VOODOOSHOCK INTERVIEWS Updated 30.5.2005
Interview auf www.eternitymagazin.com German
Interview on Cosmic-Lava.de English
Interview from Gl-Productions English
Interview of unknown origin (2004) English
Interview with Chris Barnes / Custom Heavy English
Interview with Psychedelic Fanzine #8 English
Interview auf www.eternitymagazin.com
Das Doomiversum folgt ja bekanntlich ganz anderen Regeln als der Rest der Szene. Hier laufen die Uhren anders und Zeit bekommt eine ganz neue Bedeutung. Das Bild vom dauerbekifften Doomster, der mit fettiger Matte, speckigem Stirnband und dreckiger Jeansjacke durch's Leben torkelt, scheint jedoch überholt zu sein. Der Doomhead von heute lebt nicht mehr in 'nem schrottreifen Van, sondern hat Familie und steht im Berufsleben. Doom-Urviech Wino lebt ja schon seit einiger Zeit gesund und gutbürgerlich und auch der frühere NAEVUS-Chef Uwe Groebel hat mit den üblichen Klischees der Zeitlupen-Gemeinde nichts am Hut. Uwes aktuelle Truppe VOODOOSHOCK spielt trotz völligen Klischeeverzichts eine Art von Musik, die auch Old School-Metallern wie mir super reinläuft. Wenn das mal kein Grund ist, dem guten Mann etwas von seiner knapp bemessenen Freizeit zu stehlen und ihn mit ein paar doofen Fragen zu nerven. Lest selbst, was dabei herausgekommen ist!!
Dann erzähl unseren Lesern doch mal ein bisschen was über die Band!
Uwe: Jau, also Voodooshock gibt es seit etwa 2000, nachdem NAEVUS sich im Mai 1999 aufgelöst hatten. Ich habe ständig neue Songs weitergeschrieben um irgendwann wieder mit 'ner Band zu beginnen. 2000 hab ich dann das erste Mal mit Gunnar Drescher (damaliger Drummer von MIRROR OF DECEPTION) zusammen gespielt.
Daraus wurden so etwa vier Songs, aber meist wurde einfach auch nur gejammt. Das klappte recht gut, bis auf die Zeitprobleme. Wir fanden nie so wirklich Termine miteinander. Letztendlich standen wir auch ohne auch ohne Basser da. Etwa gegen Mitte/ Ende 2000 habe ich dann mit Matze Siffermann und Oliver Merkle von END OF GREEN gejammt und das waren die ersten Voodooshock. Vier Songs standen und die wurden aufgrund einer Sampleranfrage aufgenommen. Der Sampler, ein Saint Vitus-Tribute, ist jedoch nie erschienen.
Mit den Jungs hatte es aber dann doch nicht so hingehauen da die in einer anderen Zeit lebten als ich, also mit mehr easy going und mehr Spielraum. Ich war zu der Zeit schon selbständig und musste meine Freizeit mehr einteilen. Das heißt, es war für mich mehr ein zusammenarbeiten als bei der Probe erst ein paar Bierchen zu leeren und dann ein paar Töne zu dudeln. Also fiel das etwa Ende 2001 auch wieder auseinander nachem das Demo super Kritiken erhalten hatte. Mein Name war allerdings auch schon von NAEVUS vorher bekannt und somit war es für manche Leute etwas zugänglicher und vielleicht interessanter, was das die neue Band von Uwe Groebel macht.
Da meine Kreativität kein Ende nahm wollte ich in jedem Fall endlich wieder ins Studio und dachte mir ich kann vielleicht einfach auch mit Musikern nur für eine Scheibe zu sammen spielen. Also zusammen arbeiten und aufnehmen, eher so Projektmäßig denn ich hatte keine Hoffnung gute Musiker auf Dauer zu finden.
Michael Greilinger kannte ich aus seiner früheren band WINDFALL (Basel, Schweiz) und fragte ihn nach mehreren Jahren losen aber regelmäßigen Kontaktes ob er nicht Lust hätte, mit mir was zu machen und ober nicht noch durch Zufall einen Drummer mitbingen könne. - Konnte er! Er war sofort begeistert und schlug DREI Drummer vor wobei Specki dann den Job machte, da es den anderen doch zu problematisch schien, es durchzuziehen. Ich wußte ja selber nicht, ob's klappt oder nicht. Aber es hatte gefunkt. Zwei Wochenenden haben wir gejammt und die Songs gespielt und gerockt was das Zeug hält. Das Dritte WE sind wir ins Studio und haben Basic Tracks aufgenommen, also Drums und Bass.
Das war Anfang 2002, Ende Februar/ März. Bis Juni hatten wir dann die zehn Songs inklusive meines Gesangs und Gitarren drauf...und schon war das Teil fertig zur Veröffentlichung.
EM: Und wie läuft das Songwriting jetzt bei euch ab...Ich meine, jetzt, wo ihr 'ne stabile Band seid?
Uwe: Naja, "stabile Band" kann mans noch immer nicht nennen. Wir machen eben zusammen Musik und verstehen uns super gut und haben extrem viel Spaß. Geprobt/ gespielt haben wir seit April nicht mehr.
Wir sind alle sehr beschäftigt mit unseren Jobs . Irgendwie muss man ja Geld verdienen. So ist es dann, daß ich die Songs weiterhin fertig schreibe, per 4- Spur- MiniDisk aufnehme und den Anderen zukommen lasse. So zur Auswahl. Aktuell sind es etwa zwanzig Songs. Im Januar treffen wir uns zum ersten Jam.
EM: Wie bist du auf den bandnamen gekommen?
Uwe: Zuerst war die Idee Voodoo Shop...Der Name kommt aus dem James Bond Film "Live and Let Die" (Der beste James Bond EVER!! -Anm. von Phil). Gunnar sagte damals, daß Schock besser klingt. Also war es dann Voodooshock...
EM: Ihr steht ja alle im Berufsleben und habt Familie, oder? Was sagt ihr zum klassischen Bild des Doom-Metallers, der in nem alten Van haust und den ganzen Tag am Kiffen ist?
Uwe: Au weia, aus dem Alter sind wir raus. Also ich geh' jetzt nächstes Jahr auf die 30 und habe Frau und Tochter. Michi ist schon über 30 (also fast tot!!), solo und macht sein Journalistenstudium fertig. Specki ist 27 und arbeitet als Lehrer. Beide sind übrigens Schweizer.
EM: Naja, Wino ist ja inzwischen auch braver Hausmann...
Uwe: Man bleibt auch so wild im Kopf!!
EM: Wie bist Du zur Musik gekommen und wie sieht Dein musikalischer Background aus?
Uwe: Also ich hab' mit 13 angefangen, Gitarre zu spielen. Meine erste Band NAEVUS startete 1991. Musikalsich wars noch Death Doom ( damals war der Begriff ganz neu!), stark beeinflußt bei alllem was lansgam und grunzig war.
