M-Pire of Evil are a legendary heavy metal force. Containing some of the founding fathers of black/speed/thrash metal, whatever the hell you want to call it, some of these guys have been there, done it, burned the t-shirt and yet still command a massive level of support, especially in my eyes. The guys I talk about are Mantas (Jeff), Demolition Man (Tony Dolan) and Antton, all ex-members of Venom. So when M-pire of Evil unleashed ‘Hell to the Holy’ a few weeks back, it was nothing short of a welcomed surprise to find an album in ‘Hell to the Holy’ that was both varied, interesting and relevant, so there were some questions we needed answering. Paul Maddison speaks to the band for Ave Noctum.
AN: Congratulations, ‘Hell to the Holy’ really hits the spot. You have a lot of heritage in the music business, a lot of respect, what were your inspirations behind Mpire of Evil forming?
A; Thank you…that’s great to hear. Well the idea came about after Antton joined Dryll, we did a show and at the end as a final track we performed the classic ‘Black Metal’ where I actually sang. After that people started to say, what if Tony Dolan was there as well and that was kind of it really. I ended up calling Tony and after chatting about stuff then took a breath and asked, he immediately said fuck yeah why not and there we were the M-Pire was born I guess. Inspiration, musically? Just do what we wanted no restrictions, if we felt it worked then go for it. The only thing we knew was that it had to be heavy metal, the kind we enjoyed and the kind that made us want to play ourselves.
AN: I understand that this came out of the ashes of Dryll, Def Con One and I suppose Atomkraft, are those bands still going concerns for now, I would assume that you are concentrating on Mpire of Evil for now?
A; Well not out of the ashes of Def Con One, they are very much alive.
Dryll stopped but there will be something in the future and as for AtomKraft, ashes? No, we all have ongoing music outlets. M-Pire was born to be alive in its own right and cannot compare to any of the other bands, it is our main concern, and this is where we are going. AtomKraft and Dryll will find their way our always but are not affected and do not affect the M-Pire.
AN: Jeff, what was it like producing the album, did you relish in the creative freedom, or is this something you are used to anyway?
A; Well, I have been producing my own material for some time and that of others, it was harder as I have never totally produced everything, so at times it was stressful and difficult but you know, who knows how you want to sound better than yourself? So in the end it sounds the way we wanted it to. I am proud of the job I have done and reading people comments on the production values is amazing. I worked very hard on this album and think it’s my best work, it was hard but great fun and the result is great, yes very happy.
AN: Tony, what bass rig do you use? I saw Atomkraft inLondonrecently and chatted to you about the good old days of theMayfairand Whitley Bay Ice Rink. That day you had a Rickenbacker bass, I’m just wondering, what else you use, amps etc, as there is a distinctive sound (also captured on the album), its damn powerful and very unique, the closest sound I have heard to this is what Lemmy uses as his set up?
A: Ah yes, w e did indeed. That was a fun show. I don’t really set myself in stone, I love my Blonde 4001 1971 Rick but have other favs also. My HK Ambroyna bass and my original hand made Overwater, kind of shallow bodies high top end basses work for me (like Lemmy I guess), amp wise I vary this but right now a Kruger amp and transporter cabs. Pedal effects zoom ZNR and Overdrive sounds and a boss chorus. I used to use modular shaping effects but now prefer something deep, top ended and heavy with less effects to cloud that. My preferred set is probably several bass bins, some 15” tubes, 12” and 10” cabs with Marshall amps.2000 series with gain, all that shit works for me but like I say I am not too precious as I get my response from my guitars really, line 6 with the shallow bodies give me complete width and response as well. In London I used Orange amps and that gave me everything I needed without anything added but that was because I had 2 guitarists, with only Mantas I need to be clever so the sound is full and you lose nothing live from us.
AN: Jeff, the lead guitar sound is immense, what did you use in the studio?
A; A guitar!!! Lol, kidding. Line 6 POD layering is a key also but the versatility of the Line 6 is perfect for me these days.
AN: How did you all approach the writing process, as a group or one main song writer for example with contributions from all of you guys?
A; Well the music was being constructed by Mantas in his studio as distance was a factor, we couldn’t always get together and as the flow was coming we left it alone to happen. Then Lyrically, we drew for the three of us whole songs and partial Antton and Tony, Jeff and Tony, Jeff and Tony working to extend Antton lyrics. It was all of us in the end, looking at the arrangements and everything.
