Hanna Tsepesh: Thanks so much for accepting this interview and Welcome to THE GATES OF METAL! Johannes: Hi Hanna. What a huge feeling that I made it to The Gates of Metal finally!
Hanna Tsepesh: Thank you! For those who do not know Deadlock could tell us a little how it all started?
Johannes: It all started back in 1997, when Tobias, Sebastian and Me were sitting together an decided to start a band. Back in the days it all was more like a hardcore band in the vein of Madball or Hatebreed, but soon we developed our style and turned more and more into a melodic death metal machine.
Hanna Tsepesh: What inspired you the most to create the lyrics?
Johannes: Most of our lyrics deal with our vegan lifestyle. On Manifesto the message is split up in two parts, in the first part of the CD we talk about the perversion and brutality we see in our everyday life and take a look at some special situations from the perspective of mankind, seeing it as a job and expecting anybody to accepted it as normal. For example the song „martyr to science“ deals with the pharmaceutics industry and how they want to make us think that animal testing is important for assuring our health and that some animals are not worth living and should be proud that they get the chance to become part of something that importan
t. Another song called „Fire at Will“ is about the hunters, that are always searching for the adrenaline rush and one crazy hunter shots his own daughter because she was playing behind the trees and he was totally blinded by the will to bring home a trophy. For song 9 and ten of the CD we have decided to play with two extreme scenarios which mankind could choose for the future. One good way, by respecting all living things and starting to live a life concentrating on „Altruism“ and that is also the title of that song; and one dead end road, where the extreme is put to the next level and mankind starts to search for the final execution to become godlike. The new song material will lyrically deal more with personal and maybe some political topics.Hanna Tsepesh: What are your favorite bands? You have any singer that you admire the most?
Johannes: The list of my favorite bands is really huge. I love to listen to mercenary, evergrey, soilwork, scar symmetry but also to stuff like pendulum or enter shikaru. I am not really admiring a special singer, but for example Christian Älvestam, scar symmetry / miseration, who did those amazing guest vocals on our song “dying breed” is a fantastic singer, who proves that being a metal singer means a lot more than just a good live performance.
John: I admire Johannes!
Hanna Tsepesh: I would like to know if you had or have any singing lessons or any other preparation? Your voice is better in this album. Great work!
Johannes: Thank you! but to be honest I have never been to a singing coach or something like that. I guess when you scream for more than 10 years you know how to do it sooner or later … its like with everything else people do, you try again and again, harder and harder and you get better in what you do. But it is really cool, to hear that people realize that you are developing in what you do.
Hanna Tsepesh: Deadlock has a new album called “Manifesto”. This album is really different, I listen more mature musicians on this album! Very interesting album with great voices and cool riffs! For people who don’t listen yet can you talk about this new album and what is the big different for you between this album and the previous one?
Johannes: Recording “manifesto” was really cool and relaxed. We recorded 80% of the CD in our guitar players very own studio “slaughters palace”, which made the recording process extremely professional and smooth. There was not that typical kind of pressure to be in time not to produce unnecessary high costs. We had the chance to finish a song, make a rough mix, take it to our flats and houses, check it out and then meet again and give it a second facelift. That was something really cool, which made it all way more professional. The main progression in DL`s new sound is that Sabine is much more implemented into the whole song writing process. In comparison to “Wolves” her and my performance is put much more to the extreme and less predictable, combines with all these samples and ideas, “Manifesto” delivers a perfect mix of melody and brutality- simply our best record so far, but what else did you expect me to say?
Hanna Tsepesh: You already answer it, thank you! The band feels proud with the final result or you think that miss something? Everything went well at recording studio?
Johannes: Yeah, I think it is the best DL output so far. We are really satisfied with the final product and for me it is just a perfect sequel to our former album “wolves”, same style but way more intense, more brutal and packed with lots of crazy ideas.
