by Vpower
The Band: Attic
Country: Germany
Answers by:
Chris (bass)
In words of the own bassist of the band,Chris,
ATTIC’s new album has taken almost five years of efforts and struggling to
overcome all those things that make life what it is. But when you listen to it
you truly realize it’s worth every minute of it. With “Sanctimonious” Attic takes a step forward in
terms of composition, a concept album that guarantees fun and great
atmospheres.
Hello Chris, your new album is called
“Sanctimonious”, due out in August 18th, how do you feel about it?
Hailz, and
thanks for getting in touch with us. The Release date is the day we've all been
waiting for for so long, and we feel relieved. Writing and recording
Sanctimonious was an extraordinary tough process and we had to overcome a lot
ob obstacles. We got a new drummer, played live a lot, to promote the Band’s
name and as well our first album. We spend 2 months in the Studio and then had
some issues with the pressing of the album, so that it took us almost 5 years to finish that
piece of Art, but we're all sure, the wait was worth it.
“Sanctimonious”
is just your second full-length but you sound as a very experienced band, so
mature
Well
thanks, I really appreciate that. Well actually we ARE all just old farts,
haha. No, but seriously all of us were very lucky to gain experience in former
Bands over the past decade. I played in Warhammer for 10 years, as well for a
short time with our guitarist Katte, who as well learned most of his skills
with Erazor and more Bands. Meister Cagliostro as well gathered experience in a
few bands before Attic and Robert too, while our drummer still plays in
approximately two or three thousand different bands. At least It feels like
that. So all this experience we gathered with writing music, being in Bands,
live as such, its all coming together in
Attic. As well, the time of 5 years we took for ourselves to make Sanctimonious
such a unique hearing experience, was very important to make sure every detail
fits and every historical aspect is considered.
“Sanctimonious” is a complete concept album
that contains 13 tracks and over an hour playing time, what is the story about?
The Story
takes place in an old Convent in the year 1687. You would expect a peaceful
christian atmosphere here, but nothing is at it seems. The listener will get to
know four main characters, who will guide him through the old walls of which
has once been a place to find sanctuary in God. We will see death, murder and
utter Horror.
How long have you worked in your new album and
how was the composition & recording?
First
musical ideas already emerged between the recordings and the release of “The
Invocation”. All in all we worked on the album about four and a half years in
between extensive touring. The Recordings were smooth and very well observed by
our producer Mersus, who already recorded our first Album. Still we took as
much time as we needed, to give every song the fine-tuning it deserved. We
adjusted the drum Sound a lot, since this was a part of the debut, which most
people criticized.
Aha, very interesting, the feedback works. As
with The Invocation, in “Sanctimonious” you continue to work with Ván Records…
Yes, and
I'm pretty sure, we won't change that in the future. With Ván records we signed
a contract for a few Albums, and we're still in that window.. And even if we
wouldn't: Ván records combines everything we need and expect of a label. They
support us as much as they can, they granted us such a long time in the studio
as well. And despite that, they are family already. There is nothing more, that
we could wish or ask for right now.
Comparing “Sanctimonious” with your debut
album, any especial difference to mention?
Well the
main difference of course is, that Sanctimonious is a concept album. The
Invocation was the beginning, the summoning of the demon. Now we're here, we
established a musical direction that we still pursue on our second one and will
on the follow ups.
Another
difference is the sound, which we had more time to find this time. Invocation
was good, Sanctimonious is way better. We're pretty content with the result and
worked on it more than double the time than on our debut. One more difference
-along with many others to be found out by the fans- is obviously the playing
time. Sanctimonious is 20 Minutes longer than its predecessor, which makes the
LP a double Vinyl version, with much love for the details in the layout.
If you keep up the level in your compositions
probably Attic will be one of the references in the heavy metal scene in the
following years
Oh, thank
you, that feels really nice to hear. There is this thing going on for just a
few years called new wave of Teutonic heavy metal, and Attic is always a name
of that. So we feel,that somehow we have already had an impact on the scene,
and it would make me proud, if the future generations would talk about us and
our colleagues of Stallion, Vulture, Chapel of Disease, Iron Kobra and all the
Bands out there, from our Generation the same way, as we do about Sodom,
Kreator, Destruction and all these Bands. Even if we won't ever become that
big, I suppose. The time of the stadium Bands is over, and there won't be
anything like it coming after them.
Sure we try
to be influences for the younger ones, that just start up, and I hope we're
successful and can keep up with that. Thanks for your words.
There are some clear influences in your music,
I cannot avoid to name Mercyful Fate
Sure, when
Cagliostro hits the first notes you always think of the King in the first
moment, but if you then listen closely, you hear not only Mercyful Fate, but
also many more Influences like Accept or as well a lot of the impressions, that
Iron Maiden did on us with their two-part guitar riffs. Judas Priest is part of
it and even if we don't want to leave the Heavy Metal to far behind, you'll
find riffs on Sanctimonious, which will remind you of “Denial of God”,
“Dissection” and even “Claudio Simonetti's Goblin” and those Giallo movie
soundtracks of the 60s and 70s.
