Interview with MORTAL TERROR
We had a conversation with Dirk Wieland. Enjoy!
Welcome to the FILTHY DOGS OF METAL Webzine.
The history of MORTAL TERROR started back in 1987. Dirk, which are your memories from these days and which were your main influences back then?
Back in 1986 i was heavily excited about all the bands that took the more "classic" Metal sounds to a new Level of speed, aggression and wildness. These bands/records were stuff like early Metallica, Slayer, Exodus, Overkill, Exciter, Venom and so on. At that time i had the feeling that very few people in my home area listened to or even knew about these bands and records i loved so much. Then a friend of mine introduced me to 2 guys he knew because they were obsessed with the same crazy stuff as me. These guys were Jens and Marcus from our initial lineup. We became friends immediately and as we we all had already started to play a little guitar or drums it became clear very soon that we wanted to start a band. That's how it all began.
Your first demo tape ''Humour Is a Matter of Taste'' was released in 1987 and your second demo ''United Nations'' was released in 1989. Did you sell them or did you have them only for promotional purposes (Radio Stations,Magazines,Record Labels etc.)?
We sold them and sent some copies to fanzines and magazines for reviews. At that point we couldn't have imagined that we were good enough for e record deal.
With which bands did you play live concerts between 1987 and 1990? How was the situation between the bands in your area Hann. Münden back then?
At that time there were very few metal bands around in our home area and everything felt new and exciting. I remember that the first gigs felt really wild because a part of the audience obviously wondered what the fuck was goin on ;-) Back then some kids had their first contact with Speed/Thrash-Metal at a Mortal Terror show and became Metalheads themselves or founded bands later on. We also played some shows with some better known bands like S.D.I., Tankard or Despair.
Between 1990 and 1993 you released four demo tapes and you took part in a few death/thrash metal cassette compilations. Did you have a feedback outside Germany? Did you receive any letters (back then when we did not have the internet) from around the world?
Yeah, back then everything worked through letters, sending demo tapes and so on and you knew that everyone who was connected to this scene was really dedicated to it. I don't remember if these compilations had a larger effect but we sold demo tapes for example to Japan, USA, Chile and of course many European countries.
In 1994 (''The Evolving Self'') & in 1995 (''Posthuman'') you released your first two studio albums via D&S Recording (A legendary record label from the 80s) . Why did you choose this record label? Were you satisfied with the promotional work? Do you know if any copies of the albums were exported to foreign countries?
At that point we were in contact with several labels and D&S simply were the first ones to offer us a deal. I also remember that some labels wanted us to add more death metal influences, because there was this big Death Metal wave in the early nineties but we refused to do so and therefore were not signed. As far as i remember D&S records had a worldwide distribution and sold lots of records in Japan, because German metal was really popular there. D&S Records were first of all known for more traditional Hardrock and Heavy Metal and we were one of the first bands they signed in that heavier direction. A funny story might be that the D&S guy recorded the first Morgoth EP but didn't like it and refused to release it on D&S. To be honest the promotional work seemed really poor to us and the worst part was probably that D&S Records broke down about the time of the release of our second album which therefore got nearly zero promotion or distribution. We got 200 copies back then and absolutely have no idea what happened to the rest.
After your first two releases through record labels, you've opted to follow the independent route for every album since, with the sole exception of Creating Destruction, which came out via the German label Unholy Fire Records. What led you to make that decision? Looking back on everything you've experienced over the years in the metal scene, how do you view the pros and cons of each approach? If you had to choose, would you rather remain an independent band or work with a record label?
To be honest there is no plan behind this - it's just the result of what was happening. Of course it's a good thing to work with a (good) label but especially in later years, we have come to appreciate working independently because of the freedom you have in literally every aspect. You don't have any pressure, you don't have to make any compromises regarding sound, style, Music, release date, artwork or anything else and there is no danger of getting ripped off. But that does not mean that we would outrule to work with a label in the future. It simply depends on the label and the conditions.
Do you remember any weird or fun times during your live shows, rehearsals or studio recordings and you want to share them with us?
Over the years of course many weird or funny things happened. I remember a show with Tankard in the early nineties where the crowd really went wild and people did not only dive from the stage during our set but started to climb on the big P.A. boxes and jumped back in the crowd and we really got afraid they could seriously hurt each other. There was also a show in the eastern part of Berlin (maybe midst of the nineties), where (for unknown reasons) a fight broke out in the audience and within minutes everyone seems to fight everyone and we had to stop the show because nobody was paying any attention to us anymore.
