We have created a monster
Powerwolf present their ninth studio album "Wake Up The Wicked" now. Since their founding in 2003, the five musicians from Saarbrücken have secured a firm place in the metal scene with their mix of Power Metal, sacred contents, extravagant videos, and thrilling live shows. With their albums "Secret Of The Night" and "The Sacrament Of Sins", they even reached number 1 on the German album charts and created hymns that fans all over the world are enchanted by.
In an interview with ntv.de, keyboardist Falk Maria Schlegel talks about the creation of the new album, the seemingly endless ideas for their song texts, and the fun of all band members in the Powerwolf project.
ntv.de: Your last album "Call Of The Wild" came out right in the middle of the pandemic. Presumably, the approach was different this time around?! What were the essential differences?
Falk Maria Schlegel: With the previous album, we still lacked the experience we now have with "Wake Up The Wicked". After our North American tour in April, we were able to focus directly on the album and start writing songs. It's a big difference whether you create ideas out of thin air or are inspired by experiences. The freshness and energy of the new album is noticeable. The energy you feel when you're with people, no matter what form, is very inspiring. Our performances and contact with fans gave us a lot of strength and reminded us why we do it: for our fans. The opening track is the fastest, heaviest, and shortest song we've ever made. That was a new dynamic I hadn't experienced in my Powerwolf career before. Just like the album title says, we've created a monster - in a positive sense.
I suppose you don't just do it for your fans, but also a little for yourselves, right?
(laughs) Yes, that's true. "We make music for our fans" might sound a little selfless, but it's all about making our community happy. But we're also our biggest critics. It can be very frustrating because we have ideas that sometimes don't quite make the cut. We want to fulfill our own expectations and, in the end, also please our fans. In our entire career, we've never written an album according to a proven success formula. We're often accused of using a certain success formula, but that's not true. We have our own style, our own way of writing and singing. When we're satisfied with the result and people like it, that's the best for us.
Powerwolf stands for a certain sound. So couldn't you just switch to a different success formula somehow?
Honestly, I don't know what I would do to switch to a different success formula. There are many successful music genres, but for us, that wouldn't work. That's why we do what we're best at. I think most artists proceed in the same way - they stay true to their style. I certainly hope that's the case. It's really a question of authenticity.
And it's not just the sound that makes you unique. The themes you tackle, such as faith, gods, and old legends, where do the inspirations for that come from?
In the course of the years, our work has evolved. We enjoy playing with cliches and incorporating themes such as religious history, folklore, and mythology into our music. Topics like witch trials and the political dimension behind them particularly intrigue us. For instance, a new song "1589" is based on a story from Bedburg, where someone was executed as a werewolf in the Middle Ages. The mythology and the question of what is true about it fascinates us. Was the condemned person really a werewolf or just a scapegoat? We want to process these stories in our songs and videos. Even if someone is not interested in these themes, they can simply enjoy our music and have a party. For many people, music is more than just entertainment - it is a mindset, almost like a religion. In this creative cosmos, we like to move around. We are always looking for new, interesting stories and ideas, and they never run out.
There are always engaging videos for your singles, like the one mentioned for "1589". Why are such clips important? They must cost quite a bit of money...
I spoke of our own claim before. It is important for us to convey our work with a certain claim and seriousness. Of course, we could simply make a lyric video or perform in a warehouse. But that would be boring. We want to set a contrast and improve the quality of our videos by shooting at real locations. I am not a technology hater, but it makes a big difference whether you work with green screen or really with people and props. An example of this is a shoot on a ship, where I really got seasick. In such environments, one behaves differently, which enhances the quality of the final product. All involved - from actors to camera operators - have to adapt to the real circumstances. This has effects on the lighting, movements, and everything else. We have grown to love this challenge, even though it can be very demanding.
Especially for you on the ship, isn't it? In the studio, that wouldn't have happened...
That's probably true. (laughs) Or when you shoot in November in Sudan and suddenly it rains. Such challenges belong to it, but we have consciously decided to face them. We have already given opulent concerts, and now we want to go even more in the cinematic direction and transport our stories more intensely. This works better with real props and original sets, instead of just performing the song. That brings challenges with it, but it is an important part of our creative process.
Apart from the performance part, are you heavily involved in the making of your videos?
