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've discovered Squealer with your previous album !

Squealer : You're talking about "The Prophecy". (MR note : reviewed in our archives)

MR : Yes, great album also (MR : see archived reviews). From trash to speed part, both albums are very good with catchy songs. And the first two songs of "Made For Eternity" are one of the best songs we've heard since 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 as been chosen by one of the former of the band (Axel, guitar player) who isn't anymore in the band. 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 concert, but the few concert 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 year have passed between "Wrong Time, Wrong Place" (MR note : Henner told us it could be reprint sooner) and "The Prophecy". Much too long. So, we have decided to do less concert 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 in last Squealer's 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 left 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 influence / inspirations when you write songs ?

Squealer - Schiel : A mixture between different kind 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 trash, especially Slayer and Testament.


MR : Yeah, trash meets power / speed metal !

Squealer : Definitively. What do you think about our two Depeche Mode cover ?

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 one 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 trash 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 Vision.

Squealer - Lars : Yeah. Stratovarius 'Vision' is great. But I like Iron Maiden and Depeche Mode also. And 'Piece Of Mind' is my favorite album of the 80's.

Squealer - Kaspar : The old stuff. Black Sabbath & Rainbow.

MR : Are you astonished with this heavy-metal revival ?

Squealer - Schiel : We are doing this kind of music since 1990 and when we have 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 time at the beginning due to this 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 has to choose dozens of "True Metal" bands, 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 / grow up with that music (Maiden, Helloween). This is logical that those musician have today their own band.

Squealer - Lars : Right. But I don't think that they all have the quality of those bands there were listening at that time. Playing guitar is one thing ,writing good songs is another

MR : Why metal is 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 disk sales, TV shows, radio-hits are so far away now in metal !
What is the 'bloody' reason of this 'censure' ?

Squealer : Well, everybody has its 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 : those guys speaks english very well actually). Definitively '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 will finally take place. I have heard now that some CD 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 is a long time we didn't play any gigs, there is some stress, but overall no special feelings before going on stage.

MR : Any Festival planned ?

Squealer :We will be playing in Wacken this year and.....also "With Full Force" I think.

MR : Last word for our readers and your fans ?

Squealer - Stiel : Don't use MP3's (everybody laughs).

MR : Thanks again guys.

 

Danny & Chris,
Your devoted reviewers.