PROTECTOR INTERVIEW

When I first heard about PROTECTOR`s resurrection, with Martin Missa as the band`s leader, I was overjoyed. Well, Martin`s the only legendary PROTECTOR`s original member, but I was sure the band`s intention was not to profit too much from their previous success. Surely, PROTECTOR was inactive for many years indeed.Yet, however, Martin didn’t bum around at all back then. Just listen to RUINS OF TIME, PHIDION or ZOMBIE LAKE (which released a very interesting debut album titled Plague of the Undead in 2013) to understand what I am talking about. And shortly after, in 2013 too, we were provided with PROTECTOR`s new album: Reanimated Homunculus.

This album turned out to be a perfect follow-up of the band`s first full lengths. This stuff just reeks of the late 80s` atmosphere!As a die-hard fan of this kind of music, I got immediately hooked up by Reanimated Homunculus released by High Roller. Well, it’s been three years now since this album`s been out, and voila!It’s been announced that a brand new album`s going to be out pretty soon. Well, yeah, to me this very information about Cursed and Coronated(PROTECTOR`s new album) was enough to ask Martin to spill the beans about the new album of theirs. Ok, let’s don’t beat about the bush, shall we?Lads and ladies, a master of ceremonies himself, Martin Massy:

 

1.When we talked last, PROTECTOR`s new materials weren’t scheduled to be released…shortly after, in 2013, split Merciless Metal Onslaught (with UNGOD) was released, as well as this superb Reanimated Homunculus was offered to the world and which, honestly, killed me totally. So, Martin, can you please tell me how you guys were able to create such awesome music in the vein of old PROTECTOR? What is even more surprising, there are plenty of influences from Misanthropy or Golem in your current music, and it is only you who’s left from the band`s old lineup!The otherstotally new musicians. I am really impressed, as not too many reincarnated bands are able to reach such high standards.

Thank you for your positive words about "Reanimated Homunculus". Yes, I am really, really happy that I can play in a band, together with some swedish Metalheads (Carl-Gustav Karlsson on drums / Michael Carlsson on guitar / Mathias Johansson on bass), who are younger than me, but still can catch the oldschool spirit, when it comes to writing songs. And live it is also always a great feeling to play together with Carl-Gustav, Mathias and Michael.

2. Time is passing by pretty fast. It seems the years that`ve passed since Reanimated Homunculus was released, were pretty fruitful.  You’ve played live pretty often and soon, you`ll be releasing your Cursed and Coronated stuff. Are you happy with this time-period? I hope the new PROTECTOR album`s not going to differ significantly/be more progressive from what you`ve done through all the years, right?

Actually we haven't been playing live that much since the release of Reanimated Homunculus. We usually only do like 5-6 shows every year. But we are very pleased with the years that have passed since 2013. The songs on Cursed and Coronated are in the same vein as the ones on Reanimated Homunculus. If you like that album, you'll probably like Cursed and Coronated too.


3. Can you tell us some more about Cursed and Coronated? Where did you record this material, and who’s responsible for this extraordinary front cover?

Just as Reanimated Homunculus, we also recorded Cursed and Coronated at Tomas Skogsbergs Sunlight Studio. Also the cover is painted by the same artist, who did the artwork for Reanimated Homunculus: Kristian WĂĽhlin.


4. You`ve been cooperating with Steffen from High Roller for some time now. Thanks to him, a number of your older materials have been re-released. Also, this label is going to release your new album. Your other re-editions (CD`s) have been unleashed by Swedish I Hate Records. Was this label interested in releasing Reanimated Homonculus, too?

Actually I can't remember if I Hate Records were interested in releasing Reanimated Homunculus. I remember that we had contact with some smaller record companies, before we got in touch with High Roller Records. Once we had talked with them for a little while, we decided to stick with them. They've done a fantastic work with both albums. And yes, they have re-released the Protector-albums from the 80s, and in february 2016, they will re-release the old protector albums from the 90s as well (among others also "A Shedding of Skin").


