RITUAL STEEL
HEAVY METAL
FROM
GERMANY
Band Questions
answer by
MARTIN ZELLMER
Please introduce yourself and the band members briefly?
Me: Born in 1969 and a passionate metaller since late 1982. Vinyl and CD
Collector. Musician since the mid-80s.
Sven Böge: Has studied music in the USA and in Austria, for many years
bandleader and guitarist for the Progressive Metal band IVORY TOWER.
Has its own recording studio where we also record with RITUAL STEEL!
Take over the bass guitar in our studio!
John Cason: American singer! Like Sven Böge since 2005 at Ritual Steel!
Also singer and frontman at EXILED (US Power Metal).
What does the band name mean and how do you get it?
The band name came to mind in the 90's! Maybe because of the band
RITUAL from Ohio, who recorded a very strong album on Massacre
Records in the early 90's! Anyway, I like band names where you quickly
know what to expect!
Where and how was the band founded?
During the 90's and my time at RED FIRE RAIN I already had the idea for
RITUAL STEEL. 2001 it was time and we released our first single!
Have you played in other bands before?
In the 90's I recorded 2 CDs and several demo tapes with RED FIRE
RAIN! Later I played for a couple of years in a biker rock band where we
mostly covered songs from AC / DC and LED ZEPPELIN! In other projects
I was also active at that time! Like later also in 2003 at ISEN TORR, 2010
at STEEL MAID and from 2009 at Agrimm Doomhammer, whose CD I
drummed and wrote 2 songs on my own! In human terms, however, the
latter was the biggest human disappointment of my life ...
Was it hard to find suitable band members who fit musically and humanely
with the band?
Until 2004, that was anything but easy, which is why we went our separate
ways! Only with Sven Böge and John Cason (with whom I made the Z-
IRON Split-LP in 2003), I had the perfect line-up together! At least
studiotechnical!
What does the band name mean?
Nothing special! He just sounds good in my opinion ;-)
What are the lyrics about and who of you is writing them ?
Until 2004, our former singer was responsible for the lyrics, on the Knights
of Steel Single and the Invincible Warriors Album I and since the Immortal
Album of 2013 our singer John! The lyrics are about little stories, personal
experiences, just metal or even science fiction! John is doing very well!
Which bands inspired you and how would you describe your music to
someone who has never heard a sound from you?
I've always been a big fan of US Power Metal and NWOBHM! I also
always liked the underground, at least since the 90s! Our influences range
from AGENT STEEL, MANILLA ROAD, THRUST, LIEGE LORD to
RAVEN, JAGUAR, MAIDEN, PRIEST and many more ... I do not like
commercials or bands that only do what could be successful! Music has to
come from the heart!
Why should people listen to our music?
Because it is made honest and professional by fans for fans!
In 2003, you released A Hell of a Knight. What memories do you have of
this time and how proud were you when you first held the album in your
hands?
99% of our guitarist Dirk Johannsen (who I'm friends with today and
recorded the STEEL MAID album in 2010!) Recorded the guitars on our
first album! The recordings were not exactly a cheap affair for me (though
it was sometimes advertised as a "Hellion band"!) And all these were not
even the worst circumstances back then ...
There are some good songs like "Armageddon Symphony" or "Ritual
Steel" on it. Overall, I have concluded with that time and I would be very
happy if others would do it too, but that will probably only remain a pious
wish on my part ...
Martin Hanford is responsible for the cover of the debut album and the
successor album Blitz Invasion. How have you come to him and how
satisfied are you with his work?
Through our former label! Martin Hanford is a gifted artist and he has done
his job very well, as always!
After the album Blitz invasion it came to the separation with some band
members among other things also with Sascha (sir lord doom) the
separation at that time in the underground some dust uprooted. do you
want to say something or is the thing for you through. Did you speak out
after all these years?
I tried again in 2010 to put something together with former Ritual Steel
musicians! To make it short: I would be very happy, if you just try to put
something on its own by your own efforts! As I have been doing for about
20 years!
It never worked at that time! Characteristic, from the backbone, partly also
with musical things! I am absolutely by it! If our label even gets drug calls,
if my name does not appear on "their" release, even though I've written 2
songs on my own and drummed all the songs, if you only get hate or tell
lies about me, then someday you'll get that Sometime must be point! Do
your stuff, I do mine! And if you do not get things done, do not criticize me
for that! I have not had anything to do with them for nearly 8 years now
and that's how it should stay for the next 40 years ...