John: Furthermore (I guess) we succeeded with our various games of sounds and different genre influences. The vocal-interaction between Sabine and Johannes is much more consistent as well as the music in general. We increased all our skills for better melodies, more variety and also for more aggressive, fast parts that are much more neck breaking... But everyone is able to hear the differences on his/her own
Hanna Tsepesh: The album cover is very beautiful! Who was the person to create this amazing work? You think that the album cover transmit “manifesto” album?Johannes: It just gives the listeners a perfect imagination of what they have to expect, because „Manifesto“ is different to any other metal record they may have listened to so far. The light blue color shows that DL is more than just dark brutal metal it is also about beauty in its melodies and Sabine`s vocals. This masterpiece was done by Adam ... Adam and Eve ... äh ... no... John tell me how that crazy motherfxxxer was called ...
John: Adam Wentworth...maybe some people know him as bass player of The Red Chord or former guitarist of Beyond the Sixth Seal. A very talented guy with lot’s of ideas and different styles (I guess he also did some Beyonce-Shirts).
Hanna Tsepesh: How has the response been to the album by the media and fans?
Johannes: The first reactions and reviews have been really amazing and on tour we tried how the crowd reacts to our new material and what should I tell you, bouncing asses and love on the dancefloor! Deadlock is on its way to become Germanys Disco Metal Band number one.
Hanna Tsepesh: If one of our readers wants to buy your album safely, what they can do?
Johannes: Send me all your money and I will send you a copy of manifesto. Or go to your next record dealer and tell him to order the material of your favorite German metal band.
John: Safely – so you better wear welding glasses, gloves and a suspensor while ordering the album online because every good mail order should have it in stock.
Hanna Tsepesh: what is your favorite music in this album and why?
Johannes: The male vocals (laughs). My personal favorite song is Dying Breed. The mixture of brutality and beautiful melodies combined with those amazing guest vocals make that song something very special for me. And I love the lyrics, because mankind more and more pushes itself to become a dying breed and we all should wake up soon.
John: It differs…The best song in the current live playlist from Manifesto is Mathyr to Science because of his catchy structure and the great refrain. When I only listen to the album I like Fire at Will most. Sabine’s vocal lines are a little bit laid back and the rhythm is a bit dodgy what makes that song unique. But unfortunately this is also the reason what makes it nearly impossible to perform it live in a good way – but luckily there are many other good song available
Hanna Tsepesh: How are the things doing about metal in your country? It is easy for a metal band have some support in your country? John: We have a huge scene in Germany and the near countries – many bands, clubs, fans and scene supporters on the one hand side. One the other hand side it’s hard for a german band to be accepted in Germany. You know the adage “A prophet has no honour in his own country”. Foreign bands especially from Scandinavia or overseas have it much easier here. But we have no reasons to complain, because there is a good number of loyal Deadlock-fans over here.
Hanna Tsepesh: The band is thinking about a European tour? You guys have plains to include Portugal in your tour or something?
Johannes: We would love to come to Portugal. Deadlock has never been there before, so it is time to veganize your beautiful country, before we are getting too old
Hanna Tsepesh: Do you want to send any message for the people who going to read this interview?
Johannes: Hey girls and boys! Or just girls! Ok, boys too. I wanted to tell you that you should definitely check out our music, check our myspace profile, go to see our new video to “the brave- agony applause” and tell your local promoters that the should bring Deadlock to Portugal! And then lets have a party! see you!
Hanna Tsepesh: Thanks o much for your answers and time. THE GATES OF METAL wishes the entire band a great success with “Manifesto” album! We hope to see you guys very soon in here…
Johannes: Thank you Hanna! Thank you ladies and gentlemen for reading! And hopefully we will meet all of you girls and boys at one of our next shows, maybe in Portugal – would be amazing!
Take care folks, veganize!
Hanna Tsepesh: You are very welcome and thank you! all the best...
By: Hanna Tsepesh
To listen to some DEADLOCK music’s and for future information’s go at:
www.myspace.com/deadlock
www.deadlock-official.com
