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August 29, 2008 |
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Ralf Scheepers and Mat Sinner
May 19, 2005
By Tony Antunovich
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German power metallers PRIMAL FEAR recently wrapped up recordings in Stuttgart with Charlie Bauerfeind, with 12 songs locked and loaded for the band's forthcoming album, tentatively entitled "Seven Seals". Shortly thereafter, four of five the band members flew to Vancouver, Canada to mix the material with Mike Fraser. While the band were in town, I sat down with vocalist Ralf Scheepers and bassist/producer Mat Sinner at an exclusive listening party of select tracks from the new album. During our conversation, we discussed the details of the brand new material, along with the cover artwork concept and what fans can expect from this much-anticipated release.
First of all, I want to welcome you guys to Vancouver. It's an honor to have you in our city.
Ralf: It's an honor to be here, man. Beautiful city.
How does it feel to be showcasing your new album here tonight?
Ralf: Well, it's exciting to see what is going to happen. You have to deliver your baby (laughs). We're looking forward to it, because we know that we have good quality here and we're going to deliver it to the people and we are looking forward to seeing the reactions on their faces.
You've recorded twelve tracks with Charlie Bauerfeind and you're finalizing things here in Vancouver with Mike Fraser.
Ralf: Yes, all the mixing.
How are things progressing?
Ralf: We have one more song left and we do the finalizing on Friday to go over all of it again - check here and there. That's what we always do in the end. Then we're finished. We leave on Saturday actually. We've been here for two weeks and having a good time, and of course working also. It turned out to be really good.
What is it like working with Mike?
Ralf: He's just a pro. He's such a nice person and a pro in everything that he is doing. He's just great! You can really trust what's going on. I mean, you can go out while he's working and come back and listen to the stuff and you can really hear that he delivers everything you needed. So, it's just perfect! We recorded with Charlie and we're mixing with Mike Fraser. We just did it this time because we wanted to try something else. It like, if you're doing a job, you don't want to always do the same thing. You try out something else and take a step further or a step back, but this will be a step further this time - without any bad feelings about what we did before - what was wrong on the albums before. It was totally our thing and we're totally behind that.
How did you come to the decision to bring in Charlie?
Ralf: Actually, I worked together with Charlie with GAMMA RAY, but in the end, the decision was Mat's. He was still working on the new HAMMERFALL and Mat had a nice long conversation with him and asked him if he wanted to do it and he was totally curious about it. Charlie wanted to do it as well because we knew each other from GAMMA RAY times and Mat got to know him over the last several years and became friends with him. He's a nice guy and he just wanted to do it. So it's good that we chose him, and from the beginning to the end, the recordings are perfect.
I've heard he is a very good producer.
Ralf: He definitely is.
What can PRIMAL FEAR fans expect from this new album?
Ralf: It's a step further of course. We did a lot more epical stuff on this album. We have a longer song on it which is over 8 minutes, called "Diabolos". As you heard the first tones now (new material is being played in the background), we are going to deliver what we did before - just adding more on it. This time we used a string section without making it too mellow or sweet. We chose the string section to give a little more background to it. Of course, there are songs on it which are different, but are still PRIMAL FEAR, because it's the band that is playing them, you know. In the end, everybody can decide whether they love it or not, but I think they're going to love it.
When is the album going to be released? Is it late October?
Ralf: Yes, it's October 26th here in Canada.
Is it going to be released earlier in Europe?
Ralf: Yeah, two days only.
Once the new album is released, how long will it be before you guys decide to go out on the road to support the album?
Ralf: We will definitely go out in Europe in January 2006 and at the moment we're still in negotiations with what's going on with North and South America, and also Japan this time again. Everything is just in the process right now so it's pretty much too early to talk about any dates. But of course, there is something going on. The plans are underway.
That's good to hear.
Ralf: We have to really work on this as soon as possible - like on the cover artwork and everything else has to somehow go parallel in this stage. This is good and early enough to start to think about the tour. It's very, very important to promote the album as soon as possible. So, there has to be something done in that regard, and this is the man who is checking everything (looks to Mat who just joined us) (laughs).
The artwork for your albums has always been phenomenal. Are you going to be using the same artist?
Ralf: It's going to be even more phenomenal on this one, man. It's really good. It's like a book shape with the "eagle" still on it, but in a different shade of chrome and seals- like the title "Seven Seals". There's going to be one seal on it. So I saw the first draft. We also did very good pictures this time. We're just going to somehow do it on a PC and add it to a fantasy world which is really amazing to see what is going on there.
It sounds very exciting.
Ralf: It really is.
Mat: It's a little different. All the cover artworks before kind of were the eagles in situations and whatever. This time it's still the eagle, but it looks like an old book and it's very chrome looking. So it's different like was have a kind of evolution in the music; we have a kind of evolution in the cover artwork. But I think it will be overall the best packaging we ever delivered - fantastic pictures. The whole booklet looks like an old book, so it's very, very special this time.
It sounds like it.
Ralf: I think all metal bands should work on these parts too. It's not only the music anymore. So, in the days of having problems with the Internet downloads and people producing and releasing low-budget CDs - in Europe we have 100 metal releases every month - so we have to do something very, very special to be really standing on top and holding our level and fighting for our standing in the scene. So, we are doing something really, really special.
100 releases every month? What about in Germany?
Ralf: It's the same. In Germany we have 100 metal releases every month - when you can imagine that 70% of these releases are low-budget releases from bands who were selling their tapes with their demos 10-15 years ago. Today they are making CDs and thinking they are rock stars and that's a big problem because all the shops cannot put in every CD. So that's a problem.
Mat: PRIMAL FEAR will survive because we are still delivering. We come here to Vancouver - spending our money in the studio with a great guy like Mike Fraser - instead of going on holiday for three weeks to whatever - an island - to Hawaii or so (laughs). So for us, it's more important to deliver great sound, great cover artwork, doing a great video - it's more important for us.
Well, I'm sure the fans appreciate that.
Mat: Well, hopefully. That's why we're doing it. It's not only for us. Of course, first of all, we have to be satisfied with our work and what we're releasing, but the fans also have to be satisfied and to still be buying our albums because they like everything. It's not only the music. It's also having, for example, a video clip on the album and then fantastic cover artwork, which is missing if you download any bullshit songs from the Internet.
Exactly!
Ralf: I think it's about progression, you know. As I said before, even if you don't invent something new, it's something different and this difference is the new thing about it. Our decision is the best and the next one will be the next best because it's a progression again and we will start to think about all that really early. So that's really important.
The band have been with Nuclear Blast since day one and you have just resigned with the label for another five albums and a live DVD and CD. That must be really exciting to be continuing a working relationship with Nuclear Blast.
Ralf: It is, definitely! All I can say about it is that those guys are not doing any daytime job. They are living what they are doing there, and they live with that music. There are metal fans in every direction. They love what they are doing and they're totally behind PRIMAL FEAR and we have no problems at all. Everything just works out fine for us.
Do you have any message that you would like to relay to your fans?
Ralf: We'd love to come back to Vancouver because now we saw the city and saw the clubs, and next time we'll come to kick some asses live (laughs).
We'd love to have you back here.
Mat: I see that my friends in HAMMERFALL and EDGUY are playing a concert here. So, why not have PRIMAL FEAR and some other great European metal band together here and rock the house!
Thank you very much to you both. It was a pleasure speaking with you.
Mat: Thank you.
Ralf: You're welcome. Thank you very much. [FIN]
» Official PRIMAL FEAR Website
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