Als Beispiele nenne ich mal die ersten Entombed-, Death-, Carcass- und natürlich CATHEDRAL- Scheiben. Ich habe den "richtigen" Metal größtenteils umgangen und bin Ende der 80er von Depeche Mode/ Duran Duran direkt über Iron Maiden und Punk (Ramones - immer noch geil!) zum Death-Metal... Anathema und My Dying Bride waren damals ganz klar super. Emotional erste Sahne und einfach auch neu in ihrem Ding. Cathedral waren auf Tour mit Vitus - Und ich wußte nicht wer Vitus ist - aber naja, man ist eben hingegangen. AUf dem Konzert selbst traf man dann allerdings nur Leute, die wegen Viitus vor Ort waren und die CATHEDRAL ganz okay fanden. Ich verstand die Welt nicht mehr...Danach schon!
EM: Hehehe...Klarer Fall von "Born Too Late" , würde ich sagen...
Uwe: Wahrscheinlich...
EM: VOODOOSHOCK sind aber ganz klar vom Heavy Rock der 70er und dem Doom Metal der 80er beeinflußt, oder?
Uwe: Also Heavy Rock der 70 kann ich ganz klar bejahen, sei es Jethro Tull, Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin oder natürlich Black Sabbath. Die harte Seite der 80er habe ich, wie gesagt, umgangen.
EM: Und was ist mit Bands wie Trouble, The Obsessed oder Count Raven?
Uwe: Ja natürlich. Trouble, Pentagram, Obsessed, Vitus, also die meisten Hellhound-Bands. Count Raven haben mich noch nie so richtig angezogen... EM: Wo holst Du Dir die Inspiration für die Lyrics her?
Uwe: Ähm Inspriration... Naja, das tägliche Leben halt. Soll ja alles positiv sein. Über die Liebe zu schreiben, so wie man denkt.
EM: Was gibt es zu den Covermotiven zu sagen? Steckt irgendeine Message dahinter oder sollen sie einfach nur gut aussehen?
Uwe: Die sollen schlicht und ergreifend gut aussehen. Die Photos von uns sind ja eher freundlich.
EM: Auf dem Photo seht ihr ja auch nicht gerade aus wie eine Klischee-Metal-Truppe.
Uwe: Dann isch ja recht, wäre ja schrecklich!
EM: Eure Einflüsse hört man ja recht deutlich heraus. Wie wichtig ist euch Eigenständigkeit? Wie wichtig ist es euch, "anders" zu klingen?
Uwe: Etwas "Eigenes" zu machen ist ja heute nicht mehr so einfach. Uns war es wichtig, das Album etwas abwechslungsreich in Sachen Sound und Songs zu gestalten. Auch die neuen Songs sind sehr verschieden. Mal sehen wie es mit Band klingt. Ich denke, man versucht durch verschiedene Einflüsse doch was eigenes zu kreieren. Das ist in vielen Reviews und Berichten auch so wahrgenommen worden.
EM: Ihr habt ja recht unterschiedliche Coversongs verzapft. Nach welchen Kriterien wurden die zu covernden Songs ausgewählt?
Uwe: Das einzige Kriterium ist, daß uns die Songs so gefallen. Der Stil ist egal.
EM: Mit einem Saint Vitus-Song hätte wohl jeder gerechnet, aber "Nights In White Satin" hat mich dann doch etwas überrascht. Ich finde aber, daß es die erste Version dieses Stücks ist, die dem Original gerecht wird. Gerade von diesem Stück gibt es ja zahllose wirklich grottenschlechte Versionen...
Uwe: Merci für das Kompliment!! Ja, von "Nights..." gibt es in der Tat viele schlechte Versionen...Die Idee entstand sehr spontan. Der Song selber schwirrte schon seit einiger Zeit im Kopf rum. Hammersong einfach...schön schmalzig und so. Am Samstag der Aufnahme der Drums sind wir dann spasseshalber in einen CD-Laden gefahren und dachten, den spielen wir einfach mal. Wir haben die Akkorde rausgehört und losgelegt. Wir hätte nicht gedacht, daß er so gut wird. Der Song war eigentlich nicht für die CD vorgesehen. aber er war so gut...
EM: Zumindest habt ihr sämtlichen Schmalz erfolgreich weggeputzt...
Uwe: ...Und er ist richtig langsam und dooomy!!
EM: Saint Vitus zu covern lag da schon näher, oder?
Uwe: Das war usprünglich die Idee wegen des Vitus-Samplers, der aber noch nicht erschienen ist. Wahrscheinlich kommt's auch nicht mehr raus... Die Anfrage für den Sampler kam noch bevor die Band überhaupt Aufnahmen am Start hatte.
EM: Deshalb findet man auf so vielen PsycheDOOMelic-Releaes Vitus-Songs...Reverend Bizarre hatten wohl auch noch 'nen fertig aufgenommenen Vitus-Track rumliegen...
Uwe: Ja so ist es. Mirror Of Deception ebenso...Ich weiß die ganzen Bands nicht mehr.
EM: Naja, schaden kann es ja nicht! Sprechen wir mal über Live-Aktivitäten!
Uwe: Uff!! Also letztes mal dieses Jahr drei Shows in Belgien, nochmal Belgien und Zschopau. Das war's für dieses Jahr. Wir sind alle super-eingeschränkt in der Zeit, eben weil ich selbständig bin und keine Mitarbeiter habe und habe, aber die normalen Öffnungszeiten eines Geschäftes.
EM: Dann ist eine richtige Tour eher unwahrscheinlich, oder?
Uwe: Das muß man mal abwarten. Mal sehen, was das nächste Jahr bei mir finanziell bringt. Wenn ich's mir leisten kann, dann geht's schon. Wir haben ab dem neuen Jahr auch eine gute Unterstützung an unserer Seite. Wir werden das nächste Album für Exile On Mainstream Records (Berlin) aufnehmen.
EM: Mit wem würdet ihr den gerne auf Tour gehen? Irgendwelche Wunschvorstellungen eurerseits?
Uwe: Natürlich mit The Hidden Hand oder Cathedral! Das wäre cool! Wenn möglich eine Band aus dem Doom Rock-Genre. Keine Death-Band oder Gothic-Truppe. Irgendwas rockiges wäre gut.
EM: The Hidden Hand fände ich sehr passend!
Uwe: Ja, ich denke die Leute sind eben auch ziemlich cool drauf. Wino mag unsere Musik auch Und ausserdem ists dasselbe Label.
EM: Und außerdem seid ihr alle über das "Sex, Drugs &
Rock 'n 'Roll"-Alter hinaus...
Uwe: Ja eben...Jetzt nur noch Sex und Rock'n' Roll...
EM: Ist auf jeden Fall gesünder, denk ich mal. Ist ja nicht jeder so robust wie Lemmy...
Uwe: War ich noch nie, hab' schon immer vom Alkohol Abstand gehalten.
EM: Inwieweit fühlst Du Dich einer bestimmten Szene zugehörig?
Uwe: Schon eher der Doom-Szene, wobei das inzwischen so 'ne Sache ist mit den Schubladen. Früher, da war man Metaller oder eben was anderes. Heute geht es mir einfach um gute Musik. Aber in der Doom-Szene ist Voodooshock natürlich eher bekannt. Wie damals auch NAEVUS recht beliebt war, nur hat man das damals so ohne E-Mail und Internet noch nicht so mitbekommen.
EM: Würdest Du mir zustimmen, wenn ich behaupte, daß Doomer eh ein ganz eigenes Völkchen sind und die Doom-Szene immer etwas abseits der normalen Metal-Szene stand?