Invincible Warriors was then released in 2007 with slightly changed line
up. As a singer John Cason can be heard. How did you get in contact with
him?
With John, I made the Z-IRON Split-LP in 2003! I was already on his band
EXILED and when they were in Germany, we jammed together in our
rehearsal room! It suited 100%! He has exactly the voice I was looking for
for years! And when I needed a new singer for RITUAL STEEL, I just
asked him and he promised right away! John is a lovely guy who works
very professionally and you can always rely on!
immortal was released in 2013 and is unfortunately your last album so far,
how long have the answers taken?
The Immortal was created over a period of several years and in my
opinion it is the most mature album of Ritual Steel! If the "Invincible
Warriors" were still in a hectic phase, we took much more time on this
album (at that time I was still working on another project, as mentioned
above!), Which you can hear! The reviews were also mostly correct class!
Maybe in many years it will be my favorite album of ours ;-)
On Killer Metal Records you have found a new home. How did you come
to the label and how satisfied are you with the work?
I am extremely grateful to Jens Häfner and his label Killer Metal Records
for the way they always stood behind me and us! He does a great job!
You can hear that there will be a new album soon. How far have you been
working on the album and in which direction are the songs?
The songs are a bit shorter again! We have recorded 9 songs that have a
total playing time of just under 45 minutes! And we got the album mixed in
the US this time! I felt it was important to sound different from the sound!
Musically, it will please all who liked us so far! It's another album of fans
for fans!
How do you feel about your old albums today and what is your favorite
song on the old albums?
Almost all the songs we recorded with RITUAL STEEL! Of course, if you
find some songs stronger or weaker after all these years! If I'm honest,
then I have not listened to the first two Ritual Steel albums for over 10
years ...
You were also on red fire rain I think the cd fire was very good you have
actually thought about after the line up problems with ritual steel possibly
on one or the other musicians of your past ripe . I think the voice of Henry
Mundt very well think that would have fit well? Do you know if he was
active again? or is ?
My musical beginnings, which started at the end of the 80's, even though
under a different band name ;-) We knew each other partly from the
school and we are still friends today! Our then bassist Oliver Kretschmann
is the bandleader of Snotnosekids! They have just recorded their second
Alnum that Mark Cross has drummed! Oliver is just as "sick" idealist as
me, a doer! And I have respect for that! I meet him now and then, he is a
fine guy!
Henry Mundt was then a record seller in Rendsburg! A quiet and lovable
person! After Red Fire Rain, he did not do much musically because his job
was more important to him! I heard that he got seriously ill and I hope he
gets well again!
What was your first concert as a fan? And what memory do you have of it?
RAILWAY / TALON / TOKYO BLADE 1985 in the Hamburger Markthalle!
Memories? It was just awesome! The mood in the scene was also much
more positive!
What were your live highlights and with which bands did you play?
These were gigs or festivals until 2004 with Manilla Road, Twisted Tower
Dire, Slough Feg, Wizard, Vortex and many others!
Since our current singer lives in the US, gigs have not really become
easier! But I hope it will work in 2019 when our new album "V" is released!
Have already resulted in friendship ?
Within RITUAL STEEL up to 1-2 exceptions since 2005! John and Sven
are extremely nice and professional musicians and I'm glad they're at
RITUAL STEEL!
Which band would you like to play live with and why?
We are not so picky! It has to be fair for both sides! With bands that fit in
musically with us and the environment should be friendly and respectful!
With what do you earn your money except with the music?
I stand on my own and am not dependent on anyone! That has always
been the most important to me! The rest is private!
How important are social media for you as a band?
I love vinyl and really pressed CDs (no CD-R shit!)! Solcial Media is OK for
advertising! I'm just oldschool ... ;-)
What would you (her) want to achieve with the band?
After the next RITUAL STEEL album "V" and a few gigs is definitely over!
Then I start my new band project THE GRAVES OF HADES!
What do you think about the Metal scene in general?
Partly I have met the dearest people here! But in the end, this scene only
reflects our society today! There are too many character posers and
business people here who pretend idealism! Back then at the NWOBHM,
workers and unemployed people, who made music together in garages,
lent a bully and then went on tour! Today, there are too many ass-dusted
students wearing headbands, mustaches and spandex pants who are
looking for a retro, but not with the heart! Proleten and Daffodils stop ...
