"Fall Into Madness" is your second album. Can you tell about what happened between the release of "Where Mankind Fails" in 1999 and this new album? How long did it take to plan and record the new CD?

Yes it's our second album. Between the two releases the rehearsal, gigs and song writing have been a part of Steel Attack. I think the songwriting just took us some months, you see we are writing new songs all the time, we save the new ideas from the rehearsal or if some one in the band been recording some parts. Then we work from there, and it seems to be the best way to write songs, at least for us :)

Two years after the release of "Where Mankind Fails", how would you judge this album?

As the Steel Attack sound, I mean when it comes to the speed and power. But what we did on "Where Mankind Fails" is what we sounded back then, the new album will show that we've been playing together for some time now and that there are some improvement that you will hear as a listener.

How did the new vocalist Dick come into the picture? How is he working out for you?

We had to force :) Steve to do the vocal for the new album, because he's been on US for some time about that he will do back voc and not lead (maybe on some songs live but not a whole gig). So when a very close friend of mine had he's band in a situation that is no good for any band then we asked the singer for the band to join us and that's the way it is. It's working great and since we recorded the new album last year and finished the recording in May 2000 and he joined the band in the beginning of this year 2001 he is not on the album.

How would you sum up the differences between "Fall Into Madness" and "Where Mankind Fails"?

I think as I said earlier that the first thing you will get is that Steve improved a lot on the lead vocal, we also got a very great mix and master this time.

Can you take us through the album and tell a few comments about each song and their lyrical contents?

"Fall Into Madness" I will fall into madness and I try to avoid the mess I'm on the edge and I have no choice... I would say that this first song is about what the cover paint shows. "The Beast" About the creature that is within you. "Guardians" The land and the guardians of twilight. "Holy Swordsmen" The true warrior that has to fight the unreal. "Judgement Day" What we all fear or not. "Wings Of Faith" The "pray" for leaving to eternity. "Clearing The Mind" What you need when you've been in a battle. "Fireballs" Fear and battle, win or lose. "Defender Of The Crown" The army that lives for it will they make it or not.

Who did the cover for the album? Did you give the artist a free hand or did you had a main idea?

JP Fournier www.jp-fournier.com did the great work for us with the paint. He got the name for the new album and "Fall Into Madness" and then he did some examples for us and we changed it to the final look together, awesome work JP thanks again :)

It's clear on your lyrics a great fantasy atmosphere... What is the band intention in talk about such themes?

It gives you a total freedom to use your imagination and it's like improvising, you got a short idée and it all expands to something complete. That's why we use fantasy and we don't want to tell some one to do this and that by our lyrics, it's your own freedom to think and do what you want as long as you not hurting someone. So no one can tell us that the story is wrong or so. They just got another view of the fantasy :)

Nowadays many Power Metal bands build their sound around Helloween albums, I think you have adapted a more original sound... from where do you get inspiration to your song writing?

Thank you! We actually never think that this is the sound we shall have or so, it all turned out to be this sound and the main reason for that I think is that we got a very wide favourite type of music besides the melodic metal. Like me I am very much into instrumental music, Steve more to the Slayer sound, Dennis the pure power metal member in the band, Andreas the all round fan to metal music.

Now something about you... Since then do you play? Which bands/musicians inspired you?

I am turning 36 soon and I've been playing since 86 started late. Got inspired by the concerts and bands during the 80's like Iron Maiden, Helloween, Pretty Maids, Judas Priest etc. Then I discovered the instrumental music like Yngwie, Jason Becker, Vinnie Moore, etc to bands like Racer X and so on the list can be huge :) but as long it's melodic I really love it. I am married since 11 years and got a wonderful wife as well as 2 rock'n' roll kids :)

Is the band a full time job for you or do you have regular jobs as well? What do you do besides the music?

Sadly not a full time job but hope that it will be. Besides the band I am working as a guitar teacher at the music school.

Name the best albums, movies or books, you have ever heard, seen or read...

It's impossible to say the best since I got so many favourites. I use to read some books in the fantasy vein and nowadays I normally only read music magz. When it comes to movies I am a die-hard action and fantasy fan and it will be great when "Lord Of The Rings" enter the theatres.

Do you enjoy the writing and recording or would you rather be out on stage performing?

Writing and recording is a way to get the music out, but we much rather be on stage performing since that is the way to say thanks for the support and we really hope we will get a chance to meet all the fans soon, and the best way as I said it is by performing live and get the fans to interact with the band that's the main reason for us.

Speaking of live perfomances, you played at Wacken Open Air festival last year... what kind of memories do you have on this festival? And, in general, what was your most memorable concert, so far?

The memories... that it was great fun and we got a chance to meet many fans there as well, that it's the biggest festival and an honor to play there. The sad thing is that we got technical problems out from the PA system :( so there where no lead guitar out for the audience but we had an excellent stage sound and could run around all over and still hear the music great. I found out that after the show when I saw some video shoots from the gig, and then I understood why some in the audience showed me some signs during the gig (shaking heads and showing me the ear) that was sad 'cause we got the feel that we owe a gig with no technical problem. To get another chance to play at Wacken would be awesome. But we did the show and really got some great response from the fans there. Thank you all. I think the most memorable concert is impossible to say since every gig got its charm.

I know you didn't do a real tour for your first CD. Will there be an European tour this time? Any specific places you would like to go?

We didn't and we wish we had, we hope that we will get it this time with lots of gigs, and about the places?? Hmm, nope we would play them all and as long as there is a crazy metal loving audience we play any places.

How important is the internet to you and the resultant close contact with the fans?

It's VERY important and GREAT to keep in contact with the fans that really are into our music, I really think it is so cool when you can get just a thanks or a question from someone around the world and then they will get the answer back as fast as we seen it. Keep sending us your email and keep in touch :)

Finally, how do you see the future of the band musically?

Continue to write music, play live a lot, get some new elements into the song writing but to keep the Steel Attack sound.

That's all John, but feel free to give a last message...

First of all THANK YOU ALL. And hope that we will get a chance to meet you very soon. Please get your feelings out to us by using email steelattack@steelattack.com Or join in on the ICQ 37375224 Keep in touch and most important have fun. For the news, etc check out www.steelattack.com

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