GOD DETHRONED
// Falber Teles
SOURCEWEBZINE - With GOD DETHRONED going on its 14th year of existence and seventh studio release, what is GOD DETHRONED doing differently now that you’ve had the time and experience on your side?
ARIEN VAN WEESENBEEK (DRUMS) - I think that GOD DETHRONED nowadays is writing music and playing music at a higher level with more skills and a catchy approach. We grow in confidence in what we do, and we search for developement as musicians, but also the band as a whole. But what the listener might notice immediately, is that we nowadays just throw in different styles of metal, and not just death, or black metal that's all about speed and brutallity. We mix our fast stuff with groove, melody, atmosphere, and dynamics. That's what keeps it interesting for us, and I'm pretty sure most of the fans feel the same way.
SOURCEWEBZINE - So what´s the next step for you guys after releasing the new album?
AVW - More concerts and tours that we want to make a bit more special. We did a tour with VADER in September, and we already feel like hitting the road again!
SOURCEWEBZINE - From what you can gather, how have the reactions to the material been so far ?
AVW - Most of the reactions have been very positive! A lot of people say this is our best album to date! That's of course very rewarding to hear. I'm glad that people appreciate what we're doing. Even when the record hadn't been released yet, we played some new songs that nobody ever heard before, and even then the reactions and response were very good!
SOURCEWEBZNE - Now let´s get into your new album... How was the recording process? Was it all easy or did you had hard times in studio while making the effort?
AVW - For me it was happening all very quickly: I remember us doing a tour with BOLT THROWER, and right after the last concert, we were in the studio. I was already finished in two days, and I only did some additional drumparts afterwards. So it was over again before I knew it, haha.
The rest of the time, I helped the other guys where I could. But it all went very smooth and relaxed. The vocals were more difficult. Henri was searching for his right, warmed-up voice. It took him about three days. He already recorded most of the songs, but didn't feel 100% confident about that. When he was in the right vibe again, he re-recorded everything. He pushed himself to the max! And the results are marvellous!
SOURCEWEBZINE - Would you describe your songs as thrash metal ?
AVW - Hmm... Not only thrash metal. I think we just have a conglomeration of different styles: death metal, thrash metal, black metal, sometimes maybe doom metal, and on this new record, even some emo-core stuff. It's hard to put it in one place.
SOURCEWEBZINE - The cover artwork design by Blackseed design obviously stems from “The Toxic Touch”. Was the final cover that we see now the first and only artwork for the album or were there other designs to choose from and if so, what were some of the concepts?
AVW - We had some other artwork-designs, but they were not what we had in mind. They were more or less drawings with a witch on it. We felt it didn't fit the music and production. Then we asked Wendell Penedo and we gave him some directions of what it should look like. He blew us all away with the designs. And one of them is the cover you see now.
SOURCEWEBZINE - Do you all have a 'proper' job in your daily life?
AVW - Henri and Henke do: Henri is working in a ice-skate factory, and Henke is working as a mechanical engineering teacher. Isaac and I are teaching guitars and drums on a part time basis.
SOURCEWEBZINE - In the end I would like to know a bit about your music taste so reveal us your favourite albums from the year 2006 so far.
AVW - I still love SLAYER and MORBID ANGEL when it comes to metal music. The radio in general plays very nice music, except for the R&B-crap. But there are some very nice 'singer-songwriter'-artists who are played by the radio. I really like Heather Nova for example. She's a brilliant artist with a magnificant voice and musical insight! DEAD CAN DANCE are also great to listen to.
And the PRODIGY! Really cool stuff! I also like to listen to 'The Doors'. During the last tour with VADER, I wore my Jim Morrison-shirt almost every night! They broke a lot of boundaries.
Well... my most favourite album of 2006 would be "Christ Illusion" from SLAYER. So energetic and powerfull, and most of all inspiring!
SOURCEWEBZINE - Thanks for taking time off to do this interview with us and good luck with your new album. Is there any last words you want to share with your Brazilian fans and with readers of SOURCEWEBZINE?
AVW - You're welcome! Well, all you GOD DETHRONED-fans out there: enjoy "The Toxic Touch", and enjoy life!! Hope to see you all soon! Cheers from Holland....
Metal Blade Records
GOD DETHRONED
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