Primal Fear Special Interview in Japan (from "Burrn!" Magazine, January 1998) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ So, what's that strange project formed by Ralf Scheepers and his friend and Sinner leader Mat Sinner? ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Ex-Gamma Ray singer Ralf Scheepers and Sinner leader bassist Mat Sinner have released a debut album of their new project Primal Fear on "Victor Entertainment". Tom Naumann who worked with Mat since late 90's became the guitarist and Klaus Sperling was chosen for a drummer. The album is the essence of melodic Sinner-like parts together with some strong and aggressive sound which brings you memories of Gamma Ray and Tyran' Pace. And here's also the Ralf's vocals whic make the songs sound pretty close to Judas Priest. Anyway, that's what true heavy metal is all about. In September 1997 issue you could read the interview with Ralf and now you have Mat Sinner here with us. KH - Kaz Hirose MS - Mat Sinner KH: Well, what's going on in the Sinner camp right now? MS: We're in the middle of songwring process for the next album and the recording will start in January. KH: And the release? MS: I guess it would be something like summer of 1998. The album title is "The Truth" and we've already written seven songs for it which are good enough. After completing five more we'll start the recording. KH: Will there be dramatic changes comparing it to the previous one? MS: No, I don't think so. Sinner always remains unchangable and the new album will sound pretty close to "Judgement Day". There will be some fast songs on it but our trademark like harmonic guitars and melody will remain as well. Well, some of those new songs are faster that on the previous album but on the whole that's melodic heavy rock. KH: "Judgement Day" was highly acclaimed in Europe... MS: You're right. KH: How many copies it sold? MS: Some 30,000 which is not bad at all. KH: But in Japan it was different. MS: Absolutely different. "Judgement Day" was a significant step in our cariere and the music was really good on it. The title track seemed to be written just for Asia and Japan, there were some typical German metal tracks and we hoped it would make a brake in Japan. But in fact it sold just the same as "Bottom Line". That's not what we hoped for. The sales were not bad but quite average at the same time. KH: I guess if you want to sell records in Japan you should make an aggressive but melodic rock music... MS: "Judgement Day" contained lots of melodic parts, there were tracks with keyboards. OK, the next album would be even more melodic. But not to sale more in Japan, that's just the way it goes. KH: So you think if you sell many records in Europe you don't care about the Japanese market, right? MS: No, that's not what I mean. We just play music for our fans and we do care about what happens in Japan. Well, I can't read "Burrn!" properly (laughs) but I always check it and the whole situation in Japan. Also we have a lot of friends who are quite popular there. For instance, when we invited Kai Hansen for the "Primal Fear" studio sessions he told us many things about your country. KH: OK, now tell us how you decided to form this new band, Primal Fear. MS: Me and Ralf live in the same town and wanted to play something together for a long time. We've known each other for 15 years. One day I helped Ralf with his Judas Priest cover-band and that's how it all started. The band's name is Priest and it had to play a very important show in summer of 1996. But bassist and guitarist couldn't play there so Ralf asked Tom to help him and I got involved as well. I like Judas Priest and had nothing against playing its songs for nearly an hour on stage. You know, I couldn't believe how great the show was. The audience was very excited and we were having a good time too. So we decided to play something else together for I kept an eye on Ralf's cariere since he left Gamma Ray. Ralf turned out to be Top 3 new singer for Judas Priest and he had really strong chances but they've chosen another guy. And I truly wanted to help Ralf. Well, Sinner is quite a popular band in Europe and after completing the tour we started composing songs. We wrote four tracks, recorded a demo tape. You know, Ralf had his own contract with "Victor Entertainment" since his Gamma Ray times and after hearing the tape they offered us a very good new contract. In the beginning it was just a project which never meant to become a band but the songwriting and recording went so great that we decided to give it a start as Primal Fear. We also managed to sign a European contract so the impact was enormous. KH: When did you start composing songs: MS: Actually in April 1996 but the idea of Primal Fear came a bit later. KH: You and Tom are the members