LONEWOLF is back! And they released a fantastic first self- financed album
with "March Into The Arena". With bands like LONEWOLF, french metal has a
future. I got in touch with guitarist/vocalist Jens Börner to know more
about the story of the band.
Can you tell the story of LONEWOLF before the 7'' ? I own the good "The
Calling" demo 1994, are there other demos ?
In fact, we started as a trio back in 93. In the
same year, we released a tape that I don't consider as a demo, because it
was never distributed, it was just meant to make us a little name in Grenoble,
our hometown, and to find some gigs here around. It was also only sold here
in some local stores. It was entitled "The Dark Throne", contained three
songs : "The Dark Throne", "Witch Hunter" and "Slave To The Moon". The sound
is awful, not to talking about the really bad musicians we were, haha...
But the true metal basis was already here. With "The Calling", some people
got interested in the demo and we began to sell it a bit in a larger way,
but I soon stoped it because it was simply not representative any more, due
to the lack of maturity.
In 1995 you released the great "Holy Evil" 7'' with two heavy/speed songs
in the style of german metal. How was the response for this 7'' ?
Thanx a lot for your compliment! The response was
really great in the underground. We had good to very good reviews and it
broughts us lot of contacts in the world, and sold it well. No label was
interested, but owners of "Holy Evil" wrote us really enthusiastic letters
at the time, and I really remember to it with great pleasure. As it went
out, we did a new pressing of 500 copies at that time, and there are some
copies left today. People often think it is sold out, but I still have copies
left. Today, guys order it with our "March Into The Arena" cd. If someone
is interested, I have around 50 copies left, just order one at my address.
Two friends who surf a lot on the internet told me that "Holy Evil" is seen
sometimes in want-lists. I try to get in contact with such guys, because
I don't want them to pay more than 4 euro for it. I already heard of people
paying (really) more, it's a pity as till now, it is not sold out. But, to
be honest, I'm very honoured when I see people remebering "Holy Evil".
Running Wild is an obvious influence. Which are the other bands you consider
as influences or you like ?
Yeah, Running Wild is a big influence, particulary
brought by me 'cause I'm the Running Wild maniac in our band. Most of all,
it's the whole (old) german scene which influences us : Grave Digger, Rage/Avenger,
Stormwitch, old Helloween, etc... Also the epic gods like Omen, Manilla Road,
Warlord, etc... influenced us a lot. And I also think about bands like Pretty
Maids, Exciter, Maiden or Oz... Naturally there are a lot of other bands,
but here you have a good idea of what we like. We play the music we love,
without questionning ourselves if it sounds too much so or so... We don't
have any pretention to bring something new. We play simple metal with our
hearts, and if some true metalheads have fun while listening to it, it's
great. We have a lot of fun, that's sure, haha!
What is your opinion about the current metal scene in comparison with
the metal scene of the eighties ?
Thankfully, there are bands who hold the true metal
banner high like Running Wild, Grave Digger, Gamma Ray, Exciter, etc... and
also lot of underground bands like Overstep, Raging Storm and so many others.
Our so called scene is poisoned by bands who have nothing to do with it.
All those bands who melt rap, hip hop and so on with what they call metal...
it's awful. They have nothing to do in so called metal mags. The worst of
all is that is those bands who will tell that you play old fashioned metal
for old "loosers lost in the 80's". You know, I remember Rock'n'Rolf saying,
not so long ago, in an interview : "I begin to get the feeling that you have
to excuse yourself if you only play true metal without other influences...".
That's exactly the problem in the metal scene today. I think that the 80's
scene was most pure and true. Loyal to the fans also. Today, how many bands
make an album, then see what is "in", put these influences (often far away
from metal) on the new album... There are bands where every album is totally
different from the other. How do you want a fan to follow the whole career
with the same passion as in the beginning ? How can you allow yourself to
deceive the fans who supported you right in the beginning ? I mean, naturally
you progress, some new influences can come, but there is a line you can't
avoid. That's why much people take the 80's as a reference. They understood
this feeling, this passion, what metal means, and keep the true metal, unpoisoned
by shitty trends, alive.
What do you think of the so-called french "metal" magazines ?
I have a divided opinion. 1) Good, 'cause they really
begin to talk more about true metal bands, even underground bands. We got,
for example, good review 'bout our cd in Hard'n' Heavy and Metallian, and
a good concert review in Rock Hard. It naturally help us a lot to spread
our name, and so it is with other underground bands like Malediction or Overstep,
or bigger underground bands like Wizard. Recently, I also read inties with
Grave Digger, for example. 2) Bad, because I still think that there are bands
who have nothing to do in it, like I said in the question before. Some bands
really would have a better place in rap mags. Anyway, we can't nothing against
that, just defending our faith and I'm happy just seeing more metal in our
mags. I prefer anyway the german metal mags, they are more... metal oriented.
