MR : We have elected "Made For Eternity" album of the month in March. We are very happy to do this interview with you guys. We have traveled 300km to interview Edguy & Squealer, so not only we are happy but somehow it was the purpose of this trip.
Squealer : Thanks. Album of the month ?
MR : Yeah. 90 / 100.
Squealer : Cool !
MR : We discovered Squealer with your previous album !
You're talking about "The Prophecy". (MR note : reviewed in our archives)
MR : Yes, great album also. Both thrash and speed parts, both albums are very good with catchy songs. The first two songs of "Made For Eternity" are some of the best songs we've heard in ages. Actually, two neck-breaker songs.
So...who has chosen 'Squealer' as the name of the band ?
Squealer : Well, it is an old story. 'Squealer' is a school band of the middle of the 80', doing at that time hard-rock stuff. It was been chosen by one of the former members of the band (Axel, guitar player) who isn't in the band anymore. And with Henner's voice (also founder of Squealer), this name fits perfectly well to our music and sound. To Squeal !!!
(MR : yes sure, but Henner's voice is so original and in the same time quiet melodic)
MR : How went your career the last two years ?
Squealer : I think it's going good for us. OK, we don't play many concerts, but the few concerts we have done were in front of a good audience and much fun. We didn't want to do many concerts after "The Prophecy" album because we wanted to release a new album one year later (Made For Eternity). Three years have passed between "Wrong Time, Wrong Place" (MR note : Henner told us it could be in reprint soon) and "The Prophecy". Much too long. So, we have decided to do less concerts after "The Prophecy" and concentrate on the new album and tour after this one.
This is why we didn't play so many gigs last year.
MR : Tell me Henner, what a surprise to see Mike Terrana playing on Squealer's last album. Is he a new member or just a guest ?
Squealer - Henner : He is not a new member and not a guest.
He is with us and we are very very happy to have Mike with us. That's it.
MR : Mike, happy to be with Rage family now ?
(MR note : Mike Teranna is Rage's new drummer)
Mike Terrana : Very happy man (joins his hands and looks to the sky).
MR : Do you have any news about Metallium ?
Mike Terrana : Not really.
MR : Why did you leave Metallium ?
Mike Terrana (very politely) : There're young and have a lot to learn in this business.....
MR : We saw you twice with Rage (Wacken 99 and Geneva).
For us, you are the best drummer today.
Mike : Thank you. (MR note : Mike gives us his 'solo' album). It's fusion !!! (MR note : drum meets jazz. It will be reviewed in April). As for Rage, with Victor, there is a great ambiance in the band. This guitarist is unbelievable and Peavy is also a very cool guy, actually a gentleman.
MR : OK. Let's go back to Squealer.
What are your influences / inspirations when you write songs ?
Squealer - Schiel : A mixture between different kinds of music. From Slayer to Depeche Mode. Our first demo (LP) sounded like Blind Guardian and today we can say we are a mixture of Overkill, Slayer and power/melodic metal like Stratovarius.
Squealer - Henner : My personal influence is thrash, especially Slayer and Testament.
MR : Yeah, thrash meets power / speed metal !
Squealer : Definitively. What do you think about our two Depeche Mode covers ?
MR : We preferred the one on "The Prophecy" honestly, but overall both are OK.
Squealer : It is funny. People love it or hate it. Nobody in the middle.
MR : What are your favorite Squealer's songs, the ones you like to play live ?
Squealer - Schiel : My favorite is "End of The World" and also "Friends For Life" from
"The Prophecy".
MR : There is one song that I really like on "The Prophecy" which is "Nowhere To Hide" (MR : if you don't break your neck on this thrash song, you'll never break it).
Squealer - Henner : Me too. You know, we will play it tonight.
MR : Could you name your favorite albums / bands ?
Except Squealer albums of course (laughs) !!!
Squealer - Schiel : The two last album of Iced Earth (Something Wicked This Ways Comes & Alive In Athens) and Stratovarius, especially Visions.
Squealer - Lars : Yeah. Stratovarius 'Visions' is great. But I like Iron Maiden and Depeche Mode also. 'Piece Of Mind' is my favorite album of the 80's.
Squealer - Kaspar : The old stuff. Black Sabbath & Rainbow.
MR : Are you surprised with this heavy-metal revival ?
Squealer - Schiel : We've been doing this kind of music since 1990 and when we released
"The Prophecy" in 1999, everybody said Squealer is playing also the "True Metal" fashion music (Hammerfall & Edguy) which is not the case. In 1990 this music was out of fashion, today it is.
We have passed difficult times at the beginning due to the death metal wave in early 90's.
MR : Yeah, but let's not forget the 'grunge' wave at the beginning of the 90's.
Squealer : Absolutely.
MR : And today, the fans dozens of "True Metal" bands to choose from where, in 1990, there were maybe 10 bands playing that style ?
Squealer - Stiel: Well that's right. But today, those bands are musicians who listen / grew up with that music (Maiden, Helloween). This is logical that those musicians today have their own band.
Squealer - Lars : Right. But I don't think that they all have the quality of those bands they were listening to at that time. Playing guitar is one thing ,writing good songs is another
MR : Why is metal the kind of music that everybody avoids today (MTV, radios,...) Does it have something to do with the fact that today metal is again an underground music ? Good disc sales, TV shows, radio-hits are so far away now in metal !
What is the reason of this ?
Squealer : Well, everybody has his own 'taste' and metal is out of fashion today.
MR : What is the difficult part of your job ?
Squealer : Speaking English (everybody laughs - MR note : these guys speak English very well actually). Definitely touring. Playing live is OK, but the all the organization of those gigs,
the stress and all that goes with it.
MR : What's you opinion about MP3's ?
Squealer - Stiel : It is a problem. It could kill bands in terms of record sales. I hope that a real copyright CD protection will finally take place. I have heard now that some CDs are protected today. I hope it will work for a while. We should not be able anymore to 'grab' MP3's.
MR : How do you feel just before jumping on stage ?
Squealer - Lars : It is a question of time. If it has been a long time since we've played any gigs, there is some stress, but overall no special feelings before going on stage.
MR : Any Festivals planned ?
Squealer :We will be playing in Wacken this year and.....also "With Full Force" I think.
MR : A last word for our readers and your fans ?
Squealer - Stiel : Don't use MP3's (everybody laughs).
MR : Thanks again guys.
Squealer: No problem
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