of Sinner so the tour with Primal Fear will face many troubles, don't you think? MS: No, no troubles. Of course it depends on the demand. I won't stop recording and touring with Sinner. "Judgement Day" was a success in Europe and it means we need to move along. In Japan we have a strong contract and can go on there as well. Well, the Primal Fear album might appeal to both Japanese and European fans. If people want to see us live why not? There's a chance for touring but we didn't discuss it yet. KH: Besides the cover-version of "Speed King" all songs were 'written by Primal Fear'. How exactly did the songwriting process go? MS: You see, we have four songwriters in the band, I mean everyone writes songs. Each member has his own ideas, we try to transform them into songs, add our own ideas and that's how the songs are born. If people who are familiar with my songwriting style listen to it they'll understand it very well. (laughs) "Intro" was mainly composed by Tom, "Chainbreaker" was his riff and the rest is mine. "Silver And Gold" was written by me, "Promised Land" by Tom, "Formula One" by Ralf, "Dollars" and "Nine Lives" by me, "Tears Of Rage" by me as well, "Speed King" by Deep Purple (laughs), "Battalions Of Hate" by our drummer Klaus, "Running In The Dust" by me and Tom and "Thunderdome" by Ralf. Anyway, we all were involved in the songwriting process. And that was really great. The same situation is with lyrics. On the whole this band's partnership is awesome. KH: You mean those who composed music wrote the lyrics as well? MS: That's it. For instance, "Formula One" and "Thunderdome". The main idea belongs to Ralf, the lyrics were written by him and the rest was done by me with other members adding their own thoughts. KH: And as far as I understand it wasn't that you composed music and Ralf wrote lyrics and vocal melodies and the rest didn't do anything but playing all that stuff? MS: No, nothing like that. That's the most interesting feature of this band and I hope the best thing we can do. Everyone wished to participate in this or that song and their dreams came true. We'll try to stay the same in the future. KH: What about vocal melodies, did you write them altogether? MS: It depends on the track. I gave my ideas to Ralf and mainly he composed those melodies. So we both created most of them, I say. KH: What are the stories behind the songs? MS: As you see from the title "Formula One" is about car races, "Chainbreaker", "Promised Land" and "Thunderdome" are about future, "Tears Of Rage" is about the lost love, "Battalions Of Hate" deals with war, "Running In The Dust" is about our memories from the Far East, "Dollars" is about how rich people rule over poor ones... We sing about various things and want people to learn from our songs. "Nine Lives" is about the vampire (laughs). I wrote "Silver And Gold" about the future. It's about space and things which might happen 2000 years later. Ralf also likes those space- related topics. KH: Is it really easy to co-write songs with Ralf? MS: He is. You know, this project started since we worked together in Sinner and when we started writing songs for Primal Fear I already knew that Ralf is a very good partner to work with. But I couldn't imagine that it would be so great. He's a very nice person and it's no problem working with him in the studio. KH: What's Ralf's main advantage? MS: High-pitched vocals I think. Our sound is quite noisy but his vocals break through the music roar. His vocal range is very long. I'm also pleased to work with another singer for I sing myself. I'm a producer burying myself in Ralf's ideas and the result we get is great. So working with him is a pleasure for me. He also looks perfect on stage. KH: Speaking of Primal Fear sound do think it's pretty close to the Judas Priest one? MS: Well, every heavy metal singer including Ralf sounds close to Judas Priest. And that's not bad, it's great to be compared to the legend. The new album of Judas Priest is in American vein, it's like Pantera or Fear Factory but I think people who would like to hear the classic Judas Priest sound can listen to Primal Fear. I guess our album is a kind of 'new "Painkiller"'. KH: You wrote music in the vein of Sinner in that The Heat project, right? Well, Primal Fear has some Sinner elements but on the whole it's different. Did you discuss the style of this band's music? MS: No, we didn't. We just took our instruments and started writing songs. And that's no surprise that Primal Fear sounds a bit like Sinner. Half of ideas for these songs were given by Sinner members. Sometimes it sounds like Sinner and you can do nothing about it, the style can't be changed. Anyway, that's Ralf's voice and it's definitely different. KH: What do you think of Tyran' Pace? MS: Ralf wasn't like all other