Have you ever found Manilla Road, Stormwitch or Oz inties in France ? (Manilla
Road were interviewed in 85 and 86 by Enfer mag, but it was a very long time
ago... -Patrick). In Germany, yes. For "Atlantis Rising", the last Manilla
Road, I read some in Germany, but here, nothing. It's a shame. It is a cult
band, has influenced a lot the epic style... There are too many other examples.
Sad but true... But french mags begin to talk more of true metal and that's
a good sign. Hope that it will go on...
How is LONEWOLF in a live situation ? Do you play often?
Live, we're also inspired by the old Running Wild,
Stormwitch, Exciter or Priest. You know, leather, studs and so on. It fits
perfectly with a metal band, in our eyes. When I go to a concert, I prefer
to see the guys wearing leather than joggings or bermuda shorts, and I believe
that I'm not the only one. A concert is not only for the ears, but also the
eyes: my dream would be to have pyrotechnic on stage. We don't play too often,
due to several reasons. It's naturally difficult for a little band like us
to find gigs. Also, Felix doesn't live in Grenoble, and I work far away three
days in a week. The organisation is difficult. There are also bad experiences
with little gigs we made far away. The club owner who didn't make any promotion,
or who doesn't want to pay what he promised if the gig went great... And
petrol or railway taxes cost us a lot! So we take more care now about possible
gigs. We'll try to find more bigger festivals now. The organisation around
is better and contract are written, all is not only made per phone. We love
to play live, I hope next year will bring us lot of gigs.
Is the current line-up the same as the one on the 7'' ?
No, Felix and I only are still here. We have two
new band members on the cd : Dryss on bass and Mark on the solo guitar. But
since the cd, Mark left us (due to his work), our new solist is called Dams.
What have you done since 1995 ?
I personally laid the guitar beside and didn't touch
it for three years and a half. I didn't think of LONEWOLF no more. In fact,
noone of us who was in the band in 1995 did anything which had to do with
metal after, excepting that we naturally always were metal fans.
I heard about an album. Can you speak about it ?
"March Into The Arena" is an eight track cd, strongly
influenced by the german school with a nwobhm touch. There is older stuff
like the 7'' songs we recorded again or "Morbid Beauty" (songs we had for
an album that never saw the light in 1996) and songs composed with the new
line-up, like "March Into The Arena" or "Forgotten Shadows". There should
have been a ninth title, but due to lack of money and time we didn't manage
to put it on the cd. Logo and cover have been made by J.P. Fournier. He's
a genius, we're really satisfied with our cover. We already got some great
reviews, people seem to like it. Also, very important in my eyes, people
who liked "Holy Evil" have not been disappointed by "March...". That's great!
This cd anyway help us a lot to get again in contact with guys who supported
"Holy Evil". I'm really happy, we get really nice mails and letters of people
liking us. Just for this, all has been worth. And this cd also brought us
the opportunity to open for Grave Digger and Nightmare, a dream that came
true.
Which is your top five metal albums of this present day ?
Aaaargh... The difficult question that kills!! Please,
allow me at least a top 10, ok ? Thanx, hehe... So here we go : 1) Running
Wild - Gates To Purgatory, 2) Stormwitch - Tales Of Terror, 3) Manilla Road
- Crystal Logic, 4) Omen - Battle Cry, 5) Grave Digger - The Reaper, 6) Iron
Maiden - Piece Of Mind, 7) Accept - Restless And Wild, 8) Helloween - Walls
Of Jericho, 9) Avenger - Prayers Of Steel, 10) Wasp - The Headless Children.
Tomorrow I might say one or two others... It's really hard. Hey, a top 35
of the 80's or a top 15 of the 90's like you have in Iron Wolf 4 would have
been easier, haha... Ah yes, shit, I didn't talk of Warlock, Pretty Maids,
Exciter, Udo...
Good luck for the future. You have the final words...
Thanx a lot for your interest in our band! LONEWOLF
HAILS THE IRON WOLF!! A big thanx to your readers for taking the time to
read us. I invite all on our website, you'll find photos, reviews, mp3 downloads,
so you can have an idea of our band. Hey Metalheads : support Iron Wolf 'cause
a newsletter/zine which talks about Manilla Road, Brocas Helm or Cirith Ungol
really deserves it! Stay hard and heavy!
Interview by Patrick Lefevre
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