We are very involved, sometimes to the dismay of others. We like to shape things and are therefore often longer on set. Even if the plan calls for us to be there only in the afternoon, we are already there in the morning to enjoy the atmosphere and see what happens - be it in makeup or during technical procedures. I am also very interested in the technical terms and details. This makes the days longer. This "happening" character is important to us, not only for live performances, but also for our videos. I find it sad when someone comes only briefly for their take and then leaves again. I want to fall exhausted into bed in the evening and feel like I have really contributed. That is important to me and contributes to the special atmosphere.
Do you bring ideas from the videos to the live stage? Costumes or props for example?
We will not bring a real ship on stage, but we will incorporate scenic elements that pick up from the video using the means at our disposal. This is an intriguing challenge, as things that are done in the video would often not be possible live. Sometimes a cool move from the video is incorporated into the live show. It can also happen that a theatrical setting from the video is transferred to the stage show. Technically we are still in the planning stage. It makes a difference whether a video is made into a song and then played live or if there is no clip for it. That may sound strange, but the video performance influences the stage show. Our fans are great and love to imitate the musicians' moves because they watch the videos so often.
You're not that different from Taylor Swift, I thought ...
Yes, my God, now that you mention it ... (laughs) But the fans might now expect me to throw my keyboards in the air and scream. I can't promise that. However, there are some moves from the videos that I will remember and that I didn't have in my repertoire before. I find that fascinating. The director encourages us to do these things again and that enriches our performance. It's interesting how video and live performances differ.
The Powerwolf project is like a total work of art. Does one of you wear the hat or do you all make decisions for the band, the music, the performances together?
If someone has an idea, it will always be taken into consideration and no one will be ignored. However, we sometimes have to say "no, that won't work." It's not easy, as there are so many ideas and an enormous creative potential. Sometimes these ideas surprise us so much that we are speechless and can only say "wow, that's amazing." We still discuss the proposals and give feedback. We have found our roles over the years and that is a beautiful feeling. We no longer have to orient ourselves, as we have been working together for 20 years and know exactly how the other ticks. That saves us endless discussions and contributes to our long-term collaboration.
That's a good keyword. You've been together since 2003. What's different today compared to the early days? Couldn't you have preserved the spirit of those days?
That's a very complex question, as when you do something for a long time, it never really feels like 20 years - it's always as if it were just yesterday. That's a classic phenomenon of aging. Our journey began with a rough vision of how we wanted to sound and what we wanted to achieve. In the beginning, everything was very rudimentary. The beautiful thing is that our journey is never-ending. Every year we develop further, try out new song structures and become more confident in what we do. It's good that we have developed a certain security in our approach – I call it consciously not routine. Routine can be dangerous, as it suggests that things can be done automatically, and I see our work as anything but that.
Taken place is this our second tour in the USA. Last year, we made a small, three-week tour. We had waited for a long time to fly to the USA. I don't really know why exactly. Last year, we had the feeling that the time was right, and the reactions were impressive, which motivated us. Now, the world premiere of "Wake Up The Wicked" will take place at the Hollywood Palladium, and this is definitely not a routine matter. It's a mix of pure excitement and a large portion of respect for what's coming. Some songs we have never played live before, except in rehearsals. I have no idea what will happen, how the audience will react, and how we will react. These unpredictable moments make it especially exciting. I'm really looking forward to experiencing all of this, even though it makes me a little nervous. It's an exciting time and I'm curious what awaits us.
Would it make a difference for your band if Trump was in power again?
Of course, we watch the development with concern. Somehow, the country is still fascinating. There are many inappropriate jokes and one thinks about what's going on there. In general, I have had the experience that it's better not to talk to people in the USA about politics. It's safer that way.
Interview with Falk Maria Schlegel from Powerwolf by Nicole Ankelmann
The album "Wake Up The Wicked" is available now.
Falk Maria Schlegel mentioned that the energy they felt during their live shows and interactions with fans helped inspire them while creating the new album "Wake Up The Wicked". This allowed them to approach songwriting with fresh ideas and a new dynamic.
When discussing their songwriting process, Falk Maria Schlegel shared that they never write an album according to a proven success formula. Instead, their own style and authenticity guide their creations, ensuring that they remain true to their roots.
[music, album, interviews, rock music]
