METAL INQUISITOR is in my opinion one of the best german bands. No boring
introduction, guitarist Jochen Blumenthal speaks!
When was born the band ? Original line-up ? And about the change in line-up
? What are your influences ?
The band was born in January 1998. At first I wanted
to record the three songs of the first demo by myself. But I've asked
Tormentor of Desaster if he could play the drums and he said directly "ok".
He said to me "there are some cool guitar-licks! Let's try something". One
month later we've asked El Rojo and Kronos if they were ready to record a
three track demo and then in March '98 we did it. About the drummer change
you know Tormentor/Witchhammer plays at first in Desaster. It is his main
band and so in April 2000, he said that he could not spend enough time in
METAL INQUISITOR and at this time we had a lot of concerts to play. So he
said it's no problem if we take another drummer who's called to play only
in METAL INQUISITOR. At this time T.P. also joined the band to be the rhythm
guitarist. So now we have more influences and it's better to play with two
guitars live. Our influences are very different. Havoc hear at most death
metal. El Rojo likes all kind of metal/rock'n'roll. Kronos is a great Overkill
fan. T.P. likes more progressive metal. I'm into nwobhm. But I guess that
the whole sound of METAL INQUISITOR is already nwobhm and a little bit Bay
Area US metal.
You released a three song demo in '98. How was the reaction in the underground
? Is still this demo available ?
First of all we wanted to make this demo tape only
for some friends because me and Witchhammer had at this time other bands
where we had spent the most work. But our friends from the Hellbanger Club
Moselfranken said "This is cool, obscure and old stuff! Do more songs". Then
we did it. I also gave the demo to some underground fanzines and I've got
just good reviews. After we released the 7''ep in 1999, we got also good
reviews and then I left my old band to give 120 % power in METAL INQUISITOR.
Our demo '98 is available but it seems our 7'' will be sold out in January
'01. But maybe we will try to do a South America release of it with the help
of Sylphorium Records from Bogota.
The 7'' is self-financed. Any small label interested ? Is there a good
feedback for this second attack ?
In spring of this year I've tried to find a suitable
label for us. For example Metal Blade or some smaller labels. But they said
that the time for this kind of heavy metal is gone. But fortunately has Iron
Glory another opinion and they sent me two weeks ago a contract for a worldwide
release of our first lp. These guys are really ok! We had the 7'' self-financed
and got the vinyl from East Europe. In Germany you get only expensive vinyl
with low quality. The feedback for the second attack was more than great!
Fortunately there are some guys in the underground who still like the eighties
sound.
The four songs on the promo tape are awesome. Are they a good representation
of the future lp ? Are all the songs ready ?
You said "awesome". Oh no! It's only heavy metal.
Nothing else. We make only this kind of music that some bands in the eighties
invented. These four songs are very influenced by Iron Maiden, Judas Priest,
Exciter, Diamond Head or something. The forthcoming rise songs are influenced
by old Mercyful Fate, old Metallica, Kat, Running Wild... But this rise new
songs are still in my head. The name METAL INQUISITOR stands for being influenced
by a lot of bands! Not to be a heavy metal judgement.
How is METAL INQUISITOR in a live situation ? Do you play often in your
country ?
I don't know how is METAL INQUISITOR in a live situation
because I don't stand during that in front of the stage. Ask our fans. We
played this year maybe fifteen gigs but next year there will be many more
live gigs. Of course here in Germany and maybe USA and Italy or Belgium.
We'll see.
Can you tell about your other band LEFT RHINE HAPPY NATURES ?
This band exists beside METAL INQUISITOR to play
only cover songs. The members are the same. The covers are for example Metallica
"Whiplash"/"Creeping Death", Iron Maiden "The Trooper"/"Hallowed Be Thy Name"/"Killers",
Metal Church "Metal Church", Exodus "Fabulous Desaster", Judas Priest "Electric
Eye", Running Wild "Victim Of States Power", Slayer "Raining Blood", Twisted
Sister "Under The Blade" and many many more. But I guess we play next year
mostly METAL INQUISITOR gigs because of the lp release.
What about the project with METALUCIFER ?
Costa of Iron Pegasus asked me and Witchhammer last
year if we were interested to record the second album of METALUCIFER because
of a japanese german project. We said "we are not worthy" because you have
to know METALUCIFER is really cult in Germany! In the middle of November
'00 we recorded the "Heavy Metal Chainsaw" album together with Gezolucifer
in a studio in Koblenz. We had a great time and he is a very funny guy and
no way arrogant! Of course it would sound a little bit like METAL INQUISITOR
but the songs are not written by me and I paid a lot of attention to beware
the rough METALUCIFER sound. But Gezolucifer said to me that's the reason
why he wanted to do this. He wanted german influences in his music. Cool,
yes ?
Which are the new bands you like and listen to ?
There are not so many new bands that I listen to.
Mostly I listen to the old and new stuff of traditional heavy metal bands
like Iron Maiden of course ("Brave New World" is killer and has really destroyed
me!), Armored Saint, Saxon, Dee Snider, Motorhead, Exciter... But I guess
that Bewitched and Destillery could become famous bands.
Final comment is yours...
To all heavy metal maniacs over the world : stay
brutal underground, keep metal alive, stay honest to yourself!
Interview by Patrick Lefevre
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