Valrock zine: Interview

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sábado, 10 de agosto de 2019

Interview with German/sweden melodic metal band Mentalist

By Vivian Oliveira

Mentalist is a German melodic power metal band (Saarbrücken) with musicians from Germany and Sweden. Formed in 2018, the first album will be released in late 2019. In this interview the musicians Kai Stringer, Peter Moog and Thomen Stauch talk about Mentalist and his other bands and projects.

Valrock zine: How was a band formed and what are its influences?

Kai Stringer: Peter Moog (guitars) and I are longtime friends. We've known each other for 20 years now. We always wanted to make some music together one day- well and then it happened in the beginning of 2018. Peter came up with the idea of the band name. Our goal was, is and always will be to make great melodic power metal and of course to conquer the whole world with our band Mentalist.

Thomen Stauch: One thing is for sure! This band wouldn´t exist without Peter. We like to call him „Peter the leader“! :-) He has so much influence on everything happening inside the band, that without him this band absolutely would not be the band Mentalist anymore, but a completely other band. When Peter and me met for the first time, about three years ago, we knew that there would happen a musical collaboration between us someday! We started the first recordings in 2019, when there was just Peter, Kai and me in the band. Then, after the first recordings, that were more or less still working- tracks, we got joined by Florian Hertel (bass), who was already pretty popular as virtuoso on the bass in the local scene around Saarbruecken. Then a friend of us, who knew Rob from youtube already, suggested him as singer for Mentalist. Peter contacted him and Rob seemed to like our stuff a lot, that´s why he agreed pretty fast on the offer to become our singer. We´re all very glad to have him on board. We can´t imagine a better frontman for Mentalist! He´s a very open-minded person as regards all concerns. It´s real fun to work with him and listen to his creative words with great ideas.

VZ: What are the musical influences of each of you?

Kai: I think you can sometimes hear our musical roots in our songs. Peter has always been a big fan of bands like Iron Maiden, Blind Guardian and Helloween. Florian Hertel (bass) and I are big prog metal and guitar shredding fans. Thomen Stauch (drums) has no influence. He is the influence! As for Rob Lundgren (vocals), he's influenced from pop music to heavy metal. All kinds of musical stuff he's into. You can convince yourself of that by watching his youtube channel Rob Lundgren (https://www.youtube.com/user/LundgrenRob). He's a very emotional and powerful singer.

VZ: Mentalists first album will be released later this year. What can you tell us about it?

Peter Moog: The album will be released in about half a year. There will be a few interesting guest musicians. Among others by the band Kamelot and one of my absolute favorite singers: Daniel Heiman (formerly Lost Horizon). There is a close friendship with musicians of Kamelot through our sandbox friend Alex Landenburg.

VZ: In June the band announced Thomen Stauch as a drummer, a very experienced musician. How was the recording process?

Kai: Very short. Thomens first take always strikes. In his veins is running pure melodic metal blood. He has a natural feeling to add groove to stress melodies.

Thomen: :-O Woooww!!! Thank you so much for your kindness, Kai! Incredible words, my great guitar hero! Kai is God on the guitars and sooo flexible concerning styles and his skills. This guy was totally underrated so far, but as a member of Mentalist this will change soon, hopefully! He´s also a very good friend, as everyone in the band, too. I´m so glad to be part of this fantastic band and having won so many good new buddies. Our collaboration works fantastic!

VZ: In 2002 Thomas couldn't participate in the Blind Guardian tour in Brazil because of a right arm tendon infection. I hope one day you play in Brazil with a Mentalist. :)

Peter: Wow. You have a great memory :) I can confirm that Thomen´s health status is very good. Many positive reactions to our first released song Freedom of the Press (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fni0IlI1DVY) came from Brazil and we are happy that Brasil currently decorates rank 3 of our social media followers. So, if the opportunity arises, we will of course play concerts in Brazil. Thomen has to deliver a few Blind Guardian songs as an excuse then. ;-) We have now created our own Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/MentalistBand/.

Thomen: Oh yeah, I can actually confirm that I feel healthy and am in pretty good condition, so I´m anxiously looking forward to playing in one of my favorite countries again, soon! Brazil is great! I love the country and its fanatical metal fans and warm-hearted people!

VZ: What is your opinion about the current German and world melodic metal scene ?

