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Rockezine
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| Agro |
| with Robert Riebler on Oct 15, 2006 |
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| Could you define in five words where the band stands for? Darn only five… it would have to be… Africa’s Favourite Positive Power Metal !!! | |||
| In which way does your new album surpass the previous releases? With ‘Ritual 6’, we concentrated a lot more on the production side, as this was lacking a bit on previous albums. In South Africa we unfortunately don’t have many, if any, metal producers who know the type of sound we were looking for. We’ve had to learn the hard way through trial and error with different recording techniques to get the best possible sound… The producer, John Paul De Stefani, who we have also worked with on the other albums comes closest, and in our opinion did a magnificant job on this record. Shane and Nick also spent long hours in the studio trying to get the mix and final sound right. So comparing it to previous albums the production is way better. Of course it also helped having Michael Hankel (Holy Moses) do the mastering on ‘Ritual 6’for us. The previous recordings are a very good reflection of where South African Heavy Metal was at; when they were recorded and are still good albums. | |||
| What’s your personal favorite on the new album and which track didn’t turn out quite as you’d expected it to be? During the writing process, when Shane and Nick would bring the songs in to the band room and we started playing them together for the first time. We`d play them until we got them down... so I had many favourites... The songs just got better with each new song that they conjured up. My favourites off this album would have to be... Carpe Diem, Time Heals Old Wounds and B.D.F.P. I would say I didn’t expect Willowmore to turn out the way it did. Cliff who had written the lyrics and had a tune in his head and tried to explain to us what he was hearing and it kind of went like this: drrrrrrr drr dr,…dr dr derrrrrrrrrr!. Huh?! So we had to really work at this song… | |||
| How do you manage to get the noses of the members of the band into the same direction? The band has always shared a common dream, which was to take Agro to new levels and remain at the forefront of Heavy Metal in this country. It also helps that we have a dedicated management team who have looked after our interests and kept us all in line when needed. We have become an institution of sorts. Our Roadies, Management & Promotion we are all part of the Agro family and we each work hard for each other, to achieve our dreams. | |||
| What is the biggest compliment you read concerning your latest album and what is the biggest bullocks? We are all ‘over the moon’ that the album is being well received... Most of the reviews have been very positive. Lots of good things have been said. Too many to mention. It is great to finally get recognition, praises and even some constructive criticism so that we can take what we have learned and can better ourselves for future releases. I know our main songwriters Shane, Cliff and Nick are definetely looking closely at what is being said ;-) But one magazine did call us: a Progressive Neo-classical Death / Thrash with Powermetal structures and a dash of hardcore band,… a what ??!! | |||
| Will there be an European tour to support your new album Ritual 6? Of Course. We are currently discussing amongst ourselves when we can tour. We want to launch the Album in South Africa first with a small tour here and then finalise plans to go overseas. We hope it’s sooner rather than later. | |||
| What do you think of the current state of metal in South Africa and in general? South Africa’s heavy music scene is an underground thing. We have many fans here of heavier music. The scene has had it’s ups and downs. At times where the scene has been quiet, but I believe it’s picking up again. We’ve also recently had a few bands tour here like Metallica and they played to over 50 000 people at various stadiums around the country. Ok. Metallica do appeal to a more diverse audience but I’d say at least half of that audience were definetely metal heads. Bands like The Haunted, Entombed and Sepultura also enjoyed ‘sold out’ concerts here at club-venues… So I think the scene is healthy. We don’t really feature as a destination for international heavy metal bands and I’m sure most bands would be well received here, as we don’t get to see many around these parts. | |||
| How many albums do you have to sell to buy your dream car, a Subaru WRX? Do you have a day time job? Hmmm lets see. So IF the Subaru Wrx costs around 250 000 South African Rand. So that’s roughly 25 000 Euro… times that by 5 then divide by cd royalties adding moneys from live shows.… oh hell, I don’t know… a sh!t load… Ummm - Nick where’s my cheque?! (he’s in charge of keeping our books in order…) Yup! Unfortunately we do have day jobs… hopefully we can change that situation soon. | |||
| At the bands website www.agro-metal.com I read that you have tattoo’s as well as piercings. What kind of tattoo’s do you carry? I only have a tattoo of my daughters name in ‘Magi Symbols’ on my left forearm and a dragon on my left leg. I was, just now, thinking of getting a tattoo of the AMG 056 Ritual 6 barcode. Maybe on the back of my neck… what do you think? The rest of the guys also all have various tattoos and / or piercings… | |||
| If you had to chose between supporting a band in front of a crowd of 5000 or headlining a show with just 250 people? I would rather want to play to 250 people that came especially to see us, of course. I prefer it when we can get more intimate with our audience and interact with them. If you playing in front on 5000 people or more, you are probably playing at a festival with a huge barrier between the stage and fans with huge bouncers who stop anybody from getting close. So, the intimacy gets lost. I can’t say that we wouldn’t enjoy supporting a better known band as it would give the ideal opportunity to introduce ourselves to those people who don’t know us and show them what we are all about… | |||
| Finally: why should our readers check out your new album? It’s been a long hard slog for us to get to this point in our careers and we would love to introduce our stuff to the rest of the world and wherever possible. This album offers the listener / reader something different and out of the norm for their hard earned cash. And… It is not everyday they get to hear something come out from this part of the world either… | |||
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(Geert Oldenmenger) |
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