Uwe: Ja, mit Metal hat's ja nicht immer was zu tun. Ich denke, daß die Doomsters zumeist eher etwas "ältere" Leute sind. Mit 17 da muß es noch schnell und dreckig sein. Auf The Hidden Hand-Konzerten oder dem DOOM SHALL RISE-Festival sind Haudegen dabei, die Du schon vor 10 Jahren auf Konzerten gesehen hast. Und die waren damals schon nicht mehr tausfrisch! Das sind dann oftmals alte Led Zeppelin- oder Deep Purple-Fans.
EM: Doom ist auch nie wirklich kommerziell ausgeschlachtet worden. Candlemass haben zwar was gerissen, aber die waren ja auch mit einem Bein im Power Metal. Was sagst Du dazu?
Uwe: Ja das stimmt. Mir gefallen die ersten Candlemass-Alben ganz gut, aber wie gesagt, der Metal ist bei mir nicht richtig durchgedrungen. Messiah Marcolin ist aber sehr charismatisch! Doom hat immer versucht durchzustarten und man hat es im Rock Hard oder ähnlichen Magazinen zeitlang auch versucht hervorzuheben, aber irgendwie waren es dann doch wieder dieselben Redakteure, die die entsprechenden Scheiben gehört haben...
EM: Na, immerhin ist dem Doom dadurch viel Trittbrettfahrerei und Gier der Labels erspart geblieben...
Uwe: Stimmt auch wieder!! Wobei es doch Zeiten gab, in denen Bands wie Cathedral plötzlich Stoner Rock waren.
EM: Stoner Rock ist dann ja gut durchgestartet. Was hälst Du von Bands wie Kyuss, Orange Goblin oder Queens Of The Stone Age?
Uwe: Kyuss sind genial, vor allem die "Blues For The Red Sun". Orange Goblin waren anfangs spannend, aber heute...gähn....Queens Of The Stone Age waren mit "Songs For The Deaf" ganz cool. Dave Grohl ist eben ein guter Drummer. aber irgendwie muß ich mich momentan zwingen, da reinzuhören. Vielleicht ist es doch wieder zu berechenbar.
EM: Sooo, kommen wir mal langsam zum Schluß....Was möchtest Du den Leuten da draußen noch mit auf den Weg geben?
Uwe: Stay positive und kauft unsere Alben!! Klaro!! Glaubt an Euch! Voodooshock gibt's neu im Jahr 2005. Danke für's Interview. Unsere Bandseite www.voodooshock.de ist ab dem kommenden Wochenende wieder online!
EM: Alles klar!! Ihr habt's vernommen, liebe Leser!! Danke für das Interview und viel, viel Glück für die Zukunft!!
Und schöne Feiertage und guten Rutsch!! Auch euch viel Glück!! Merci!!
Da gibt's doch kaum noch was hinzuzufügen. Folgt Uwes Aufruf und kauft fleißig VOODOOSHOCK-Platten, Leute!! DOOM OR BE DOOMED!!
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Interview on Cosmic-Lava.de www.cosmic-lava.de
/May 2003/ During the last years the German heavy Doom scene has grown much stronger than ever before. VOODOO SHOCK are the next bright star, although they aren't exactely a German band, because the rythm-section is coming out of Switzerland. Fronted by ex-Naevus member Uwe Groebel, the band plays very emotional 70's-oriented heavy Doom rock and with their self-titled debut, they've not only received a very good review in the Cosmic Lava. At first, I thought to to this interview at the DSR-festival, but we talked about so much other things, that I've deceided to do the interview a few weeks later. So dear reader, here it is and I hope you'll enjoy it.
CL: Hello Uwe! It's been nearly two months ago since the DSR-Festival happened. What's your personal point of view about this festival? Which bands were your personal faves and what do you think about the whole atmosphere of it?
Uwe: It's been a big event, all kinds of doom fans meeting at their most important festival (in germany). My personal faves were REVELATION, WEED IN THE HEAD, SUBVERSION, DREAMING - and TOLLWUET (!!!!!).
Michi: About the same for me: REVELATION, DREAMING, SUBVERSION etc. and Reverend Bizzare's Albert's explanation for his new haircut.
CL: You played with VOODOO SHOCK at the second day of the DSR. To be honest, I was a bit disappointed of your show, due to the weak sound and I remember that you weren't really satisfied, too. How would you review your show and what went wrong?
Uwe: You were? Sorry to say. Michi and Specki both had to cope with the flu and had fever. So we actually missed some points of tempos and maybe also because of both playing in TOLLWUET before, at the beginnign of the day. But we had excellent reactions from the crowd. For the sound I cannot say anything, I only listened to the bad monitor sound on stage.
Michi: Funny enough, many people said that we had one of the best live sounds from the festival. Honestly, I think the PA system and the mixer, who nearly pissed his pants when the bass was sounding like a bass, were the weak points of the festival. I didn't have the flu, but I was that goddamn hungry that I nearly fell apart, my own fault hihi. Should have had one more beer or so...
CL: On the other side, the audience really liked the show and I think, you've sold a lot of your same titled debut album at Márk's Psychedelic stall after the show. Was it a small success for the band and were you satisfied with the sales?
Uwe: Don't know how many units we've sold.
Michi: As far as I know Mark sold about thirty CDs and a couple of T-Shirts. But I have no idea, how many CDs other bands sold...and in the end, there was so many people who liked the show, so it was a good occasion to leave a little mark from VoodooShock.
CL: I've mentioned your debut album, which has been released last year on Psychedoomelic. As I've written in the review, it's a very strong album, full of variations and emotions and I think, you've made a huge step forward since your days with Naevus. What do you think?
Uwe: I think the same. The songs are sometimes 2 or 3 years old. As I've never played the songs with a band before, I took the chance to vary the songs. Took new parts and exchanged old ones. So the songs are in a way I really love.
CL: Have you done everything by yourself (production, mixing, cover-artwork), and how much time did you need for the whole process?
Uwe: We recorded in a studio were we've recorded the demo. Ecki recorded and mixed with us. We've chosen this studio because we wanted to record the songs over some period of time, and not in one week. So we all made our minds about sounds and how we could improve on this or that track. I tried various guitar sounds so the guitars are all different on the trax - maybe not too much but you can hear it. All in all we recorded on 5 or 6 days, and mixed on two or three days. After the first mix we decided to use some new guitar sound in some of the trax.
Michi: As for the artwork, Roger from Tollwuet dug up the picture, and we had the photos done and came up with some rough idea. Those we passed on to an old friend of mine, who runs her own graphics business. We all liked a lot what she came up with, the first version she did, is the booklet you now know.
CL: Was Psychedoomelic your first choice and were there any other label offers?
Uwe: We haven't searched for another one. We hope to get an offer for the next album.
CL: Will you release more on PSY in the future?
Uwe: As said before.
Michi: I'd say to start with PSY was good for us, as Mark has all those connections all over the world. And he does an excellent job in selling the CD, so I guess we gained some attention everywhere.
CL: It was a surprise for me, that you've chosen the Moody Blues classic "Nights In White Satin" for a cover-song and you've turned it into a real Doom song? Who got the idea for it and are you a fan of the 60's?
