Albums of Purgatory interview At-Vance's Olaf Lenk
Albums of Purgatory: Firstly, what's the band up to?
Olaf Lenk: We
are working at our new cd which probably will be released around early 2003. All songs
have been already written and we are about to start with Lucky to record his drum tracks.
AoP: What sort of reactions have you been getting from the
new album "Only Human"?
OL: We recieved great reviews from magazines all over the world. But we got the biggest
reaction from our fans. We have a lot of entries in our guestbook from people all over the
world telling us that they love this cd. At the tour a lot of fans came to us to
congratulate cause the music means so much to them. This is the most important reaction
you can recieve!!!!!!
AoP: How would you describe the At-Vance sound? Who are your
influences?
OL: The music is very dominant and in the center of the attention. We have strong guitar
parts and very classical solos but the song as itself is always the most important thing
at the At Vance style. Influences are Deep Purple, Yngwie Malmsteen,Black Sabbath,
Stratovarious and many many more.
AoP: How did you become involved with At-Vance?
OL: I started to work at my Centers project in the studio and called Oliver to see if he
was interessted to do the vocal parts. We got along together very well and at a meeting
with the record company at that time I decided to form a band. At Vance was born. My
Centers project was very progressive so we decided to make a band that reaches a lot of
people a band whose music speaks for itself.
AoP: Which other bands have you been involved in?
OL: I toured with Velvet Viper formerly known as Zed Yago a couple of years ago. And of
course I have been working as a studio musican and played on many different recordings.
AoP: Can you remember your first gig (how did it go)?
OL: I was about 11 years and I’ve played with a ten year old drummer. We jammed some AC/Dc , Kiss and Purple tunes
AoP: What are your favourite At-Vance tracks?
OL: That’s really hard to decide, cause I’ve written most of them.
AoP: What are your favourite all time songs?
OL: Highway to hell and Into the void
AoP: What was the first record you bought?
OL: I traded my skateboard for the Deep purple made in japan when I was ten. It was like a
must have for me.
AoP: What would be your dream band line-up?
OL: There’s
so many great musicians out there. Ok let me think.
Ian Paice/
Drums
Billy Sheehan
/ Bass
Don Airey / Keys
Mats Leven /
Vox
This would be a cool line up
AoP: What do you think of the position of metal and music in
general today?
OL:: The market became very close and it is a very tough competition out there. But I
believe that this genre is about to come back and growing stronger again which is good.
Metal is still a very honest style of music cause people like to see the band play live.
They don`t want just some dancers to perform to a playback. That is what we like about it
cause it still is honest work.
OL: I see that more and more people get to know us and that we convince them with our
music.Thanks for
your time and good luck