ENGINE OF PAIN
are a shit hot new thrash band hailing from the Netherlands.
They built up a very strong reputation with the release of
an independant ep 'Here Is Pain' in 2004 and January 07 saw
the release of their first full length debut album 'I Am Your
Enemy' on Lion Music. If you are into the heavier end of the
metal genre this is one band to definitely check out. Virtuosity
One caught up with guitarist Patrick Waltmans to discuss the
band latest release, touring plans, band member changes and
how they have got US Porn Star Tyler Faith on their side.
For this we salute them two devil horns \m/ \m/... enjoy!
Patrick, many thanks for participating
in this interview. How did you Engine of
Pain start and what trials and tribulations have the band
been through up to the release of ‘I Am Your Enemy’?
Pat: The band is founded in May 2003. We recorded
a 5 track MCD in February 2004 called “Here is Pain!”.
Thanks to this MCDemo we were personally chosen by the Wacken
Open Air Organization to play at the 15th anniversary festival.
All because they bombed us to be the best unsigned metal band.
The same year we played the finale of the Aardschok / Jagermeister
Metal Bash, a very well known Dutch metal band competition.
Also I was asked to be Dean Guitars Artist. So to be short:
all went very, very fast! After all this we only had one thing
in mind: record a kick-ass full-length album, ditto artwork
and trying to get a nice reliable record deal. We all did
this with the same line up as from the very first day.
Shortly after the recording was completed
the band replaced fellow guitarist Ruud Banziger with Bastiaan
Kuipe. What led to the change and what has Bastiaan brought
to the band?
Pat: Stop, haha! It’s Bastiaan Kuiper. So with
an R in the end, haha!! Bastiaan is slowly getting really
insane that his name is spelled wrong constantly, LOL. Unfortunately
the R is missing in the promo-bio so now everyone knows him
as Kuipe. We make fun out of it and torment Bastiaan with
his new last name haha (oops, sorry
- Virtuosity One )…Anyway…The footing
for the leaving of Ruud is very personal and we want to keep
it that way. We don’t have any musical differ nor fights.
It sucks like hell. Ruud was in the band from the very first
beginning. But now we have Bastiaan and the band is on the
move again. Bastiaan is a very respectable and amazingly high-tech
guitar player and has a cool personality as well. About the
same time Ruud stopped, Maurice, Bastiaan and I did a Slayer
cover project together with some other friends. So it was
kind of logical that we first asked Bastiaan to join Engine
of Pain after Ruud quit. We needed a guitar player that was
at least just as inventive and good as Ruud and it’s
for sure that Bastiaan has the capacity to fulfil and can
create new Engine of Pain worthy riffs and songs.
How
long did the actual writing and recording for ‘I Am
Your Enemy’ take?
Pat: The whole CD writing, planning, execution and production
including artwork of I Am Your Enemy took us about a year.
All things were planned, even all details of the artwork.
We only took the best riffs, the best lyrics and the best
arrangements we were able to perform.
What was the band ultimate aim for
the material on the album?
Pat: Doing what you like to play AND trying to find a kick-ass
label that respects your music and ideas. No concessions:
that is a BIG aim I can tell you. You need a lot of patience
and a lot of self-knowledge as a band.
What would you say is Engine Of Pain’s
biggest asset and why?
Pat: Our biggest asset? I think it would be the chemistry
and the very good relationship between the individual band
members. We always have a lot of fun during gigs and rehearsals.
That is priceless…I have played in some bands but for
me the most important thing always is and was that you need
to have fun otherwise it will kill the band spirit in the
long run. Perhaps that is even more important than the music….?!
The Thrash genre was in its heyday
in its original form in the late 1980’s, yet you are
a band that is taking the genre to the next level. What is
about the thrash genre that appeals to the member of Engine
Of Pain?
Pat: Thrash metal has a LOT of energy! I listen to this music
since my youth. I saw Testament playing at Dynamo Open Air
long time ago. I listened to them, saw the show and felt the
energy. I remember very well thinking “Damnit…what
the Hell was that?? Wow!!” Since that day I only listen
to that kind of music. I try to listen to other shit, but
bands like Slayer, Forbidden, Exodus, Megadeth, Testament,
Pantera are the best….they ruled and still rule!! Okay,
I must be honest…Rush and Van Halen rule as well…hahaha.
Who are the bands biggest influences
and what role have these bands played on the EOP sound?
Pat: Main influences are surely Slayer, Exodus, Forbidden,
Flotsam & Jetsam, Laaz Rockit, Annihilator…Musician
influences are too many to mention but I really like Aaron
Jellum and Phil Kettner of Laaz Rockit, Alex Peterson of Testament,
Kerry King of Slayer, Dimebag Darell, Dave Mustaine, Scott
Ian and James Hetfield.
The band are a very tight unit, is
this something that comes naturally or do you guys pound on
a riff for hours to get the groove and tightness right?
Pat: Of course you have to practice to get the breaks correct,
but the tightness is like “in” the band. That
is naturally indeed. All members share the same interest in
music so the so-called chemistry is present within the band.
When
did you start playing guitar and what was your goal when you
started?
Pat: Now I have to count…let’s see…must
be about 16 years ago. I didn’t have a goal back then,
I just liked playing some chords and riffs. I wish I would
have had a goal back then because than I probably would have
taken some guitar lessons and learn how to play a decent solo
haha. Now I don’t know shit about theoretical things.
