The
Ordeal
The Ordeal is a new band
that has managed to create a magical and difficult at the same time album.
"Kings Of Pain" is an amazing release that needs time in order to fully
understand it, but once you grasp its essence, you will be able to decipher
its inner meanings and depth and ultimately relish it!
1. HELLO OLIVER! “KINGS OF PAIN” IS A GREAT
ALBUM, BUT HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT IT, BEING ITS CREATOR? IS THERE ANYTHING
THAT YOU LISTEN NOW AND YOU’D LIKE TO CHANGE AND WHY?
No, there´s nothing on the album I would
change at all. Every Song grew during a three or four month working period,
some of them were in my head for even two years or more, and for that reason
the material shows a lot of influences on my life in the two years before
we recorded it. I´m a professional Flamenco Guitar Player, who became
a Heavy Metal Singer, after he wrote those nine songs, after he studied
classical guitar, after he played Electric Guitar and began a painting
artist´s career at the age of 12 years. All those themes and influences
are in the songs, which surround a story of an Alien invasion in southern
Spain and reflect nine several beings from this story, you can find on
our web site:
In June 2003 the band was inspired by our
trip to Spain to write these new songs. Each track represents an individual
from a magical circle of nine beings, and each is representative of how
Earth might react against a potential alien invasion. Our lyrics depict
a world of industrial and urban ruins, conquered temporarily by a legendary
Alien species first sighted in Spain that is able to change its appearance
into human form. The femme fatale version of the species is particularly
lethal and plots to get the codes for human defence against an alien invasion,
and in doing so to render our species helpless.
The whole CD is based on the fictional premise
of one John Torres, a member of the Terran Special Forces Unit from Spain.
Each track pushes the narrative further that begins with his testimony.
After the invasion has taken place and the world is shocked by how easily
havoc is wreaked on civilisation in Southern Europe, we managed to get
out there behind the Anti Alien Barriers in Southern France. We were deeply
impressed by the feats of these nine beings, living in the war zone with
nothing more then their lives and a mind full of resoluteness to defend
human civilisation.
As always we can´t be certain it´s
a coincidence that we met exactly nine more or less human creatures down
there, but we all know the magical meaning of the cipher nine as a symbol
of evenness. That's why there are nine songs on this album which act as
a mirror for every creature we met.
I really like the album up to know and I´m
convinced of every Song.
2.FROM THE PICTURES THAT I SAW IN THE BOOKLET,
I HAVE THE FEELING THAT THE ORDEAL IS NOT YOUR FIRST EFFORT IN HEAVY METAL
MUSIC. SO CAN YOU TELL US, IN WHICH BANDS YOU HAVE PLAYED BEFORE AND WHY
DID YOU DECIDE TO FORM THE ORDEAL NOW?
The Ordeal is my first Heavy Metal Band. I
never joined one before. After my Flamenco Guitar Studies I played in several
Flamenco Bands and founded a Flamenco School in Hannover, but I wrote a
lot of Metal and Art Rock Songs in the late Seventies and the early Eighties
when I lead an Art Rock Band called Aldebaran. But it was pure instrumental,
no singer at all. We won some prices at local hero’s contests and finished
the Band because every one of us developed into another direction. Cy played
the bass in that Band also. I know him from school.
The motivation to found The Ordeal resumed
from a deeply felt inner need to go back to my roots. As you can see on
my paintings web site I lived in a very fantastic and creative world of
non human beings since my first steps out of childhood. I am still absolute
convinced that there is more then one reality in our life and Heavy Metal
is the music to express that feeling.
3. YOUR MUSIC CAN BE DESCRIBED AS HEAVY/POWER
METAL, BUT IT DOESN’T HAVE THE USUAL SOUND THAT YOU EXPECT TO LISTEN FROM
A GERMAN BAND. PLEASE GIVE SOME INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR SOUND IN ORDER TO
GIVE A PICTURE OF IT TO THE PEOPLE THAT HAVEN’T LISTENED TO YOU YET……
For the surface viewer I always describe it
as somewhere between Dio, Black Sabbath an RATM, but that’s too superficial.
I´m thankful for what those guys gave me in my youth, but now I like
to add some new elements to what we grew up with. Bewaring a tradition
is an important thing for our generation, but we have to add our own experiences,
to keep it alive and Heavy Metal must live!!!! Our music is late
Seventies and early Eighties Metal combined with classical and flamenco
influences. The vocals are more or less traditional, sometimes colored
by new elements like shouted or rapped lyrics.
4. IN YOUR SOUND YOU COMBINE CLASSIC WITH MODERN
METAL ELEMENTS AND THAT IS WHAT CREATES THE ORIGINALITY OF YOUR SOUND.
