Double
Diamond
Double Diamond is one of
the best clasic 80s heavy metal bands I've ever come across! Their music
brought chills to my spinal chord and was intensely reminiscent of times
long gone, times when true heavy metal dominated everything! I didn't have
the chance to live through that era, but I'm sure that Double Diamond's
music is the closest we can get if we want to revive that feeling and atmosphere
of our beloved music!
1. HELLO! NOW THAT “STAND UP AND FIGHT” IS
READY AND IN THE STORES HOW DO YOU EVALUATE IT? ARE YOU CONTENT WITH IT
OR ARE THERE THINGS YOU’D LIKE TO CHANGE?
Not really…but if you ask the same question
in a year or so I can tell you more…;-))
2. YOU ARE A BAND THAT STARTED OUT IN 1990 IF
I AM NOT MISTAKEN AND YET YOU DON’T HAVE MANY ALBUMS OUT. ACTUALLY BEFORE
“STAND UP AND FIGHT” YOU HAD RELEASED YOUR DEBUT ALBUM “IN DANGER” AND
A LIVE CD. WHY WEREN’T YOU MORE PRODUCTIVE?
In 1990 we recorded our first demo "Reflections"...
In 1992 we recorded our second one "Behind Your Eyes". We played a lot
at bikermeetings because there was not much interest for "normal" metal
in those years. In 1997 our first album "In Danger" was recorded and that's
we got the support on the 1998 Hammerfall-tour. Between the release of
“In Danger” and “Stand Up And Fight” is a giant gap of looking for a good
distribution. We recorded and financed “In Danger” completely by ourselves
– and that was a hell of a job (and expensive). After the recordings were
done, we had a cellar full of cd’s and we had to do the distribution by
ourselves, that was a very hard and time-consuming job. So we decided never
to record something again without a distribution deal – and that’s the
main reason for the less productive years... The next problem came because
we are a Belgian band, they don’t sell good… If we were Scandinavian we
already would have a deal back in 1997…In 1999, Luc Philippi, our other
guitarist left us because of his job. He had to move to the USA. He was
replaced by Tom but it took a while to become a real band again. Luc was
9 years with us…you take not easily such a place! But after a year, youngster
Tom was completely raised on Double Diamond (lol). After that we contributed
to a few compilations, recorded the "Conquer With Steel" EP and played
a lot. For example with Annihilator, Overkill, Omen, Killer, Blaze and
others. After the release from "Stand Up And Fight" we played with WASP,
Primal Fear, Blaze and others...
3. OK NOW WHY DID IT TAKE YOU 8 YEARS TO RELEASE
YOUR SECOND ALBUM? WHAT WAS GOING ON IN THE DOUBLE DIAMOND CAMP IN THE
MEANWHILE?
Look at the previous question!
4. COULD YOU POINT OUT THE MOST IMPORTANT SIMILARITIES
AND DIFFERENCES BETWEEN “IN DANGER” AND “STAND UP AND FIGHT”?
We recorded “In Danger” here in Belgium in
the Aladdin Studio and we had the album produced by (ex-Scorpions drummer)
Rudy Lenners, which explains the ‘softer’ sound of the album. He’s a very
funny guy, always telling new jokes, and very pleasant to work with. And
he has the gift to push musicians to a higher standard. Rudy and Denis
(the studio-technician) were a great team, they really did a fantastic
job for us! At that time we were very happy with the result but, as usual,
only a few months or years later you have a more ‘critic’ view on the stuff.
Now we can say that the ‘overall’ sound could have been a lot heavier.
It sounds too “clean”. During the recordings everything went smooth and
relaxed. On the other hand our fans were a bit disappointed with the sound,
because they were used to the harder live-sound on stage. That’s what we
wanted to change on later recordings. By recording “Stand Up And Fight”
with producer Tony De Block, we learned a lot about what a heavy sound
is about and how important it is to record different layers of guitars
for a greater sound for example. Tony, ex-guitar player of Hellfire (a
Belgian metal band of the 80s), knows very well how metal (especially Heavy
Metal!) should sound and gave us more a “live sound”. The next album will
be heavier again with a more modern approach of production, but still normal
Heavy Metal off course!!!
5. I SUPPOSE YOU READ MY REVIEW, SO YOU KNOW WHAT
I THINK OF YOUR MUSIC. HOWEVER, IF YOU WERE ASKED TO WRITE A REVIEW, WHAT
WOULD YOU SAY TRYING TO BE AS OBJECTIVE AS POSSIBLE?
I would say the band really has metal in its
veins and they would keep the old-heavy metal alive. Production is good,
in a ‘80s way, but the drums could have had a little more “heaviness”.
They have two very skilled guitar players (hmmhmm-lol ;-))) and a very
good singer. I think you should ask me that question again when our next
album comes out…then I can judge better over “Stand Up And Fight” because
there’s something new to be proud of ;-))
6. YOU PLAY 80S CLASSIC HEAVY METAL WITH CATCHY
RIFFS AND AMAZING EPIC THEMES. SO, WHICH WORDS (BESIDES THE ONES ALREADY
MENTIONED) DO YOU THINK ARE IDEAL TO EXPRESS YOUR SOUND?
Difficult question… I would say: dark, power,
and love for metal music…
7. TELL US A FEW THINGS ABOUT THE LYRICAL SECTION
OF THE ALBUM. WHICH ARE THE MAIN TOPICS YOU DEAL WITH?
The lyrics are telling lots of stories. Personally
I’m interested a lot in Fantasy, Sorcery, sci-fi movies and Conan-kind
stuff. When I look at that kind of movies, read books or play our songs,
it’s like I’m in another world! For some it might be a cliche; I don’t
care! Heavy metal is a way of life and they can’t take it away from me!
