Festival. In 1999 Stefan built and started Destiny Recording Stuidio (DRS) where Destiny has recorded four albums so far.

Position in the band: Bass

Education: Self-taught. According to himself, he was probably just a little bit too lazy to learn from a teacher. Started out at the age of 17, five years before really getting into it.

Influences: Tony Iommi, the god of heavy licks. Jon and Criss Oliva of Savatage. Bassists such as Geddy Lee, Geezer Butler, Chris Squire and Ez Gomér. Two Russians lurk in the background: the dark Piotr Tchaikowsky and Sergei Prokofiev.

Values: Honesty and empathy.

Present favourites: Rush, Kansas, Savatage, Megadeth, Metal Church, Budgie, Yes, BTO and Legs Diamond.

At the movies: Star Trek, Highlander, Narnia, Harry Potter


On TV: Futurama, Star Trek (all series), The Simpsons, Family Guy, American Dad, The Big Bang Theory, SOA

Books: The Long Ships by Frans G. Bengtsson, Job by Robert Heinlein.

Motto: Seize the day.

Stefan’s YouTube-channel »

This is the month that Destiny turns 30 years old!
We will celebrate with new music, old music, gigs and some happenings all the way from now and through November 2013!
Picture created by Staffan Falkenström at Pixel Productions AB.