interview with Heralder
What´s the name of your band?Heralder
How was the band formed? Bjørn: The Band was formed by Volker, Tina and me in 2001.
Volker is an old friend and we made music for years ago.
Can you tell about your band? Bjørn: We are from Saarland, Germany and we`re playing Epic Metal.The Band was formed in 2001. In the beginning there were 3 Members, but the Line-up was growing up to 8 members in 2005, so we could play our first gig.
Where are all band members from?/Who does what in the band?
The current line-up is:
Bjørn - Vocals
Tina - Vocals
Stefan - Guitar
Dominik - Guitar
Silke - Keys
Mike - Bass
Marvin - Drums
But we had some line-up changes through all these years...
What was the ambitions of the band when you started? Bjørn: To became the gratest Metal Band of this fucking planet. OK, joking aside. The first ambition was to make music for ourselves. Music that we like to play. We wanted to record our music, what we did in 2002 (The Prophecy - Demotape) But through the time, there was the wish to enter some stages. So we had to find some more members. Friends that shared our passion for that kind of music we made.
Could you explain your music to someone that haven't heard you? Bjørn: Huu, that`s not so easy to explain.There are several styles that come together.There are the male vocals (clear and grim) and the female vocals.We call it "Epic Metal", but there are influences from Gothic Metal,Pagan- and Viking Metal (especially on the first album "Twilight Kingdom") and Black Metal and Prog Metal on the current album "Echoes".But the mixture works. So, just check it out.
Where was the latest gig? The latest gig was in October 2013 in Saarbrücken (Garage) in front of 1500 maniacs on the "Wolfsnächte-Tour" as local support for our friends from POWERWOLF. Awesome gig!
Who writes your songs?/Who writes the music who writes lyrics?
Bjørn: Most of the songs from the first album was written by Tina, Volker, Marco and me.
Songs from "Echoes" are written by Stefan, Dennis, Tina, Volker and me.
Stefan: In principle, everyone is allowed to write the music and the lyrics but in the past few years, the music was mainly written by the guitarists (and then, some further work was done by everyone at home and in the rehearsals – especially for everyones relating instrument); the lyrics were mainly written by the vocalists.
Who has the best sense of humor in the band?
Bjørn: Huu, there is no special member. When we come together the atmosphere is casual and relaxed. Everyone has it`s special sense of humor, but it all comes together. ;-)
Mike: Dominik, definitely.
Stefan: The two guitarists – who else!?
What's good/bad with the band?/What genre do you feel you are?
Bjørn: Good is to meet with people that share the same passion for music that you do and making music togehter. To see, like ideas became a song and songs became an album. That`s something you can be pride of.
Bad is, when members leave the band and the resulting search for new members.
Our genre is Epic Metal.
Stefan: Good: All members are great people and play their instrument well – I love it to play with them! Bad: It took more than one year that we needed to find a fitting new drummer. Style: On the first record (“Twilight Kingdom”, originally released in 2007) it was clearly Epic Metal. On the second record (“Echoes”, 2012) it is hard to define: There is – amongst others - some Gothic, Black and even Progressive Metal.
Why did you pick that particular style?/What are your songs about?
Bjørn: We like that style. Its the best way to express our feelings.
The ongs are different. On the first album, the songs are more "Fantasy-Style"
The Songs from the current album are more profound. They hold up a mirror to you...
Stefan: On the one hand, it’s senseful and important that you decide for a special or at least rough direction but on the other, you should do what comes out of your belly! On the first record, it was about exciting stories and myths – i.e. fictional! On the second record, the texts refer to good or bad things in the real live!
Do you write your own material or mainly covers? Bjørn: Only own material!
Have you made any albums?/If yes what are they?
Yes, as mentioned above, we have two albums.
Twilight Kingsom (2007)
Echoes (2012)
Do you have any clips on YouTube?
Of course we have.
Here it is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-WbqBrKOwEY
Or check out our YouTube-Channel: www.youtube.com/heralderofficial
How old are you?/What got you started in music?
Bjørn: I`m 33 years but we have members from all ages. :-D
Our youngest member is 21 and our oldest member is 44 years old.