Some of them are metal-minded like “Ride The Wind” and “Warriors Of Steel”,
I even wrote one about the use of life “Father Of Time” – as soon as we
are born we are starting to die...but you shouldn’t take this to seriously
off course ;-)). But even reality is told in my lyrics – “Flash In The
Sky” is the story about the disaster involving space shuttle Colombia for
example, or “Be Strong” about dictators like Saddam…
8. THE COVER ARTWORK IS SIMPLY ENCHANTING AND
AMAZING! HOW IS RESPONSIBLE FOR IT? THIS IS CONAN ON THE FRONT COVER RIGHT?
COULD YOU DESCRIBE THE MEANING OF THE COVER?
An album cover is very important to show what
you’re playing. With this beautiful Conan-like cover, no one will think
we are a hardcore band, a death metal band or a dance-outfit. Everybody
knows a band with such a cover plays metal like it should be. On the other
hand, I’m a big comics fan (not the American stuff – but Segrelles, and
Rosinski things) and like very well drawn stuff. That’s why we worked with
Eric Philippe (Rhapsody, Holy Mother...) before (for the “In Danger” cover
and the “Conquer With Steel” picture EP) and now with Ken Kelly…he drew
the Manowar covers, and was responsible for the Destroyer and Love Gun
sleeves of Kiss and also for one of my all-time favourites: Rainbow-Rising!!!
So, when our record company suggested him I just needed 2 seconds to say
yes!!! One second to realise what was suggested, and the other to speak
the word: yes! ;-))
9. DO YOU HAVE ANY PLANS FOR LIVE APPEARANCES?
WHAT SHOULD THE FANS EXPECT TO SEE IN ONE OF YOUR GIGS?
Sheer power and entertainment…we have fun
on stage and that reflects on the audience! We will play a little club
tour with British metallers Conquest Of Steel later in February. It will
be fun…We will play also at the Swordbrothers festival in Germany with
the mighty Torch and Witchhammer and a lot of other bands. We have a lot
of bookings at the moment so it will be a good year!
10. WHAT’S GOING ON WITH THE BELGIAN METAL SCENE?
ALTHOUGH IT’S NOT SO FAMOUS WORLDWIDE YOU HAVE A STRONG AND VERY GOOD UNDERGROUND
SCENE, ESPECIALLY IN THE DEATH/BLACK METAL GENRES. SO, WHAT’S GOING ON
WITH THE CLASSIC METAL OVER THERE? ANY OTHER INTERESTING BANDS YOU’D LIKE
TO PINPOINT FOR US?
There are only a few real metal bands over
here. Desperation, Crusader and Everglow for example…I like Desperation
the most for they have a good singer…Crusader and Everglow are good friends
of ours but I’m not fond of the vocals they use, but hey other people do
like them so who am I to judge? Next problem is the size of Belgium. If
you play 10 times over here you will play most likely the 11th time in
the same venue…
11. IF YOUR MUSIC WERE AN EMOTION, WHAT WOULD
IT BE? IF IT WERE A PAINTING, WHAT WOULD IT SHOW?
You really ask very difficult questions…Emotion…I
guess there would be a lot of it. Every song has its own feel and so its
own emotions. There would be anger: for the misuse of our planet by people
who only like to make more profit…for the people who like to kill someone
just for the fun of it…There would be despair…for things that are happening
and can’t be changed…There would also be pride…for what we try to reach
and never give up…There would also be love and admiration…for those who
gave their lives so that someone else could live in peace…just a few to
name now – if you read the lyrics and listen to the emotion in our singer’s
voice, I think you pretty much understand what I mean. If it was a painting…
I think the “Stand Up And Fight” cover says it all…Stand Up And Fight…for
what you think is right…Fight for the love of a woman (or a man, friend
or whatever), fight for your country to keep it free, fight for the planet
to keep it green and alive for our children, fight for the right to love
metal…Stand up and face your faith goddamned…never give in!!
12. BY THE WAY HOW DID YOU CHOOSE YOUR MONIKER,
DOUBLE DIAMOND? DON’T YOU HAVE ANY PROBLEMS WITH DOUBLE DIAMOND FROM SWEDEN?
Nope…We chose our name after seeing the UK
beer brand. Our home base is Antwerp (Capital of the diamond-business)
and our music is as hard and brilliant as a diamond…so you have two diamonds…double
diamond – end of story.
13. LET’S SUPPOSE THAT THERE WAS NO MUSIC IN THE
WORLD. WHAT WOULD YOU DO IN SUCH A CASE?
Being a superhero…(lol) Saving the world from
all those bastards who are trying to destroy it… Saving animals from being
hurt. I would stand up and fight for the right of every living creature
to live in health and in peace.
14. IF YOU HAD THE CHANCE TO INVITE FAMOUS MUSICIANS
IN ONE OF YOUR LIVE SHOWS, WHO WOULD YOU CHOOSE AND WHY?
That would be Bruce Dickinson, he is a great
performer! Then I would love to play a song together with Chris Oliva…but
the problem is he’s dead…so, because we play sometimes live “Hall Of The
Mountain King” Jon Oliva would be great to do the guest vocals ;-). Top
of the bill would be …standing side by side with him on stage. This would
be marvelous.
15. THANK YOU! PLEASE LEAVE YOUR MESSAGE…
I hope that more of the rock/metal press starts
turning toward those bands who do not stand for renewal but which stick
to the old standards. And…thanks to you for your support and for this interview
– I’m very happy you gave us this opportunity, we will never forget that
– Metal Rules!!!
Erwin Suetens – Guitars, Double Diamond
Christine Parastatidou
|