AN: Maybe I have missed something, but where did you record the album, what was special about that studio’s sound that made it right for Mpire of Evil?
A: It was recorded at Mantas’ own home studio and the drums at the room of doom where def Con One rehearse and record. The sound came from those places basically, then mixed and produced at Mantas home studio, preferred as he knows his own studio and it’s capabilities very well so it made perfect sense.
AN: As well as being responsible for the introduction of speed, black and thrash metal to the heavy metal community as musicians, were you conscious that Mpire of Evil should not go down that same path? I say this because ‘Hell to the Holy’ has a bit of everything in it.
A; I think everyone was expecting another Venom album but there is a Venom out there and it is not us, we are M-Pire, should we have tried to do that we’d have restricted ourselves and we didn’t want to be tied down again. We wanted the freedom to do whatever, yes the album is varied with all sorts and that’s the way we liked it, everything on there is what we wanted to play and in that way. I hope people like it, it’s Metal simple, for the fans to enjoy and get into, live too not just on audio. If there is a path we are going down then it’s our own path and it will twist and turn at our own pleasure but it would be cool if we bring different people together and they all find something there they like and can relate to.
AN: I like the expected pummelling, but I also appreciate the other influences you have used, especially on ‘Devil’. How did you guys come to include such influences and what is the origin of this inspiration?
A; Well yes we couldn’t not do that bastard stuff but yes we liked the groove we were getting too. Devil, well Mantas had been playing lots of slide stuff and I simply told him to use it I mean why not? We love the blues and it is where all this started isn’t it? You know the Devil in music. Black Metal, the delta blues, Robert Johnson, the Crossroads and selling his soul, just bringing everything under one roof and why not? It’s a dark track but fun and bluesy, perfect and it’s great fun to play and cool to hear.
AN: You have a tour planned with Onslaught in theUS, do you have anyUKtour plans or one off shows?
A; Yes we do. 3 weeks in the USA from Seattle to Washington DC, cannot fucking wait!!! Then we are back and into Italy, something in Sweden and Germany I think but UK? No dates as yet. I think we have work to do first and we can be hyper critical here sometimes of ourselves, so let’s just get it on with the world first and save the UK till they tell us they are ready.
AN: Are there any observations you would like to make on the way music is obtained nowadays, it’s a lot different to when I was a teenager for example. Do you think the internet is a good thing?
A; I think it is good yes, every act from everywhere can make themselves heard with some simple promotion but then that does also mean there is so much material out there someone will be missed as you simply cannot hear everything but healthy for upcoming musicians. I do prefer the tactile purchases though, a CD or even better a Vinyl album, the cover the warmth etc. Torrent, streaming, downloads, all quick and immediate yes cool but also soulless, the excitement is gone somewhat. You don’t wake up race to get dressed and out to the store to buy you fave new album to race back home pissing yourself to listen to it. No you wake, yawn and while in bed download it to your fucking phone. Then think it’s ok; no build up, no interaction, no suspense, good? Or bad? Matter of opinion but it ain’t gonna change it’s now where we are.
AN: Did you all enjoy the recent NE Derby match at St James’?! I did J.
A; Ahahahahaha, gotta say yes then I suppose lol.
AN: It’s been a while since I have lived in our respective homeland, what venues, clubs and pubs are in existence in the North East? Is this still where you spend a lot of your time?
A: I myself live in London 20 yrs or so now. Mantas doesn’t go to clubs, pubs anymore. Venues, Trillians O2 and Newcastle Arena, all good venues and great bands still come though there. The Cluny also has bands a lot, music is very much still part of Newcastle’s blood. Spending time between work and music etc sometimes going out is not an option but a good gig, yeah, mainly when we are out for music, it is us who are playing.
AN: Finally, I wish you well with the promotion of ‘Hell to the Holy’, I hope to see a tour of some sorts in the future, but in the meantime, do you have a message or statement you would like to part with in regards Mpire of Evil?
A: Thanx man. I would love to play the UK but it needs to be right and wanted. We aren’t trying to be anyone else, we are us and that is that. Maybe soon in 2013 the time will be right. I am targeting Bloodstock and we’ll go from there how’s that? All Hail let’s make the M-Pire all of us. Metal heart forever. See you on the dance floor! Enjoy the album and prepare for the next piece as you will definitely shit yourself due October 2012!
Thank you ever so much for your time.
A; Very welcome thanx for having us and great questions Paul. See you soon.
Interviewed by Paul Maddison
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