Strange mixture, but it works. ;-)
Mike: I'm 21 and what really brought me into music was my sister's ex, who's a metalhead through and through.
Stefan: I’m 25 years old. I’ve started to play guitar because I wanted to be famous: It is of big importance to tell you at this point that it was not because of any money reasons but because of the glory. But I only want to get what I really deserve – and so it is also in my job!!
At what age did you start playing?
Bjørn: I started making Metal when I was 15 or 16 years.
Most of our members make music for years.
Mike: 15
Stefan: I was 14/15 years old when I started.
How old were you guys when you first stood on stage?
Bjørn: 23
Mike: 16 I think.
Stefan: I was 19 years old when I first played a live show with Heralder. But my very first gig was with 18: That was with another band – a cover band.
What year was the band started? In 2001
Best/worst gig you've played?
Bjørn: Huu, best gig...? There are several. For example in Berlin (2006) with Riger and Equilibrium, Local support at Paganfest 2008 with Moonsorrow, Ensiferum, Korpiklaani, Eluveitie,..., Wolfsnächte-Tour (Local Support for Majesty and Powerwolf),...
Worst gig was in... I think in 2006. There was no soundman, almost no audience, generally poor conditions...
Stefan: The best gig in the sense of most well-runned was maybe at 20-Apr-2013 at Noswendel/Germany while the best gig in the sense of reaching the public and of getting success was at 19-Oct-2013 at Saarbrücken/Germany. The last mentioned and the gig on the second Rock Area Festival at Losheim/Germany (30-Aug-2008) were the most promising ones. The worst one was probably on 17-Nov-2012 at Bremen/Germany.
What places will you be playing in in the imidate future? Bjørn: Some clubs around Germany and maybe some cool festivals in summer 2015.
Where have you played from then till now? Bjørn: Mainly Germany in our region but also international (France and Luxembourg) and in bigger cities like Berlin an Munich.
Witch band is the best you´ve seen?
Bjørn: Iron Maiden, definitely!
Mike: Very hard question...“Blind Guardian“, „Slayer“ or „Die Apokalyptischen Reiter“. I can't decide for one of them.
Stefan: That’s to hard to say for me: There are a lot of good live bands in the world.
Is it always the same songs live?
Bjørn: No. We make new songs and of course we play new songs and older songs. But some songs like "Battleground" are always in our setlist.
Stefan: In the near past, we had more or less the same songs but as soon as there is new stuff there will also be new songs in the setlist, partly replacing older ones.
Have you had any bigger tours from start to now?
Bjørn: No, unfortunately not. Just some littel "Release-tours".
Stefan: We had a smaller weekend tour in relating to our above mentioned second a record: It was a release tour together with our friends of GRAVETY and consisted of five gigs at Germany. The tour was called “Echoes from the Grave”.
How big crowds do you usually play for? Bjørn: That`s different. We`re not that world famous band, so mostly we play in smaller clubs. From time to time some bigger ones or some festivals. So, the size of the crowd varies between 50 and 1500 (seldom) people...
What are the plans for the rest of the year?
Bjørn: To train the new drummer and prepare a new setlist to enter the stages in 2015! And of course, writing new songs for a new album!
Stefan: Since we recently got a new drummer we have, of course, some work to exercise with him in relation to the actual songs.
Where do you usually play?
Bjørn: Smaller clubs. From time to time some bigger ones or some festivals.
How do you get psyched up for a gig?
Bjørn: No special way. Just relaxe and check out the location. Maybe taking some beers.
Stefan: I’m playing some exercises on my guitar and drink a beer.
What are your goals with your music? Bjørn: Our goal is to create music that we like. Maybe other people like it too.
When did you decide to go all in for the music? Bjørn: Never. It was a hobby, is a hobby and it will probably always be.
Is it easier to get your inspiration from older bands or from bands more modern?
Bjørn: Ou, that`s difficult. I would say both in a certain way.
Mike: I'm more into older stuff, especially the early 70's music has big influence on me.
