HMT: Greetings God Dethroned! Thank you for giving us the opportunity to interview you. What is up at the God Dethroned camp recently?
Danny: Hey there, thanks for having us. Right now we’re looking forward to the holidays, but first we’ve got a cd-presentation gig coming up on Christmas Eve. That should be great.
The band recently released Under The Sign Of The Iron Cross. How has reception been so far?
Danny: from what I can gather the reception has been great. Our inbox has flooded with reviews and reactions from fans and there’s a big buzz around this release. We won ‘album of the month’ in quite a few magazines such as Aardschok.
The album is a continuation of the previous album, Passiondale, which focuses on themes related to World War 1. Would it be possible to tell us more about the concept of this album?
Danny: Well, the concept focuses on WWI again, that’s right. A lot happened in this war that most people aren’t really aware of. Interest in WWII is a much more widespread which is understandable really, considering the scale on which it was fought and the repercussions it carried with it. The battles in the trenches in Belgium are quite famous, but most people forget that WWI was also fought on a lot of fronts and the line between ‘good’ and ‘evil’ (I hate having to use these simplistic analogies, but for now they will do) was much more blurred than in WWII. A lot of material on this album was based on ‘In Stahlgewittern’, written by Ernst Jünger who was a soldier in the Imperial German army. Others deal with the conflicts in the East of Europe, the atrocities of war and there’s one song about the Red Baron.
Danny, this is also the first album that you play on. How did this collaboration come about, and how do you juggle time between God Dethroned and Prostitute Disfigurement?
Danny: So far it’s quite easy really, since our drummer, Michiel van der Plicht, plays in Prostitute Disfigurement, too. And I also played with him in Detonation. When God Dethroned needed a guitar-player he called me. I knew of God Dethroned, but only knew some of the better known songs like ‘Under The Golden Wings Of Death’, none of which they played live at the time. Michiel sent me the setlist, I learned 17 songs on 2 days, rehearsed with them once and the next day I played my first gig with the band in Basel, Switzerland. We played all those 17 songs, but most of them we played together for the first time on stage, in front of quite a big crowd. Quite nerve-racking!
The previous two albums, Passiondale and The Toxic Touch were recorded in Soundlodge Studio. Joerg Uken also produced Passiondale and Under The Sign Of The Iron Cross. What is it like working with him?
Danny: Working with him is quite easy. He knows what he wants and is constantly improving is productions. I think this time he has outdone himself. Everything is perfectly balanced and the tones are crushing and clear.
In the early years, the band tended to focus on topics related to religion and blasphemy. Is this still a big part when writing the lyrics for new music?
Danny: not for the last two albums, since they focus on WWI. I’m sure there will be a time when the older style of lyrics might return, but for now the interest lies elsewhere.
Being one of the first bands from Netherlands we interview, we are curious about what the metal scene there is like. What are some of the notable bands that we should look out for, seeing that it’s the birthplace for bands such as Prostitute Disfigurement and Pestilence.
Danny: The metal scene is quite big. Lots and lots of great bands like Textures, Pestilence, Hail Of Bullets, Asphyx and many more. And since it is a small country you’re bound to run into them from time to time. Exivious is a great band, Toxocara, Doghouse Gallows, Cardamon and a couple of others come to mind.
What are some of your personal influences as a musician? What are some of the artists that are currently on your playlist?
Danny: A lot of bands. I’m a big fan of Psycroptic, for example. That band is really special for me. I’m also a huge Suffocation fan. Hate Eternal and anything else that Erik Rutan has done. He’s a big influence of mine. Misery Index, Cannibal Corpse, Immolation, NOX, Morbid Angel, Lamb Of God, Carcass, The Haunted, Megadeth, Death, Scar Symmetry, Iron Maiden, Kaipa. But also Bruce Springsteen, Bob Seger, Frank Zappa, Mike Keneally, The B-52’s, Alter Bridge, Van Halen, anything with or by Henry Rollins. Those are the first that come to mind, but there’s thousands more.
The band already has 9 releases under their belt. Would it be possible to see a live DVD or a documentary of the band history anytime soon?
Danny: We’re thinking about it, but so far there aren’t any plans to actually do it. I think it would be quite cool, but we’ll see what happens.
With the release of the new album, what are the plans of the band? Will fans in Asia get to see the band anytime soon?
Danny: There are some talks about touring, but we’ve deliberately moved any and all commitments to 2011. We’ll see what happens and what the offers are. I would love to play in Asia, but would prefer to do that in support of a bigger band are together with an equally established band.
We have come to the last question of the interview, the parting words are yours!
Danny: Thanks for having me here to do this interview and everybody who’s reading this be sure to check out ‘Under The Sign Of The Iron Cross’!
Thank you once again for taking the time to answer our questions, we wish God Dethroned all the best in upcoming endeavours!
Interview answered by: Danny Tunker : Guitarist
God Dethroned on the internet:
Official website
MySpace
YouTube
©2011 Heavy Metal Tribune | Clarence
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