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Interview Karthago Records |
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 Karthago records is one of the labels which we ar epic metal
net like to call true metal labels. all of its bands are close to perfection.
very good releases and more importantly back to 80s style . Stefan Riermaierin
this Interview analyses the today’s metal scene, and provides tips for new
bands. so lets go to the interview’…
1) Most of your bands play 80s metal music , why?
Because I like this style most. I also listen to 70s Music, sometimes also Wave or Gothic or other musical styles, but I collect real (!) Metal since over 20 years and its still my favourite music.
2) What’s your view about todays heavy metal industry
In fact nothing really changed. The bigger companies still control the market which means the radio-stations and the taste of the public. They produce also some kind of cheapy Metal today, because with their nomal commercial pop-music the problem occured the too many people load it down illegal from the internet. Normally true Metal-fans want an album in their hands and thats a difference to the trend-customers. So they create today also clone-Metal-bands to have their foot still in the Metal-scene although they don't care anymore about that. Today we have more than ever a fascism in taste. That's also nothing new in Germany history-haha, but it gets stronger again and thats not good. Maybe you know that here in Bavaria still some Metal is forbidden to be played in Radio, forbidden by catholic church. There still is no chance to listen to songs like "The number of the beast" from IRON MAIDEN because its on the list of forbidden songs..and we have 2008 and not 1943. And things don't go better as long as we have a right wing cancellor like our lovely and very pretty leading woman Mrs. Merkel. Anyway: Small music labels still exist which means a bit of hope...
3) What tips do you have for bands which are recording a demo, what
steps are you advising them to do,
First of all they should try to write good songs. Its more important than to play guitar or drums perfectly. A good song is a good song and some not so perfect playing does not effect the feeling. The second thing is to have a good vocalist. This helps a lot. Bad vocalists destroy a good song.
4) What is the Biggest Mistake an unsigned band can do ( what they
should avoid)
o go to the public and present material which is not good enough. The fans keep in mind that a band had a lower average demo and will not listen to the CD later although maybe the material on this album is much better than their previous demo-tapes, so better wait until the Demo is good enough to be put on a real CD also. There is a lot of competition, today more than ever before in musical history.
5)What criteria a band must meet in order to be considered by
Karthago Records, Any future releases coming up
There are only two criterias: The most important one: If I don't like the music there will be no contract. The second one: Its necessary that there is a way of talking with the band. Of course there will be always different opininions because my job is to tell bands that some songs maybe are not good enough for the market and they have to go to studio again, but its necessary that there is a possibility of talking about such matters. It makes no use if a band thinks they were allready superstars after the first album and maybe 1500 sold CDs.
6) Any new developments in the company
In the first 6 months of 2008 there will be no release of Battlecry Records, because all products of Battlecry and Karthago will be put in one and only released on Karthago to have more focussed interest on the products.
7)What is your opinion on the new bands in metal
Its allways the same: There are talented bands and some which are sadly totally without of any spirit, but this is nothing new and its also an old rule that the best band will never take the steps of fame if there is not a lot of luck. And a band with no talent will be in commercial heaven if there's enough money to promote them. Still there is a big stupid crowd anywhere in the world who buys what the big companies tell them.
8)What was the best moments in Karthago Records
One was signing BLACK FATE. It was a lot of fun with the band. All people told me that I will sell maximum 200 CDs. In the end the whole edition of 1000 copies was sold out. Today the CD is rare and sometimes quite expensive. Also it was important to buy the Gama-Bands like NOISEHUNTER, GRAVESTONE, NECRONOMICON, STORMWITCH, STRANGER etc. Since I was very young I listened to these German bands and in the end we could make the rereleases. Its taking an active part on a (smal) piece of musical history. ....and not to forget that I am my own boss since a lot of years now.
9) Whats your opinion on the greek metal scene? Which bands do you
know from Greece (optional question)
In fact I still like the classics like VAVEL, RUST, RAW SILK, VICE HUMAN and some others, but there is no doubt that there are still a lot of talented bands in Greece also today. The only problem they have is that sometimes they try to copy the italian market with this epic stuff. When I listen to the first albums of SARISSA or MARAUDER and when I check the later albums there is a step into the wrong direction. Greece had also a fine but small progressive scene and innovative musicians and musically there were allways a lot of new ideas, so I hope that the big potential will be used more in the future.
10) Whats the biggest problem in the metal industry today (what do you
hate the most)
Organisations like Gema/Suisa/SGAE etc. who get a lot of fees, but do nothing for the bands and of course the missing knowledge of writers in magazines about the beginnings of Heavy Metal, old bands and their interest in stuff which is not supported by big money.
11) What do you like the most in todays metal music industry
A lot of rereleases (legal or not doesn't matter to me) to keep the history of Metal alive.
12) Whats your opinion on illegal downloading and the effect on internet
on the metal music
Not a big one, because a real fan wants a fine Coverart, a booklet and all that stuff. In former times you could make a cassette copy from your friend, now you can download. The difference is not very big. I am more afraid that younger customers will not get chances to explore Heavy Metal because shops more and more disappear.
13) Vinyl or CD whats your preference and why – (because from what we saw
you sell vinyl in your store
I like both. In fact it is more fun for me to put a great japanese audiophile LP in my collection than a newer CD, but in the end I don't want to miss both of them.
14) What do you think about epicmetal.net
I am happy that pages like epicmetal.net support the spirit of Heavy Metal.
Without that the whole scene would die and in the end only industries-shit would survive. Rock on and keep the spirit!
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