ENDSTILLE (Eng.)
– Hello Mayhemic, thanks for taking the time. First off, what’s the band currently up to?
Hey Tania!! At the moment we’re doing nothin’ great… We played our shows, havin’ a Summer break now and will be back in September. At the moment I’m concentrated in our side-project TAUTHR.
– You have just released your brand new «Infektion 1813»; how could you describe it in musical terms?
INFEKTION 1813 is the most diverse album of ENDSTILLE. It is blackened as always, but this time it combines more stiles like Thrash/Black/Crust. Our new Singer Zingultus is doing a fantastic job on INFEKTION 1813. He varies his voice to make each song perfect. INFEKTION 1813 is the most extreme album of Endstille!
– Most of your songs are about history, and this time you haven’t done an exception with this album. Could you plese explain the main concept behind it?
We always have a graphical concept. This time its about mostly about the Prussians and Blücher in special. The lyrics are mostly war themed, but also they are anti-cosmic, interpersonal, anti-religious…
– And how does the album’s title reflect this event?
To be infected means a lot. So you have the choice to make it your own…
– I’ve seen your video for «Anomie» and, in my humble opinion, is a quite simplistic video which catchs part of these «infection». What could you explain us in general terms about this clip?
We want to visualize infection, but combined with the band. It’s not only this “band playing on music” video. It fetches all the filth and blood we stand for.
– It was directed by Maurice Swinkels, whom you also worked with for your «Depressive/Abstract/Banished/Despised», so I guess you guys dig his work…
He is a professional musician and knows how a video has to look like. He knows perfectly what we want. And he knows how to do it fast. The shoot has taken about 7 hours, that’s all.
– The album came out past 16th May. How have the reviews for it been so far?
The reviews have been as always. The people love or hate us. So, we all really give a fuck!
– I have taken some time to read a few reviews, and I’ve seen many of them «complain» about tha fact your music and style is the same as always. Is quite funny that people tend to complain about bands being loyal to themselves but then complain when these bands change their sound. What are your thoughts on this kind of statements?
What about AC/DC, Motörhead, Bolt Thrower and so many others??? They all didn’t change their style and that’s ok for everyone… So, WE DON’T CARE!!! Our Music is the result of our rehearsals. This is what happens when we play Music.
– I have also read some reviewers who compare your to MARDUK. What are your feelings on this?
Marduk and Endstille sound completely different. I don’t know what the people hear in our music, but I don’t hear any Marduk parts in it? Have you??
– And talking about this, what are your main musical influences? Beside an obvious Black Metal influences I have also noticed some Thrash and Death elements, could be?
OF COURSE! Voivod, Venom, Slayer, Sodom, Destruction, Celtic Frost, Autopsy, Entombed, Grave… this is our musical background.
– In «Infektion 1813» I’ve noticed an atmosphere with even bigger presence which seems to be built upon the riffing and some repetition I mean, vast landscapes created by the essential instrumentation. Is this an important part of ENDSTILLE?
Yeah. Endstille is an atmospheric but total brutal band. We all don’t like music without atmosphere.
– This is your first album with singer Zingultus, are you satisfied with his work? And how has been the acceptance toward them from your followers?
Zingultus has a mighty voice. He knows so many styles to sing, that very impressive. He can give the music the perfect atmosphere. He is not the only screaming and shrieking beast, he knows how it has to sound when you have the biggest “cojones”… First there was some scepticism from
our fans, if he will fit into our sound, but now I can say, that 99% are really satisfied with our decision!
– If I’m not wrong, Zingultus lives in Aachen, did this change anything during the creative process of the record?
Nothing. We always rehearsed without our singer. The vocals are always the last part of the songwriting process. But know we have to make a pre-production in our rehearsal room, and then we send him our stuff. He tells us, what he likes and what not…
– Past year I had the chance of interviewing Zingultus in support of the latest album by GRAUPEL. When I asked him about what could he explain us about your, back then «upcoming» album, that’s part of what he told me: «…Not this stupid blast-only-attacks anymore.» These few words are the ones that concern you so, what do you have to say on this? As, after listening to the album, I haven’t noticed a big difference in your drumming actually (which doesn’t mean the drum work is less impressive)…
I don’t know, why all the people always say that we are a “blast only” band. There are so many varieties in the drumming. Of course there are Blast Beats, but hey, we’re playing Black-Metal. INFEKTION 1813 is our most varying album, that’s right.
– «Infektion 1813» is, as well, your first album via Season of Mist. What prompted that move? And how’s going with Season of Mist so far?
Until now, everything is good so far… SOM were in interested in signing us, and we checked the offer. SOM is a well growing label, and I think, that they can bring us to a higher level outside of G/A/S.
– After releasing the album, what are your near-future plans? Any touring plans maybe? Any chance of seeing you again in Spain or what happened with the last promoter has grinded you down?
We don’t like to tour. We are interested in doing some Weekend Shows, maybe from Thursday to Sunday or something like this. So we are not planning a tour, but hope to visit different countries as soon as possible. And hopefully Spain of course. I really like Barcelona; this is my favourite city in Europe. When we go there having a show it was always bombastic! I don’t know what happened to the last promoter who was ripping us off, but I hope that he gets infected with Solanum… hehe…
– That’s all from my side, thank you once more for your time. If you want to add some final words to this interview; last lines are yours.
Thank you for the support! Hope to see some guys in Spain again! We are ready to infect Spain!
