interviewpage
Lightmare - interview May 2000 |
Here is a short interview that I did with Timon Schreiber of the melodic power-metal band, Lightmare Victory:Hello Lightmare, please tell me about the band's history. Timon:The band Lightmare was founded in 1991 in Frankfurt, Germany, by five musicians (Vocals, two Guitars, Bass, Drums). To present our music to a better public, we played in soon our first 3-song-demo "Lightmare". Our musical style became more melodical and powerful metal, influenced by the exchange of one guitar taking a keyboard. During this time the demo-cassette "Certain death" was made, first released in the summer of 1993 in cassette but printed later on CD. Here the first time strong influences of classical music appeared very clearly. Positive critics in several metal magazines, national and international, left the audience hardly be able to wait for the next releases. Though bright prospects seemed to waiting for us, there was no label showing intrests to the music of Lightmare. After several changes in the line-up, Lightmare decided to record a new demo-tape to present the actual line-up. This was 1994, and the 5-song-demo vas called "Vampire". But soon it was certainly clear, that it would be offered better on CD. So, a mini-CD was made, that cut off the last song on the cassette. Musically the band kept the way, but melody and performance seemed to be more professional. The critics were more than positive and several magazines showed more intrests:Interviews for several US- and European Mags (e.g. Heavens Metal, Metal, Crusade, Heaver oder was?, Rock Hard, etc.). In December 1995 Lightmare won the contest of Rock of the Hard & Heavy e.V., Offenbach, Germany. Also, they took part on the Wild Live contest of the SDR, suddeutscher Rundfunk ( a bigger local radio station). In the beginning of 1997 a small label, Treasure Hunt Records, offered a small deal to Lightmare. This was the chance to work more professional and to place former products in a better marketing. This label releases the latest CD of Lightmare 'The Fool'. Victory:If there is anyone who never has heard Lightmare, how should you describe yourselves to him/her? Timon: A good metalband with melodical, classical elements and a strong guitarsound. Victory:What do you think about the metal scene today? Timon:Well, the metal scene is small because the younger people like more techno, rap or whatever. The "wild" time of the metalscene is gone. But there will ever be som metaliacs and true metal will never die. Victory:I saw that Lightmare is producing a new album, will it be in the same vein as "The Fool" or will it be different? Timon:Everybody is asking for the new album and all I can say is: Yes we are working on it. WE don't have any title nor know how many songs arre on it nor it'll be ready. The style will be in a LIGHTMARE-way, but it will be different to "The Fool", but I think nobody is intrested in music that seems to be the same sound as the album before Victory:About your latest release, "The Fool", what kind of reactions did it recieve from the media and were you satisfied with the result? Timon:Well the reactions were quite good, but it didn't sell too much. As a musician you are never satisfied with the results of the album. But after some time of painrelief you try to accept what you have done and look forward to higher grounds Victory:Any tour planned? Will you ever come to Scandinavia? Timon:No, no tours this year are planned. We'll play gigs if there is a chance, but we are not pushing it at the time. We are concentrating on the new album. But you must know, we all have fulltime jobs and the music is our hobby. And the time is running and we're chasing it. Victory:What is your best memory from a gig?' Timon:For me the best gig was in the east of Germany when all the people know the texts better than me (Truely a strange thing...victory's ed.) . Or when we played in front of 2,500 people. I think there are a few good experiences, and you cannot compare them all. Victory:How important is Jesus for you? Timon:Very important for me. He is the reason to stand up again when I failed down. He is the one who is carrying me when I am too weak to walk, he is the backbone of my life. Victory:Finally name your favorite groups and CD's Timon:Groups:Yngwie Malmsteen, Dream Theatre and London Symphonic Orchestra Top 5 CD's 1.Stryper - Against the Law 2.Dream Theatre - Images and Words 3.Beethoven - The nineth symphony 4.Mozart - Requiem 5.Edvard Grieg - Peer Gynt That was it, thank you VERY much for taking part in this and good luck with the band! /Victory |