Peter: I regret that there are hardly any good releases in the melodic metal scene for many years now. Before, we were very indulged by good bands coming from Germany, but that changed within the last years. Now, we unfortunately reached the point where several of the most popular bands have already become a bit more leisurely. Germany urgently needs good new bands with constantly great quality on their albums. For me, personally, Scandinavian countries, especially Sweden, are currently the leading ones as concerns good melodic metal releases. For example, Beast in Black (o.k., Finnish/Greek ;-p), Majestica and Lancer are already very good new bands in the starting blocks.

VZ: Kai, you also play in the German melodic power metal band Starchild. How is the process of recording the second album?

Kai: The second album Killer Robots (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCdONlauhiI) was recorded two years ago. Not many people noticed it but the album was released in March 2019 this year. A great album, well done and absolutely worth to be listened by every melodic metal fan.

VZ: A possible Mentalist presentation with Starchild this year?

Kai: I don't think so. Starchild does not play many concerts at the moment because Starchild Frontman Sandro is currently directing a German movie. Mentalist is bursting with energy and wants to conquer the world.

VZ: Are the other members also playing in other bands? Which are?

Peter: Rob Lundgren is still singing in a fantastic band called Reveal (https://www.facebook.com/RevealOfficial/). We are also looking forward to the release of Thomen´s second band Dawn of Amber (https://www.facebook.com/dawnofamber/).

VZ: And What is the forecast to show the debut of the Mentalist?

Kai: It's not for sure that the album will be released this year, but it will be released in around 6 month. We hope that our music pleases many other heavy metal fans.

Thomen: We´re anxiously looking forward to hitting the road next year for the first time with Mentalist. That will surely be a fantastic experience!

VZ: Thank you so much for the interview and leave a comment for Valrock zine readers and read the band fans.

Kai: I wish all the best and always lots of public attention for Valrock magazine to reach all the fantastic and valuable metal heads out there. You do a great job, really - Rock on!

Peter: We wish you good luck with the magazine. It's wonderful that people personally support and promote the Metal music.

Thomen: Yeah, all the best for the future to Valrock zine and of course a big THANX to all the Mentalist supporters in Brazil! Not to forget, my dear loyal fans in Brazil, who followed almost all of my activities and supported me constantly throughout all those years! You all simply rock! LOVE YA ALL!!!

Band members:
Rob Lundgren (vocals)
Peter Moog (rhythm & lead guitar)
Kai Stringer (Starchild - rhythm & lead guitar)
Florian Härtl (bass guitar)
Thomen Stauch (Savage Circus, ex-Blind Guardian - drums)

Informations:

https://www.facebook.com/mentalistband/

https://www.instagram.com/MentalistBand/

https://www.youtube.com/MentalistBand/

Related Sites:
Dawn of Amber: https://www.facebook.com/dawnofamber/
Kai Stringer: http://www.kai-stringer.com/index.php?site=news
Savage Circus: https://www.facebook.com/SavageCircus/
Starchild: http://starchildband.com/
Reveal: http://www.revealband.com/
Thomas "Thomen" Stauch: https://www.facebook.com/ThomenStauchofficial/

________________________________________

Related news:

10/08/2019 - Entrevista com a banda de metal melódico alemão/sueca Mentalist
28/07/2019 - Mentalist: First song released

terça-feira, 12 de julho de 2016

ENTREVISTAS / Interview

Entrevistas (em português):

10/08/2019 - Entrevista com a banda de metal melódico alemão/sueca Mentalist
10/08/2019 - Interview with German/sweden melodic metal band Mentalist
12/12/2018 - Entrevista com Bodão, guitarrista da Zilla
25/12/2017 - Entrevista com Patrice Guers (RHAPSODY REUNION)
15/12/2017 - Nemesis lança novo vídeo "Uprising"
28/08/2016 - Primal Fear divulga novo álbum em turnê na América do Sul (entrevista)
04/05/2016 - AFFRONT
13/03/2016 - Steve Harris (Iron Maiden)
21/05/2014 - Sandro Giampietro (Starchild)

Interview (in English):

28/08/2016 - Primal Fear releases new album on tour in South America (interview)
21/05/2014 - Sandro Giampietro (Starchild)

quarta-feira, 21 de maio de 2014

Interview with lead vocals Sandro Giampietro of Starchild

Starchild: Michael Ehré, Dennis Hormes, Sandro Giampietro, Esmeralda and Jens Becker

Starchild is a german melodic metal band and started in 2012 by Sandro Giampietro / Lead Vocals & Guitars (Zillion, songwriter & producer for Michael Kiske, co-songwriter for Unisonic) who feature with Jens Becker / Bass (Zillion, Grave Digger), Michael Ehré / Drums (Love Might Kill, Gamma Ray), Esmeralda / Electric Violin (Violin Virtuoso from Sankt Petersburg) and Dennis Hormes, the new 2nd guitar player. Last month the band released your first album titled "Starchild". Our interview with Sandro which will tell more about your new band.