“The Invocation” became “album of the month” in
Germany’s Rock Hard magazine, now you have made another big step ahead with
“Sanctimonious”. Who is more responsible for that success inside the band?
I think the
success that we have is based on the fact, that we are an entity. We write the
songs as Attic, and everyone has his ideas on his instrument. When you're on a
movie set, you don't have one or two guys who do everything. You have an expert
behind the lights, an expert behind the camera, an expert as an director an
expert writing the story book, and so on and this makes a good movie. When we
write our Songs, we just try to reflect on what we hear of the other, but never
tell him what to play or to sing. We reflect and give advice. Sure, Meister
Cagliostro lets us know, where the story he wants to tell in a Song should lead
to, and thus we focus in what kind of Song its going to be. Fast, Slow,
complex, simple.... We write Songs the other way round: There is the Story or
the Lyrics, and we work around it to create a Song, which is tailored to it.
But everyone on his own is responsible to produce his own part as good and
close to perfection as possible. That may take more time than usual, but you
and the listener are more content with the result as well.
Off the
stage we all have our functions within the Band as well, and so we can be an
organized institution, which is a benefit for the success and everyone around.
Us, the Fans, the promoters and so on.
I love the feeling of Meister Cagliostro’s
voice, it takes Attic’s music to another level
Yes, we are
very fortunate to have such an Artist on our side. Meister’s voice makes our
music unique in this time and age, where we have so many Bands in the
underground scene. He is a perfectionist, and I think it was never more
important than on this Album and for no other than this Band as well.
Any favorite song in the album?
During the
making, every song that was just finished was the favorite and even better than
the one before. Now, almost 6 months after the recordings, I can say, that
there is no song which I like more than the other. But there are parts in every
song, which fill my heart with joy more than other. I think of the Chorus of
“Born from Sin”, the carrying Part of Prioress Claire in “Die Engelmacherin”,
the Mercyful Fate part in “There is no God” or just the thunderous beginning of
the title track “Sanctimonious”. There is so much to find, and every time you listen
to the album, you'll find something new.
Yes, a world to discover little by little. In
your album we can find some hints of the dark side of the NWOBHM, represented
by bands such as Angel Witch o Wytchfinde, true?
Since we
always focus on the dark ages and the dark side of things which may seem normal
and peaceful for the other people, I think these hints (as you say) seem
obvious. But we did not intent to hint on those bands. We simply have the same
interest in the dark side of the middle ages, the Inquisition, Christianity and
death.
The
occult inspiration flows naturally in your music. How does it happen? You focus
on some riffs, lyrics or whatever…?
As I said
above, Meister Cagliostro always has an idea of what kind of story he wants to
tell in a Song. And thus he knows in which direction the music shall go. So we
make up our minds what would fit and start writing and playing. Then the
writing process is like gear wheels which fit into each other. You adjust here
and there but always with the goal not to lose the dark atmosphere within the
song. So every part of the music is written for the dark tales he sings about
and vice versa. If there's a new riff, reflecting the dark atmosphere Attic is
about, he knows what to sing in that part. So we don't focus on something
special in a song, we just follow our inspiration and drive Attic gives us in
general.
The cover artwork is a good introduction to what
we are gonna find inside…
Yes it is.
The first thing you will notice, is that we focused on a very white, and bright
concept. You'll see a very peaceful situation on a nice and sunny day, with
some suspicious things happening in the Background. But since Sanctimonious
takes place in a Convent, where nothing is as it seems, you'll find very dark
drawings inside and the story is Illustrated completely black and white. We are
happy that we could again work with Markus Vesper for the cover Artwork. The
inside was created by Misanthropic-Arts who as well worked with us in the past,
and we knew they would be the perfect people for this Project. And we all are
very happy with all results.
You have already played many gigs around with
big bands and in great fest as Keep It True, for instance. Are you programming
already the dates for this 2017?
Sure, we're
planning a Sanctimonious Promotion tour for the End of the year, and as well
contact people for shows and Festivals in 2018, to make sure, as many people as
possible get to hear the new material live.
We will be ready for the incoming news. Any
specific goals for the near future?
Mainly, to
play in Countries, where we have never or almost never been. Portugal for example, but returning to Spain for a second time after a mini Tour
in 2015 is as well on the top of our wishlist.
And hear that makes us happy \m/. Thanks for
the cool chat Chris and congratulations for your fantastic new album!
Thank you
again as well. We're glad you like it, and we're sure, Spain will. Be Prepared for utter Horror
and pure darkened Heavy Metal starting August 18th!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UpJtujr691s&feature=youtu.be