band members. Actually the only positive thing is that band was their singer. KH: About what about Gamma Ray with Ralf? MS: Awesome. You know, I was really surprised when Ralf became a member of a group from Hamburg for it's quite far from Stuttgart. But he felt good there and spend great time with Gamma Ray guys. They've composed magnificent albums together. KH: You're a singer yourself so how do you feel about working with another one? MS: I like it. I'm writing songs, produce the album, create its sound. I'm also engaged in the business part of this band and is really busy dealing with all those things. Of course, I'm the driving force behind Sinner as well but I like singing with Sinner and just playing bass with Primal Fear. KH: Now when you're in Primal Fear I guess you and Ralf will be in the similar situation like David Coverdale and Glenn Hughes were in Deep Purple... MS: We will, we'll try to sing together during live concerts. It'll sound nice, it has already happened when Ralf added his backing vocals to the "Judgement Day" album. So we will definitely sing together again. That's a good experience for both of us and it studio it looked great. KH: Can you tell more about the band's drummer, Klaus Sperling? MS: OK. First thing you need to know is that he's a singer too. (laughs) There are three singers in Primal Fear. He's the leader of Prolopower, they play good hard rock with German lyrics. Primal Fear is the band of local musicians and it was no problem finding Klaus. We were told he is a good drummer, so we checked him and he blew our brains out. KH: What's the reason for covering "Speed King"? MS: During the Sinner tour we were in Hamburg, went to a disco where I heard the song and thought it could fit into Ralf's vocals. We played it heavier and faster than the original version for Ralf could be able to sing it. KH: Did you record any other cover? MS: No, nothing else. I guess we'll perform Gamma Ray tracks at live concerts. The cover-versions of Judas Priest and Sinner might be played as well. KH: How different it was to compose tracks for another singer? MS: Of course it was different. The songs were written for Ralf and I wanted him to use all his power. But he sings not like me and I think only half of this album fits into his singing. His vocal range is different. KH: So you need to know exactly who will sing new songs... MS: Absolutely right. If I want to make Ralf do his best while singing with Primal Fear I have to write songs ideal for him. KH: What are future plans for Primal Fear? MS: No ideas. We just finished the album and waiting for release and response from listeners. The album will be out in late December in Japan and in late January in Europe. We might play several live concerts but now we're just rehearsing every week. KH: What label will release the album in Germany. MS: "Nuclear Blast". KH: As far as I understand you're planning to run both Sinner and Primal Fear at the same time? MS: Well... In late November Sinner started writing songs for the new album then we'll enter the studio. After finishing the recording process we'll see what happens to Primal Fear. If it is a success the band will go on tour. Also we need some time to relax like to watch soccer or something. (laughs) KH: Sinner is a longtime existing band so what do you think about its position on the German heavy metal scene? MS: I don't know and simply don't care. I just know that we were critically acclaimed for our first two records. I would just like heavy metal fans to respect Sinner and that's the only important thing for me right now. The band was among those who started German metal movement in the 80's together with Gamma Ray, Rage, Helloween... KH: You're a successful musician and need to be respected, right? MS: I think so. That's very important for me. If I wanted to right music just for myself I won't even try to break out. My fans is the most important part of that music. KH: In Japan bands like Gamma Ray and Blind Guardian have strong popularity together with Fair Warning, for example. Do you think it's strange? MS: No, I don't. It's good that Fair Warning is popular among Japanese people for it sells almost nothing here, in Germany. KH: What's the most ideal band for you? MS: The music style of Sinner lately changed but Thin Lizzy remains my favorite band. KH: What do you think is the best Sinner line-up? MS: The current one I guess. We're playing good music and getting along without any problems. Kai Hansen is a nice guy too, he played with us in "Formula One", "Dollars" and "Speed King". His solo is the basic one in "Speed King". It could be great if he is able to be our band member but he's so busy with Gamma Ray that is has no sense at all. ------------------------------------------------------------------------