Uwe: At first we did it for fun. The it turned out really good and we took it for the album. The song is an all-time classic and I had in the ear for a long time. That we did the cover-version was a quick idea on the weekend we recorded the basic trax.
Michi: "Nights" is probably the only sixties songs Uwe likes, hihi. Whenever I play some cool old shit to him, heavy psychedelic and stuff, he just says: Hmmm, I don't get this music.
CL: Why haven't you re-recorded the excellent cover-version of St. Vitus "Patra" for the album?
Uwe: Because we wanted to use it for the maybe never released Vitus tribute only.
CL: I wonder, that you haven't done any kind of touring to promote the new album. Shepherd have taken their chance and they've played with Sunn O))) in March 2003, so what about you? Can we expect a VOODOO SHOCK tour in 2003?
Uwe: There's no touring planned, except for some shows with WALL OF SLEEP, maybe in June. But we can't afford touring because of lack of money and we all have full-time jobs.
Michi: I did a lot of touring with my old band PHASED. If you don't have a label backing you with the minimal required support, it just doesn't make any sense these days to tour as an unsigned band. I mean it's great fun, but the money you get as a rock band isn't even enough to buy toilet paper to wipe your ass. Thanks to overpaid DJs and shitty nu-hype bands that don't even know which town they're playing for destroying the underground...
CL: Sometimes it seems to me, as if VOODOOSHOCK is more like the 'Uwe Groebel-Band'? Has everyone equal rights in the band or are you something like the chief?
Uwe: The original idea was to play the songs and enter studio for recording, to release the album. The songs were almost done before Voodoo Shock was created. So on this album it maybe is an Uwe Groebel band thing. But without this excellent groove machines in the back I would be nothing. They definitely put their own style in it! As for new songs, ther's gonna be achange as Michi also does some for Voodoo Shock. But the way we do it will be the same. We don't rehearse and when we get back together we play the songs we already sent on tapes to each other. For us it's the best way to play energetic and focus on a defitive thing. At least for this time.
Michi: Klaus, you're completely right. Uwe treats us like slaves. We can't raise an opinion without tasting the whip. And he doesn't stop until our fingers and ears bleed.
CL: Apart of the sound, what's the main difference between Naevus and VOODOOSHOCK? How would you compare both bands?
Uwe: NAEVUS was definitely more Metal and not too slow. I this three-piece we can vary a lot and it's a lot heavier than in NAEVUS. That's what I think.
CL: What does the term 'Doom' means to you and why do you play this kind of music? What do you think about the current German heavy-scene (if there's one)? Any bands around, that you like?
Uwe: Hard question bro'. Wheter you call it 'doom' or not. It's definitely that kind of music to express my personal feelings, negative and postive. Lyrically I'd like to spread some positive feelings, for hope, love and passion. As we've seen on the DSR festival, there are a lot new bands around. But I have definitely too less time to listen most of the time to any underground stuff. But what I like from germany is SUBVERSION and DREAMING as they both transport the rock feeling.
Michi: To be honest, I was better in checking underground bands some years ago, but on the other hand...there haven't been too many new bands - not especially German, but European bands - that really convinced me. Either they're too metal-sounding for my personal taste, and - even worse - now that it's become so easy to record a demo CD for not too high a price, many bands release stuff too early instead of practising for a couple of months longer.
CL: What are your plans with VOODOOSHOCK for this year, apart of the split-7" with Iron Kind?
Uwe: We gonna appear on a canadian sampler as maybe the 7" never happens due to IRON KIND problems. As soon our schedules allows we do a jam weekend in summer and decide how we continue, and we'll see how far we are with the song-writing. Maybe we use some old NAEVUS songs as well. Of course some of them were never officially released.
CL: Thanks a lot for your time? Any last words before we close?
Uwe: Tanks a lot for you support, and thanks for your critical words. It's been a pleasure to meet you on the festival. For those who haven't heard us, go to www.voodooshock.de and listen to MP3 files. If you know us, buy our CDs and shirts. We still have copies of the demo. Doom on!
Michi: Praise the doom, look out for things to come - whenever they come, and also check out my other band Tollwuet.
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Interview from Gl-Productions
GL: Congrats to your excellent debut, how has the response been so far from media and the Voodoo Shock fanbase ?
Uwe: Excellent, sold 700 units in the first 3 months. Every review we got is excellent saying that we „combine the best doom in one".
GL: Previously you have made a demodisc before you issued this one, fill me in your background how was Voodoo Shock pieced together in the first place ?
Uwe: As NAEVUS split in may 1999 I steadily wrote new songs already. That time we wanted to enter studio for a new recording. As Sven (bass) left the band I didn’t have enough energy to restart it all. Play new songs and rehearse old ones again with a new bass player and everything. One year before I moved to a new town which was one hour driving away from the others. There I had a couple of doom friends already. So started with the written songs with drummer Gunnar from Mirror Of Deception. We had a few sessions, playing 4 or 5 songs (all new). Due to lack of time of his studying and his other band it didn’t work out very well. So in 2000 I started again, this time with drummer Mathias Siffermann from End Of Green, on bass Rainer Hampel (also End Of Green) and later guitarist Oliver Merkle on bass (also End Of Green). With those two guys I recorded the demo with 4 songs, originally started because of the long awaited VITUS tribute. We did PETRA. We didn’t want to release it officially but it turned out excellent, so we decided to send it around. Parted ways with both at the end of 2001. As I had so many songs I decided to search two guys only to work with for recording. With Michael on bass (former Windfall and ex-Phased 4°F). Known him for a long time as we both played in our bands together at the legendary DOOM IN BLOOM Festival. He knew some drummers to check out and we landed with Specky. Here the success goes...
GL: Compare your previous band Naevus to this unit, what is the major change do you feel ?
Uwe: It’s more professional if I’m allowed to say that. More easy to play in. You’re free as a three-piece, no limits. You don’t need to combine any guitar sounds. We all know what we want to do.
GL: Your demo caused quite a stir, at least on me. A brilliant piece of work. How pleased are you with the reaction of that demo and how many copies have you sold ?
GL: We were very impressed on all those reactions. As I said before, we wanted to record it only for the Vitus tribute and thought we can do these songs we jammed already together (only four at that time). It turned out very good so we decided to send it out to various friends and labels how the reactions would be.
GL: Fill me in on your deal with Psychdoomelic, what kind of deal is it and how pleased are you with the promotion so far on the album ?
Uwe: Well, it’s not a real deal if we can say that. We recorded the album and Mark pays for the studio. He sells the album and gives us the money for studio back. We never subscribed anything. As we searched for a label he offered us that kind of stuff. We didn’t want to do it on our own. And maybe we sell that good that maybe a bigger label will license it, or we sign to a bigger label instead for the next album, we’ll see how everything goes.
Michael: It’s really cool how Mark sells the album. He has all those connections and he puts a lot of effort and energy into the whole thing!
GL: Your debut is to me very much old school doom metal, bands like Trouble, St Vitus and Witchfinder General are very obvious, but it also have a modern heavyrock feel with excellent arrangements, strong vocals and spooky overdubs. Fill me in on the studiotime you had and how pleased are you with the final mix of the album ?