DID YOU WANT TO DO THAT FROM THE MOMENT THAT YOU FORMED THE BAND OR IS
IT SOMETHING THAT OCCURRED WHILE YOU WERE COMPOSING THE SONGS?
The classical elements in my compositions
developed during a long time. I first studied classical guitar, before
I began my flamenco studies and I was busy with classical music for all
my life. It was natural to have those classical parts in my music.
5. SO FAR WE‘VE TALKED ABOUT THE MUSIC AND NOW
IT’S TIME TO SAY A FEW THINGS ABOUT THE LYRICS. FIRST OF ALL I WOULD LIKE
TO KNOW WHAT GIVES YOU INSPIRATION TO WRITE. ARE THERE ANY ARTISTS AND
MORE SPECIFICALLY DIRECTORS OR WRITERS WHOSE WORK IS A CONSTANT SOURCE
OF INSPIRATION FOR YOU?
Yes, of course I´am influenced from
some artists. The three top writers are: Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Dan
Simmons and Ronnie James Dio. Goethe gave me the Courage to try something
unusual and to search for an own way of creating a personal fantastic world.
Dan Simmons taught me to do it well-founded, describing a very modern,
a science fiction world. Ronnie is the Master of Magic and a skilful poet,
using wonderful clear and simple terms. His works accompanied me from the
beginning, especially from his Rainbow and the Black Sabbath Period.
6.OK, LET ME ASK THE QUESTION ABOUT THE LYRICS
REPHRASING IT A BIT. CAN YOU TELL US IN A FEW WORDS WHICH THE THEME OF
EACH SONG THAT YOU HAVE INCLUDED IN YOUR DEBUT RELEASE IS?
King of Pain: Like Dan Simmons' Shrike
in the novel Hyperion, this concerns a godlike creature, 'the core' sent
back through time to save the human race. We saw the results of his actions
on a battlefield close to Cordoba. Reverentially, we watched a silver shadow,
crushing through the lines of Aliens, leaving a bursting cloud of unknown
material behind it and then suddenly disappearing, after it had completed
the resistance. This is a creature partly created from the power of the
internet, which can appear and disappear at will, although it can work
for good as well as evil. The fuckin´ King of Pain. This song became
the title track of the album, because we believe in the ability to resist
against pain. We all should rule the Pain, we should be Kings of Pain.
The Lion: Under the Alien onslaught
we were forced to shelter in the Madrid metro. The lion is a twenty six
year old guy that I encountered during my time there who saved our lives
many times. We lived for three months below the surface of the town with
more than two hundred other survivors, while the Aliens raged the upper
side. Every time they sent out their Vanguard-Drones to kill us, he recognized
them first and led us deeper before he killed them. None of us would have
survived without him, he is as brave as a lion, a real hero!
Mirrorland: This is about a dream lady,
a vision of peace and freedom brought to us by this dream-like figure.
All of the band dreamed about the same woman, who stands magically with
two red birds on her shoulders. During all the hard times, she really helped
us psychologically to live through the experience.
Chained to the Dark: This is a song
about hope for mankind, even with all our differences. Perhaps one of our
old enemies, the wolf, could actually help us to conquer our warlike nature.
Animals and men are different, but facing an Alien Species we have the
same aims. Our whole history, evolution and our life on this planet is
determined by the same origin, so we should trust each other. This song
is written from the perspective of a wolf. He speaks to mankind and tries
to explain his magical bond to the Dark. We´re rescued by a wolf,
who shows us a way out.
Aliens in Spain: The story of the traitor
John Torres. He is seduced by the alien (who takes the form of a beautiful
woman) into giving up the security codes for the human defence system.
He dies a terrible death, killed in a fight against the aliens. But who
can resist the charms of a beautiful woman? Is he really to blame?
Wings of an Angel: We never encounter
the Mirrorland woman in the flesh, but this blonde angel in the desert
zone was definitely real. A reminder that even in the most arid and desperate
situations, love with a woman as beautiful and sweet as an angel can still
exist.
Unchain the Beast: In a last effort
to defeat the aliens, the second leader of the Man-Made Cybernetic Defend
Organism Troops appeals to the last priest in a small village under fire
to unchain the Devil. This song is dedicated to the priest who resists
the temptation to unleash havoc on the world. Nothing, not even the threat
of aliens taking over our world, is reason enough to unchain the Beast.
Did you say you love me?:
When he realises the sickening implications of his betrayal, John Torres
becomes angry. Like every cheated lover he feels betrayed, but his reckless
pillow talk could cost the lives of every man and woman on Earth...
Face the Storm: A song dedicated to
the man who gave me his bulletproof vest in the time I needed it more than
he did. Despite our best defences, both physical and emotional, we sometimes
just need to face the storm and stand up for ourselves.
7.WHY DID YOU NAME THE BAND “THE ORDEAL”? WHAT
DOES THIS WORD MEAN TO YOU?
