Pretty well really. We didn't have any preconceptions of what the U.S would be like. We realized that it was our first tour of the U.S and that it would be hard work, we were right! We have reached a level of success here in europe, so going over to the states was like starting all over again, putting ourselves back 3 years, having to prove our worth to a completely new audience. I think that it's done a lot of good for the band and given us a new perspective.
2. WHAT TYPE OF MUSIC DID YOU LISTEN TO AS A KID?Well, I suppose a vast amount of music really.It's something that I've always been interested in.When I was younger (around 13) I was into the new mod stuff...PURPLE HEARTS,THE CHORDS,SECRET AFFAIR...all that stuff, which led me into all the old 60's stuff.From there, around 15, I got into Northern soul music.When I got to around 17, I got bored with all that and was well into the indie/alternative/punk scene, stuff like SEX GANG CHILDREN,AUSGANG,ALIEN SEX FIEND,PLAY DEAD.I also was chuffed (this is English for pleased...Luna :o) with CRASS,ANTISECT,AMEBIX,DISCHARGE etc...I think the first gig I went to was W.A.S.P and I had a huge blue mohican at the time.Then I got hooked on METALLICA,VENOM and SLAYER about 5/6 years ago...never been the same since.
3. WHAT ARE YOUR VIEWS ON DOOM METAL AND DO YOU THINK IT'S AN UP-COMING THING?Yeah, it's an up-coming, growing trend definitely, although bands such as TROUBLE,CANDLEMASS,ST.VITUS have been doing that stuff for years.It's never really held any appeal to me.To be honest, I find it a little boring.Slow bits need to be balanced out with fast/mid paced beats for it to work in my opinion...for what thats worth.But I do know that loads of people love doom metal.It's not for me though!!!
4. DO YOU AGREE WITH WHAT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN SAYING ABOUT THE THRASH SCENE BEING "DEAD"?No not really.It's still there and still very strong.The only trouble is that it's the big bands such as MEGADETH,METALLICA,ANTHRAX etc...putting out the material.Apart from smaller bands like DARK ANGEL,FORBIDDEN,SACRED REICH etc...there doesn't seem to be any developing underground 'demo' bands playing thrash these days.Although there is a vast abundance of 'death metal' demos.
5. WHAT IS THE BEST TOUR OR SINGLE SHOW THAT YOU'VE DONE?Well, we're off to europe in January 1992 with our good friends BENEDICTION and ASPHYX, so I'm sure that that's going to be the best tour that we have done.Before that, our last euro tour with NOCTURNUS was pretty good for us, in particular the show in Dortmund which was packed and totally wild!!!
6. HAVE YOU EVER HAD LETTERS FROM PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE TYPE OF MUSIC THAT YOU PLAY?No never.I suppose if people don't like our stuff, they aren't going to bother writing to tell us.Some people write and tell us that they prefer the 1st or 2nd albums to WARMASTER, but I don't give a shit.Thats up to them.Personally, I know that WARMASTER is loads better than our other albums, but the world would be a pretty boring place if we all thought the same eh!!?
7. DID YOU EVER RECOVER ANY OF YOUR GEAR THAT GOT NICKED?No! I suppose we'll just have to put that down to experience.Personally, we were all pretty pissed off about it, especially about the backdrop which is totally useless to anyone else but us.But there's no point crying over spilt milk as they say, so it's simply up to us to get a load more new gear and insure it this time!!! An expensive experience eh!
8. DO YOU LIKE ANY OTHER METAL GENRES APART FROM DEATH/THRASH/GRIND (THE 'EAVY STUFF)?Well, personally, I really like rock stuff like VICIOUS RUMOURS (totally chuffed) ,QUEENSRYCHE,SKID ROW,GUNS N' ROSES,LOVE/HATE,THE CULT,WHITESNAKE. All that kind of stuff.In fact, thats all I really listen to when relaxing.
9. WHICH ALBUM GOT THE BIGGEST RESPONSE FROM FANS?Well, that's got to be WARMASTER.That album definitely got a bigger response from the press and in turn, the fans.We had a great response for REALM OF CHAOS, but I think that WARMASTER has pushed us further up the ladder more than any of our other albums.
10. HOW, WHEN AND WHERE DID YOU AND THE REST OF THE BAND GET TOGETHER?We were all good mates.I joined the band 4 years back now, replacing the original vocalist who featured on the bands 1987 demos and the 1st peel session.Before that, the band had been going for around a year.I kind of drove 'em around and helped out.
11. WHAT IS YOUR ALL TIME FAVOURITE FILM AND WHY?My favourite film is Platoon because I'm chuffed with Oliver Stones style of directing.The atmosphere that he creats is awesome.This is shown well in Platoon which is a great story.The BEST Vietnam film.
12. WHAT ARE YOUR VIEWS ON FOX HUNTING AND DO YOU THINK IT SHOULD BE BANNED?Definitely it should be banned.I could go on for ages about this topic, but I won't.I'm a vegetarian and I don't believe in ANY type of animal abuse or cruelty.Fox hunting to me represents the worst of mankinds inhumanity.
13. ANY FINAL COMMENTS?Cheers for this interview Shaz.I hope the answers are ok.Hello and thanks to all the people who have supported us, past, present and future.Look out for our new album to be released Autumn '92 and live dates around april.