Stefan: My influence lies mainly in 80’s and early 90’s Thrash, Death and Heavy Metal Bands. I don’t think that I’ve got a lot of modern influence – but a little bit, for sure.
What are your sources of inspiration?
Bjørn: There are different sources. One of them is nature. Others are the people around me and my own actions. Or sometimes just fantasy...
Mike: My life and nature of course.
Stefan: On the one hand, see the question above; on the other hand, I write a lot of riffs when I am in a state of extreme feelings (e.g. very sad or falled in love)!
What's the first step when making a new song?
Bjørn: The first step is a riff or a short melody. sometime we gather some riffs or melodies an check out if they will sound good together. If there is an harmony. So the song grows...
Stefan: The most times I create – mostly surely by chance – single riffs: Sometimes I can put some of them together.
How do you feel about the downloading of music instead of buying albums?
Bjørn: For checking out the music before buying it, it`s OK, but you can`t avoid donwloading. I like it to hold the CD in my hands, but you can`t buy everthing you want. So, we`re happy when poeple buy our music, but we can`t cover our costs of living.
For the small Bands it may be a good way of promotion. For the bigger ones it can be harmful.
So the best way to get some money with your music is to play gigs and sell some merchandise.
Stefan: CDs and Vinyls are the best and the only “real” thing for me!!! But because of financial reasons I cannot buy every single record I’d like to have: Therefore, I listen to music via youtube.
What would be your dreams for the band?
Bjørn: A constant line-up for the next years, playing some cool gigs and producing a new album (or more)!
Mike: Just doing what we like as long as possible.
Stefan: As mentioned above, I have nothing against getting famous – but because of our jobs it would be handled like single (or two) but important gigs on a weekend and maybe one bigger tour in the year!
Besides your own music, what genres and bands do you listen to?
Bjørn: There`s a big range. From Classic Rock, Prog Rock, to Speed Metal, Thrash Metal, Death Metal or Black Metal.
Mike: Nearly every genre from Grindcore to HipHop but most of time Heavy Rock/Hard Rock such as Led Zeppelin, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Graveyard, Horisont and all that weird stuff like that coming up for a few years now.
Stefan: I prefer the old school: mainly 80s and early 90s Heavy, Thrash and Death Metal and more recent bands that play a style similar to that. But I also listen to more modern bands like the Göteborg School (i.e. Melodic Death Metal like In Flames, Dark Tranquillity, …) or Gothic, Symphonic, Dark and Black Metal – but clearly preferably with keyboards.
What do you hold most dear?
Bjørn: My family, health and the band of course.
Stefan: The fun on stage, in the rehearsal room and on tour with my band members, friends and fans! Furthermore: the glory!
What would be your greatest fears for the future?
Bjørn: Disease (private) and the breakup of the band.
Stefan: In the moment: not to have success in my main profession (archaeology and egyptology) and to lose my beloved people (parents/family and friends).
When you are on stage, what do you fear most then?
Bjørn: Technical problems.
Mike: I don't fear anything while being on stage. The feeling is just too overwhelming to be worried.
Stefan: The most I fear is to have some embarrassing technical and play obstacles. Furthermore, I am nervous at the beginning of a show!
Have you been part of any other projects?
Bjørn: Yes, but just smaller Underground-projects.
Stefan: I played the guitar in a local metal theater which played “The Human Equation” by Ayreon.
Have you been in any other bands?
Bjørn: With Volker, one of the founding members of the band, I made music for years ago.
Maybe since 1996. There were some other bandnames befor Heralder.
And in 2004/2005 I played keyboards in a Melodic Metal Band, called "Whispering Blood", but the band existed just for a few years...
Mike: Yes, I'm still a member of „Traumata“: We did an interview as well if you remember.
Stefan: Yes, I’ve been a member of a cover band, a Progressive Metal Band and a Thrash Metal Band.
What do you work with outside of the band and the music?
Bjørn: I`m Technical assistant at an engineering firm.
Mike: There is no „outside the music“, actually. I work in event technology business.
Stefan: I’m working within the archaeology: After a BA and MA study I’ve worked within some projects in the Aegaean and I will give guidances at an exhibition related to Ancient Egypt.
