Albums of Purgatory interview XLarge's Chläber
Albums of Purgatory: Firstly, what?s the band up to right now?
Chläber: At the moment, we?re in the recording studio producing our first long-player
which should be released at the end of this year. Besides we have some personal problems:
unfortunately our drummer Sven has to leave the band because of healthy reasons. We
already have some alternatives and we are confident to present a successor as soon as
possible.
AoP: How would you describe the X-Large sound?
Chläber: We're moving in the Hardcore/Metalcore reach, although there are more and more
rap and singing parts - so you may say it?s a kind of Rap-Core.
AoP: How did the band begin in 2000?
Chläber: We were some guys who visited the football games of ?our? F.C. Zurich.
Once we had the idea to compose a song for the team and the football club, because some of
us were musicians for many years before. It?s was great fun and after doing this
?Züri-Project?, we just had to go ahead. X-Large was born...
AoP: Can you remember your first gig (how did it go)?
Chläber: We organised our first concert ourselves in club in Zurich. There were about 150
people at that party and they were all extremely rocking - it was just great!!! This
concert was finally the take-off of X-Large ;-)
AoP: What are your favourite X-Large tracks?
Chläber: I very like Fulltime Loser off our 4-track demo CD Calamity Dog. But this record
is already one and a half years old. On our new long-player we'll present our actual
style, including rap-parts... the songs The Seventh Day and Meaning of Life have to be
noted! ;-)
AoP: What are your favourite all time songs?
Chläber: Spontaneous, I think of Melissa of Mercyful Fate. Also 'Hell Awaits' of Slayer,
Danzig's 'Mother' or Carnivore's 'Race War' have to be mentioned (and honoured). Of the
newer sounds: 'Chop Suey' (S.O.A.D) and 'Change' (Deftones) are really great. I also
listen to a lot of hip hop artists (for example D12!!!).
AoP: What was the first record you bought?
Chläber: My first CD was ?Alive 2? of Kiss. In my youth I was a big Kiss-fan and
with the appearing of Hellhammer, Venom, Slayer and all that stuff, I discovered
my love to the real hard things ;-)
AoP: What would be your dream band line-up?
Chläber: Busta Rhymes or Eminem feat. X-Large;-)
AoP: What do you think of the position of metal and music in
general today?
Chläber: It's nice to see, that the trend in general goes back to the good old rocking
sound! Techno- Computer- Dirt is slowly disappearing, while there's a new rock wave
coming. Personally, I appreciate this development (of course ;-). Nowadays, it's more and
more possible to turn on the radio without getting diarrhoea...
AoP: Which bands in the metal scene stand out for you at the
moment?
Chläber: Well, THE band which burns all stages at the moment is System of a down.
These guys have really deserved it, no other band knows how to connect power and harmony
like S.O.A.D.! Korn and Linkin Park are also not to forget.
AoP: Do you have any funny stories about the band you can
share with us?
Chläber: This year we joined in the European newcomer-festival Emergenza where we were
qualified for the Swiss final. During the concert our fan-mob was extremely jumping around
and had great fun and also the ?normal? spectators were impressed - it was our best
show until today. At the end of the evening, as the jury told who the winner was (it
wasn?t X-Large), beer cups flew on the stage, people protested and there were a lot of
whistles against the jury... well that was very funny ;-) Moreover there are some
people who ask us about our red dog 'Sakkar'. He's our big leader, the motor and the soul
of X-Large. So if you ever cross
his way: feeding at your own risk... ;-)
AoP: And finally what do you see in the future for X-Large?
Chläber: As I mentioned, our first long-player will be released at the end of this year
and we very hope that we can move something with it. Soon, we negotiate with some
distribution companies. It?s also very important for us that the international market
becomes interested in our music. Until December, we play some gigs in Switzerland and at
the beginning of next year we'll start to rock some other countries ;-)
AoP: Thanks again for the interview and good luck for the
future.
Chläber: Thank you too for this interview and if you ever need a good-rocking band
on your island..... ;-)