Do you see any differences in today's metal music business in comparison with the music business back in the 80s/90s & the early 00s?
The biggest difference might be that there is so many music and bands out there that it is very hard for a band to stand out and nearly impossible for the listener to get to know all the interesting bands that might be out there. I also have the feeling that there is way to much boring stuff and bands that sound all the same. But i also think that there is still many great and authentic stuff out there to discover and it's cool that bands nowadays have better chances to promote or distribute their music independently.
You have recently released your new album ''Filthy Old Thrash''. What is the feedback from your audience as well as from the press?
The first reviews and personal reactions were absolutely positive and we are very happy about that. What we like most with the reactions so far is that many people really seem to get what our music is about and really feel the energy that we tried to capture when we recorded it.
The cover artwork has a killer atmosphere! Tell us a few things about it.
When it became more and more clear that the album will probably be named "Filthy Old Thrash" the idea of the graveyard scenery came to my mind playing a little bit with with our 40th anniversary and the idea that after all years the music/the band/the energy breaks out once more. There are also some details like the dog/wolf in the background, that connects to the forerunner "Bite of the Underdog". The Artwork was done by Dedy from Badic Art who worked out the idea perfectly. We really love it.
And what about the lyrics?
The lyrics are a mixture. We have lyrics that deal with enjoying ourselves when playing a show or doing our music (f.e. "We own this Night" or "Here is some Speed"). We have furthermore a song like "Deadly Class" which was inspired by the awesome graphic novel/comic of the same name and we also have some more serious lyrics which deal with topics like the inability of men to live in peace ("I come for everyone") or the growing number of people that got addicted to unbelievably stupid far right wing Propaganda and seem to have lost any connection to reality, facts or reason ("Under Attack", "Cold, Ugly and Rotten").
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?
I maybe wouldn't call it a sacrifice. But you really have to invest lots and lots of time, work, money and there will obstacles you may have to come over again and again. At least the love and the passion for what you're doing has to be strong enough to accept this invest again and again.
What attributes do you think that a new Thrash Metal Band should have in order to gain identity and be unique?
I'm not sure if there is a clear advice how to become unique. But i think it's important to be yourself, to impress yourself and simply do what you love. If you record a demo or an album it might also be a good idea not to use all this digital tools to make it sound perfect. It may make you sound as everyone else and might kill the soul of your music. But that's only my personal opinion.
What do you think about the rise of AI in music production?
It sucks and it endangers creativity and art itself!
From your experience in the music industry, what would you tell to a new Thrash Metal band to avoid or what to do?
As we are still a more Underground Band after all these years i don't know if we are the right ones to give younger bands advice how to start a career. But when it comes to the question how we managed to be still around after 40 years and release one of the best albums we ever did i would say the most important point may be that you should love what you do and always stay hungry for more.
What does Metal means to you? And give us 10 metal albums that run in your veins.
It means a lot and it influenced my whole life in a big way - even though it may sound pathetic i would say it's absolutely in my blood! 10 Albums that had a big Impact were f.e.: Metallica - Kill 'em all; Slayer - Show no Mercy; Mercyful Fate - Don't break the Oath; Voivod - Killing Technology; Venom - Black Metal; Death - Leprosy; Metal Exciter - Heavy Metal Maniac; Morbid Angel - Altars of Madness, Agent Steel - Sceptics Apocalypse, Possessed - Seven Churches… I could easily go on for hours.. There is also quite some Punk/Hardcore and a lot of classic Metal stuff that is really important for me/us but my list is more connected to the stuff of the years that made me grab a guitar and somehow might have influenced Mortal Terror.
Do you know anything about the Hellenic Metal Scene?
Of course! My impression is that Greece has a very passionate and creative scene. I have bands like Rotting Christ, Necromantia, Varathron, Suicidal Angels, Septicflesh and Yoth Iria in record collection and have seen many of them live too. Last year we played with Lucifer's Child on a Festival in Germany.
What are your future plans?
Keep it up and have some fun as long as possible.
Thank you very much for your time & keep up the good work! The closure is yours.
Thank you very much for doing this interview with us and thanks to everyone reading it and giving us their attention. Check out our social media channels and our Bandcamp site and if you like your Metal filthy and oldschool you should give "Filthy Old Thrash" a listen!
By Steve the Filthy Dog.
MORTAL TERROR CONTACT:
https://www.facebook.com/mortalterrormetal/
https://www.instagram.com/mortalterror666/
https://mortalterror.bandcamp.com/
https://soundcloud.com/mortalterror