What's Metal Radioshow - Das Interviewarchiv

[What's Metal]

ENSLAVED 2005

Ivar Bjørnson, founding member of Viking (Black) Metal pioneers Enslaved, sat down with us 15 years ago to talk about their latest output at the time, Isa, and to reflect on the band discography. Expect some insight into the early 90s times and the development of the band.

 

[What's Metal]

Interview OVERKILL (Bobby Blitz Ellsworth) 1998 - Cancer, suicide, alcoholism and more

To this day, Overkill remain an annihilating live force with Bobby being one of the most impressive front men in the metal scene. In 1998, we met up to go through a list of our fanboy questions and encountered an engaged and entertaining interview partner. Not only did we get the answers we were looking for, we also learned about how perspectives change over the years and that ultimately there are things more important than the band and its music.

 

[What's Metal]

INGROWING Interview with Patrik "Vlakin" Staněk -
Czech grind & printing problems
2003
Conducted by Markus Morrison at Fuck the Commerce, Neiden, Germany.
The Czech Republic as well as Slovakia have become the capital of European Grind. INGROWING played a substantial part in this and, besides their full length records, have released a number of spilt releases with bands at the international forefront of the genre. In 2003, we met up at the infamous Fuck the Commerce open air to have a chat. We spoke about the career of the band, the czech scene, relationships with Slovakian comrades and also touched on the Czech Republic joining the EU. The band supposedly are still active, but remains rather quiet on their side.

 

[What's Metal]

Interview ANCIENT RITES (Gunther Theys) 2004 - Transitions, history, playing Israel

We took the opportunity to have a pint and a quick chat with Gunther Theys of classic Belgian Black Metal outfit Ancient Rites at the Irish Day of Darkness Festival in 2004. Besides touching on Gunthers brain surgery we got a brief overview of recent band activities and developments, cultural aspects and how to sneak into Israel to perform live.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5z4ENCbnoQ

 

[What's Metal]

Interview MERCYFUL FATE (Hank Shermann) 1997 - Satan, The other side, Gene Simmons court case

1997, MERCYFUL FATE and King Diamond on a double bill. Legendary! And the first time since the early 80s that Mercyful Fate played shows in Germany. We hung out with Hank Shermann to talk about the tour, the 92 reunion, who the heck Ole Bang is, what the fanclubs had to offer, being sued by Gene Simmons, Satanism and supernatural experiences. Lean back and enjoy. Now, in 2020, their return to the stage was prevented by COVID-19. But there is hope for next year!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ogx_8Mnw_iU

 

[What's Metal]

Interview SYMPHORCE (German) (Andi, Dennis, Stefan) 2000 - Vergangenheit, Gegenwart & Zukunft

SYMPHORCE Interview mit Andi B Franck, Dennis Wohlbold und Stefan Köllner. Interviewt durch Kiwi Gejas auf dem Wacken Open Air, Wacken. Bei Symphorce ging es gleich zu Beginn Schlag auf Schlag. 1999 zusammengefunden, Debutalbum aufgenommen, im Jahr 2000 gleich der Nachfolger (mit klarerer Schlagrichtung, wohin die Reise führen sollte). Eine Band voller Energie, soviel war klar. Kiwi schnappte sich Andi, Dennis und Stefan für einen kleinen Plausch auf dem Wacken Open Air 2000, um über den Ursprung der Band zu sprechen, die Verzahnung mit Brainstorm zu klären, Vorbilder abzutasten und Risiken auszuloten. Obwohl sich die Band nach sieben Alben im Jahr 2010 auflöste, interessiert sich hoffentlich die Eine oder der Andere noch für die Frühtage der Band.