Uwe: I’m very pleased with the final result in all categories. We prepared only two weekends jamming, and recorded the third one. So that’s pretty good. Guitars and vocals were recorded over some weeks, depending on how the time was right and I had time for it. So we recorded over a four months period. After the first mix we sat down and listened closely one month. Then we changed some guitars again and made another mix, that’s what you have in the player. I need to say that I always wanted to play around with some guitar sounds, not always the same. I used different distortion pedals, more volume instead of distortion, various speakers and so on. It should be diverse, to make it a bit more interesting.
GL: Talking about the cover of strange creature, a mans face covered with leaves. Where did you find the cover, how pleased are you with it and do you feel that the cover that is a good representation of the album ?
GL: I got the cover from Roger of Tollwuet. He once found it in a book and wanted to use it for his own band. But he actually never took it and has sent it over to me and asked if I’m interested. We changed the colours to a brown/orange style. The original is full coloured. It fits the album perfectly with all clichees and the likes of a heavy album...
GL: The album features a stunning version of my alltime fave tunes Nights In White Satin by the Moody Blues. How did it come that you picked that one and how pleased are you with your version ?
Uwe: The result is excellent and it’s a natural Voodoo Shock song I think. That song was in my mind a long time before, but only as a good song, not for a cover. Actually the decision was made in the studio. We went for shopping to a CD shop and bought the Moody Blues singles collection, found out the chords and lyrics, played it veeeeeery slow, and recorded. That’s all.
Michael: If I remember correctly we were talking about a bluesband, and suddenly someone said: Moody Blues. Then someone else said: Yeah, let’s do Nights in White Satin...that’s how it went...
GL: The lineup are kind of divided, yourself in Germany and the other guys in Switzerland. Every time you practise or have a gig, how do you piece together cause it must be a few hours drive where you live to the rest of the band ?
Uwe: I’m driving down to Basel by car, it takes me 3 ½ hours. Last time we practised in Rogers basement, which only takes me 2 ½ hours, but still in Switzerland. As the basis work for Voodoo Shock is to work with the music, not to practise once a week, we continue like that as long as we can. Every time we have a show (which is not too often) we practise once before.
Michael: It’s cool that way, cos when you don’t practice too often, that keeps things really fresh. We also work with home-recordings which we send to the other members, so when we meet, everyone’s prepared.
GL: Talking about the german doomscene, Naevus, Mirror Of Deception and Dawn Of Winter were kind of forerunners, now has the scene progressed with Dreaming, Bohren & Der Club of Gore, Well Of Souls, Doomshine, yourself etc. How do you view the progression ?
Uwe: As we now have seen on the Doom Shall Rise festival two weeks before, the overall sound of doom established, and many bands continued to play the style. That’s a good move. It’s the same as in the states. I guess there weren’t too many bands around without Kyuss or Monster Magnet, Fu Manchu and the likes. After the "stonerrock" wave it brought the people a wider horizon to listen to the older stuff which finally lead to Sabbath, and back to newer bands like Cathedral.
GL: You are on the list at the upcoming Doom Shall Rise Fest that will be held in Crailsheim Germany february 7th/8th. What the fest.crowd expect from Voodoo Shock ?
Uwe: We try to bring them a good show and rock their asses!
GL: You are also included at the upcoming St Vitus tribute on Raven Moon Records where you cover Patra (Petra) a stunning cover I must say from probably my alltime fave St.Vitus album V, how pleased are you with your cover and what have St Vitus meant for you ?
Uwe: Because of that recording for the tribute we went in studio for the first time, and we recorded our first songs we ever made with Voodoo Shock. People never heard about Voodoo Shock but wanted to have us on the tribute... Saint Vitus is one of my favourite bands. I mean it didn’t influenced me deeply for making this kind of music, but I love the albums with Wino. I don’t like Scott Reagers too much.
Michael: Come on, Scott Reagers rules! But Reagers is obviously very different from Wino. I could go on brabbling for hours, how cool the first two Vitus albums are...of course the ones with Wino are equally great, but Scott has something fascinating in his voice to me.
GL: Talking about the liveshows you have made with Naevus and Voodoo Shock, what is best gig/worst gig you have made so far ?
Uwe: The worst show with NAEVUS were maybe the first ones, as we started with DEATH Metal style. Maybe the best show with NAEVUS was one of the last ones with Mirror Of Deception in Stuttgart/ Longhorn. That was a really good show. The best Voodoo Shock show was last years Crailsheim with JACK FROST and the Doom Shall Rise festival.
GL: Talking about the musical and lyrical direction on the album, first the lyrical direction what is the main message in the songs, is there a concept ?
Uwe: The main message should be positive, that’s the way I like to spread it. We need to get up every morning with a smile so every problem is only a small one. Life goes on whatever happens. But all in all there’s no real concept behind it.
The musical influences, to me like I said earlier it is very much early 80s old school doom metal but I figure there is a wide spectrum of influences, what are the main influences for you ?
I try to list some sort of bands I really love (no order): Cathedral, Soundgarden, The Obsessed, Spirit Caravan, Saint Vitus, Black Sabbath, Jethro Tull, Death, Alice In Chains, The Tea Party, Pearl Jam, Led Zeppelin, Revelation, Wretched, Ramones, Kings X, Tool, Kyuss, Confessor (they reformed!!!), Carcass, old Entombed, ...
Michael: Don’t forget to mention Sleep.
GL: Beside the Doom Shall Rise fest. whatelse is in the plans for you. Have you sorted out material for a follow up, any eps on the way, gigs, any more tributes to compilations etc. fill me in on your next plans ?
Uwe: We have a split 7" coming up as a collaboration between Psychedoomelic Records and Game Two Records with Conan’s (GameTwo Boss-Ed) band Iron Kind. It should be out in march or so. We made a special artwork for it showing a Voodoo temple...Songs are made for a follow up, but they need to grow of course. Maybe we get back together for a new recording in spring/ summer next year – no hurry – the ways of doom are sloooooooooooooow......
Michael: Uwe wrote all the songs for the first album, and he already has a couple of new ones. I have like two songs ready so far. I guess that will bring in more variety.
GL: Any last words ?
Uwe: Thanks again for your support Gabriel. You can buy our shirts, albums and free stickers via e-mail at my address or get it to psychedoomelics website. The costs are very low including postage.
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Interview of unknown origin (2004)
Interviewer: How much do you feel your perception of music has changed since the times of Naevus? Voodooshock are quite more obscure than Naevus, why do you think it has happened?
Uwe: I think we’re all older today and we don’t focus only style of music to pursue. Inspiration is a lot wider within the music or the environment and family you’re living in.
Interviewer: How did it work with Rise Above Records (for Naevus)? I remember there have been a really small promotion when the album came out…
Uwe: Bad, promotion was nothing not small at all. The usual problems like lack of money and it seemed that, as Rise Above was a sub-label from Music For Nations at that time, MFN didn’t give them any money for us. We were never payed. But I must say on the other hand that people bought the album because we had it saying “Rise Above album”.
Interviewer: How are things going now with PsycheDOOMelic? Are you satisfied with what they’re doing for the band?
Uwe: Mark is doing a great job, he did all promotion for us. It’s very good selling the album over the internet. For this kind of music it’s maybe a really good way.
Interviewer: The first Voodooshock lineup was comprehensive of two members of End Of Green; in my opinion they have been one of the most underrated bands ever. Do you know what are they doing now? Are they still active?