What would you do if there was no music?
Bjørn: Ou, that`s hard to say. Maybe I would be a soccer player.
Mike: I would be unemployed, probably. Haha.
Stefan: Archaeology and reading novels).
How important are your fans?
Bjørn: Very important. Maybe the most important in this complete story.
Our fans made us what we are today. Thanx for your neverending support through all these years!
Stefan: They mean very much to me and they give me what I deserve through my work in the rehearsal room, the studio and on stage!
How often do you rehearse? Bjørn: Once a week.
Where do you rehearse? Bjørn: Lebach, Saarland, Germany. Better known as: In the back of beyond.
Name 2 of your own songs you like at the moment?
Bjørn: "Land Of No Return" and "The Forest Hides The Prize Of Wisdom"
Mike: „Sand Of Time“ and „Courage In Times Of Fear“
What do you feel is the best live band you've seen?
Bjørn: Still IRON MAIDEN!
Stefan: I don’t know it exactly: Like I’ve said on the last page, there are a lot of good live bands in the world – but also a lot of bad ones!
What drives a band that isn't all that famous and renowned to try to make a living on their music and to keep playing?
Bjørn: The passion for the music and the cohesion within the band!
Stefan: On the one hand, I will furthermore try to get more famous but on the other, music frees my soul!
Do you have any webpages?
Bjørn: Yes, of course we have...
Official Homepage: www.heralder.de
Facebook: www.facebook.com/heraldermetal
Twitter: www.twitter.com/heraldermetal
YouTube: www.youtube.com/heralderofficial
SoundCloud: www.soundcloud.com/heralder
MySpace: www.myspace.com/heralderepicmetal
Instagram: www.instagram.com/heralder_official
Booking: [email protected]
Any pearls of wisdom for all other bands out there? Bjørn: Not really, no. I think every band has to find its own way...
Describe your show, visually and musically Bjørn: Visually there are 7 members, good looking guys and girls. If possible, we try to have a good lightshow. But that depends of the location we`re playing. Musically it is an epic journey through several stages. But I won`t reveal too much. Visit our show and see for yourself...
How do you view the musicindustry of today? Stefan: Except for being with a big label like Nuclear Blast it is more or less impossible to get famous and to earn enough money to live.
What advice would you like to give other bands? Bjørn: Play the music you love. Make it your way!
What are the biggest obstacles for a band? Stefan: On the one hand, the internet is a blessing for bands – but for the bigger part it is a curse. And in general: not to have enough money. Furthermore: bad music companies and managers.
What is best/worst with playing the clubs? Bjørn: The atmosphere in a club can be great, but sometimes there is the other side like bad conditions.
Tell us about upcoming gigs and why we should be at them? Bjørn: Upcoming gigs may just start in 2015. But you should have experienced our special epic mixture. I do not want to give too much away, but you will not be disappointed
How would you describe your sound in one sentence Bjørn & Stefan: EPIC! :-D
What is your favorite crappy instrument? Bjørn: Arschgeige. That`s a german creation. I think there is no exact translation for it but translated literally it means "ass-violin" :-D (but it`s not really an instrument)
What was one of the most quarrelsome times for you in the band? Bjørn: That was in fall 2009 when my brother (Marco) and Steffi had to left the band. There were some disagreements between several members in terms of the musical direction for the band`s future, but also private problems. So it was a hard decision for the rest of the band, especially for me, because it was about my brother... But we survived that difficult times and we have gone ahead. Make it your way!
Whats your Pre-show ritual?
Bjørn: To sacrifice a virgin (female or male, whatever is just available...) to "Heraldokus - The god of Epic" No, seriously... To relax and take some beers.
Stefan: Like said above, to have some exercises on the guitar and to drink a beer.
Do you have anything to add?
Bjørn: Yes. Thanx for your support, your interest and for that entertaining and amusing interview.
Thanx to our fans. You are the best! Thanx for your neverending support!
And for all who have not known us `til now: Come to our shows, book us, like us on facebook, check out the other sites (homepage, YouTube, Soundcloud,...) and buy our music if you like it. Just feel free to contact us.
EPIC THANX!