 

[What's Metal]

Interview GOREFEST (Jan-Chris & Ed) 2005 - Growing apart, splitting up, wrong decisions

Gorefest were one of the early Dutch death metal bands and released the well respected Mindloss and their magnum opus False in the early 90s. Those were great days, filled with plenty of touring and ferocious live shows. After that, everything went to shits and became what death metal never ought to become. The band rightfully disbanded. In 2004/5 they announced their reunion. For us, this was the first and only time to grab them for an interview (rather spontaneously) in the context of their Wacken Open Air appearance in 2005. Some retrospectives, some regrets and some things to look forward to (before disbanding again).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9CXs3AfJnUg

 

[What's Metal]

THERION 1997

Interview THERION (Christofer Johnsson) 1997 - No more tours!

It was the "Theli" album and the move to Nuclear Blast Records that most profoundly changed things for Therion. Prior to that, they were a well respected underground death metal band, known for their mythological and occult lyrical content rather than growling about Satan and zombies. "Theli" pushed them into the spotlight and initiated a move into what nowadays probably falls under operatic rock and metal. At the time, it made sense to discuss mainly the aspects of making a living of the band and the complications associated with touring. The interview was done during the Out of the Dark III Festival tour, also featuring My Dying Bride (as headliners), Sentenced, Secret Discovery, Sundown and Dark.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lr2lJ-7IYA8

 

[What's Metal]

CRUACHAN 2004

Interview CRUACHAN (Keith & Joe) 2004 - We are willing to play naked!

Cruachan is one of the oldest folk metal bands around. In 2004, we took founding member Keith and then drummer Joe aside for a short conversation at the release show of the "Pagan" full length album. Joe left the band but now seems to be back playing the bass. We covered some of the band history to introduce Cruachan to our listeners, touched on the Cruachan predecessor Minas Tirith, the role and importance of the lyrics, being popular in Russia and what it is like to be a band from Ireland.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05BkqQ5Mu7Q

 

[What's Metal]

MY DYING BRIDE 1997

Interview MY DYING BRIDE (Andrew & Aaron) 1997 - Banging the bus driver, burning the bassist

During the high times of My Dying Bride's popularity, we caught up with them as they headlined the Out of the Dark Festival tour pt. III. They had previously supported Iron Maiden and were supposed to support Ronnie James Dio after the European leg of the tour that promoted Like gods of the sun. We talked about the tour life, the album, artwork and the drunken shenanigans and twisted thoughts during the time on the road.

 

[What's Metal]

DAVE CULROSS 2003 - Life as a death metal drummer

Malevolent Creation, HatePlow, Suffocation, Disgorged, Gorgasm, Incantation etc. Dave Culross has played on various classics of the genre and is on of the most influential and respected extreme metal drummers. We ran into him at the Fuck the Commerce Open Air, had a drink and a spontaneous chat about his activities in extreme metal drumming.

 

[What's Metal]

DAVE CULROSS 2003 - Life as a death metal drummer

Malevolent Creation, HatePlow, Suffocation, Disgorged, Gorgasm, Incantation etc. Dave Culross has played on various classics of the genre and is on of the most influential and respected extreme metal drummers. We ran into him at the Fuck the Commerce Open Air, had a drink and a spontaneous chat about his activities in extreme metal drumming.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/PM4cFKloCWo

 

[What's Metal]

MOONSPELL (Fernando Ribeiro) 2005 - Dark & spiritual

There was a phenomenal buzz around MOONSPELL around the Wolfheart and Irreligious times, before things got a bit too experimental for our liking. Then, a couple of years later, they came back with the well respected Antidote album. We took the chance to catch up with Fernando to talk about the essence of the band and his view on what music and metal means, also from a viewpoint of artistic expression.

 

[What's Metal]

Interview DIMMU BORGIR (Silenoz & Nagash) 1997 - Out of the underground on first tour

Erste Tour, erstes Radiointerview ever...
We were big into "Stormblast" since it came out, so to hear Dimmu Borgir signed to Nuclear Blast and will be touring (for the very first time) as opening act to In Flames, Dissection and Cradle of Filth (The Gods of Darkness tour) meant we could catch up for an interview (even though it meant we missed a good bit of the Dissection set). The tour happened before "Enthrone darkness triumphant" was released, so we skipped detailed aspects regarding the album and its music. Instead, Silenoz and Nagash voiced their opinions about the Norwegian non-existent underground and their view towards commercial success (which indeed was what was going to happen).