Maybe I'm just too old for this chatter ...
Maybe you can recommend some bands from your area?
I can recommend Ivory Tower ;-)
PERSONAL QUESTIONS
Where did you grow up and how was your childhood?
I come from very simple circumstances and have had to fight hard for
everything I have!
How was your school time you were rather the good student or the break
clown ?
I have trained as a painter and varnisher! Then an apprenticeship as a
wholesale and foreign trade merchant! I did not study. With me it was only
up to secondary school enough
How did your parents react when you started making metal music? did
they support you and how do you feel about your music today?
They hated it! I moved out at 17 and went my own way!
Satisfied! There are things in my life that I would have liked to have done
differently! I have misjudged people and have behaved sometimes stupid!
That took a long time, until I got that! But I'm in the meantime with me!
Would you be successful in making music as a musician?
Since you have to ask the record companies ;-) I'm at least proud of what
I've done musically! RITUAL STEEL have a name!
And because it came on its own, which was not the case with every fellow
musician in my past ...
Are you someone who loves the hustle and bustle of the big city? or rather
looking for peace and relaxation in nature?
I'm a misanthrope, hate cities and too many people in a bunch! I love
nature, animals and tranquility!
Do you actively practice sports or are you more of a passive spectator?
I used to play soccer, handball and table tennis in a club! Today I am only
a fan of Hannover 96 and Holstein Kiel ;-)
When it comes to your physical well you can cook or let you cook for you ?
Hahahaha ... Horny question! At that time my ex-wife! For some years I
cook myself! After all, it tastes good to my daughter and me! ;-)
What does your environment tell you about your passion for metal (friends
/ family / colleagues) ?
When it comes to friendships, it does not matter to me which musical taste
someone has! I myself am Metalfan and Vinyl / CD collector since the end
of 1982! I saw a lot of people coming and going ...
How do you see the problem with the haters on the internet who have to
announce their mental garbage in anonymity always and everywhere?
The whole society is pretty much over my ass! Always trust yourself! Most
of society is littered with character posers, daffodils or money and power-
hungry individuals! Especially in Germany, where only political correcness
counts!
What do you think about the internet in general? a blessing or a curse?
There is a lot of pros and cons! I do not know myself if I want to go to
RITUAL STEEL, for example. still have a Facebook account or not! In any
case, I will delete at least 80% of FB friends! I'm only interested in musical
inspirations! And a couple of really nice people!
What would you personally like to do in your life?
I am happy! You never know what's going to happen in a few years! I still
have some dreams ...
Which question would you like to have answered and why?
Difficult! Your questions were definitely very interesting! ;-)
Austria
Beautiful country
Germany
I am not a patriot! Since I worked in Denmark for 6 years and learned to
appreciate the people there, I see a little bit more each day, how many
character posers and self-actors are running around here ... Germany is in
the final stages of capitalism and you get shit every day Sold gold
Bud Spencer
I'm a big fan from Bud Spencer and Terence Hill since childhood! And that
will probably always stay that way ;-)
EMP
Do not have much to do with my music, but I like the clothes you can buy
there ;-)
Hellion Records
Former label of us! Also released the Z-IRON split LP! I bought a lot of
records and CDs there ;-)
Wolfgang Trepper
I really like his humor and his last programs! And from sports radio to
cabaret artist has something ;-)
Wacken
Been there for the last time in 1999! Not my world ...-
Beer
Fits maybe not quite in the Metal scene, but I drink very little, if anything at
all! I also do not like people who are mostly just stunned ... My butts and
my coffee are quite enough for me ;-)
Summer
I really like all seasons and have no favorites!
Movie or Series
Movie
Family
My daughter is my family!
Your top 10 all time album faves
Agent Steel: Scepticts apocalypse
Manilla Road: Mystification
Exciter: Heavy metal maniac
Raven: Wiped out
Deadly Blessing: Ascent from the cauldron
Running Wild: Gates to purgatory
Evil: Evil`s massage
Medieval Steel: s/t
Cirith Ungol: Paradise Lost
Brocas Helm: Black death
your top 5 albums in time !
All Ritual Steel albums ;-)
The closing word is yours?
Many thanks to all Ritual Steel Supporters and of course you too!
Metal On!
© 2019 by Haschi`s Metal Corner