5. You play live a lot, but weirdly, you can never make it to Poland. I am pretty sure you know there are plenty of “starving souls” here who`d love to see you in action. The last time PROTECTOR played live in Poland was in 1989, though the bandcame without you. You think you`re going to play live soon, here in Poland?

We are actually in contact with an organizer at the moment, who wants to book us for a gig in Gdansk or Gdynia in June. Would be great if this works out. As you say: I have never played in Poland. Would be great to check out the scene there.


6. Is Cursed and Coronated going to be released in other countries too, such as Japan, or the US? If so, do you plan to include any bonus tracks then? I am asking this question as the basic material(11 tracks) is enhanced with three bonus live tracks too. What live gig are these tracks taken from?

At the moment the record will only be released through High Roller Records. We will see if there maybe will be any releases in other countries too. The three livetracks, which you will find on the CD-version of "Cursed and Coronated", were recorded at the Skullcrusher club in Dresden in 2013.


7. I am very curious to learn what Hansi and Ede think about PROTECTOR`s new incarnation. How do they like PROTECTOR`s new tracks? Have you ever thought about a guest appearance from these guys? What are they up to now? Do they still have anything to do with music at all?

Hansi and Ede like our resurrected version of Protector. They usually come to our gigs, when we play live in Wolfsburg. We use to send our new releases to all former members of Protector through High Roller, when a new album is out, so they can see what we are up to in the name of Protector. Hansi has not been playing in a band since he left Protector, but Ede is still playing live (no Heavy Metal though).


8. There have been recently a bunch of old band that decided to reactive: OUTRAGE,DARK ANGEL,  EXUMER, MORBID SAINT, SANCTUARY,HOBBS ANGEL OF DEATH  and a number of others. Why do you think do so many bands want to return (and I think that’s a good thing)? Is it because of the Old School Metal phenomenon which has stood the test of time? Or maybe these people want to feel young again? Or something else?

I don't know about the reasons for the other musicians that have reactivated a band, that has been inactive or split up for some years. I can only speak for myself. During the 4-5 years before we founded the Protector-covergroup "Martin Missy and the Protectors" in 2006 (which in 2011 became "the new Protector"), I had a lot of interview-requests and also talked to a lot of Protectorfans on the internet. I soon got the feeling that there were quite few headbangers out there, that wanted to see us live. That was the main reason to reactivate Protector. Through the reactions of the fans (before and after the rebirth of Protector) I realized how many Metalheads, who like oldschool Metal, are still out there. And many of them never had the chance too see Protector live in the good old days, because they are too young. It is a great feeling to be on stage and play all the Protector classics to a bunch of die hard Protector fans.


9. We`ve been attending BRUTAL ASSAULT FEST for many years now. This festival is over 20 years old now, but sadly, PROTECTOR has never played there. Is it going to change? I am sure many people would be very happy to seePROTECTOR play live. As far as I know, the 21st edition of BA Festival is going to be really “strong”. CORONER, EXODUS, ANGELCORPSE, WHIPLESH, DESTRUCTION, OBITUARY, VECTOR and a bunch of others. Don’t you think PROTECTOR would fit too?

Yeah, unfortunately it has never worked out that we play on the Brutal Assault festival (yet). It would be really cool to play there in the future. In 2015 we played at the Obscene Extreme festival in front of an amazing crowd. That was a cool expierence. I am sure that the crowd at the Brutal Assault is also as awesome as the fans at the Obscene Extreme festival.


10. Time to wrap up, I think. Thank you very much for the info on Cursed and Coronation which is about to be released. I am looking forward to listening to this piece of art. I am sending hello to all PROTECTOR guys in the name of the Old School Metal Maniac staff. Feel free to say anything you like. The floor is all yours.

Thanks for the interview! Hopefully we will see a lot of your readers at one of our gigs in the future. Also feel free to visit our Facebook-page https://www.facebook.com/Protector.666not777/ where I use to be online a lot. Metallic greetings /Martin

Leszek Wojnicz-Sianożęcki

Poprawiony (poniedziałek, 21 grudnia 2015 21:52)