Interview with Michael S.
www.stutzer-music.com

Anno 2007 the acclaimed Danish cult thrash act Artillery becomes active once again, but this time without their legendary singer, Flemming Rönsdorf. After a turbulent and rough history with the vocalist, the band finally decided to get a new frontman. Søren Nico Adamsen was announced as the new vocalist. That's not where the good news ends either, since the band started recording a new album in March of 2009, being their sixth full-length since their inception in 1982. The album is entitled When Death Comes and released through Polish based Metal Mind Productions. Headbangers and headbangerellas, I give you this exclusive chance to get the first impression of the new album. Here follows my interview with Michael (guitars).


MR: First of all, thanks for doing this interview!
Michael S: You are very welcome!

MR: Let us start with the beginning: what attracted you to heavy metal music in general and thrash metal in particular? What did you grew up listening to?
Michael S: Both Morten and I started to listen to heavy rock through our friend's big brother. He introduced bands like Deep Purple, Black Sabbath, Judas Priest and Grand Funk Railroad to us at first. We were really attracted to the heaviness and power in the music, and especially the raw guitar made me want to play music like this. The first concerts we saw (at a very young age) was Slade, Kiss and Deep Purple, etc. in 1974-1976.   Later on came Iron Maiden, Mercyful Fate, Metallica and also punk bands like GBH!

MR: When did you start your musical career? Who are your big influences?
Michael S: We started to play music in 1978 doing covers of Black Sabbath (N.I.B and Paranoid), UFO (Shoot Shoot), Jimi Hendrix (Hey Joe) and Grand Funk Railroad (Inside Looking out, etc.) in a band called Voodoo. In 1980 we started to play heavier songs of our own in a band called Devil's Symphony, which also featured Ole Frausing, who was a former Mercyful Fate drummer .
My influences goes from people like Ian Anderson (Jethro Tull), Toni Iommi (Black Sabbath), Michael Schenker (when he was with UFO) James Hetfield and Gary Holt among others!
On a side note, I listen to everything from Jethro Tull to Slayer, as long as it sounds good and have a heavy edge!

MR: When thinking of metal (thrash) musicians and bands as yours one always think of Bay Area and bands such as Testament, Death Angel, Metallica, Megadeth, Anthrax etc. Have you been listening to those bands yourself?
Michael S: I listen to all of those bands but also Exodus, Heathen and Slayer had made a big impact on Artillery!

MR: Some of you were in other bands, even before Artillery. Tell us about your pre-Artillery bands, but also if any of you are currently involved in any other bands/projects beside of Artillery?
Michael S: As told before we started playing covers in bands like Woodoo and Unicornand even before we could play, we had our own band called Silver cross (inspired by the cross Black Sabbath had on their necks on their first albums!
Then came Devil's Symphony where songs like "Mind of No Return", T"ime Has Come" and "Into the Universe" were born with the first riffs and then used in Artillery!
In 1992 -1997 I was playing in Missing Link and Morten started the band Furious Trauma and then join Missing Link in 1993!
Carsten and Jørgen played in a band called 4Q.
Søren is still playing beside Artillery in Black Sabbath Jam! Morten have a hobby band with some working colleagues! Also, I play just for fun together with our roadie Martin.

MR: Now I wanted to ask you about your co-operation with Metal Mind Productions from Poland. How did you came in touch with them and are you satisfied with their re-release of your material?
Michael S: One day I got a call from Metal Mind, who was about to release the box set Through the Years and I was asked, if I got some rare demo’s and pics etc! After that they asked us to play at The Metal Mania festival and record a live DVD. They also released our back catalogue from Neat and Roadrunner which was a great idea; I know a lot of people were asking for them cos they couldn't find them anywhere! So yes I feel we had a great corporation with them and they seem very satisfied with our new album!

MR: What's your favourite Artillery album and why?
Michael S: I can’t really say, cos there are so many feelings around each album!
Fear of Tomorrow was our debut album and was a very exiting and learning process! Favourite songs might be “Eternal War”, “The Almighty” and “Time Has Come”!
Terror Squad was our most thrashy album, and in many ways a ground breaking album for us, and it was also a very painful process, because it was delayed for over a year   Favourite songs might be “The Challenge”,” In The Thrash” and “Terror Squad”.
By Inheritance was our most Technical and complex album and was also a little breakthrough for us, sadly was it also the album who made the band dispended, due to problems with our earlier singer ! Favourite songs might be “Khomaniac”,” By Inheritance” and “Don't Believe”.
B.A.C.K was a good comeback album, but was never back-up with tours and things like that because of Flemming's lack of commitment for the band! Favourite songs might be “Cybermind”,” Final Show” and “Theatrical Exposure”.
When Death Comes is of cause my favourite right now and I really believe in this album who really was fun and exciting to work on Favourite songs might be the whole album!

MR: What about songs? I know you would say that songs are like children, you love them all, but maybe there’s particular one that stands close to your heart?
Michael S: That’s really a tough one, I really don’t know, but songs like "The Almighty", "Terror Squad", "Khomaniac" and "10.000 Devils" are extremely good to play live. So I guess I picked them! 

MR: How would you describe your relationship with the rest of the band? And what about your relations with other Danish bands?
Michael S: The relationship in the band is better than ever, we all have a great time touring, recording etc. , and can talk about everything, including other things than music. We talk to a lot of Danish bands and have a good time with them!

MR: A new album When Death Comes is coming in 2009; please tell us some more about that.
Michael S: I think that this album really will get the band back in business  again, I will compare it to By Inheritance, not that it sound like that, but it have some very catchy songs on it, like it had on BI. According to the reactions on the 2 songs that was uploaded on Metal Mind Productions homepage the reaction has been really great!  

MR: What is your impact -both musically and lyrically- on this album? Are you all guys equally involved in creating the songs?
Michael S: Morten comes with most of the riffs and Søren with most of the lyrics, but we all having our inputs to make the songs work. I really think we work as a unit!

MR: Who was responsible for the cover artwork? I find it very fascinating.
Michael S: It was the guy at Metal Mind “Graal” who worked it out of an idea from the band. He also did the covers for our box set and DVD!

MR: How would you say that the metal scene here in Denmark, but also globally, changed during the last 20+ years since the formation of Artillery?
Michael S: I think it had devolved a lot, in the old days the scene was Mercyfull Fate, Pretty Maids and Artillery! Today there are a lot of bands like Volbeat, Hatesphere, Illdisposed and a lot more.

MR: You’ve played many gigs, but is there one in particular that is unforgettable?
Michael S: We really love to play live and it doesn’t matter if it’s a small club gig or a festival, but the gigs we played in Russia was really special!
  
MR: So, I guess many Spinal-Tap moments during your career?
Michael S: Yeah we had a few, but that does also make it funny to think about them today! 

MR: What else do you do in life, besides playing heavy metal?
Michael S: We all have our daily jobs and families some of us are very interested in soccer. And beside that I think we are all living a really normal life listening to a lot of music!

MR: Anything else you have to say to the fans?
Michael S: We really appreciate the great support from all your guys, giving us a great time (special the fun we had playing gigs in the last year in Germany) Thanks look out for When Death Comes.

MR: Thank you so much for letting us feature your mighty band for our readers and your fans.
Michael S: Also a special thanks to you for supporting the band!

Interview done by Bato