Uwe: End of Green released their CD “songs for a dying world” last year on a german label (don’t know the name) and they’re recording in summer I think for a new album.
Interviewer: How did you hook up with the two new guys Michael Greilinger and Christian Specker? Is the actual Voodooshock lineup stable now?
Uwe: I know Michael since 1995 as he played with his band WINDFALL on the DOOM in BLOOM festival. Since then we’ve been in touch the more or less and it started in 2001 when we spoke about a collaboration. The problem was that we didn’t have a drummer that time and we’re living 280km apart from each other. But as he tried three drummers we landed with Specky and I decided to go to them and we rehearsed two weekends before we recorded. First I only wanted to record with both guys because I urgently wanted to put out any music - now we’re here, and yes we’re stable, we continue working together.
Interviewer: Your vocals reminded me a lot two great singers: Bobby Liebling and Wino Weinrich. How much do you think they have been important for the development of your personal vocal style? Have there been any other influences for your voice?
Uwe: They both influenced me a lot. You know I started with the not singing “death growls” in 1991 and followed all the way through where I am today. I loved Nick Holmes on Shades Of God as well. I got to know Ozzy with Sabbath and I loved Forest Of Equilibrium with Lee from the very first beginning. So all this kind of music opened my eyes, to have a wider spectrum and try all out.
Interviewer: The last song in the album, “We cry”, was originally recorded by your previous project Elephant Mountain; I haven’t listened to the first version, have there been any substantial changes in this latest one?
Uwe: Elephant Mountain was done by Roger Kolb (Tollwuet) and me in 2000. A real project, we did 4 songs only. The version on the album is a lot heavier and the lyrics are a bit different.
Interviewer: Why did you decide to include the coverversion of Moody Blues’ “Nights in white satin”?
Uwe: It just happened froma sudden idea we spoke of at the weekend we recorded the basic trax. We bought the Moody Blues singles collection and listened for chords and lyrics, then we recorded. We didn’t thought to make it on the album, but it turned out quite good.
Interviewer: You also recorded a cover of the Saint Vitus’ classic “PATRA (Petra)” for a Saint Vitus tribute album; in general, do you like playing coverversions? Should we expect any other coverversion in the future?
Uwe: This song was the original intention to enter studio that time with Matthias and Oli in 2001. We recorded four songs just to see how it all sounds like.
We played a lot covers with NAEVUS, sometimes for every gig we did one. We did “Hiding Mask”, “Living Backwards”, “Sweet Leaf”, “Sign Of The Wolf”, and in old NAEVUS we did “Silent” from Paradise Lost.
Interviewer: I think that doom metal could be intended as one of the most extreme ways of giving life to feelings like negativity or desperation; what do you think about it? In what terms do you think Voodooshock are “doom”?
Uwe: Why negativity or desperation? I don’t feel so. I try to spread more positive feelings with it. POP music is not only happy at the same time. I try to give some hope and understanding for love and a future perspective. And most important thing at this place is the music.
Interviewer: As a listener, do you appreciate the most extreme derivations of doom like Burning Witch, Grief or Khanate? What do you think about those bands, do you like their music? Did you like the “Teeth Of Lions Rule The Divine” album?
Uwe: Not too much. It’s too “drowning” and low. I love listening to one or two songs, but I can’t do it the whole album.
Never listened to TOLRTD.
Interviewer: You named Voodooshock as a “power trio”. Do you think that trio is the ideal disposition for a band like yours?
Uwe: Well, Mark did… Yes it’s the perfect way because bass and guitar are two individual instruments. If you use two guitars, the bass and maybe one guitar is stuck.
Interviewer: Recently Voodooshock played at the Doom Shall Rise festival; what do you think of that event? Can you tell me your impressions about the whole thing?
Uwe: The festival was very cool. To meet and greet all people involved in the scene, fans and musicians (or both at the same time) meet and have a big party. Our show as quite good and we all enjoyed it a lot! We played slower than on the album so we only had the chance to play 6 songs in all.
Interviewer: How do you see the state of doom metal right now? Are there any new bands which you think deserve attention or respect?
Uwe: After all the stoner wave it’s possible to focus more on the right bands. It still is no music to make money with and may never do but we reach a wider spectrum over the internet nowadays.
Newer bands would be “Orodruin” (USA) and “Wall Of Sleep” (Hungary) (both on PsycheDOOMelic). “Thee Plague Of Gentleman” (Belgium).
Interviewer: Is it hard for you playing doom metal? I mean, I think that, apart from special events like the whole Doom Shall Rise, there are very few spaces for playing doom metal; what do you think are the main reasons of it?
Hard for me playing doom? Actually we don’t play live too often due to lack of time. We all have normal jobs to follow and we make it a special event playing live then.
Interviewer: What kind of lifestyle have you developed through the years? Is it hard for you to maintain a regular work as well as the activity with Voodooshock?
Uwe: My lifestyle wasn’t very chaotic. Since I started working in 1992 I developed my profession and I started my own business in 2000 (including three shops today) because my wife and my daughter need to eat and live. Sometimes I don’t find the time to do the internet or answer interviews like these.
Interviewer: What are you going to do to promote the album right now? Are there any tours planned? What are, more in general, your future plans?
Uwe: We only do promotion over the internet - there’s no tour or shows planned, we discuss about new songs and recording in fall this year.
Interviewer: You started Naevus in 1991, so it’s nearly 12 years that you’re doing music. What was the best part out of being in a band? What do you get from it?
Uwe: I won’t miss any second or any music. Music makes me feel good and I love doing it for the next 50 years or so.
Interviewer: End this off as you wish…
Uwe: Support VOODOO SHOCK. We have a 7” split coming out with IRON KIND. Visit our website www.voodooshock.de or email info@voodooshock.de to me personally. We have cd’s and shirts for sale. Thanks for your support. Uwe
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Interview with Chris Barnes / Custom Heavy
Rising from the smoldering ashes of Rise Above recording artists Naevus, comes Germany's VOODOO SHOCK, a riff-oriented doom machine that is along the lines of The Obssesed or Blessed Realm. Custom Heavy talks to singer/guitarist Uwe Groebel about his former band, the current state of Voodoo Shock and the upcoming full-length on Hegedüs Márk‘s psycheDOOMelic label.
Custom Heavy: What happened with your other band, Naevus? You guys had a record out on Lee Dorrian's famous "Rise Above" label, and it looked like you guys were doing pretty well....
Uwe Groebel: Well, not really. All went veeeeeery slow. We recorded the album in May 1997 and mixed it afterwards. The release was then in March 1998, along with Sheavy's album. It was a time as I went to the north of Germany which was 700km away to do a special education. So as I came back then in summer 1998, nothing happened from the label. Sheavy and Orange Goblin were asked to do the Dynamo Festival in Holland, we weren't. Then it was talk of doing a song for the upcoming RISE ABOVE sampler Rise 13 and we recorded stuff. As well a song for the Trouble tribute. We sent the songs to RISE ABOVE and they said they're satisfied, but nothing more happened.
That was October 1998. In January 1999 I got a call from Will while saying we're dropped and they can't get more money from their financial supporters MUSIC FOR NATIONS for us - and by the way, the songs are really weak!!!!!!!! - What?