The most satisfying things in life and the
most impressive experiences are always achieved by real work or under heavy
losses. An Ordeal is a fire baptism, a test of your character on the way
to the inner circle of your soul. We all have to do it, being honest to
us. It is not only a name; it is my way of living. I don´t believe
in easy achievements.
8.LET’S SAY THAT YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO INVITE
IN A FUTURE ALBUM OF YOURS SOME FAMOUS ARTISTS THAT YOU ADMIRE. WHO WOULD
YOU CHOOSE AND WHY?
Oh, what a difficult selection. There are
so many!! On the one hand there are so many Artists I´d like to work
with; on the other hand the guys in my band are fantastic too. I know some
of them for only three years now. We have not worked out all the material
we created together at all and as you know I really like what we did. I
think The Ordeal in this constellation is a very powerful and creative
magical ring. It´s much too early to leave it. Famous Artists are
good for your career but the career is not the most important for me. The
Band first……you know?
9.BY THE WAY THE COVER ARTWORK IS GREAT. WHO IS
THE ARTIST THAT DID IT? HOW IS IT CONNECTED TO YOUR LYRICS AND MUSIC? DID
THE ARTIST LISTEN TO YOUR SOUND BEFORE CREATING THE PAINTING?
Perhaps you don´t know it, but there
are two Covers of that Album. I created an own Cover and a different Album
title. Originally it was called “Aliens in Spain”, but Mausoleum did not
like it and changed the Artwork and the Title. We were an absolute unknown
Band and we agreed to this, after we saw the new Artwork, because I still
like it too.
On my personal website you can find those
two paintings, which made the original Cover. They are called: “Alien from
Spain” and “Lady Apocalyptica”.
10.YOU HAVE PLAYED RECENTLY AS SUPPORT ACT FOR
RAGE. WHAT DO YOU REMEMBER FROM THAT SHOW? WILL YOU DO ANY MORE LIVES IN
ORDER TO PROMOTE YOUR ALBUM? IS THERE A POSSIBILITY TO COME TO GREECE?
We played thirteen gigs with Rage, crossing
Europe. I remember a lot of different impressions. We had fantastic shows
in Spain and France before we returned to Germany to welcome the fans in
our home country. Rage were a very convincing On Stage Act and they treated
us quite fair, besides two gigs with terrible circumstances for us…and
them also…….but forget it we´re no Honeysuckers.
Rage are ok!! It was a quite nice exchange
of musical ideas, because our Guitar Player Kai and Victor Smolsky liked
each other, they share a very similar way of playing. Hard Workers for
High End Guitar Playing, not this fucking New Metal Stuff without any Virtuosity.
We would like to visit Greece very much. I´m
sure we will do a tour over Europe again with the new Album in autumn or
winter 2006.
11.OLIVER I HAVE ALSO VISITED YOUR PERSONAL SITE
AND I SAW THAT YOU ALSO DRAW. DO YOU DO THAT AS A HOBBY OR IS IT A PROFESSIONAL
WORK? HOW COME AND YOU DIDN’T DRAW THE COVER FOR YOUR DEBUT ALBUM?
Well, the second part of your question I already
replied in Number 9.). I´m working as a semi professional Drawer/Artist.
I do about twenty new paintings every year and I try to spend every free
time with a brush in my Hands. Actually I am working on very large paintings
with Acryl Colors and some PC Graphics.
12.DO YOU HAVE ANY NEW SONGS READY? WHEN SHOULD
WE WAIT FOR YOUR UPCOMING ALBUM?
Yes, we are actually working on new material,
and we are scheduled to record those new songs in March/April 2006. The
new stuff is very straight but we are again presenting an epic eight or
ten minutes hammer like “The Lion” and some powerful Up Tempo Numbers like
“Unchain the Beast”. Be assured the new Album won´t be less exiting
and fascinating than the debut. We burn for it and we´ll keep it
going on.
13.IT WAS A PLEASURE DOING THIS INTERVIEW! THE
LAST LINES BELONG TO YOU AND ALSO LEAVE A MESSAGE TO THE PEOPLE THAT WILL
READ THIS INTERVIEW…
Greece is a country with a wonderful poetic
and mystical history. Once your country has shown the majority of the world
the splitting of reality into the world of the gods and the common beings,
but also its connections. This was a great achievement, keep it alive!
Never forget that life consist of at least two realities: The visible and
the invisible. There is more than only one layer of truth. Try to close
your eyes and look for the inner circle of your soul: The bridge towards
the inner circles tower, Raven´s eyes could lead you through the
ground, The sign you´ll find will lock up all your power, Go ahead
straight on don´t turn around.
Oliver Oppermann
Nick "William_Kidd"
Parastatidis
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