I N T E R V I E W

Hi Patrick, thanks a lot for accepting this interview for the french metal webzine http://www.auxportesdumetal.com/

Hi, thank you as well for inviting us ! It's great to be in Auxportesdumetal.com!!

You've just released your first album, how would you present Engine Of Pain to people who'd like to know you better?

Okay, I try to be concise about this question. Engine of Pain is a thrash metal band from the South of the Netherlands (province of Limburg). The band is founded in 2003 so we are still a young band relatively. However all band members are quite experienced musicians in terms of playing in a band. Joep Beckers played the drums in After Forever, Nick Hameury did vocals in bands called Form and Fifth, Maurice played the bass for a.o. Callenish Circle, Bastiaan plays in an 80's metal cover band called Stormrider and I played in several bands as well (f.e. Angels Decay, Fifth). Basically Engine of Pain is a direct consequence from the split up of Fifth. I played in that band together with Nick. So after the first Engine of Pain rehearsal we knew right away that we all had the same vibe and the same musical interest. In a very short period we wrote Engine of Pain songs and recorded a MCDemo in February 2004 called "Here is the Pain!". After the release of that MCD suddenly all kind of cool stuff crossed our path; we were chosen to play at Wacken Open Air as "Best unsigned talent of Europe", we played the Metal Bash final, I was asked to be Dean Artist and so on. So after a while we were thinking: "All this stuff can't be coincidence, we must be doing something good!!"

Engine Of Pain exists since May 2003. After a demo recorded in 2004, 3 years passed before "Im Am Your Enemy" was released. Is it so long to finalize a first album ? What happened during all this time ?

As I said before just after the release of our MCDemo "Here is the Pain" (2004) a lot of cool things crossed our path. We had quite a lot of gigs because of the demo. After the demo, we started to write new songs but we did not have a clear goal and just wanted to play live as much as possible. We did not want to record a second demo so the only choice was to make a full 100% ready-made package - CD and artwork - and try to score a record deal. So we did. The total time span of creating I Am Your Enemy - the artwork, fine tuning and recording the songs, mixing and mastering - took us about a year. So it did not take 3 years to finalize the debut album but it took us just 3 years to be where we are now. I think it's quite fast. Furthermore; we hate doing concessions in quality so we always give it all we got!!

The album's called "I Am Your Enemy". Who do you want to address this message to ?

The title is only just provoking, just like the artwork. That's all. I should say: that's the real basic thought behind it in the first place. But if you look really good at the artwork and read the lyrics well you could conclude some dome of potential Enemies. Again: we address this message to no one especially of course. We are a non-violent and non-political band, we just like to blow up amps!

You're coming from Germany, a country famous for its thrash scene with bands like SOD for example. Do you position yourself as the new thrash generation ?

Merde! Alerte aérienne!! :-) I have blue eyes, use to have blond hairs some years ago and live near the German border but don't start to offend us calling us Germans, haha. No, we are from the Netherlands, so it's Windmills & Wooden shoes Metal not Bradwurst & Sauerkraut Metal! We just make the music we like. We are not trying to be a new thrash generation but I must admit that a lot of magazines and fans see us that way. That's very cool and we are very proud of this denomination! Personally I adore thrash icon bands like Exodus, Forbidden, Slayer etc so the comparison is a great compliment.

These years, musical business knows a lot of difficulties, the metalcore style perverted youth. Your new album contains an energic and traditional thrash. Do you think that it is the time for the return of thrash ?

I don't know much about Metalcore perverted youth so I can't talk about that. But Thrash has never been away as I think. Since the 80's/90's I listen to Thrash Metal. Beside some Rush, Van Halen, Tesla etc I never listen to other stuff. You could say that I am a not very broad oriented musician and you are damn right. I only like metal music. Advantage is that I know for sure that the stuff we are playing is cool :-). But even more audience at a gig would be welcome so if thrash has been away as you imply, I definitely think that the time has come for the return of it, haha

What do you think of tribute bands that only copy existing influences, of bands like Trivium ?

Hmmm…Trivium is a cool band I think, don't you? It's a shameless full copy of Old-Metallica style, but I don't care. That's what I want to hear. I don't like bands that are trying to be inventive but sound like shit. Or bands that try to impress by musical difficulties but are sounding like a nervous breakdown. So personally I like the slogan: it's better to steal or copy good music as a band than to invent shitty stuff.

Your fan list contains the name of Tyler Faith, a porn star. Do you know her personally and do you know how she became a fan?

Yep! We know her personally and she is a very smart and cool person to deal with. Our MCD contained very nice lady in the artwork. We wanted to do the same with our debut album so we asked her if she was willing to dispose a cool picture of her so we could integrate it in our artwork. She did; just run to your local record store and ask for the album, you'll see, it's cool! She really likes our music. Nick even did an interview with her on pay TV/radio program Ksexradio.com which she is co-hosting. He had to call in at 4 o'clock in the morning because of the fucking LA time-zone, haha. Tyler showed Nick a special present because of his birthday :-) Keep an eye on our website, we will put the interview on line very soon.

You've a deal with the label Lion Music, that usually covers progressive metal. It's a little bit weird. Isn't it too difficult for your band to be beside bands like Mind's Eye and others Sun Caged ?

We had several offers, but Lion Music had the best. Don't forget: Lion Music has a great promotion team, great distribution power and a cool owner! We know that Lion Music is mainly specialized in other kinds of metal and hard rock but we are convinced that metal fans will find us anyway. Also it's known that Lion Music will not put garbage on the market and Lasse Mattsson is a reliable guy. We are very happy with the joint venture and Lion Music is as well. No need to doubt. It's obvious that Engine of Pain is a dispersion of Lion Music musical wings. Engine of Pain is a band with a hard working attitude and it has the balls to have a totally different face than most thrash metal bands. Just like Lion Music have the balls to sign Engine of Pain. So we are extremely proud to be a part of Lion Music and its artists. To be an outsider or pathfinder for a label in terms of musical tendency is quite exiting. Besides that; the Real Metalhead does not care on what label an album appears. He cares about the CD and the band. At least, I do :-)

You've toured with bands in your style but also with Dreadlock Pussy and Poison The Well who play a more melodic style that you. Do you like to mix different styles on one tour? And more generally do you like touring?

Every gig that crosses our path and is interesting to do, we accept. Different styles don't matter however it would be cool to have a full metal audience of course. Don't forget: Poison the Well for example is a huge band. It's not my personal favorite musical style but I know for sure that PTW fan could like Engine of Pain very much. So we can play for a relative larger audience with that kind of gigs. About touring in general: tours must lead to something positive for the band. If that is the case it's the coolest thing to do!

Will we have one day the opportunity to see you live in France? With which band would you dream to share the stage?

I hope so. Some people are trying to get us to Paris for one gig at least. Hope that it will work out. Would be cool. I would like to share the stage with the Pussycat Dolls or Slayer!

We wish you all the best for your career. Maybe a message for your future fans?

Yeah, of course! Listen; we know all you metal dudes are working hard for your pay-slip every month, just like we do. But go to your local record shop and just ask for our album. If they don't have it, threaten them to get it a.s.a.p.! If they have it, give the record shop owner a big compliment and listen to it, look at the artwork and lyrics. If you are a metal head and like the bands I've mentioned before you MUST check us out. And check out our Myspace area or website to fully understand and taste the spirit of Engine of Pain. Once you're in, you won't get out! We hope to see y'all soon!!
Thanks for the interview and ROCK ON!!!