In May 1999 we split up as at first our bass player quit, and I didn't have any energy to do new songs and old ones with a new bassist. That's the thing. I didn't feel bad doing this so I thought it might have been right. Anyway, we have a song from the last session LOST CONFIDENCE on the I AM VENGEANCE movie soundtrack on MeteorCity. Out now.
Custom Heavy: How does your new band Voodoo Shock differ from Naevus in terms of your overall sound? Was a new sound something you really wanted or did it just happen?
Uwe Groebel: With Voodoo Shock we started in spring 2000. We are a three piece which is a lot easier to play live. It's a bit more rough and more heavy. The melodies which I played a lot are not part of it anymore. It's maybe more riff orientated, and it's more old fashioned. We experiment some things out and we don't like to give us a small, limited way to play only. We had good reactions for the first two shows (one with Mirror Of Deception in Germany and the a week later with Phased4°F in Switzerland.)
Custom Heavy: How do you approach songwriting in Voodoo Shock with Oliver (bass) and Mathias (drums)? Is it a team effort or are you still the main songwriter?
Uwe Groebel: We don't rehearse too much, maybe every fortnight as Mathias is out for his education within the week and he comes home on weekends only. So I'm writing all the music and we put it together then. You can't say it's my project, we try to be a band. But it definitely sounds as it is as I have Oli and Matze in the band.
Custom Heavy: What do you think the appeal of Doom is? It's fans are small, (but growing) and tremendously loyal. Is it the music, the camaraderie or both?
Uwe Groebel: I guess both. There is support from everywhere. It's a big family, no matter which style it is.
Custom Heavy: How do you feel about the Doom scene in Germany? How does Voodoo Shock fit in?
Uwe Groebel: We only have a small scene. We have some bands which support each other, we fitted the place with Voodoo Shock which I left with NAEVUS I guess.
Custom Heavy: Are you guys planning to record a full length album at any point? Any label interest?
Uwe Groebel: Yes we sent out stuff already. We had interests but nothing serious for us. We thought about doing a split release Mark Hegedus' Psychedelic Fanzine with the band TOLLWUET from Switzerland, but they split two weeks ago. So we now take the chance and do a whole album on it. The label will be called PsycheDOOMelic. I like Mark's work and I respect everything he does. He's really serious and gives us his best work. I know that. So I like to help him out for his first label step instead. We see how it all works out. Our time schedule says that we are going to record in August hopefully for an October release.
Custom Heavy: Any last words?
Uwe Groebel: Thank you very much for this kind of support. Anyone who's interested in the songs we did can visit our website www.voodooshock.de and check out the shop. Please support Mark!
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Interview with Hegedüs Márk / Psychedelic Fanzine #8
After the split of Naevus, things have been very quiet about Uwe Groebel (guitar / vocals), but he didn’t give up playing music, so he called to life a new project named VOODOO SHOCK, which is a power trio (with two End of Green members) worshipping The Obsessed and Cathedral. Many underground doomsters enjoyed their debut (like myself), so here is an interview with Uwe for their request.
Hegedüs Márk: Hi Uwe. How is the life going in Germany? When and how did you celebrate the New Year's Eve?
Uwe: Well we celebrated on December 31 2000, as we always do on the 31st. We didn't have a party; I just hang loose with my wife, had a good dinner and watched the fireworks over the town. Very easy. We both had a hard time working so we needed a time out really.
Hegedüs Márk: The doom scene has known you, because of your band Naevus (RIP). When did you realize that you can sing and in which age did you start playing the guitar?
Uwe: I actually started singing with three years; you may need to ask my mom about my talent... No, being serious we started with NAEVUS in 1991 and I was the only person who could handle a guitar and sing at the same time. I started with death growls like Nick Holmes / Paradise Lost. Very low, but you always understood my lyrics, that's been important for me. With more an more music I listened to, I discovered my normal voice, influenced a lot by Ozzy and Bobby Liebling. Today I also like Geddy Lee/RUSH, Chris Cornell/Soundgarden and of course Wino. I started playing acoustic guitar at the age of thirteen, one year later I got an electric guitar and was very impressed by such artists like Joe Satriani and Steve Vai. Fortunately I discovered real players like HENDRIX and went into this style which I prefer still today.
Hegedüs Márk: Naevus has released an album called "Sun Meditation" on Rise Above Records back in 1998. How do you feel about the CD nowadays?
Uwe: The CD could have been better in some points with the sound. We spent a great time in the studio in Berlin. All in all I'm still satisfied with it.
Hegedüs Márk: I haven't seen the album advertised in the big magazines, so I think Naevus didn't get the deserved promotion from its label. There haven't been any tours too. What do you think about my statement and were you satisfied with the album's promotion back then?
Uwe: What kind of promotion do you mean? We never got any. They just sent around one unit to every magazine for a small review so we never had the chance to get more attention on it.
Hegedüs Márk: As for tours. I can remember that you told me back then that Naevus may support Cathedral/Orange Goblin/Terra Firma on their German dates. Sadly to say, it didn't happen, as Naevus split up at the time of the tour. What happened?
Uwe: I've spoken to Lee at this point of time and he was interested. But it wasn't clear if Electric Wizard will show up as well. That was before Terra Firma joined the tour. Four bands would have been too much for this kind of bill. As well we were dropped by Rise Above in January 1999. NAEVUS split in May after the tour, but not as for this reason.
Hegedüs Márk: Do you often meet your ex band mates in Naevus? Are you still in touch? What are the other guys doing these days?
Uwe: No, I'm sadly not in touch. Sometimes I wish it would be. We live apart from each other and Mathias and Oli are permanent members of SACRED STEEL. I'm not sure what Sven's doing...
Hegedüs Márk: I have the opinion that Rise Above Records turned through the years from releasing doom records (Electric Wizard, Dark Passages 1-2) into putting out stoner rock (it sells a lot better!) by mostly English bands. The label said, that there aren't any "real" doom bands around, but just look at the line-up of "At the mountains of madness..." or keep in mind bands like Dreaming, Reverend Bizarre, Warning, Shylock, Oversoul, the Maryland bands etc. What's your mind on Rise Above's new policy and what do you think about the doom scene at the beginning of the 21st century?
Uwe: "... Obviously it has to sell..." Lee Dorrian once said. And he's right. No label can survive if he doesn't have one band to move further. Doom is no big seller, and if you need the money for your daily life it can be hard.
Today I see the other side as well but I do understand what you mean. They thrown away their ideals, they sold their souls... Whatever, I only know they did almost nothing for NAEVUS.
Hegedüs Márk: It took quite a few months, until you gave the fans a sign of life about a new project. That was the Mammoth Project (today ELEPHANT MOUNTAIN) with Roger Kolb of Tollwuet. How did you hook up with him and please speak about the recording process and the songs.
Uwe: Roger is/was a big fan of NAEVUS and he once gave me a two pages long review about SUN MEDITATION. I was quite impressed and we stayed in contact over the years. He saw NAEVUS at the DOOM IN BLOOM festival in Germany in 1997. He came up from Switzerland only for the show with a friend. I totally said he's crazy. We're really good friends today. As NAEVUS split I bought a drum machine and a 4 tracker to record every stuff moving in my head. For some songs I decided to do it as a project as not every song fits Voodoo Shock (didn't have a name actually). So I sent three songs to him and he sang his vocals in two hours and sent the tape back again on the same day! Since then we always talked about recording songs but we both don't have enough time... The songs are very different, sometimes 60's/70's stuff and sometimes real slow 52bpm doom like early CATHEDRAL/VITUS.
