Manzer Interview

1.Can you give us an update on what is going on with the band these days?
Infernal Hails! Sure, we are working as Hell on our second full length album, "Beyond The Iron Portal". All the songs are ready, we rehearse them a lot and we hope to record before the end of the year.

2.For those that have yet to hear the music, how would you describe your musical style that has been present on the recordings?
We play Black Metal from the 80's. It means you can also feel influences from Heavy Metal and Rock'n'Roll, sometimes Punk as well. I can also mention our influences : VENOM, SABBAT, MOTÖRHEAD, IRON MAIDEN, NWOBHM, BATHORY, JAN DO FIAO, ABIGAIL, KILLERS, ATOMIZER, CARNIVORE, NME, BULLDOZER, IMPALED NAZARENE…

3.Your lyrics go very into depth with Pictavian culture, do you also have an interest in the pagan beliefs those people once had?
No, I'm an atheist so I don't have any beliefs in supernatural beings or whatever, as it has been invented by humans. And nothing from the Pictones and Santones culture survived, these were the celtic tribes in our area during Gallo-Roman times but only archeological informations remain about them, their culture didn't last until this day, as christianity fukked everything up hehe. There's a local language but not as old as these tribes of course, the oldest writings found date from the 11th century, and it is dying, that's why it is important for us to have some lyrics in this language called Parlanjhe. The Pictavian culture that we love today is about gastronomy, music, history, legends, landscapes...

4.You also have some satanic lyrics, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in this topic?
Black Metal has been meant to be satanic, just like the progenitors : VENOM. Satan is a strong symbol. Of course it is absolutely not a divinity in which we believe. This is a tool that we can use against all established religions and dogmas. Remember that we don't worship Satan, Satan worships us!!!

5.What are some of the best shows that the band has played over the years and also how would you describe your stage performance?
For sure the best gigs are the ones we did in Asia. We've seen some crazy crowds! I could mention Dhaka in Bangladesh, Colombo in Sri Lanka, Kuching in Malaysia, Tel Aviv in Israel, Kolkata in India, Kathmandu in Nepal... Also Villeurbanne in France, crazy as fukk!!! Which is rare in this country hehe. As we are a power-trio, our stage performance is simple, I believe this is very Rock'n'Roll, no frills you know, we plug and play basically, and let the music do the talking. This is real Hard Metal to headbang to!

6.Do you have any touring or show plans for the future?
We only have 2 gigs planned in the end of the year, but more should come up soon. We hope to tour Japan next year.

7.You have done a good amount of cover tunes, can you tell us a little bit more about the songs you have covered?
Our first cover was a VENOM one ("Acid Queen") as it's a major influence for us. We covered ABIGAIL "Attack with Spell", it's a big influence and they are friends too, which is something special. Then came MOTÖRHEAD "Ace of Spades" (best Rock'n'Roll band ever!), BLACK SABBATH "Come to the Sabbath" played way faster hehe... Nowadays we regularly play SABBAT "Darkness and Evil" (best Black Metal band ever!) and IRON MAIDEN "Wasted Years" (best Heavy Metal band ever!). We also covered a song from our brothers from HEXECUTOR, as we'll do a special split release with them, and they will cover a MANZER song!

8.The compilation was released on Armee de la Mort Productions, can you tell us a little bit more about the label?
This is my label. I've created LEGION OF DEATH Records in 2001 to support bands from underrated scenes on vinyl format. In 2009, ARMEE DE LA MORT Records was born as a parallel label, and it allows me to release CD's as well. Most of the MANZER stuffs are out on ARMEE DE LA MORT because it's way easier than dealing with other labels, even if some showed great support.

9.On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to your music by fans of black and thrash metal?
Knowing that MANZER is the best selling band worldwide on my label, we may conclude that the feedback is great! We are in touch with many die-hard fans all over the world. And as we toured many countries in Asia, there are quite a lof of MANZER maniaks out there. But I think our fans are into good and old school Metal in general, not necessarily Black or Thrash only. Many people point out our Heavy Metal or Punk influences, but we don't mix any random styles, you know, it's about paying respect to the glorious Metal ancestors, and it comes up naturally. In the end it's Hard Metal against all trends!

10.What is going on with some of the other bands and musical projects these days that some of the band members are a part of?
Fëarann is currently writing songs for the third VALUATIR album, and he will play the bass for the new HANTAOMA album. As for myself, I'm also in ANNTHENNATH but the band is put on hold as we're all busy with our main bands, though we hope to release a second and final album one day. Hylde doesn't play in any other band now. MANZER keeps us very active and busy!

11.When can we expect another full length album and also where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?
We will release our second full length album in 2016 for sure! I can't be more precise for the moment. I think we still keep the same direction musically, we will never change, no fukking way. But the new album may be sometimes more Rock'n'Roll with more solos. Apart from that, it should be 666% Pictavian Black Metal!!! We think it will blow our first album away, and you can expect a much more vintage sound as well.

12.What are some of the bands or musical styles that have had an influence on your newer music and also what are you listening to nowadays?
We love bands like MIDNIGHT, SPEEDWOLF, PERFECTÖ or BIRTH RITUAL. I believe we share many influences in common. You know, we claim we play Black Metal but people usually call us Black/Thrash, or Black/Heavy, and with those bands it's the same, it's difficult to label them but who fukking cares?! This is killer METAL at its best!!! I can also mention my new signing : IRON SLAUGHT from Bigorra (South West of France)! Action, destruction, WAR!!!

13.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?
666 thanx for the interview and support. Anybody interested can feel free to drop us a line. Check the MANZER website to know everything you should know about us! Support the underground or fukk off and die!!!
Contacts :
E-mail : shaxul@orange.fr
LEGION OF DEATH / ARMEE DE LA MORT Records : www.legionofdeathrecords.com
Snail Mail : LOD Records / BP 21 / 86210 Bonneuil-Matours / France.
MANZER Pictavian Black Metal : www.manzer.fr