Interview with DER JAGER

Welcome to the FILTHY DOGS OF METAL Webzine.

Tell us a few things about DER JAGER (Members, Starting Year etc).
We started back in 2014 as a project between college friends. While our formation has evolved over the years, our definitive current lineup is me (Dendi Satriyo) on vocals, Leo Kunto on guitar, Yadi Darmawan on bass, and Aryo KJ on drums. In the beginning, we were heavily inspired by classic rock and early heavy metal, even often covering Led Zeppelin. Our ultimate blueprint, however, has always been Iron Maiden. Over the years, our sound evolved alongside our lineup. We began incorporating faster, aggressive thrash metal elements, but we always kept that core, melodic Iron Maiden influence centered in everything we create.

You have recently released your album ''..In Which Evil Dwells''. What is the feedback from your audience as well as from the press?
Since '..In Which Evil Dwells' just dropped a few days ago through Witches Brew, it’s still very fresh! But the initial wave of feedback has been incredibly energizing. Our core listeners are telling us they love how we’ve kept that driving heavy metal energy while pushing the speed and thrash elements even further. As for the early reviews are starting to give initial reaction to tracks like 'Endless Bloodbath', 'Ode to Ruin', and 'Act of Conquest'. It’s a great feeling to see the hard work pay off right out of the gate.

The cover artwork has a killer atmosphere! Tell us a few things about it.
To make sure the visual matched the music, we asked our artist friend, Silvester Wisnu, to deeply immerse himself in our new tracks before putting pen to paper. We told him directly that the core theme running through '..In Which Evil Dwells' is war, rage, and terror. He took that direction and completely nailed it. He said that the artwork is intended to reflect the dark, haunting side of warfare. While history often remembers battles for their triumphs and glory, Silvester wanted to capture the inevitable tragedy, death, bloodshed, consuming anger, and the sheer horror endured by every single warrior who fought. He perfectly translated our musical violence into a visual reality.

And what about the lyrics?
As the lyricist, I imagine the struggle of warriors facing the battlefields, gaining victories or defeats, and I wanted to capture that raw visions of war into songs. Some of the tracks inspired from the Tolkien legendarium, specifically the darker, epic conflicts of the First Age. For example, the track 'Act of Conquest' is directly inspired by the legendary duel between the High King Fingolfin and the Dark Lord Morgoth during the Dagor Bragollach. Another track, 'Ode to Ruin,' gives listeners a glimpse into the tragic Nirnaeth Arnoediad.

How did your cooperation with Witches Brew Records occur? What do you prefer, Label or DIY and why?
We started by surveying all the record labels we knew, through internet forums, or friends recommendation to check out different labels and releases, and Witches Brew quickly became one of our top targets because we loved their catalog. We sent out our demo to our shortlist one by one, and Cheryl, the owner, responded directly! She told us she really liked our sound and wanted to release our second album, which was an incredible feeling. Label or DIY? We actually chose the fully DIY route for our first album, which was a great learning experience. However, for '..In Which Evil Dwells', we knew we wanted a much broader physical reach. We chose a label this time because having proper worldwide distribution, promotion, and the backing of an established underground name makes a massive difference in getting your music into the hands of metalheads globally.

Is there any funny or weird story from the recordings or from your live shows that you would like to share with us?
We actually have a couple of great ones. During the studio sessions, we hit a massive roadblock on the very last day of tracking. Our bassist, Yadi, accidentally injured his fingers while at work and literally couldn't play. So our producer/engineer, Bable Sagala, stepped up, and ended up tracking the bass lines for the final song on the album for us. Quite a lifesaver! Another wild moment happened at a live gig. We were playing an outdoor show when a heavy rain hit. The stage was quite small, and the roof completely failed, letting heavy rain pour directly onto us. It was so intense that we were about to launch into a cover of Slayer’s 'Raining Blood' to match the weather, but the organizers rushed the stage and made us stop immediately for safety. It was pure chaos, but definitely unforgettable! Haha.

Do you prefer Vinyl, Tape, CD or Digital Format and why is that?
Right now, we're definitely leaning toward Vinyl. We've already had our previous album released on CD and Tape, but never had a Vinyl release before, so that is a big bucket-list we really want to check off. For us, the Digital format is essential, but we view it mainly as an excellent promotional tool to reach metalheads worldwide. And for all time answer, we love Tape formats, because it's collectible and it rules!!

