We met German metallers Emergency Gate -picked that name "because of the free advertisment by emergency gate signs everywhere" - when they visited Greece during their Chaos Over Europe Tour with the mighty Kreator back in 2009. We heard some rumours again later when bassist Mario Lochert joined the familiar to greek metalheads by Maxi Nil Austrian symphonic power metal band Visions Of Atlantis, and then left abruptly one year ago. Now signed to a new label with a full-length album on the works to be released soon and as they are preparing for their European tour in November, Rock Overdose had a friendly chat with the founder of Emergency Gate, Mario.
Hi Mario and welcome to Rockoverdose.gr!
M.L: Hi Rockoverdose. Hi Readers, Fans and Metalheadz.
Rockoverdose.gr: New album at the beginning of 2013! What will it be like? Thought of a title?
M.L: Well, the upcoming album is in my mind a masterpiece. The sound is awesome, hard, very melodic and with heavy riffs. The songs catch your ear, I am sure.
Of course we have ideas about a title and the artwork, but there is still time and we want to give our fans the best EG album ever... So I can't say anything about it at the moment... 🙂
Rockoverdose.gr: How does it feel recording, mixing and mastering it on your own?
M.L: Actually, I always keep distance in a production and I am doing just one part of it, either Mixing either Recording; cause you are too close on a production, if you are doing both.
But on this album I wanted to do everything. I had my own visions for the sound and that was the reason why I wanted to do the mixing and recording by myself.
On this record we tried something that we never did before, we started writing songs in the studio the way worldclass bands are doing it. Working in the studio on songs, riffings and licks, the studio atmosphere and your mates around you with many ideas... The result is amazing and I can't wait to hear the songs after the Mastering.
Rockoverdose.gr: New label also! What makes you take the decision to change “home” every time?
M.L: (*laughs*) That's a question I ask myself too :)))
Well there is of course a reason for it. The first record Nightly Ray was on TEC / Unversal and they closed the Label down - Universal just kept the big stars, so our next release Rewake was on Silverwolf / SPV and we were touring with Kreator at that moment. In Athens -yes it was in Greece I remember well that day- Mille (vocals, guitars at Kreator) said: "Mario I have great news... SPV is insolvent".
For me it doesn't matter... I just want to give my best on stage... and Athens was one of these Dates I will remember for years. In Greece there are amazing Metalheadz and I really want to come back to rock the Greek audience again!
So the next step was Twilight; we released the record The Nemesis Construct and the EP Remembrance - The Early Days on this Label... and what happend? Twilight went insolvent, too!
Few weeks ago we signed finally on ZYX Music which will release the upcoming album in early 2013, and we are happy with their work!
Rockoverdose.gr: Good luck...! Are you going to play the new songs on your tour in November with Graveworm?
M.L: Yes, we will play one song from the upcoming album on this tour and the people will love it - Ι am sure!!!
Rockoverdose.gr: Do you keep contact with the members of Visions of Atlantis? It was you who “lent” your drummer for their gigs?
M.L: Visions who?????
Αt the moment Ι really don't want to spend one single word on this band, but maybe Ι will when the time is right 🙂
Raphael left Emergency Gate in the end of 2011. He decided to leave cause the distance between Sardinia and Germany was too big, but we split in a very good way. He is an excellent drummer and he is always welcome for eating a grilled chicken salad with us!
Our old and new drummer is Chris "The Machine" Widmann, who played many years for Emergency Gate. He already played on the Rewake album.
Rockoverdose.gr: As a band in general I find you have a lot of humor. Does this come in conflict with the evil matcho image most metal bands have?
M.L: (*laughs*) Well, we always have fun when we are together, I think it's the most important thing you need in order to perform in the best way! Without love, passion and fun on stage you can't perform in the best way. So fun and humor is a must have 🙂
Rockoverdose.gr: There are a lot of funny posts on your Facebook. So bassists are underestimated after all?
M.L: Well I don't know why - but for bass players too many jokes exist... so I'm not worrying about it.
If you hear a song without bass the balls are missing in complete. So the bass player is a very important person in a band - and in Emergency Gate it's me. (*laughs*)
Rockoverdose.gr: Would you like to say something to your fans?
M.L: NO I won't!!! (*laughs*) Just kidding; of course I want to say something to our Greek fans. Like I said in the interview, for us it was a really great moment to perform in Greece. I promise that we will do anything to come back to kick your asses with some Heavy Metal. You are a fucking great audience and we enjoyed the time in Athens and Thessaloniki a lot.
Three words: YOU KICK ASS!
For Rockoverdose.gr: Zisis Petkanas, Stella Tsolakou
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