The German Death Metal band Fangorn is a new band for most of you. Their debut album "Non- Rhapsodian" (see review ) is a very good album. Fangorn has a very interesting Rock'n'Roll Death Metal Grind sound, with some very untraditional use of female vocals.
We contacted Fangorn for an update. Both Andre Riese (vocals) and Rico Meerheim (guitars) replied.
Here is an untraditional interview from an untraditional band.
1. When and where was Fangorn started ? Could you give us a brief biography ?
Andrè: Fangorn was started in the end of 1994. Only Sylke (bass) survived the line up changes. Since March of this year is the following line-up actuell: Maritta Seiffert (fem.voc.), Andrè „Napalm Detlef" Riese (voc), Carmen R.Schäfer (g), Rico Meerheim (g), Sylke Beyer (b), Michael Schulze (dr) and our every time drunken and stoned roadie Torsten Lange.
2. Did you release anything before „Non-Rhapsodian" ?
Andrè: Yes, the „Raindancer" Demo-Tape, which includes 7 songs (30 min).
Rico: It was recorded in the summer of 1996 in the „Nuclear Studios Freital", near Dresden.
3. How did you get in touch in touch with G.U.C. Records ?
Rico: Sylke and Andrè are writing sometimes articles for the G.U.C. Fanzine. The Boss of G.U.C. Records is a friend of the band and Fangorn was the reason why he started with his label in 1997. In this year he released the next project (Desert Rain from Berlin, which play Gothic/Death Metal) and in December will be the the CD of the old-school Death Metal Band Polymorph out. We have all a very friendly releationship together, it’s not this hard business thinking like in other record companies.
4. Please tell us more about the „Non-Rhapsodian" opus. For example the recording, the lyrics, the writing process and the featured tracks.
Rico: „Non-Rhapsodian" was recorded in the summer last year in ten days, in the „Blue Art" Studio in Buckow near Berlin. It was a pleasant working with Andreas Hilbert, the sound engineer (he’s the gitarrist of the Death band „Golem"). We’re got only 16 tracks and the recording was not without problems. Before we went into the studio we had to hurry up for finishing the last songs. The basic for a new song is normally a guitar riff. The other instruments build their lines up on it. The most lyrics are written by Sylke and were written in the end of the writing process. They are mainly about the problems in our society for instance plutocracy and greed of money of the most people and their motionless bourgeoisness.
5. Your inclusion of female vocals in your sound are a bit unorthodox. What is the philosophy behind the inclusion of female vocals ?
Rico: We try to make our own music - a new style of music that means uncomparable with other bands. There can’t be new stuff in Death Metal, it’s all the same. Besides we habe big influences of our musical favorites. Some of us want more melodie and some more crush so it’s a tightrope walk between all Metal styles. One expression for it is the inclusion of the female vocals.
6. Which bands or piece of art/literature has inspired „Non-Rhapsodian" and/or Fangorn most ?
Andrè: A lot of music inspirates us: Every Band member has his own favorites: Michael likes Death Metal, Carmen Black and Gothic Metal, Sylke Power Metal and very old folk music, I like Crust/Grind/Punk, Rico Rock’n’Roll and Maritta says she hasn’t any inspirations. Rico and Sylke read a lot philosophic books or fantasy literature.
7. What is your political, religious and philosophical views ?
Andrè: Politic: Fuck all fanatics!
Religion: Nothing!
Philosophy: Sex (except Rico), Drugs (except Carmen) and Rock’n’Roll.
Rico: You can see is our vocalist a very intellectuell guy. Politic: I told you about our lyrics, you know. In this summer we have to vote any partyand it’s very difficult for us, bacause you can’t trust in political instances. Religion: The church can’t give us the power and direction we’re need in this time today. It’s a obsolete and useless institution. All Members of Fangorn are atheists. Philosophy: I dream of the triumph of equality and brother/sisterhood all over the world but the people and the are not right for this today and everybody has got a little bit of hell inside.
8. What is the positive and the negative sides with running a band from Germany ?
Rico: There is a abundance of bands in Germany and you must get many connections for gigs and labels, magazines a.s.o. But it’s one of the greatest feelings to stand drunken on the stage for Rock’n’Roll, you know.
9. A Death Metal Band from Germany told me that it was more or less impossible to get gigs in Germany unless you are a Black, Goth or Heavy metal band. What is your experiences ?
Rico: I told you about the connections you must have, one qustion before. Death Metal is listen by a small group of people today. Eyery year this group becomes smaller. It’s no longer trend, than it was 5 years before. Naturally it’s the reason for only a few gigs and you get right with your thinking. Black/Goth or Heavy Metal is „in" today. But suspectly are the connections more decisive than the musical style or the quality is. That’s not the right way.
10. There is also a hell a lot German Death Metal/Grind Core bands who have to release their CDs/MCDs on their own labels because of total lack of interest from German Labels (except from Morbid Records) in Death/Grind. What is your experiences with established German Labels ?
Rico: It’s really a big problem to get a deal with a label when you play Death or Grind. The reason - question 9 - cest’la vie. In the beginning as we recorded our Demotape, we tried to get a contract with an established German Label. We have got cancellations from Nuclear Blast and Massacre Records. From other labels we’ve never got a answer. Some of our Promotion Tapes turned up in mailorder catalogues. So we didn’t sent any Promo CDs of "Non-Rhapsodian" to labels. Otherwise we are very satisfied with G.U.C. Records - no commerce, no regulations.
11. What are your plans for the coming months and year ?? Any tour plans ??
Andrè: We’ll play many, many gigs (as much we can get). Our second CD will be out in middle of 1999. Most songs are written already: One is very slow for example, others are rocking and kicking ass. (I cannot wait -ed)
12. Do you have a merchandise list ??? From what adress can the band be contacted ?
Andrè: Our demo was relesed with a edition of 500. We have sold more than 450 of it (price $ 5 + postage). I think the last will be sold to the end of this year. The CD costs 15 $ + postage and can be ordered at G.U.C. which have a big mailorder with small prices and a Fangorn T-shirt, too.
Bandcontact:
Sylke Beyer, Am Gorbitzbach 5, 01159 Dresden, Germany.
G.U.C., c/o Rüdiger Grasse, P.O.Box 160 210, 01307 Dresden, Germany.
Thank you a lot for the interview.
We wish Fangorn good luck and we will follow their progress with interest in the coming months and years.