Your music style is Heavy/Speed Metal. Which are your main influences (Favourite Artists / Bands etc.)
Like I mentioned earlier, our musical foundation is rooted in classic heavy metal. We are deeply inspired by the legends who shaped the genre, like Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Dio, Agent Steel, and Riot. At the same time, we have a massive love for thrash metal. Our sound draws heavily from both the American Big 4 and the Teutonic Big 4. It’s that exact melting pot of melody, speed, and aggression that defines Der Jäger.

Which things do you think a band should sacrifice in order to succeed? Have you ever sacrificed anything in your life for a better future for your band?
To be honest, every musician's path is different. But speaking from our own personal experience, the biggest thing we had to sacrifice was our time, specifically in college. Some of us in the band actually ended up delaying our college graduations because we were putting so much of our energy, focus, and time into building Der Jäger. It was a tough choice to make at the moment.

Describe your ideal live show as a performance band. Have you already experienced that?
Any size of stage is perfect. Whether we're playing a tiny, sweaty underground club or a big festival, we're just happy to be there throwing down riffs. It all comes down to the gear, whether it’s our own or the organizer's. Here in Indonesia, the events usually provide the amplifiers and backline, so the stage equipment really needs to be proper, or at least working. We’ve definitely experienced those perfect, magical nights where the sound is massive and everything goes right. When the equipment is on point, it lets us just focus on having fun and going completely wild with the crowd!

What do you think about the rise of AI in music production?
Nah, we’re not for AI. That’s it, haha! Heavy metal is built on raw human energy, real sweat, and actual brotherhood. You can't program that into a computer. Cheers.

What attributes do you think that a new Heavy Metal Band should have in order to gain identity and be unique?
For us, we only need killer riffs, a unique lyrical concept, and a complete refusal to compromise! Just keep it loud and keep it real!

Do you believe that Digital Platforms help the new Heavy Metal Bands? Which, do you think, is the ideal way for a band to promote its work?
In terms of promoting songs and getting the music heard globally, digital platforms work. They make it incredibly easy for a metalhead on the other side of the world to discover our tracks. However, when it comes to the ideal way for a heavy metal band to promote our work, nothing beats hitting the road. The best way is doing tours and building a real, lasting brotherhood in every single city you play. Sharing a stage, hanging out with the local scenes, and connecting with them create a loyal community. Digital gets your foot in the door, but touring and brotherhood build the foundation.

From your experience in the music industry, what would you tell to a new Heavy Metal band to avoid or what to do?
Create the best work you possibly can, expand your references and connections, and always support local gigs and your friend's bands. Most importantly, stay true to your soul! Cheers!

Tell us a few things about the New Underground Metal Scene in Indonesia (Bands, Fanzines, Webzines, Metal Clubs etc.)
The Indonesian metal scene has been thriving remarkably well lately, as proven by the emergence of new bands with highly respectable musicality and pioneering bands that remain active and consistently release new material. This growth is accompanied by numerous shows across Indonesia, even Asia, spanning both small towns and major cities. Ranging from local underground gigs to massive concerts and festivals, Indonesian metalheads constantly seem hungry for their daily dose of heavy metal music. Haha.

What does Metal means to you? And give us 10 metal albums that run in your veins.
To us, it sounds a bit cliché but yeah, metal is more than a genre, it's our way of life, to see things, through energy and brotherhood that brought us together. In no particular order, our 10 metal albums would be:

1. Iron Maiden - The Number of the Beast
2. Dio - Holy Diver
3. Metallica - Kill 'Em All
4. Annihilator - Alice in Hell
5. Sodom - Persecution Mania
6. Morbid Angel - Altars of Madness
7. ⁠Slayer - Reign in Blood
8. ⁠Kreator - Extreme Aggression
9. Bolt Thrower - The IVth Crusade
10. Primordial - To the Nameless Dead

Do you know anything about the Hellenic Metal Scene?
We've heard a bit about it, it's a metal scene in Greece, right? We know Rotting Christ and Necromantia are one of the legendary bands from there. We're also familiar with bands like Septicflesh, Dead Congregation (ooh I really love them! Graves of the Archangels rules!), and Suicidal Angels. But that's all we know to be honest.

What are your future plans?
Our future plans are to keep creating albums with that intense, old-school sound, tour across Asia, and just do what any metal band does! We want to keep writing riffs, playing shows, and having fun together.

Thank you very much for your time & keep up the good work! The closure is yours.
Thank you, Filthy Dogs of Metal! Huge shout-out to Stavros! Keep it loud!!!

By Steve the Filthy Dog.

DER JAGER CONTACT:

https://www.facebook.com/derjager.official

https://www.instagram.com/derjager.official/

https://derjagerkill.bandcamp.com/

https://open.spotify.com/artist/7l8rVWKaoSsHzM3ksfn9EE