But hey…sometimes I think that is the reason that I
still play that fanatic…I was never forced to practice
so all went very naturally. I also think that one has more
inspiration if he/she is not just limited to theoretical knowledge…music
comes from the heart; Thrash metal as well.
Do you feel you have reached that
goal yet?
Pat: Like I said…I didn’t have a goal back then…but
of course I am very happy that the riffs I thought up at my
small attic reached the world audience through this record
deal. A very weird but satisfied feeling…
You recently scored an endorsement
with Dean guitars, what does this endorsement bring you and
what do you like about Dean instruments?
Pat: Well, it’s not like a Schenker, Mustaine or Trivium
Dean Guitars endorsement like that I get any guitar I want
for free or I have my own ”Patrick Waltmans kick ass”
signature. Not yet at least, haha. I am greatly promoted by
Dean Guitars and I can obtain Dean guitars through their distribution
depot. Of course; the main benefit for Engine of Pain and
me is the fact that I am at the Dean Artist list. It’s
a real honour and publicity! Don’t forget that the Dean
website has about 160,000 unique hits per month and its growing
day by day!! That is amazing!! Dean Guitars rule because both
cheaper models and expensive models have still a certain level
of constant quality. I own several factory Deans like a Razorback
TT, Dime-O-Flame, Phantom V but a unique USA Dean V Time Capsule
Blue Burst as well. Of course the USA Dean is the shit (better
wood and finish etc) but in playability it’s like the
same. They do not cut back on essential parts like pick-ups
or tuners. That’s what I like about Dean Guitars…Hell,
it’s not a brand anymore but some kind of Symbol for
Metal…and the models are just Metal as well!!
The band have been getting some nice
publicity on their website, this must be pleasing.
Pat: Yes, it’s very pleasing but takes a lot of time
and it’s very hard work as well, I can tell you. We
try to find publicity as much as possible. Lion Music is doing
kick ass promotion and we are not a band that sits down on
our ass and wait what will come our way. You won’t get
it for free. Sometimes publicity comes to you but mostly you
have to search for it, grab it by the balls and do your best
to support the label and the band to make the best out of
it. But through the record deal the band is put on a higher-level
and people are starting to find us instead of the other way
around.
Tell
us about how the band got porn star Tyler Faith involved,
its quite an achievement.
Pat: We are very proud that Tyler Faith wants to cooperate
with Engine of Pain. We already had a picture of a beautiful
lady, well dressed and all, in the artwork of our Cdemo Here
is the Pain! We got a lot of good reactions on that so we
thought that it would be nice to have a famous star on our
full length CD. We sent Tyler (www.tylerfaith.com)
a very nice e-mail and we told her about us and wrote what
we had in mind. To our big surprise we got a great response,
she was very friendly and she wrote: "Sure, just tell
me what to do". She sent some pictures we could use.
We picked out the coolest picture and our artwork dude integrated
it in the booklet as a centrefold. So now you can see it inside
the CD booklet, check it out at your local CD-shop. That's
it! It really was a "lucky shot in the dark", but
on the other hand, Tyler is a very nice person and she just
helped us out because we asked it nicely…and although
it’s loud thrash metal she likes the music as well!
By the way: Nick recently was asked by her to be a guest on
Tyler’s own internet radio show. We will put this live
interview on our website very soon, so keep an eye on our
website…will be very cool!!!
Nick had to call in like 4:00 am in the morning because of
the time difference with LA (9 hours earlier over there).
Haha…!!
You have an album release party lined
up for March, can you give us the details for this?
Pat: Yeah, of course!! It’s the 10th of March 2007.
The venue is called the Azijnfabriek (Roermond, the Netherlands).
Doors will be open at 20:30 and entrance will just be 5 euros
at pre-sale (7 euros at venue). It’s a bit like our
hometown venue. Will be cool. We have two special guests.
First one is State:Chaos. It features a friend of mine I know
for a very long time, Rene Rokx (former Chemical Breath and
Form). State:Chaos plays thrash metal as well. Headliner for
this evening is Callenish Circle (Metal Blade). Patrick Savelkoul
(vocalist of Callenish Circle / Trendkiller Management) helped
us out greatly with some guest vocals and with analysing the
contract of the record deal.
Does the band have any more touring
plans in the working stages?
Pat:. We are mainly a live kick-ass band. We are aiming to
play at the summer festivals indeed and as a support band
for some bigger bands. However, the music business depends
on too many unpredictable factors. The unbreakable passion
for our music and the very good understanding within the band
makes us put all wishes in perspective.
Who would be your ideal band to tour
with?
Pat: Slayer.
Why should readers of Virtuosity
One check out I Am Your Enemy?
Pat: The band is breathing thrash metal. I think it sucks
that this music is not around anymore at bands. If you are
a metal head and like the bands I’ve mentioned before
you MUST check us out. But we’re not just a simple copy
of these bands; we have some modern day influences like the
ass-tight riffing of The Haunted and Hatesphere and some very
cool samples and sound scapes. You must have the CD with artwork,
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 are not trying to re-invent
thrash metal; we are just improving it! We are a mix between
80’s thrash and modern thrash / death, with lyrics and
an attitude that are really different from the standard ones
you’ll find in metal. So stay METAL and check out our
album!!!
Many thanks for your interview & ROCK
ON!!!!
Patrick
Engine Of Pain
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