Hegedüs Márk: Do you plan to continue working with him in the future? Are you good friends with each other?
Well yes, as spoken we don't have enough time but we want to get more songs together. He does spent some weekends here in my house, and I'm travelling to Switzerland sometimes for a weekend, we always have loads of fun and our phone bill is rising.
Hegedüs Márk: After the project with Roger, you started working under the name of Voodoo Shock. How did you find Mathias and Oliver (both from the band End of green), are they also dedicated doom fans?
Uwe: I moved to this area because of my job and these are the only guys I know from here next to MIRROR OF DECEPTION. First I played with GUNNAR from MOD, but he's busy as well, and a couple weeks later I had good doomsters playing with me. They like the stuff a lot, OLIVER (bass) is more into the old rock/70's stuff while MATHIAS (drums) is more dedicated to newer rock/metal stuff.
Hegedüs Márk: Congratulation to your three track CD, it's an excellent listen, I think. How did the recording session go, who was the producer and where did you record the songs?
Uwe: We recorded one weekend, originally for the Saint Vitus tribute CD on RAVEN MOON RECORDS. With it we thought to record our first three songs ever. So we did and it came out really good. We decided to release it just to ship it around and let the people speak what they think. We recorded in a small but good studio with the End Of Green producer Ecki. We finished PATRA at the weekend and a couple weeks later the vocals on the other songs.
Hegedüs Márk: Let's talk a little bit about your lyrics. Has the writing method and the theme of the lyrics changed since the Naevus years? What are your songs about?
Uwe: My lyrics always touched myself deeply. Expressing thoughts and feelings is not easy for me. Sounds really cheesy now. I'm not sure if others can imagine a story with the lyrics. The lyric style didn't change, but I need more time (a lot more) to write them down.
Hegedüs Márk: Talking about the name of the band, do you think it goes hand in hand with your music?
Actually I didn't think about it. I fist recognized the name VOODOO SHOP in a JAMES BOND MOVIE. It turned into VOODOO SHOCK after a few weeks.
Hegedüs Márk: "Living in paradise" will be a part of Psychedelic Fanzine's "Out of focus - Vol. I" compilation CD. What do you hope from this underground compilation? Do you think it's the right support for the band?
Uwe: Any support is good even if it's a small support. I love to be on samplers with other good bands which support underground music. Doom is in the move today and there are new promising bands coming hopefully.
Hegedüs Márk: Do you aim to look for any labels to sign for? I think it would be really hard for you to concentrate a lot of time for albums/tours etc, knowing that you're quite a busy person, making your own business...
Uwe: Oh yes I want to have a deal of course, that's what everybody dreams of. If it comes to touring or stuff like that, the time will tell. I can't plan too long. We need decisions at the right time.
Hegedüs Márk: As many of us know, you're a busy person in everyday's life, you've a wife (hi Meike!), you do contribute a lot to Psychedelic and it's WebSite... How do you organize everything and how do you find the time for Voodoo Shock?
Sometimes I don't really know how to work on it. You asked to get the interview and reviews back on January 20th, so here I am, writing my interview in the morning at 2.30 am on the 20th. Sometimes I'm totally burnt out, but my wife is hooking me up and I always got some goals to do.
Hegedüs Márk: How often do you rehearse and how are the new songs, that you work on, when you compare them to the songs on the promo?
Uwe: Sadly not too often as MATZE has got a job 120km away, we only rehearse at the weekend, but then End Of Green has got their live shows... We find some time anyhow. The new songs are not too different. We still have the slow tempo and heavy intense mood. We recorded live in Switzerland on Jan. 6th. Maybe I can send you stuff when I got it on tape.
Hegedüs Márk: I have to say, that Voodoo Shock has a lot of more promise than Naevus has had back then. I think, Voodoo Shock is more of a real doom band; you seem to play the music with your band, that one (who knows you) expects from you. It's sad, Wino influenced doom rock. Any comments on my statement and what do you like on Wino's guitar work and his previous/recent band(s)?
Uwe: Oh, thank you. I definitely see the VOODOO SHOCK way like it's been in early NAEVUS, maybe around 1995/1996 when we had good doomed out rock. We are more heavy and intense as a three-piece which I never expected. We can vary a lot more, or maybe more differently. Wino maybe is my most influential drug in my musical life, I love every single tone he plays and sings! Total worship!
Hegedüs Márk: As for Wino. Voodoo Shock pay tribute to Saint Vitus by playing an incredible heavy cover of "Patra (Petra)". How did you get onto the Saint Vitus Tribute and are you satisfied with the turnout of "Patra"?
Uwe: We've just been asked to do so and we did it. PATRA is from the album 'V' which is the first Vitus album I got to know by Vitus. I love it. It's a love song, just listen to the lyrics. I think our version is pretty good and heavy, It's even slower than the original version.
Hegedüs Márk: As you told me in many of our conversations, you're a big supporter/fan of the Maryland scene. What do you like on the MD bands, what makes them different to other doom bands in your opinion?
Uwe: I think the Maryland scene is a very good friendship. I guess everyone played in every band at least once a time. Just take Gary Isom (SPIRIT CARAVAN). He played drums for Unorthodox, were in Iron Man before, joined Wretched and decided to enter Spirit Caravan after being in Pentagram. David Sherman (SC as well) the same, he played (sang) for Wretched and has got his own band EARTHRIDE today (worth checking out). Wino played in Lost Breed as well for a short time. This is only to name a few of them. They are a big family, that's what I miss sometimes in other scenes. We don't have a real scene in Germany. There are some doom bands around but they don't play too often. GRIEF OF GOD disappeared from the surface, why ever. Maryland has got this special kind of attitude which I miss everywhere. They've got a kind of scene in the UK too, but I think not that strong (maybe someone needs to correct me here, drop me a line).
Hegedüs Márk: Things are getting rolling for Voodoo Shock, as the band has been asked to play live on the 10th anniversary party of Mirror of deception plus the band played on the 6th of January in Basel/Switzerland. Would you speak about both gigs? How did the fans react to your songs?
Uwe: We entered stage before Mirror of deception on our first Voodoo Shock show. It's been quit a hectic as I missed the time a bit and went to the club at 9.15 pm and needed to go on stage immediately. No time being nervous. It was okay for the first show but not perfect. The crowd were addicted doom fans so we had good chances to let them move. Switzerland was a really good show (with two new songs) but the crowd was lousy. My amp closed down and I needed to change the AMP while the intro already – a bad start, but it turned out good. We had good friends there in Switzerland, Roger (TOLLWUET) and Michi (WINDFALL/PHASED 4°F).
Hegedüs Márk: What future plans do you have with the band and how will you see the band in 5 years in your standpoint?
Uwe: I'm not sure what and how it will be in 5 years. This year we will contribute our songs on a split with TOLLWUET (YEAH!!!) and maybe a split 7" with them as well. I know Psychedelic Mark will distribute both!:-)) Thanks for the interview, glad being back in the scene again, hope to hear from all of you. Get the songs from us at our website www.voodooshock.de
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