20 Jahre Fatal Embrace - Interview mit der Berliner Thrash Metal Institution - Translation Interview with Fatal Embrace

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metaltalks.de: Before we start: How are you guys doing and what are you up to?

Heiländer: Yes, thanks everything is alright. We are currently recording a new record, piece by piece. In addition to that we just put a part of the Desaster-Tribute Sample together, which will be released in 2014.

metaltalks.de: 20 years of Fatal Embrace! What were the absolute highlights for the band in the past 20 years?

Heiländer: I think the best parts were the European tours with Sodom, Holy Moses, Desaster, Assassin… a few festivals were awesome as well. One gig in Belgrade is among the absolute highlights for me. Yes, there were a lot of really great concerts. Also getting to meet people such as Harris Johns, Tom Angelripper, Schmier… etc., all people who I knew from Metalmagazines in the 80´s. We got to know a lot of cool bands which was a lot of fun. There were a lot of great festivals in Spain, Latvia, the Netherlands or Poland. We got to share the stage with bands such as Master, Necronomicon, Endstille, Jaguar, Hobb’s Angel of Death, Vendetta, Grave, Goddess of Desire, Hirax, Protector, Withburner, Metal Church, Candlemass, Grave Digger, Minotaur and Armoured Angel, just to name a few. The very first gig we had was in 1994 with Postmortem. Also the signing of our record contracts was always very exciting. We drank a lot and on some festivals we could eat as much steak as we wanted – without limit. That was wicked!!!

metaltalks.de: Of course we also have to ask about the absolute zero point. What was the worst thing in the past 20 years that you guys would’ve loved to pass on if you look back now.

Heiländer: Oh there was a lot of shit happening: Tours that were prepared but then got cancelled because of the hosts or the lack of money; Labels which weren’t a 100% supportive; Musicians who didn’t care about anything; A couple line-ups changing, which always cost time and energy; Concerts which were planned terribly; Organizers who were too lazy and too dumb to make proper promotion… etc. You get to know a lot of jerks that normal people can’t imagine. Ha ha, you just have to get through that!

metaltalöks.de: There are certainly specific things that you would do different having 20 years of experience. What would that be and can you give the young Junior-thrashers an instruction manual while you are at it?

Heiländer: Of course you would do things differently. For example, to not wait so long for certain people, to take control over yourself, and to separate yourself from colleagues that are only being smartasses and not doing anything or not helping to get the band any further. You need people who you can work together with only to get the chance to bring the band further. If you don’t get your ass licked as a band, you need to work your ass off to move something. A lot of things don´t work, a lot of things are shitty, but then you still shouldn’t cry about it but get up and do something about it so that the possibility is there that it will all work out fine. You have to do your own thing and stay loyal to your music and yourself!

metaltalks.de: Are you agreeing with us when we claim that the biggest challenges of a band are the interpersonal relationships?

Heiländer: Of course the ideal situation is that you have already played with your band colleagues in the sandpit and know each other by heart. With Fatal Embrace there were always changes in the line-up and you always had to get to know new people. I can say though, that we always got along very well with the different musicians and line-ups, no matter whether there were arguments or disagreements. We basically get along very well. We never bust our heads… ha ha

metaltalks.de: Do you still have your first microphone or rather what type was it?

Heiländer: Ha ha, no, I have no idea what type it was. Another one I just recently smashed…

metaltalks.de: 20 years ago when you started, did you guys have a musical background or did you guys totally rely on your inner will?

Heiländer: When you have been an intensive metalfan without compromises for years, you literally suck up the music. Back in the days we did not just simply listen to Metal but lived it. Hey Dirk, you know what I am talking about, right…?!?! Bands like Slayer, Kreator, Metallica, Venom, Onslaught, Dark Angel, Exodus or Maiden – everything you later let flow into your music, that is totally
normal for a real metal band. We never wanted to invent the wheel again, but to make music that we enjoyed making. Yes, the kind of music you once adored yourself!

metaltalks.de: Personally, which is your favorite album of Fatal Embrace?

Heiländer: There are good songs on every album which we also still play. To name a single album is always difficult. Maybe the Empire LP is the strongest, I think I will always like the new albums best… ha ha…

metaltalks.de: How was the collaboration with Iron Shield and is there an album coming up which will be released via Iron Shield?

Heiländer: Well, Duck and Grete (R.I.P. my friend) I knew for a long time. In 2010 they got the Vinyl-license of the Empires CD from Metal Blade. In 2012 the Hellhounds single was released. Duck does that because of idealistic reasons, he has been a Metal way longer than I have and that is his absolute life and after Gretes death he is still pulling through. Really awesome!!! At Iron Shield you can be sure that you will only get metal releases. With the new stuff we will see…

metaltalks.de: You are a big fan and maniac with heart. Are you pursuing the recent developments in the scene or are you restricting yourself in the past?

Heiländer: For about 30 years I have listened to metal. Still to this day, I have collected records, patches, metalmagazines, videos…etc… I am partly noticing what new bands there are and sometimes have material from them. There is a lot of good stuff. Or we are playing with bands which are just a few years old. There are a few really great maniacs with a good attitude existing, no question. I have to admit though, that I am way too big of a fan of a lot of bands and releases of the 80´s until the beginning 90´s. I am rooted from that time. We used to drive millions of kilometers back then to get the records and shirts. In 1988 I wanted to walk off to West Berlin because of Slayer and Nuclear Assault. In 1990 I resigned my job because the day a Slayer concert took place I was supposed to work. All of that shaped me. Albums such as Bonded by Blood, Hell Awaits, Pleasure to Kill, Ride The Lightning, Hail To England, Morbid Tales, Don’t Break The Oath, Black Metal, Gates To Purgatory, Leprosy, Seven Churches, Infernal Overkill… etc…, paired with the time back then, the rebellion, the unconditioned solidarity in the metal scene, everything together
is for me still a reason why I am playing metal. Up until today there are still really strong metalheads existing, a lot of young maniacs, it’s great. But on the other side is the name “metal” nowadays, in a way, is getting destroyed, so that every style-douchebag, every trend idiot thinks that he is also listening to “Metal”. Every Pop-retard nowadays drives to metal festivals which used to be pure metal, just to listen to sea chanties or Schlager (German pop songs).

metaltalks.de: Nuclear Blast just recently released their second album, Generation Kill. Do you know that band? For us Generation Kill is the perfect symbiosis of new and old. What do you think about the development in the area of Thrash-Metal? Do you think it should come to an end soon or do you think that new influences and always having new bands are good for the continuance of the scene?

Heiländer: I don’t know the entire album, I think I heard two songs. I think it’s okay. Pertaining to the development of Thrash Metal, I can´t really say anything. Fatal Embrace started to rock Thrash Metal again in 1993. During a time when there were still a few big bands of that genre existing, but basically no underground. We were all completely independent of trends. I personally think that I will never stop though. There will always be young metalbands who wear Sodom Shirts and bullet belts – honest and real hard music based on good feelings and hard rock.

metaltalks.de: Okay, we will see each other on December 28th in Blackland. Is it possible to see you guys live more often in 2014? Is there a tour planned already?

Heiländer: Well, we will be performing at the Blastfest in Norway, a festival where Marduk or Vader will be playing just to name a few. You also will be able to see us at the Chronical Moshers for example with Destruction and Napalm Death. Then there is another Thrashfest in Rostock and a few other things that will be getting public by occasion. You never know whether everything will work, a few gigs are still being prepared. And yes, a journey is planned through the former Yoguslav. If everything works out fine, that would be really awesome!!!

Translation: Sandra Frei