 

[What's Metal]

Interview PARADISE LOST (Gregor Mackintosh) 2006 - Bleeding eyes, post "Host" backlash

We had a quick chat with Gregor Mackintosh of PARADISE LOST back in 2006, prior to taking the stage at Vicar Street in Dublin, Ireland. We covered the current band situation, damage done by death metal vocals and the major obstacles the band faced in their career up until then.

 

[What's Metal]

CROWBAR 1997

Done during the Full of Hate Easterfestivals 1997 with the weird line up of Crowbar, Entombed, Obituary, Samael and Strapping Young Lad. This one clearly is not among our best interviews. Initial sound issues, loads of distractions from randomers walking past and starting conversations and a good bit of time pressure. After lots of editing and cutting and after a bumpy and slow start, we got at least some info on the band that preceeded the formation of Crowbar, how a blind man recorded the band, and the New Orleans scene and its local interactions. Uploaded for completeness sake.

 

[What's Metal]

PARAGON BELIAL 2020

Seit Mitte der 90er fest im Black Metal Underground verwurzelt, schiessen Paragon Belial auch heute noch scharf - musikalisch und mit Worten. In dieser halben Stunde ist von den Anfangstagen bis zur heutigen Zeit alles dabei, die Bandchemie stimmt bis ins letzte Detail und der Metal Spirit trieft aus den Poren der Protagonisten. Das neue Album ist in Mache, wir sind gespannt!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AiZppGbzSWA

 

[What's Metal]

MEMBARIS/AVOWAL 2020

Manchmal kommen die Überraschungen aus dem Nichts. Membaris gibt es nun schon seit ca. 20 Jahren und kommen uns erst jetzt zu Ohren. Die aktuelle Scheibe "Misanthrosophie" hat uns dermassen mit ihren dichten, vertrackten, ehabenen und auch erschlagenden Kompositionen aus den Latschen gehauen, dass wir die Chance auf ein Gespräch mit Gitarrist Nils nicht ausschlagen konnten. Selbiger macht seit neuestem auch mit seiner dissonant-schwindelerregenden Formation AVOWAL von sich reden. Haben wir also gleich mit im Gespräch berücksichtigt.

 

[What's Metal]

MRW CONCERTS/DARK EASTER METAL MEETING 2020

Das Backstage in München ist eine Top Adresse für Metal Live Shows im Süden Deutschlands. Als die Corona Krise einschlug, stand Michael Sackermann, Mastermind hinter MRW Concerts und dem hochkarätig besetzten Dark Easter Metal Meeting, vor einer brenzligen Situation. Über 30 zugesagte Bands, lange Vorplanungen, alles den Bach hinunter. Doch nicht nur er sondern das Backstage als Ganzes haben in kürzester Zeit wieder begonnen, sogenannte Abstandskonzerte durchzuführen. Deutschlandweit konnte man sich dadurch trotz bayrisch-politischem Rumgesödere und Planungsrisiken schnell einen Ruf als kompetent durch die Krise navigierende Location erarbeiten. Michael war so freundlich und stand uns für ein paar Fragen am Abend des Arroganz/Goath/Casket/Khaos Konzerts zur Verfügung. Fallzahlen an dem Tag waren 98,1 pro 100.000. Einen Tag später war dann klar, das dies vorläufig das letzte Konzert gewesen ist. Und tatsächlich befinden wir uns ja nun auch wieder bundesweit im Lock-Down light. Gönnt euch ein paar Minuten, um hinter die Kulissen zu horchen.

 

[What's Metal]

Interview BRUTAL TRUTH (Dan Lilker) 2007 - The grind train explodes

Praise the hurricanes, for they brought back Brutal Truth. In 2007, we caught up with Dan Lilker to check what was going on and what they were up to after reforming for a good cause. And we also touched on their stint in the adult film industry...