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The vast majority of Power Metal-fans has not really taken notice of American SKULLVIEW. Maybe because they have absolutely nothing to do with all these HammaGammaStratoWeen-clones? I cannot say, but for sure there are not many bands that sound more "American" than these guys around guitarist Dean Tavernier, who's been the victim of Ralf's barrage of questions... How are you and the rest of SKULLVIEW doing? We here are doing great. We are gearing up for our shows with October 31 this coming weekend. Should be a major blowout. Metal, beer and malfeasance!!! "Consequences..." is your third album yet. Now you must be millionaires? What do you do outside the band except counting money, hehehe? To be serious - do you guys have normal jobs besides the band? Yes, Consequences Of Failure is indeed our 3rd release. You are one of the few who actually know that it has been released, ha ha. You wouldn't know it by our royalty checks though, ha ha. I think we've sold more copies of our demo tape before we were signed to a label. We don't make a penny from our music. We get a couple of free copies of the album, but nothing significant. and that is about it. If I compare your albums I think you never changed your style. Ok, the new one has a better production and the voice of Quimby has more power than ever! We haven't aimed to change our style at all. We just write some songs the way we are accustomed to writing them. We don't try to sound as being any particular style, and we've been doing that since day one. I think it has helped us retain our own personal style. You call yourselves True Metal! What do you think about those new acts from Italy or Scandinavia which play a speed-version of EUROPE? I would say SKULLVIEW is in the vein of obscure Metal-acts such as MANILLA ROAD, TYRANT, HELSTAR, CIRITH UNGOL or OMEN. They all had a unique sound. But you will never play for the masses! We don't necessarily consider ourselves as a "True Metal"-band. We just play Heavy Metal-music. I don't believe True Metal is genre, it's an attitude that can be found in any Metal-genre. Death Metal has their "true" bands, same with Black and Thrash Metal. Just because a band has a clean, melodic styled singer doesn't make them a "true" band. As a matter of fact, most bands of that ilk are about as untrue as you can fathom. The true bands are the bands who are not in this thing to make money or achieve fame. True bands only play music because they love to do it. They can care less if anyone buys their albums, or if they get signed, or whatever. The first two albums were released in Germany by Massacre Records, weren't they? The first album, "Legends Of Valor", was not released by Massacre. Only "Kings Of The Universe" was. Why don't you have a Europe-deal with "Consequences Of Failure?" Apparently RIP Records is tired of being ripped off after his experience with Massacre Records. Our deal with Massacre Records did nothing for RIP Records or SKULLVIEW, so he hasn't pursued many avenues for this new record. This record will end up like NASTY SAVAGE's "Penetration Point"....few people will actually get to hear it. What are your main-influences? IRON MAIDEN are one of em, right? Maiden are definitely among the many influences we have. The members of this band are influenced from everything from Death Metal-bands, Doom Metal, Thrash Metal, Black Metal, and 70's Hard Rock. Everything from MEGASLAUGHTER to Ted Nugent really. Is it true that you are working on the next album? What can you tell me about the new songs? Will there be a fourth part of "Gleam Of The Skull"? Yes, we've been writing some new material. We don't have a studio date set as of yet. We have four or five songs in the works right now. We have tentative songtitles like "Metalkill The World", "...And the Mountains Came To Life", "Blind and Unconscious". The songs are not completed yet, but the basic structures and riffs are written. We've got to put the finishing touches on the songs. We'd like to write four or five more songs so we can do eight or nine tracks on the 4th album. As far as the songs themselves, they are a bit darker sounding in the riff department...maybe a little more like our first album, as far as the mood of the songs. We haven't thrown in any drastic changes in our sound or anything. The songs are definitely SKULLVIEW sounding songs. As far as including "Gleam #4", we have not decided yet if that is something we will pursue. Initially the theme was meant to be a trilogy. How is the situation in the States for a real Metal-act like you at the moment? Is it true that you have to fight to get gigs? Getting gigs is not that hard in all actuality. We haven't pursued playing live very often. Usually two or three times a year is all we play live. It's not because we can't find the gigs, it's just that we haven't attempted to book them. There are plenty of clubs who offer shows to Metal-bands. There are some bands who try to play every weekend, and they find ways to do it. We just haven't been interested in that. We'd rather concentrate our efforts on writing more kick ass Metal-albums. I think SKULLVIEW must be a real kicking live-act! I would love to see you next year at WACKEN or THE BANG YOUR HEAD-Festival. Would you like to play in Germany? Tell me something about your live gigs? What can we expect? A live SKULLVIEW-show is nothing special. We just play loud and try to get people headbanging as much as possible. We don't have any elaborate stage shows or any of that stuff, we just simply get up there and let our music dictate the show. You toured a lot through the States, right? We've never done a tour in our entire existence as a band. We've only done ten live shows, approximately. (Holy shit, and that with three albums! - Ralf) Please tell me your funniest experience. There was the time that me, Avernus and Hellstorm from the Thrash-band LORDES WERRE busted into the back stage dressing room for DARK FUNERAL when they played a fest in Chicago. We were drunk as hell and were screaming "Do you want to contend with the US Thrash Attack????". The band was putting on their makeup, and they had a total look of shock and irritation on their faces. They were telling us to leave and we were just standing there yelling and screaming like drunk idiots. We were spilling beer all over and acting like donkeys...it was great fun!!! And your most embarrassing one? We actually did a couple of shows with PREMONITION. That was embarrassing. People were asking me why we weren't headlining??? Your best gig ever? We used to do some shows at a place called The Cedar Tap in Indiana. It is now closed down. But our first show after "Kings Of The Universe" was released was pretty killer. People were smoking joints in the bar and Avernus was spitting beer all over the place. It was fun as hell. How would you describe your own style? Straight ahead traditional Heavy Metal. What do you think about groupies? We don't have any, so I guess I'm not the best person to give an opinion on that subject, ha ha. Are you touring at the moment? No, and we don't have any tours lined up. Which question have you never been asked? Hmm, I've never been asked why I think Traynor solid state bass heads are the heaviest bass heads made. The five most important albums of all times? BLACK SABBATH "Black Sabbath" Your last words? When I die, my last words will be....."Fuck, this sucks ass!!!!". Thanks for the interview, and I hope things come together so that those who are SKULLVIEW fans will get to meet us and headbang with us! Keep the flame burning! Always... Discography:1999: Knights Of The Universe (CD, RIP) 2001: Consequences Of Failure (CD, RIP)
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