By Vivian Oliveira

Valrock zine: How was Starchild born and who came up with the name?

Sandro Giampietro: After the Zillion (Mike Terrana/Drums, Jens Becker/Bass) I was very busy with my Family and Studio work and a lot of Touring as well. Within the last 3 years I was very in the mood to build up a new Metalband. I had a lot of songs written which fit together perfect. I started to make Demos of the songs and had so much fun doing it that I knew this is the right thing to do. I knew the drummer Michael Ehrè since many years. We thought that it’s so stupid that we never had a band together for all these years. So Michael was the choice no.1. Jens Becker, my cousin, is one of the best Bass player for Metal. The violin player Esmeralda was recording a CD in my studio. I was impressed from her passionate playing. After the recording session we started to jam Vivaldi and Paganini on Violin and Electric Guitar. Then I showed her some Starchild songs: she was exited to join the band and I trout so too. I’m a big SciFi fan. As I heard about the Starchild skull that was found in Mexico with only half of the DNA being Human, I thought that this is the perfect name for the band.

Sandro Giampietro

VZ: In "Black And White Forever", Michael Kiske sings a duet with you on the track and the German comedian Helge Schneider also play the organ in that track. The benefits of this song will be donated to a cancer aid and research foundation. How does this idea come from?
Sandro: Last year was a very terrible year for my Family. We had luck with the Hospital in Marburg, Germany, which brought us health. This was the inspiration for the song.

VZ: Tell us about the guest of Helge Schneider (who also plays on "Visions" track) and Sandy Brechin (accordionist) on "Forever".
Sandro: Helge Schneider is one of the most famous German Comedians. I played a few hundred gigs with Helge. We played a few years with Pete York (Spencer Davis Group) and had a real good time playing old Jazz tunes and the funny Songs of Helge. He plays so much instruments so good, but I loved him playing organ most. Helge played also on the charity duet with Michael Kiske. Sandy Brechin is a famous accordionist from Scotland. He played a few gigs with a friend of mine and played some tracks on an album I produced in my studio. That was the right time to ask him to play on the song "Forever".

Video clip image: "Starchild"

VZ: You also already played with Jens in the Zillion. What more differs over the two bands?
Sandro: The Band Zillion was a totally different story. Starchild is a lot more in the melodic power metal style. Zillion was a melodic Hardrock band.

VZ: Starchild was confirmed on Wacken Open Air in 31.07.2014. Is this the first scheduled show? There will be a album release show?
Sandro: We are very proud to play on Wacken O.A.. This is so unbelievable fast to have a gig on this huge festival for such a new band. We will have a warm up Gig on the 26th of July. Everyone is Invited. :)

Starchild Album (2014)

VZ: When will be the events outside Germany? Or even outside Europe?
Sandro: We are working hard on a support tour with the agency All Access. We will be very happy to tour outside from Europe.

VZ: Now, Dennis is the new guitarist. Why the decision to add a second guitarist?
Sandro: Dennis Hormes is one of my favorite guitarists for a long time. He is known as one of the best German players. Now I have more space to just perform as the singer of the band. Of course I will still play some tunes but not always. Dennis will also sing the back vocal.

VZ: How do you knew him?
Sandro: I saw him playing on a session and was impressed by his nice Tone.

VZ: He will play with the band at the W.O.A. or only from the band's second show?
Sandro: Yes, we are a real band and if it’s possible we play all together. Dennis will surely be with us on Wacken.

VZ: What do you know about festivals heavy metal in Latin America?
Sandro: I know that there are many metal fans out there in Brazil. If we’re getting to reach a lot more people, I’m sure we’ll be on a festival soon.

VZ: Give a message to the Brazilian metalheads!
Sandro: Hey Brazil, we’re longing to rock with you! Metal lives in Brazil!